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7 Enchanting Things To Do In The Seemingly Timeless City – OUR CROSSINGS
Last Updated on the 24th of September, 2025
Walking around Seville on a cold and gloomy spring day wasn’t what we had in mind while planning a trip to a city which is known to have fantastic weather and gorgeous blue sky.
When I close my eyes and imagine Andalusia, swirling red dresses, never-ending sunshine, and blossoming orange trees lining the streets come to mind.
However, we spent the first two days trying to escape the spitting rain, all while braving the unfavourable weather and wandering around its winding streets.
But even on a cold and rainy spring day, Seville managed to keep it sweet and beautiful to the eye; there’s the warm, vibrant culture, enticing mix of Christian, Moorish, and Jewish architecture and history and joyful, impromptu flamenco dancing.
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Seville is the cultural and historical heart of the country and a fantastic place in all of Spain to experience its rich traditions and visit many of its palaces and churches.
There’s a great variety of attractions you can fix your gaze and camera to, and ideally, to experience the full essence of it, from staying up all night in one of the rooftop bars to going on the tapas tour, you’d need about 4 to 5 days.
Three things that are typically associated with Andalusia’s capital are tapas, flamenco, and the sultry operatic gipsy heroine Carmen, but there is so much more to see and do!
Did you know that Seville is one of the most essential aeronautical centres in Europe? It’s also a city of clean energy and home to 2 football clubs.
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#1. Be Amazed By The Architecture of Plaza de España
A visit to Seville must include a trip to Plaza de España – a tranquil square where every Spanish province is represented in the form of tiled alcoves and benches – which was built for the city’s Ibero-American exhibition that took place in Seville in 1929.
Here you can see thousands of hand-painted ceramic tiles with little details, admire 4 bridges symbolising the 4 ancient kingdoms of Spain, photograph skilfully carved curved arches and tilt your head to admire two large towers crowning the square.
When visiting the square, allow yourself to find pleasure in the simplest of things – take time to admire arcades, catch the last rays of evening light fading over the exploded bricks, lose yourself in the history of a new place and immerse yourself in the magnificent architecture.
For a small fee, you can hire a boat to splash around the canal, or you can simply find a comfortable spot beside one of many fountains to relax and people-watch.
*Fun Fact – Plaza de España has been used as a filming location for The Dictator, Star Wars and Lawrence of Arabia.
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#2. Be Blown Away By The Sheers Size of the Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the third-largest church in the World, is the most visited monument in the city.
The building is 100 metres wide and 135 metres long, and the magnificent ceiling reaches a whopping 42 metres.
By visiting the majestic cathedral, which was built to display the city’s prosperity and power, you can see the tomb of the great explorer Christopher Columbus, admire the largest altarpiece in the world that took its creator, Pierre Dancart, almost 44 years to complete well and marvel at impressive collections of jewellery and paintings.
Make sure you walk up the 34 ramparts to the La Giralda bell tower to catch a glimpse of the city. The tower was originally built as a minaret and was once the tallest tower in all of Europe when completed in 1198.
*Click here to book a Seville Cathedral and Giralda skip-the-line ticket
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#3. Go For A Stroll Around Maria Luisa Park
Seville’s most famous park, overflowing with orange blossoms, plants, fountains and sculptures, offers a welcome respite from the endless sun and the crowds.
With millions of tourists visiting Seville each year, it’s challenging to get away from the constant hustle and bustle of the city and to find a dose of peace and relaxation.
Therefore, we found the lush park to be a wonderful place where tranquillity and calmness are breathed in an extension of 34 hectares.
Maria Luisa Park is located close to the centre and features the island of ducks, the frogs fountain and the lion’s fountain, all of which contribute to the solemn retreat from the bustling city life.
At the southern part of the park are the Seville Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions, both well worth a wander around.
- Location: Paseo de las Delicias, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
- Open: Daily from 8 am to 10 pm
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#4. Admire the Beauty Of The Real Alcázar of Seville
The Royal Alcázar, as the name suggests, is a royal palace in Seville.
It is also one of the city’s sought attractions and one of the jewels in southern Spain’s crown.
For a first visit, allotting a half-day just to wander around the Real Alcázar de Seville would be enough time to see and appreciate all of it; the details, the fountains, the colours – especially the colours – and the scale of it is what makes this place one of the prettiest men built palaces.
We also recommend taking the tour of the Royal Quarters (Quarto Real Alto) and audio tours because educating yourself about the palace is as crucial as wandering around its grand hallways and peaceful gardens.
*Our Crossings Tip: Make sure you book your ticket in advance because there’s nothing worse than getting caught in a backlog in the 40-degree heat at the end of a long queue for Seville’s Alcazar to make you wish that you’d just planned that little bit ahead.
- Admission | Adult EUR 11.50. On Mondays from 5 to 6 pm in winter and from 6 to 7 pm in summer admission is free.
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#5. Be Seduced by the Exotic Flamenco Rhythms
Appreciate local culture by exploring the passionate world of flamenco.
Although most of the shows are tourist-oriented, you can still devote time to watch a live performance, with some of the best stars on the stage, that has more to it than just a dance.
Observe and take in the guitar, the vocals, Flamenco dancing and the ‘palmas’ (hand clapping).
Some of the places worth checking out:
• A Flamenco Festival | One of the best events where you can enjoy authentic flamenco shows is at a Flamenco Festival, where the very best dancing, singing and guitar playing are on display. La Bienal Festival is one of the most significant events worldwide, and it takes place in September every two years.
• El Palacio Andaluz | For an enjoyable evening where food and drinks are also included, head to El Palacio, located at Calle de María Auxiliadora, 18A, 41008 Sevilla.
• El Arenal | Founded by celebrated dancer Curro Vélez, El Arenal is a fantastic place to discover traditional flamenco. Located at Calle Rodo, 7, 41001 Sevilla.
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#6. Be Intrigued By the Space Metropol Parasol
The 26-metre-high design, which is very different from much of the architecture seen in Seville, is commonly known as Last Setas or the mushrooms by the locals.
Located at La Encarnación Square, the wooden structure – said to be the largest in the world – offers panoramic views of Seville both day and night and is one of the most Instagrammable spots in the city. There are pathways curving across the structure
It was designed by the German architect Jürgen Mayer and completed in April 2011; rumour has it that it cost 86 million to build.
The entry to the Space Metropol Parasol, where you can also see Romain ruins in the basement, is 3 euros, including a free postcard which you have to claim from the nearby shop.
- Location: Plaza de la Encarnación, 41003 Sevilla, Spain
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#7. Fill Yourself With Food and Drink
It is said that unique cuisine known as tapas – extracted from the Spanish term ‘to cover’ or ‘top’ – originated in Seville, where Andalusian sherry/wine drinkers used to cover their glasses with a tin slice of bread and meat.
This is just one of the theories of how tapas were born, because we all know that when it comes to traditions, there are various hypotheses about how it all started.
Nevertheless, you’ll find that tapas is a way of life in Seville, and it comes with its own vocabulary: a tapeador is someone who eats tapas, tapo is the activity itself, and tapear is to go out for tapas.
For those travellers who are eager to learn more about the culinary history of tapas, the Tapas Food Tour – accompanied by a knowledgeable guide – is a great way to spend a few hours in Seville. Most of the tours are around 2.5 hours, and they include a visit to several restaurants and bars.
If you plan on visiting Seville and doing a self-guided food tour, there are a couple of must-try dishes to try:
• Carrillada de Cerdo | One of Seville’s most traditional meats is pork cheek cooked in a simple wine reduction – incredibly tender and full of flavour – when appropriately prepared with garlic and cloves, adding to its uniqueness.
• Torrijas | Made with stale bread that is soaked in beaten eggs and deep-fried. You can find them in most pastry shops where they are topped with ice cream.
• Espinacas con Garbanzos | Vegetarians will appreciate this spinach and chickpea stew recipe served with homemade croutons.
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Getting to and around Seville
Depending on where you are coming from, there are a few ways to get to Seville. You can get direct flights from major hubs in Europe or catch a direct flight from Barcelona or Madrid quite easily with the budget airline Vueling.
The Seville Airport, officially called San Pablo Airport, is conveniently close to the city centre and takes just 10 minutes to reach with a taxi.
- Flights | We recommend using Skyscanner to find an affordable flight. Seville is well connected with many European cities as well as Spanish ones, and Seville Airport (Aeropuerto de Sevilla) is located 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of the city.
- Trains | Seville can be easily reached by train from other Spanish cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Seville’s train station is located in the northern part of the city and is called Seville Santa Justa Train Station. Travelling by local trains is a fantastic and affordable way to arrive from other Spanish cities.
- Getting around | Seville is easy to navigate, and the best way to see it is on foot. You can also pick up a ‘paseito’, a horse carriage, adding to the city’s charm to take you to various tourist attractions, use the metro that opened up in 2008, book one of the hop-on hop-off buses or take advantage of the city’s extensive bus network that covers all barrios.
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Where to stay in Seville
If you are planning a trip to Seville, it’s virtually impossible to recommend just one place to stay as this will largely depend on your length of stay, budget and needs.
Instead, we recommend picking one of its coolest neighbourhoods, known as barrios.
• Santa Cruz | The broadest range of accommodation, along with several museums and excellent dining options, can be found in Barrio Santa Cruz, which was once a Jewish quarter. Beautifully narrow streets are easy to navigate and great for aimless wanderings. Don’t miss Calle Agua (‘Water Street’) and the square it leads to. Accommodation consists of excellent budget and boutique hotels, and several 4-star and 5-star hotels.
• Centre | The central part of the city, located between Plaza de Encarnacion and Plaza Nueva, is filled with shopping streets, a top art museum, and numerous bars and restaurants. You can browse through shops selling excellent quality Spanish-made leather bags, shoes and boots.
• El Arenal | Situated west of Barrio Santa Cruz, this neighbourhood was once Seville’s port area, and you can learn all about its history in the Naval Museum. Here you’ll find lots of lovely restaurants and bars, and great nightlife.
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Other tips and useful hints
- Explore an ancient neighbourhood of Santa Cruz and be amazed by jasmine-scented courtyards and tiny streets. Make sure you visit The Convent of Los Venerables and find the narrowest street.
- Seville oranges that grow all around the city and are an integral part of the landscape may appear delicious, but in fact, are very sour. This hasn’t stopped the British from making and enjoying marmalade from them.
- Make the most of free and less touristy attractions, yet equally impressive, in Seville by visiting places like the General Archive of the Indies
- Don’t be afraid to visit Seville in winter. Nicknamed the frying pan of Europe, Seville gets scorching hot during the summer, think 40 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Many places in Seville have been used as filming locations, producing various films and series such as Knight and Day, Kingdom of Heaven, The Dictator, Nobody Knows Anybody, Star Wars and Game of Thrones.
- There are over 120 kilometres of bicycle routes for bicycle lovers, and you can use SEVici – Seville´s public bike rental service for residents and tourists alike – to explore Seville.
- Book tickets in advance. Avoid disappointment and long queues by purchasing tickets online.
- Seville is home to some of Spain’s best Siestas with Feria de Abril and Semana Santa taking over the city and celebrating with dancing, eating, drinking and socialising.
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Now, over to you!
Have you been to Seville? Let us know in the comments below!
Let us know if you are planning a visit to Seville and have travel-related questions!
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