Thanks to its Moorish heritage, Seville, the biggest city in Andalusia, is one of the most popular places to go at least once. This city is not only vibrant, colourful, and iconic; but an all-time favourite place to film. Many shows and movies take place here, meaning you can revive many of the scenes involving Dorme or Starwars while you do tourism.
If you are more interested in the activities you can do in the city, Seville has a deep-rooted culture that is becoming more and more popular worldwide. You can enjoy firsthand how Flamenco looks like; taste all the variety of Tapas and you can learn more about some of the Islamic heritage and its impact on Spain.
Table of Contents
Choose the ideal hotel!
Before you decide to take a well-deserved holiday, you should consider where you will spend the night during those days of rest. The best hotels to stay at can be found at Thomas Cook. Those options make sure to provide you with comfort and quality during your stay, including giving you the best service from start to finish. So choose your ideal hotel here!
Walk in the Real Alcázar palace as if you were Dorme royalty
Even after its final season, Game of Thrones is still one of the most popular TV shows in history and, if you are a fan, this location probably rings a bell to you. After the conquest, this Islamic building was turned into a castle for the King Peter of Castille, impressed after seeing the wealth it exhumes, the intricate decorations and exotic carved on the facades.
Inside the castle, you can appreciate the Palacio del Rey Don Pedro. This architectonical piece is a reference for Mudéjar architecture, part of the Moorish influence. The gardens and the exteriors of the castle are other pieces of art, and many of the places you can walk will be familiar, as were the main scenery for many scenes in Dorme.
Explore the Seville Cathedral
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this is one of the most astonishing places you could lay your eyes on. Being another enormous architectural piece and a piece of art as well, this monument is one of the largest cathedrals ever built and took at least a hundred years to be finished, all because of the complex design aim by the architects.
If you have the time and the budget to pay for the full tour you can learn more about its rich history, and you could visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus. At the end of this tour, you can enjoy an amazing view on the top of its ceilings, one of the highest points of all Seville.
Reach the top of the Giralda Tower
Maybe one of the most iconic buildings in the city, the Giralda bell tower is one of the remains of the original mosque that was there before the cathedral. Originally was topped with giant copper globes, a more traditional Arabic ornament but, after an earthquake in 1365, the Christians replaced those with cross and made it a bell tower.
One of the mains curiosities, besides the one we mentioned, is the lack of stairs this building has. Just before the top section, the route features ramps instead of stairs. Is said that this is because you, supposedly, could do all the way up riding a horse, but we don’t recommend you to do this, even if you could, because there are archaeological exhibits on the way.
Take pictures of the “Palace of the Naboo”
Plaza de España may sound lacking and you might think is a must-go. But this monument has one of the most impressive views in the entire city. Located inside the Parque de María Luisa, this semi-circular plaza is overlooked by a palace you might recognize if you are a Star Wars fan.
Besides the palace, there is a lot to see if you want to learn more about the history and the city. You can walk inside the palace freely to see a gallery and busts of important national figures. If this still seems lacking, you can photograph painted tile or Azulejos, a traditional work of art displaying famous Spain’s monuments.
Watch a Flamenco Show
When we think about Spain, it’s hard not to think about Flamenco or their gipsy heritage. Seville, as the capital of Andalusia – the main place where Indian, Arabic, and Spanish culture fusion – offers the real deal. This rich heritage became an art form, in which here and there are shows almost at every turn.
You can watch flamenco performances or some classic acoustic guitar shows in the streets. But you can choose many places to enjoy something less casual and maybe more impressive. If you really want to learn about the gipsy culture and its tradition, you can pay for a tour dedicated to emphasizing these traditions and cultures.
If you have a short budget; you can just visit the Flamenco Dance Museum and get familiarized with this form of dance. It is not as deep as the tour we mentioned, but you can learn a lot here and reserve a ticket for an intimate show.
Learn in one of the biggest archives
The Archivo General de Indias is probably the most well-documented place where you can learn everything you wanted to know about Spain’s involvement in America. If you are not that interested in the American heritage, you still can learn firsthand about the most important events in Spain’s history.
Maybe you don’t want to read it, that’s fine, you can still visit the archives to appreciate the beauty of the building. Every architecture fan will enjoy the Renaissance style of the ceilings and the panels or will be delighted by the inner courtyard.
Lay next to the right bank of the Guadalquivir
After you did everything you could in the archive, the right bank of the Guadalquivir should be your next stop in Seville. Many locals enjoy this sight, walk by here every day on a sunny day or just lay for a while here before going to their homes. Also, this is a central point on where to go next, being close to the Triana, the Torre del Oro, and the Plaza the Toros.
As a plus, you can take pictures of the Isabel II Bridge and the University of Seville, both majestic buildings. If you are not into photography, you can also walk a little and visit some ceramics workshops to get some souvenirs.
Take pictures at Torre del Oro in Seville
You can reach this Torre del Oro by walking a little on the right banks of the Guadalquivir river, so you won’t have to move too much. This military watchtower was converted into a prison. And now, it’s a maritime museum, keeping intact the original Moorish heritage behind its architecture.
On the second floor, you will find the naval museum exhibition, full of many documents and relics from the war. After the museum tour, or watching everything you wanted, you can climb to the top to have a scenic view of Seville and the centre of the city.
Buy something in the Mercado de Triana
After you go across the river there is plenty of things you can do in Seville, but you might be hungry, which means it’s time for you to visit the Mercado de Triana. Some locals might say this is not exactly on Seville and it’s true. Since it’s so close to the city it became a must if you’re near the river and craving something local.
If you are a foodie, there is a lot to taste and explore here. Not only Iberian food and fresh local fruits and vegetables, but you can also find some great local cheeses and freshly caught fish. You can even pick some of the food from the stools and have them cooked in a local stall or restaurant.
Taste the best Tapas of Seville
After walking over the bridge, enjoy the market and the views and taste some freshly made food. But you are still hungry and you are thirsty. El Rinconcillo, which opened in 1670 and with more than 300 years serving tapas, is the oldest bar in Seville. This means they serve the oldest, best traditional tapas.
You can also taste local wine and beers with every food, giving you a fully local experience. Every recipe is Andalusian and they use only local ingredients you can find on the market, serving everything fresh. If you want more privacy you can book a table upstairs and enjoy more of their delicious food.
Go to the Feria de Abril
If you can make time and go to the Los Remedios, reach the fairgrounds where this event takes place. From Tuesday to Sunday you can watch thousands of tents with all kinds of local souvenirs and people in traditional costumes knowns as Traje de Gitano walk around eating, drinking and dancing.
In case you go with your family, don’t you worry, there is a lot of activities for kids too during the early evening. You can have a horseback ride with your family or watch some shows, like traditional Sevillanas.
Get lost in Barrio Santa Cruz
Also known as the Jewish Quarter, the Barrio Santa Cruz is one of the oldest quarters in Seville. King Ferdinand confined jews here in 1248 after he took the city, but nowadays is a labyrinth of laneways full of activities and places to visit. For example, if you like art, you can visit the house of Murillo, one of the most famous Spanish painters.
After you visit the house of Murillo you can go to Plaza Santa Cruz, the heart of this barrio. If you don’t want to see the church and learn its history, you can take a longer stroll and visit Plaza Alfaro and Plaza Doña Elvira, two gorgeous squares. Both of these plazas are tiny but the scenery is worth the walk.
Climb Seville’s Metropol Parasol
This modern piece of art in the centre of Seville is one of the most popular places in the city to go to. With its unusual figure and wooden structure, this installation is one of the largest, biggest art pieces in the world. Named Las Setas by the locals because of its appearance, this is one of the perfect spots for pictures if you are visiting the city.
At the base of the structure, you can find elevators that will bring you to the top, in case you want a better view. After you take all the pictures you want, you can also go to the basement and enjoy its museum; there you can learn more about the city, see some ruins and the installation itself. magic
Discover the hidden Casa de Pilatos
This initially closed palace has become partially open to the public, however is one of the most beautiful places in the centre of the city. Even though you can’t walk freely around, you can take a stroll in the lower courtyard and the spaces upstairs. Full of Arabic and Mudéjar influences, this palace is a historical relic.
In the courtyard, you can find fountains and sculptures from the Italian renaissance, and a little bit further from here, there is a classic gothic chapel. If your eyes are not satisfied enough, on the second floor you can see one of the largest collections of tiles in the world, a classic Spanish form of art.
Visit the Plaza de Toros in Seville
Bullfighting is a part of Spain and Andalusia culture, even if you don’t like this practice. You might not be interested in the fights themselves but you can learn more about the heritage of this city in the museum that is on the Plaza. If this is not enough for you, you can also take a picture here, the same place where Daenerys burn a slave master.
The size of the arena is huge and the view can be very impressive. So, this is a nice photo spot.
Take a day trip to Cordoba
For last but not least you should take a day trip to Cordoba. Just 45 minutes on the train away from Seville, you can catch a glimpse of another famous Spanish city. You can visit the Mezquita, one of the most impressive architectural works done by the Moors during the time they were in Spain.
For a better experience, we recommend you to take a tour, this way you can visit the major places you must go to in Cordoba in just one day. Don’t miss anything Sevilla has to offer, book a trip and prepare yourself to have a trip.
