Top 10 must-see places to visit in Seville
Seville is one of the Spanish cities that most captivates and enchants all its visitors during their stay. It is a city full of colour, art and culture, which creates in all its visitors the need to come back and explore every corner.
Introduction
New Samay Hostel
In New Samay Hostel we are true lovers of Seville, passionate about its culture, its art and all the corners that make Seville a unique city, and a must for anyone looking to learn more about the history of Spain and the world.
For this reason, we would like to make a list of 10 places that you must visit during your stay in Seville. It is a particularly short list, compared to what the city has to offer, but the rest of the things you will discover by “walking” all over the city.
Top 10 must-see places to visit in Seville
- Catedral de Sevilla
- La Giralda
- Plaza de España
- La Torre del Oro
- Reales Alcázares
- Parques de María Luisa
- Museo de Bellas Artes
- Barrio de Santa Cruz
- Ayuntamiento, Plaza Nueva y Plaza de San Francisco
- Triana
1. Catedral de Sevilla
The Cathedral of Seville is the Gothic reference in the world, standing in the heart of the city, it conquers the hearts of all those who cross its doors.
This Cathedral has an impressive façade, imposing porticoes and a breathtaking interior, where the main altar is the scene of the dance of the sixes that takes place during Lent. This main altar is supposedly built a few metres from the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
In 1988 the Guinness Book of Records certified that it was the largest Gothic cathedral in the world.
The opening hours are from 10:45 to 17:00, and it is located in the heart of the city centre, specifically at Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004 Sevilla.
2. La Giralda
This is the majestic tower that is located in the Cathedral of Seville, and I have named it as a point to visit separate from the Cathedral, to give it the importance it deserves. This tower has been accompanying Seville for over 800 years, and has been a leader in the Seville skyline at 101 metres, until the construction of the Seville Tower.
The Giraldillo crowns this beautiful tower, a bronze statue in the shape of a weather vane which is an important symbol of Seville.
If you want to enjoy it from a beautiful perspective, you can go up to the terrace of the Hotel EME, which has incredible views of the Giralda.
3. Plaza de España
Seville is a city full of wonders to discover and Plaza de España is one of them. One of the landmarks to visit in Seville, and probably the place in Seville that steals the most hearts. Did you know that it is the best rated monument in Europe on TripAdvisor and the second best rated in the world?
This square is the work of the great architect Aníbal González, as an emblematic space of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. It is in the heart of the Maria Luisa Park, which is another must-see on the list.
4. La Torre del Oro
The Torre del Oro has been guarding the waters of the Seville river for 800 years (it dates back to the 13th century, the time of the Almohads). It is witness to the history of the city, including the departure and arrival of the expeditions of Magellan and Elcano.
One of the city’s most emblematic monuments, the Torre del Oro is an excellent example of Islamic architecture and one of the last buildings constructed by the Almohads in Isberia in 1221 and by Pedro I in 1369. The King was enlarged and restored, and in 1760 a third cylinder was built on the tower.
It has been called the Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold) since Almohad times. Still, there are several theories about the name of the building, although the most likely reason seems to be the tiled roof that shines in the sun. This may also be because King Pedro I kept treasures of gold and silver in the tower.
It is a must-see in Seville, and forms part of a monument with almost a millennium of history.
5. Reales Alcázares
The Real Alcázar of Seville is located in the centre of Seville and is one of the oldest palaces in the world. It is a palace that has lived through different periods from the end of the 11th century to the present day, and its walls reveal the influence of the different cultures that have passed through the city.
Inside the palace, the Patio de las Doncellas, with its beautiful tiled skirting boards, and the Patio de las Muñecas, which has a series of interesting capitals, stand out.
Access to the palace is by entrance ticket, which you can buy on the official website of the Real Alcázar of Seville, from just 12.50 euros.
6. The gardens of María Luisa
The gardens of María Luisa Park are an essential point of visit on your trip to Seville, and you will probably visit them several days during your stay as they are located in the famous Plaza de España.
The park is bounded by the avenues of María Luisa, Portugal, Borbolla and Las Delicias. It consists of a central axis with the Lotus and Duck ponds, the Lions fountain and the Gurugú mountain, designed by Forestier.
The park is open practically all day long, opening at 8 a.m. and closing at 10 p.m. in winter and at midnight in summer.
7. Museum of Fine Arts
The Seville Museum of Fine Arts is the second largest art gallery in Spain, and is a world reference in Baroque art, with artists from the Baroque school such as Zurbarán, Murillo and Valdés Leal.
It is the absolute reference for Sevillian painting, a genre which was unrivalled in the world during the 17th century and which also reached very special heights in the genre of genre painting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Admission is completely free for all EU residents, and on Sundays there is an art market in the same square where the museum is located.
8. Barrio de Santa Cruz
Your walk through the Barrio de Santa Cruz will undoubtedly be one of the most special moments of your trip. It is advisable to visit it by day and by night, enjoying all its corners during the day and the tapas at night.
The Barrio de Santa Cruz was once a Jewish quarter, where in the time of Ferdinand III of Castile the second most important Jewish community in Spain was concentrated after that of Toledo. But its origins go back much further, dating back to Roman times, which delimited the limits of Hispalis, today’s Seville.
There are dozens of points and corners to see in the neighbourhood, but if you want to go for the long haul, here is an article that explains the landmarks in this wonderful neighbourhood.
9. Ayuntamiento, Plaza Nueva y Plaza de San Francisco
As you have noticed in the different points, the order of this list does not imply anything, being all the places, obligatory places to visit in the city. And we couldn’t forget Plaza Nueva, where Seville’s Town Hall is located.
Plaza Nueva is Seville’s Plaza Mayor, the centre of the city, located in front of the main building of Seville’s Town Hall.
Leading to its main shopping streets, such as Tetuán and Avenida de la Constitución, it is surrounded by many cafés and tapas bars.
It is also close to the famous Setas de Sevilla, which is not on the list, but is a place we also recommend to visit.
10. Triana
Triana, one of the places that gives the city that special colour that makes those of us who live and visit it fall in love with it.
With its seafaring character and great Sevillian tradition, it is the birthplace of bullfighters and artists and attracts many tourists attracted by its tapas, river views, typical markets and small Sevillian tile shops.
Of course, Triana is a very special district of Seville, a highly recommended plan is a boat trip on the Guadalquivir where you can enjoy Seville from another point of view.
Finally, we would like to encourage you to discover the city, its corners, many of which are not on the list and will fascinate you.
Take part in activities, visit a flamenco show, enjoy the art of its museums, visit the ruins of Italica, among many other things that the city has to offer.
If you want to enjoy Seville from the centre and at the best price, in New Samay Hostel we have rooms adapted to all kinds of budgets and experiences. And live the experience immersed in the culture and in the company of other travellers like you.
