Skip Madrid and Barcelona and Head to Southern Spain For The Most Beautiful City in the Country
From the colorful mosaics to the palm-lined courtyards and ornate buildings, this is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, hands down….
Seville is the largest city in the southern Spain region of Andalusia, and truly, I just totally fell in love with the city. It is so dang pretty, with gorgeous landmarks, palaces, and gardens all over the city. Plus, the mix of cultures gives it a distinct feel, and I loved wandering the neighborhoods, admiring the architecture, and just soaking it all in.
Southern Spain has a pretty distinct history in Europe: it was ruled by the North African Moors for over 500 years, and the Islamic influence from that time is still visible. You’ll see some of that influence in important landmarks like the Real Alcázar, La Giralda, and the Torre del Oro.
When the Castilians took over in the 13th century, they added their own style to the landmarks already here, blending Islamic and Christian styles in a way that makes the city feel completely unique.
All of this comes together to make Seville one of my top favorite cities in Europe, and one that absolutely should be at the top of your bucket list. Here are 15 of the most stunning sites you can’t miss when exploring Sevilla.
15 Gorgeous Spots to Visit in Seville
1. Plaza de Espana
One of the most iconic locations in Seville is the Plaza de Espana, and my goodness it was an incredible plaza. A beautiful, columned building curves in a semi-circle with two large towers on either end. A canal follows the curve of the building, and 4 delightful bridges cross the canal. It’s absolutely one of the best photo spots in Seville.
Despite its grand appearance, the Plaza is actually not even 100 years old. It was designed and constructed in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exhibition World Fair, and is a combination of Renaissance Revival, Baroque Revival, and Moorish Revival architectural styles – a combination that melds with the rich history of Seville.
The Plaza is extremely intricate and aesthetic, with gorgeous blue and white tiles on the buildings, lampposts, bridges, and alcoves. You can even rent rowboats to take out on the moat (starting at 10am)
You should definitely walk through the columned passageway inside the building – you may recognize the view from some scenes of Naboo used in Star Wars Episode 2. Today, government offices and museums are housed in the actual building structure.
One of the most picturesque parts of the plaza are these blue, white, and yellow tiled alcoves. Each alcove represents one of Spain’s 48 historic provinces, with a tiled image against the wall that showcases a scene from the province, as well as its name.
As a top attraction in Seville, this square gets very busy throughout the day, but it is quite big so there is a lot of space to spread out. Inexplicably, more people tend to gather around the left side of the plaza (if you’re looking at it) than the right side.
If you want to enjoy the plaza without hordes of other tourists, you’ll need to arrive before 9am, or come in the late afternoon or evening when the tour groups are gone.
I actually loved this spot so much that I came here twice – once in the middle of the day, which was a great time, but then again early one morning to enjoy the empty plaza and take pictures. Early morning is magic here!
2. Maria Luisa Park
Maria Luisa Park is a 99-acre park, making it Seville’s largest green space. This relaxing park is adjacent to the Plaza de Espana on one side, and the Guadalquivir River on the other. The park was completely redone while the Plaza de Espana was being constructed for the 1929 Exposition, and the result is really breathtaking.
The park is full of Mediterranean trees, exotic plants, and vibrantly colored flowers. Throughout the park, there are statues and beautiful fountains, little ponds with bridges and gazebos, pavilions, and lots of delightful features to discover.
A few spots you can miss in the park include the Jardin de Los Leones (or the Lion Garden), a tiled fountain surrounded by, you guessed it, lion statues.
Stephanie’s Pro Tip: Definitely make sure you swing by the southern end of the gardens and admire the beautiful Plaza de America, surrounded by the beautiful buildings of the Pebellon Real and the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions.
It is one of the best green spaces in Seville and is perfect for a leisurely walk, picnic, or a place to relax. Or, you can rent bicycles or take a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout the picturesque park.
3. Real Alcazar of Seville
The Real Alcazar of Seville (Palace of Alcazar) is a stunning, intricately detailed building, and a visit here will definitely be a highlight of your time in Seville. The Real Alcazar of Seville consists of several palaces, built by several different rulers throughout Seville’s history. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Real Alcazar was first constructed in 913, under the direction of the Caliph of Cordoba, Abdurrahman III an-Nasir. Throughout the next few centuries, the palace was a seat of government under Moorish rule.
It also served as the center of literary life and was home to famous poets such as Al Mutamid.
In 1249, the Real Alcazar was conquered by the Castilians (the Christian rulers who were re-conquering Spain between the 1200-1400’s.) They made the palace their official royal residence in Seville. This was a crucial point in the history of the palace, as it is when the Christian and Islamic influences were intertwined.
Throughout the next few centuries, new additions were continuously added to the Real Alcazar.
It’s particularly intriguing because although the palace looks like it came straight out of the Arab world, many of the designs we see today are from after the Christians conquered the city, creating a fascinating fusion of both Christian and Islamic influences.
The architecture is incredible and the interior consists of ornate designs, famous artworks, and beautiful gardens. The tilework on the walls and detailed carvings on the arches are so detailed and so beautiful – it’s truly swoon-worthy and absolutely one of the best things to do in Seville.
Plus, fans of Game of Thrones will recognize the Real Alcazar as the set for Dorne.
How to Visit
Tickets: The Royal Alcazar is definitely a location where a guided tour is going to massively enhance your experience. This top-rated tour is 1.5 hours long, well-organized, and with guides that give a fascinating look into the history and significance of the palace.
Stephanie’s Pro Tip: If you don’t do the guided tour option, then you definitely should buy your entrance ticket ahead of time (they can sell out on-site the day of).
Hours: The Real Alcazar is open daily. From April 1-October 28 it is open from 9:30 am to 8 pm, and from October 29-March 31 from 9:30 am to 6 pm (but always verify hours before you go).
4. Sevilla Cathedral
The Cathedral de Sevilla is another UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-visit place in Seville. The site of the Cathedral was originally a large mosque during the Moorish time, but when Ferdinand III conquered Seville in the 13th century, he used it as a Christian Cathedral and made changes to the interior over time.
By 1403, it was decided to completely rebuild it and construct a grand Cathedral that would show the importance of Seville. The construction of the Sevilla Cathedral lasted for another 200 years before finally being completed in the 16th century.
Today, the Cathedral de Sevilla is one of the most important in Seville. The Gothic-style Cathedral is stunning and is very large and ornate. Its beautiful Renaissance bell tower, Giralda, is 104m high and towers over the cathedral.
The inside is not like a traditional cathedral with a cross-shaped floorplan, instead, it features an altar in the middle of the room surrounded by several chapels. Throughout the interior, there are many intricate sculptures and details among the columns, ceilings, and alters, as well as tall, vaulted ceilings. It’s a massive, truly stunning building.
Another interesting thing about the Sevilla Cathedral is that the sepulcher of Christopher Columbus is located here.
At the Cathedral de Sevilla, you can visit both the interior of the cathedral as well as climb the bell tower.
Tickets: I’d recommend you buy your tickets online in advance, as it saves you time there and you can skip the queue. Tickets give you entry to the Cathedral, and the La Giralda bell tower.
Hours: The Cathedral is open to the public from Monday to Saturday from 10:15 am-6 pm and on Sundays from 2:30pm – 6pm.
5. La Giralda
La Giralda is the tall bell tower adjacent to the Seville Cathedral. Originally, it was a minaret that was a part of the Grand Mosque that originally stood on the site. As part of your visit to the Cathedral, you can climb to the top of the tower.
I’ve climbed a lot of towers in my life, and La Giralda was one of the more pleasant climbs. Instead of stairs or a really tight circular staircase, you’re walking up a wide, square ramp.
Along the way up are these really charming alcoves with foil-arched windows overlooking the city or the cathedral rooftop. At the top, you’re in a tall space under the roof with the bells. While everything is open air, the 4 sides are divided into little rooms with arches between the rooms, windows overlooking the city, and bells hanging in each space. It’s a really beautiful and unique design.
As you exit La Giralda and the cathedral, make sure you appreciate this beautiful patio – the Patio e los Naranjos – a square with a fountain and rows of orange trees.
6. Setas de Sevilla
The Setas de Seville, also known as the Parasol of Seville, is a modern, mushroom-like building in Central Seville. Made completely of wood and doubling as an art feature, it was designed to revitalize the area, and has only been completed in the last 15 years.
Walk beneath the parasol and take in the interesting design, and then take the elevator to the top and walk the short path around the perimeter of the parasol.
While the pathway is short and doesn’t take long to walk, it offers a great vantage point and the architecture lends an interesting contrast to the traditional rooftops and skyline of Sevilla.
I highly recommend visiting the Setas right before sunset – arriving about 45 minutes ahead of time so you’re up at the top at least 30 minutes before so you can enjoy the soft lighting over the city.
They also do a nighttime light show as dusk falls, though I found it a bit underwhelming. A very soft, zen-like bell music played while different colored lights rippled across the top of the structure.
It was cool, but with the modern structure I was expecting something a little bit more flashy. If you’re visiting at sunset, you might as well stay to see the lights, but I wouldn’t come back specifically for the lights.
Definitely buy your ticket in advance – it’s kind of a pain to buy tickets there, and if you’re coming for sunset, you don’t want to miss it by getting stuck in a long queue for tickets.
7. Explore the Barrio de Santa Cruz
Barrio de Santa Cruz is the most historic part of the city, and is where the Cathedral and Real Alcazar are located, so you’ll have already had some experience in this neighborhood.
Today, start by wandering around the super cute cobblestoned streets. Many of the buildings are colorful – reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows predominate, and many have little balconies off their windows.
The neighborhood is a charming mix of of narrow, winding streets that are more like cute alleyways, and then, of course, larger, wide main streets.
You’ll visit the next three attractions on this list as you explore Barrio de Santa Cruz.
8. Plaza del Cabildo
Plaza de Cabildo is still a bit of a hidden gem in Seville, and is tucked away off of a passageway off of a side street in the old city. This charming plaza is surrounded by a semi-circle building with arches, columns, and beautiful white and gold designs.
And if you like antiquing, there’s a great little antique shop on the square.
9. Torre del Oro (Gold Tower)
Another landmark of Seville is the Torre del Oro, popularly known as the Gold Tower due to its beautiful golden color in the sunlight. The tower is a dramatic octagonal prism and sits right on the Guadalquivir River.
The tower was first constructed in 1221 and was originally a part of the Moorish fortress that went around the city. It was first used as a watchtower to control which ships accessed the river.
Later during medieval times, it was used as a prison. In 1940, a small naval museum was opened in the tower, which you can still visit today (although I’d probably skip it – we didn’t find it too interesting).
However, the highlight of visiting Torre del Oro is climbing the stairs and checking out the great views from the top.
- Hours: Monday-Friday from 9:30 am to 6:45 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 10:30 am.
- Entrance Fee: 3 euro
10. Walk Along the River Promenade by the Torre del Oro
After visiting the Torre del Oro, take a walk along the beautiful river promenade. This is a very pretty part of Seville, perfect for exploring, watching the riverboats cruise up and down the river, and admire the views.
If you have time, pop on over the Puente de Isabel Bridge and walk through the Triana neighborhood on the other side to flesh out your two days in Seville.
11. Casa de Pilatos
The Casa de Pilatos, or “Pilate’s House,” was built in the 1600’s for a private family, but is essentially a small palace and is an astonishing mix of Renaissance style and Mudejar architecture, which works seamlessly to create a drop-dead gorgeous estate.
The main courtyard is designed with carved stucco arches, marble flooring, intricate, colorful tile mosaics on the walls, and a fountain in the middle of the courtyard. Interestingly, there are also classical Roman-style busts and sculptures on display here as well.
Several gardens accent the estate for you to stroll through, with hedges, orange trees, flowers, fountains, and a very traditional Islamic symmetrical layout.
There are also a few interior rooms you can visit, which include a chapel and study. These rooms are also absolutely stunning, with intricately carved cedarwood ceilings, colorful mosaics on every wall, and sculptures and expensive furnishings.
This estate isn’t quite as fancy as the Real Alcazar, but it does have some very similar types of arches, mosaics, and courtyards. Plus, it sees just a fraction of the visitors of the Alcazar.
The Casa de Pilatos is generally regarded as the “prototype of the Andalucian palace” – I definitely think it’s worth a visit.
Hours: 10am-7 (summer), and 10am-6pm (winter)
Entrance Fee: 10 euro to visit ground floor, and includes an audio guide. To see the upper level, it’s another 5 euro to join the guided tour at 3pm
12. Palacio de las Duenas
This palace belonged to several noble families in the 1400-1600’s, and is a beautiful example of Andalusian architecture and style. In the palace, you’ll first stop to admire the main courtyard, lined with arches painted in golden tones. You’ll see a few more courtyards as you explore the palace.
I adored the design of the arched passageways around the building, with the warm, Mediterranean colors, the intricate friezes along the ceiling, the beautiful tapestries hung in the corners, and greenery dotting the corridor.
There are several rooms you can visit, including several formal sitting rooms, a library, a study, and a chapel. These rooms are colorful, filled with plush, heavy tapestries on the walls, even more intricately carved friezes, and ornate decorations.
The gardens here are absolutely gorgeous and are pretty expansive for being right in the city. These gardens are filled with orange trees, flowers, and wisteria, and are usually arranged in traditional Islamic fashion, with symmetrical designs and fountains in the middle.
- Hours: 10am-8pm in summer, 10am-6pm in winter
- Entrance Fee: 12 euro
13. La Compana Confiteria
Make a quick stop at La Compana Confiteria, a historical bakery located in the northern part of the old town. It’s one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever ordered a pastry from – with gold leafing, marble columns and floors, and dark wood cases filled with delicious treats.
The bakery is known for its Spanish cakes but offers a variety of dessert pastries, breakfast pastries, sandwiches, and savory options, as well as chocolates and gift packages.
14. Attend a Flamenco Show
Attending a Flamenco show is a must-do experience in Seville. Flamenco is a cherished, cultural tradition in Spain, that originated in the Andalusia region centuries ago.
The Flamenco show typically includes Flamenco dancers in vibrant costumes, as well as lots of singing, guitar, stomping, and clapping. The dancing is an engrossing contrast between fluid, graceful movements and sharp, strong movements.
We loved attending the Flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria. The venue was small and intimate, and the dancers were incredibly talented and were warm and friendly in their demeanor. This was my first time seeing flamenco dancing, and I was absolutely riveted.
Book this incredible Flamenco show here
15. Enjoy Spanish Cuisine
Spanish cuisine is absolutely delicious: paella, tapas, and churros oh my! There are tapas bars everywhere in the city, where you can share small plates with your friends—one of our favorites was Mamarracha Tapas Bar. Or get an order of churros and hot chocolate to start your day on a sweet note.
