Andalusia’s sun-soaked capital is all flamenco, orange trees and Moorish palaces. Here are the best things to do in Seville.
The 8 best things to do in Seville
A breathtaking Moorish-Mudéjar palace and gardens (a Game of Thrones location).
The world’s largest Gothic cathedral, with Columbus’s tomb and a bell-tower climb.
The grand semicircular plaza with tiled alcoves and a moat — stunning at golden hour.
Seville is flamenco’s heartland — catch an intimate tablao in Triana or Santa Cruz.
The old Jewish quarter’s orange-scented lanes and hidden plazas.
The “Mushrooms” — a vast wooden structure with a rooftop walkway.
The soulful flamenco-and-ceramics district across the river.
Hop bars for jamón, salmorejo and a glass of fino sherry.
Suggested itinerary
Day 1: Alcázar, Cathedral, Santa Cruz, evening flamenco. Day 2: Plaza de España, Triana, tapas; or a Córdoba day trip.
Tips for visiting Seville
- Book the Alcázar online to skip long lines
- Avoid July–August’s extreme heat; spring and autumn are ideal
- Eat tapas the local way — late, standing, and bar-hopping
The flamenco you book online is usually the wrong one
Here’s the trap: you search “flamenco Seville,” book the venue with 11,000 reviews and a dinner package, and end up at an industrial-scale show that’s more buffet than art. The polished dinner-tablaos run €35-75 a head and play to a room of tourists. The genuinely good rooms are small, mic-free, and seat under 50 people. Casa de la Memoria near Santa Cruz and Teatro Flamenco Triana are the two most consistently praised for actual artistry, usually €15-25. Book those directly, not through whatever ad ranked first.
The secret most visitors walk straight past is the Mercado de Triana, the food market on the river side of the Puente de Isabel II. It’s been feeding Sevillanos since 1823, and beneath the stalls sit the excavated ruins of the Castillo de San Jorge, the old Inquisition headquarters, which you can visit free. Grab tapas at a counter here for a fraction of Santa Cruz prices, then catch a neighbourhood show in Triana itself. Getting around: skip taxis and use Sevici, the city bike-share. The first 30 minutes are free and a 24-hour pass is about €2.59. If you do climb the Setas (Metropol Parasol) for the rooftop view, the elevator ticket runs €15.
Seville FAQ
How many days do you need in Seville?
Two to three — the monuments, flamenco, and a possible Córdoba day trip.
When is the best time to visit Seville?
Spring (March–May) and autumn; summer is brutally hot.
Plan more: trip costs · best time to visit · compare destinations
Planning Seville? Where to stay in Seville
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.