Over the years, Seville has become one of our favorite cities in Europe. There are so many fun things to do in Seville Spain, from endless tapa bars to unique neighborhood, and epic historic sites. The best part is it’s all easily walkable! That means they’ll still be plenty to pack into your itinerary, even if you only have one day in Seville.
Planning a Trip to Seville Spain
Think of this as a quick cheat sheet for planning your trip. Everything in this Seville article is based on our own experiences to help guide you through the city.
Where to Stay in Seville
We stayed at Intelier Casa de Indias on our last visit. It’s located right across from the Setas de Sevilla, which is the large art piece that looks like mushrooms.
Hotel Fernando III is in the middle of the lively Santa Cruz neighborhood. It has a beautiful rooftop terrace with a swimming pool. If you want to stay near the Royal Palace, then Hotel Legado Alcazar is a great pick. Some rooms even have views of the stunning gardens.
Traveling on a budget? Check out La Banda Rooftop Hostel. Just as the names states, it has an epic rooftop overlooking the city!
Seville Airport: Take a taxi or pre-book a private transfer. The airport is only about a 20 minute drive from the city centre.
There is also an airport bus which runs roughly every 30 minutes for those trying to save some money. When it comes to booking flights, we always recommend checking Skyscanner first.
Seville Tain Station: The train station is a bit closer to the city than the airport. We took a taxi from the Seville Santa Justa station to the hotel, and it was just under 10 Euros.
Be sure to look at Omio for all the best routes and prices if you’re taking the train. You should also consider renting a car if you have time for one of the amazing day trips we’ll talk about later.
Weather Warning: Something to keep in mind is that Seville gets scorching hot in the summer months. For this reason, the spring or fall are fantastic times of year to plan a trip. We recently visited in March and had such perfect weather!
10 Best Things to do in Seville Spain
1. Eat a Traditional Spanish Breakfast
There’s no better way to start the day in Seville than with a traditional Spanish breakfast. Bar El Comercio is a small cafe located on one of the popular walking streets in the city.
We love it so much, we try to go every time we’re here! The bar area is small, but if you’re lucky you’ll be able to get a seat.
So what should you order at Bar El Comercio? It’s became routine to begin our mornings with a cafe con leche. You’ll also want to try a fresh zumo de naranja after seeing all the orange trees around Seville.
Our go-to breakfast is a tostada with jamon serrano con tomate. Churros are another popular treat that go perfectly with coffee and chocolate.
For a more unique bocadilla, try the pringa with slow-cooked meats or a tostada with a paprika pork lard spread called manteca colora.
2. Experience the Royal Alcázar of Seville
The Royal Alcazar is a must-visit Unesco World Heritage Site, even if you only have one day in Seville Spain. Yet, to have the best experience, we recommend going first thing in the morning before thousands of travelers descend on the famous palace.
Luckily, we have a great tip for you. You can actually visit the Royal Alcazar of Seville before it opens!
We took a tour called Alone in the Alcazar that seriously exceeded our expectations. Our small group of ten went in an hour before it opened with an official guide leading us.
Not only did we learn all about the fascinating history of the Alcazar, but we saw it in a way that we didn’t think was possible. We were completely blown away by the ceramic tiles, unreal architecture, and sprawling gardens on this guided tour.
Also, not having to muscle our way through a crowd of tourists certainly helped us appreciate it more. If you’re going to add a walking tour to your Seville itinerary, this should be the one!
→ How to Take a Guided Seville Alcazar Tour Before it Opens
3. See the Catedral de Sevilla
After the morning Alcazar tour, you’ll be popping out right outside the Seville Cathedral. However, it may still be a little too early to go inside.
We recommend exploring the historic center, grabbing coffee of breakfast if you missed it (Bodega Santa Cruz is great), and wandering down the small narrow streets.
Around 10:45am the Cathedral of Seville opens up. You can either jump in the queue for tickets or skip the line and book in advance.
Know that there are different times that can sell out fast in the busy summer months. It’s best to book as soon as you know your dates, especially if you only have one day in Seville Spain.
The history of the Seville Cathedral is astonishing, as it was originally built as mosque in 1172. In the 13th century came the Christian conquest of the city.
It was then converted into a church with additions being added on in the centuries that followed. Today, it holds the impressive title of the world’s largest Gothic cathedral.
Once you’ve seen the breathtaking bottom level, make the climb up to the bell tower. You should give yourself at least one hour to fully experience this special site.
4. Have Lunch in Triana
You’re sure to be hungry after walking up the long ramp to the top of Giralda Tower! We recommend crossing the Guadalquivir River and heading to the neighborhood of Triana. This is one of the best things to do in Seville if you’ve spent all morning in the historic centre.
Triana has an interesting history itself since it was once known as the gypsy quarter. It has been the birthplace of many famous Flamenco artists, and credited for the growth of the popular music and dance.
The lively streets of Triana are the perfect place to walk around, grab lunch, and maybe even a few tapas! While there are so many great restaurants for local cuisine, some of our favorites are Las Golondrinas, Blanca Paloma, and Alfarería 21 – Casa Montalván.
You can also stop into the Triana market for a snack or a souvenir to take home. On our last visit, we headed down to the Guadalquivir River for a view of the water. We found a nice little restaurant, shared some small plates, and rested our feet.
5. Stroll Through Plaza de España
Plaza de España is somewhere you’ve probably seen in pictures before your trip. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions and also a great place for photos.
It’s a nice 30 minute stroll from Triana, but you can take a public transport or a cheap taxi if you’re short on time. We paid around 6 Euros for an Uber to get to Maria Luisa Park where it’s located.
Plaza de Espana was built for the Ibero-American World’s Fair in 1928. The mix of architectural styles splendidly showcase Spain’s rich history. A waterway circles the center where you can take a boat ride and paddle yourself.
Around the back end, you’ll find tiled murals with 48 of the country’s provincial alcoves. The benches in front of these colorful works of art are a nice spot to sit and take in the views.
6. Tapa Hop Your Way Around The City
By now, you can see that many of the best things to do in Seville Spain have to do with the delicious cuisine. Tapas are an integral part of the food scene in the city, and bar hopping is an amazing way to try different specialties.
Consider hopping on a food tour or you can easily walk around and explore yourself. Below are some of our favorite tapa bars and local restaurants to add to your Seville itinerary.
Taberna Álvaro Peregil: You’ll have to squeeze in to get to the bar, but this is a fun stop for a wine or beer.
Bar Casa Morales: One of the most popular tapa bars in all of Seville. Make sure you get here right when it opens to secure a table!
Bar El Comercio & Bodega Santa Cruz: As we mentioned earlier, these are two great places for breakfast. Just know that you can also go later in the day for a drink and tapa.
La Antigua Bodeguita: Exciting bar across from the bright pink Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador church.
Hotel Doña María Sevilla: Want a view of the Seville Cathedral at night? This hotel has a popular rooftop bar right in downtown.
→ 25 Photos That Will Make You Jump On a Seville Tapas Tour
7. Watch A Flamenco Show
Seville is the heart of the Flamenco dance, which can now be seen all over Spain. It’s also the perfect activity to combine with a night of tapas!
You can plan your own night, or consider booking a walking food tour that combines both. We took the Seville Tapas & Flamenco tour with Devour and had an absolute blast. This was such a great way to hit some of the city’s best tapa bars with music and dancing in between.
After eating and drinking our way around the historical center, we went to a live Flamenco show. Flamenco dancing is almost hypnotizing, and we loved how full of emotion it was. Not to mention, the voices of the singers are unbelievable!
Once the show ended it was back to tapa time. As you’ll see on your own visit, Seville really comes alive at night. For us, one of the best things about traveling is tasting all the local food.
We had such a good time, we even jumped on a Seville Tapas & History Tour the following night. This one took us to the Jewish quarter, through the historical sites, and of course, to more tasty tapas!
8. Explore the Jewish Quarter of Seville Spain
Speaking of the Jewish Quarter, this is a can’t miss neighborhood in Seville Spain. Up until the late 14th century, this city actually had one of the largest Jewish populations in the country.
Unfortunately, events like the 1391 riots led to the destruction of the once thriving community. When Jews were officially expelled from Spain in 1492, the neighborhood was already very different.
Although very few monuments or synagogues still exist, the Jewish Quarter is one of the most beautiful parts of Seville to explore. It’s part of Barrio de Santa Cruz, which is filled with lively restaurants, winding alleyways, and pretty plazas that you can spend all afternoon in.
9. Be in Awe of Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)
Seville is a city with so much historic architecture to discover! After you’ve seen the Alcazar and Jewish Quarter, we have one more unique place to add to your Seville itinerary.
Also known as Las Setas for its wild mushroom-like design, Metropol Parasol is an incredible piece of modern architecture. It was designed by a German architect Jurgen Mayer and opened in 2011.
One of the coolest parts about Las Setas is that you can walk on the roof. From here, you’ll have epic views over Plaza de la Encarnacion and the entire city. This is one of the best things to do in Seville before enjoying all the delicious food and history.
10. Take a Day Trip From Seville
This obviously isn’t realistic if you only have one day in Seville. There’s just too much to see and do in this spectacular Spanish city!
Yet, if you have a few days, there are many more places to see in this area of Andalusia. Cordoba is less than an hour away by train and holds some of Spain’s most important historic sites.
Spend the day in old town and see the impressive Mezquita Cathedral. There is even a Roman Bridge that goes over the Guadalquivir River dating back 2,000 years.
Another fun day trip from Seville is Jerez de la Frontera. Here you can experience more flamenco, sherry wine cellars, and horse ballet shows at the School of Equestrian Art!
While there is train and bus services, renting a car will give you the freedom to see more on your own time. Check out DiscoverCars to compare rates and find the best deals on rental cars.
Is Seville Spain Worth Visiting?
Yes! Whether you have one day in Seville or even longer, this is one of the very best cities to visit in Spain.
From wandering through Barrio Santa Cruz district to endless tapas and the Real Alcazar, there are so many awesome things to do in Seville.
Some travelers will have a layover here or limited time before continuing on to other parts of Andalusia. Either way, If it’s your first time in southern Spain, know that there are so many more destinations to experience.
You can easily combine Seville with Malaga and the stunning Costa del Sol. Two of our favorite towns we’ve ever been in Spain are in this region Nerja and Frigiliana.
Granada is known for its tapa culture and somewhere we’ve spent a lot of time exploring over the years. Honestly, the Alhambra Castle is worth going there for in itself! You can even take a quick flight or train to Madrid to see the bustling Spanish capital.
Have any questions about this article or want to share more of the best things to do in Seville Spain? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
This experience was made possible in partnership with Walks and Devour Tours. As always, any opinions and recommendations remain our own.
Pin for Later ↓
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
