A guide to my favorite experiences, attractions, foods, and drinks in Seville, Spain
To See and Do
My favorite sites and experiences in Seville are outlined below!
The Royal Alcazar of Seville
This must-see attraction is a royal palace that was built over 500 years with multiple architectural styles. The palace is a UNESCO world heritage site and is also known for its artistic tiles. It has an expansive garden that is worth walking through as well. The Royal Alcazar is also famous for being a Game of Thrones filming location for the palace in Dorn. Visit early in the day or late in the day to avoid tourist crowds. It is easy to buy tickets on-site when you arrive.
The Seville Cathedral
The Cathedral is located next door to the Royal Alcazar of Seville and is the 3rd largest church in the world. Christopher Columbus’s remains are also buried here.
Plaza De España
There are many squares in Seville, but this one was my absolute favorite. It is located in the Parque de Maria Luisa. It was built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition and showcases mixed styles of Spanish architecture (Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque). It is known for its colorful tiles and water features.
Metropol Parasol (also known as Mushrooms of Seville or Las Setas de la Encarnacion)
This attraction is a wooden art installation created in 2011. It claims to be the largest wooden structure in the world. Visitors can explore its walkways or visit the restaurant in it.
Plaza de Toros (bullfighting ring)
The Plaza de Toros is an active bullfighting ring with evening bullfighting events. If you prefer to not watch an actual bullfight, it is still worth visiting the arena and museum during the day. The arena is known as one of the most attractive bull arenas in all of Spain.
Kayak on the Guadalquivir River
The Guadalquivir River cuts the city of Seville into two sections, Seville and Triana. Kayaking on the river gives a unique perspective of the city. Kayak Seville offers Kayak tours.
Go to a Fútbol Game
To truly experience local culture, go to a fútbol (soccer) game. There are two local teams in Seville, Sevilla FC and Real Betis. My friends and I found it was easier (and significantly cheaper) to buy tickets in person at the ticket office, rather than online. We were able to buy same day tickets for a Real Betis game. The sunset views from the game was my favorite sunset view in Seville!
To Eat and Drink
Plan to spend a large portion of your time in Seville eating and drinking! Not only is the food delicious, it is a big part of local culture as well. A few of my favorite restaurants and bars are outlined below.
This restaurant is a franchised chain with multiple locations, but it was still one of my favorite stops. They serve mini baguette sandwiches (montaditos) in 100 different varieties. Order multiple to try for an easy fast casual stop while out sightseeing.
Visit this hotel for a drink or meal, primarily for the ambiance. We stopped in for drinks to take a break from the heat. It is a stunning building, built between 1916 and 1928 for the Ibero-Americana Exposition. Grab a seat in the picturesque courtyard if you can! It’s a short walk away from Plaza de España.
For riverside dining, Puerto de Cuba is a restaurant and bar in the Triana area of the city with river views. We stopped here for drinks after exploring Tirana. They have a wide selection of traditional drinks to try and fantastic views of the river and city.
Calle Mateos Gago
For the best tapas in Seville, simply wander down this street and pick a restaurant! Calle Mateos Gago is well known for its selection of restaurants with authentic tapas. We dined at Bar Catedral. The food and atmosphere at Bar Cetedral created a traditional Spanish experience. The street is a short walk from the Alcazar and Seville Cathedral.
When you can’t decide what to eat, visit Mercado Lonja del Barranco. It is a modern indoor food market with multiple indoor food vendors to try dishes from. Our favorite was the vendor selling flautas with a variety of fillings. There’s a lively outdoor bar next door as well.
Churrería los Especiales
This churro food stand is located next to the Triana Bridge and has outdoor seats with views of the Guadalquivir River.
For a lively dinner out, Taberna Coloniales offers a variety of authentic Spanish dishes served in a tavern-style atmosphere.
What to Eat in Seville
Iberico Ham- This Spanish ham is unique because it is from pigs that are fed a special diet of acorn. The meat is then cured for 2-4 years. The ham has a more intense flavor than any other ham. It is significantly more expensive to buy in other parts of the world, so eat lots of it while in Spain! It is often served stand alone, but can also be eaten on sandwiches or as part of other prepared dishes.
Churros- Fried dough eaten for breakfast or dessert. Be sure to try it with a chocolate dipping sauce.
Chorizo- A cured smoked sausage, it is usually a bit spicy.
Patatas Bravas- Potatoes that are cubed and pan fried with a spicy seasoning. They are usually served with a dipping sauce.
Spanish Tortilla (Omelette)- An egg and potato omelette that is served cold in pie-shaped slices.
Gazpacho- A cold tomato based soup.
Montaditos- Mini baguette sandwiches with a variety of fillings.
What to Drink In Seville
Tinto de Verano- red wine with sparkling water and citrus
Sangria - red wine soaked in fruit and mixed with other spirits
Rebujito- A refreshing sherry (manzanilla) based cocktail.
Legendarios and Coke- Legendario is a brand of rum only made in Cuba, so it is not sold in the United States. It is commonly sold at bars around Seville, so be sure to try it.
Build an Itinerary with a Stop in Seville
We started our trip in Portugal and then took a short bus ride over to Seville. Read my Portugal itinerary for more details. It is designed to end close to the border of Spain. After Seville we flew to Morocco. There are usually inexpensive flights from Seville to Morocco (ours was $45USD).
Lodging in Seville
We stayed in Airbnbs for this trip to make our own breakfasts, wash clothes, and afford better views and space to spread out within our budget. We were able to find an amazing Airbnb with a large outdoor roof deck overlooking the streets of Seville.
If you feel like splurging, Hotel Alfonso X111 is a well known hotel with beautiful traditional architecture.
Advanced Bookings for Seville
For this trip, most sites and activities can be booked last minute. The one item I recommend booking in advance is lodging. The best selection often books up earlier.
What to Wear in Seville
What to Wear
Comfortable walking shoes
Hiking sandals or water shoes for kayaking
Cool, lightweight clothing, especially if you are traveling in the summer months
Getting around Seville
Seville is a very walkable city. Taxis and Ubers are easy to use for any sites further away. There are also public bike and scooter rentals available throughout the city. You don’t need a rental car.
When to Go to Seville
Summer will be extremely hot in Seville, we visited in early September and temperatures were still in the 90’s (Fahrenheit) with no breeze. Spring and fall are both still warm and the winters are more mild than most of Europe. I recommend visiting anytime except summer months.
Additional Reading: My Packing List, 5 Days Taking in the Best of Portugal, The Best of Morocco in 6 Days
Trip Dates: September, 2019.
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