Mihael Grmek / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Personalized picks based on your interests and what's nearby.
Seville is the capital of Andalusia and the beating heart of southern Spain, a warm, golden city of Moorish palaces, orange-tree courtyards and late-night flamenco. Its skyline is crowned by the Giralda, the bell tower of the vast Gothic cathedral, while the Real Alcazar next door hides some of the most beautiful…
Best time to visit
Climb the Setas walkway just before sunset for a golden panorama over the cathedral and the whole old town.
The sights and experiences worth your time — with honest prices.
A dazzling royal palace of Moorish and Mudejar craftsmanship, with carved arches, tiled courtyards and lush gardens still used by the Spanish royal family. Book a timed ticket online well ahead, as it sells out. Free entry is offered on Monday evenings by advance reservation.
The largest Gothic cathedral in the world, holding the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Climb the Giralda bell tower by a gentle ramp for wide views over the old town. A combined ticket with the Salvador church is good value.
A grand semicircular plaza built for the 1929 expo, ringed by tiled alcoves for each Spanish province, bridges and a canal where you can hire a rowing boat. Free to wander and stunning at golden hour.
A giant undulating wooden structure nicknamed 'the mushrooms', with a rooftop walkway offering some of the best views in the city. Come near sunset, when the ticket often includes a drink.
The must-try local dishes, sweets and fruits — including the exotic ones you won't find back home.
DishJuan Emilio Prades Bel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)A cold, blended soup of ripe tomato, cucumber, pepper, garlic, olive oil and vinegar, drunk chilled and endlessly refreshing in the Andalusian heat. In summer it appears on nearly every menu and is often served in a glass to sip.
Order it as a starter or drink it from a glass on a hot afternoon; the best versions are silky, not chunky.
DishJuan Emilio Prades Bel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)A thicker, creamier cousin of gazpacho from nearby Cordoba, made of tomato, bread and olive oil and topped with chopped hard-boiled egg and cured ham. Richer and more filling, it is a Seville tapas-bar staple.
Have it as a tapa with bread; it is heartier than gazpacho, so a small portion goes a long way.
DishPedroserafin / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)Lightly floured small fish and seafood, from anchovies to squid, fried fast and crisp and eaten with a squeeze of lemon. A cornerstone of Andalusian and Seville eating, best straight from the fryer.
Order a mixed fried-fish plate to share and eat it immediately while it is hot and crisp.
DrinkXemenendura / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)The real everyday Andalusian summer drink: red wine cut with lemon or lemon soda over ice. Locals drink it far more than sangria, which is aimed mostly at tourists. Light, cheap and easy with tapas.
Ask for a tinto de verano rather than sangria for the authentic, cheaper local choice.
SweetJuan Emilio Prades Bel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)A Holy Week sweet a little like French toast: bread soaked in milk or wine, fried and dusted with sugar and cinnamon. Traditionally an Easter treat, it turns up in bars and bakeries around springtime.
Look for them in spring, especially around Semana Santa, at traditional bakeries and old-school bars.
The bitter oranges on the thousands of trees lining Seville's streets are too sour to eat raw, but they perfume the whole city in spring and are prized abroad, especially for British marmalade. A true symbol of the city.
Do not pick and eat the street oranges raw; instead try local orange-blossom sweets or marmalade.
Ask travelers and locals — or help others and earn points.
Real restaurants, cafés, sights and things to do across the city — live from the map, with our fair-price and scam intelligence on top.
What locals pay — check a quote before you hand over cash.
Ask for the member or app-only rate — it's often hidden from the public price.
Prices like this often drop closer to the date — worth waiting if your plans are flexible.
Prices like this often drop closer to the date — worth waiting if your plans are flexible.
Book direct — often cheaper than platforms, with free cancellation more often than not.
Ask for the member or app-only rate — it's often hidden from the public price.
Book direct — often cheaper than platforms, with free cancellation more often than not.
Book direct — often cheaper than platforms, with free cancellation more often than not.
Real fares, not tourist prices.
The special EA bus runs between San Pablo airport and the city centre for a low flat fare, every 15 to 30 minutes. Cheap and simple; pay onboard by card or cash, or buy online, and keep your ticket.
Metered-then-fixed official taxis from the airport rank charge a set fare to the centre, higher at night and on weekends and holidays. Best for groups or heavy luggage; use only the marked rank.
Seville's single metro line (L1) is clean and fast but skirts the historic centre, so it is most useful for outer neighbourhoods rather than the main sights, which are better reached on foot.
The TUSSAM bus network and the short central tram fill the gaps, handy for crossing the city or reaching the river. The same rechargeable travel card and single tickets apply.
A short tram line glides through the pedestrian heart of the old town, past the cathedral and main shopping streets. Useful to save your legs in the heat between the central sights.
The old town is flat, compact and made for walking, with the cathedral, Alcazar and Santa Cruz all close together. Comfortable shoes and the cooler morning or evening hours suit it best.
Spring (March to May) and mid-autumn (October to November) offer warm, pleasant weather and the famous orange blossom, ideal for the city without extreme heat. Seville is one of the hottest cities in Europe, with July and August often above 40C, while winter is mild, quiet and cheaper.
Two to three days is enough to see the Alcazar, the cathedral and Giralda, Plaza de Espana and Santa Cruz at a relaxed pace, with time for tapas, a flamenco show and an evening across the river in Triana.
Yes for the Real Alcazar and the cathedral, which use timed entry and sell out in high season. Booking online also skips long queues; the free Monday-evening Alcazar slots must be reserved ahead.
The special EA airport bus is by far the cheapest, running every 15 to 30 minutes for a low flat fare. Official taxis charge a fixed fare that is higher at night and on weekends, and are handy for groups with luggage.
Very hot. Summer regularly exceeds 40C, so it is best to visit in spring or autumn. If you come in summer, sightsee early or late, rest in the shade at midday, and drink plenty of water.
Andalusia is flamenco's homeland, and an intimate tablao gives the most powerful experience. Book a reputable venue ahead; Triana, the art's old quarter, is a fitting place to end the night.