Travel

Things to Do in Seville: Alcázar, Free Sights, Food, Bars & Map

In this story
Seville city guide · checked November 2026

Seville packs a Moorish palace, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, orange-tree squares and the flamenco quarter of Triana into an old town you can cross on foot in half an hour. This guide has four self-guided walking routes, the places worth your time with links to book, the best free things to do, and where to eat, drink and stay at every budget, with each venue's website and Instagram so you can see it first.

Book aheadReal Alcázar and the Cathedral sell timed tickets
4 walksself-guided, 1 to 1.5 hours walking each
Airport busfrom San Pablo airport to the centre
Mar–Mayand Oct–Nov are best; July and August are very hot

Seville map: sights, restaurants, bars and walks

Turn the layers on and off, or pick a walk to draw its route with numbered stops. Tap any pin for links.

Walks:
Self-guided

Four Seville walking routes

The old town is flat and its lanes are narrow and shady, but summer afternoons are fierce: walk in the morning or after 7pm from June to September, carry water and plan indoor visits for the middle of the day. Distances are approximate and the times include short stops; add more if you go inside the sights.

Walk 1

Cathedral, Alcázar and Santa Cruz

About 0.9 km · 1 hour walking, a full day with the cathedral and Alcázar

From the cathedral past the Archivo de Indias and through the Alcázar's Patio de Banderas into the lanes of Santa Cruz, ending along the Callejón del Agua by the Murillo gardens.

  1. Seville Cathedral and the Giralda
  2. Archivo General de Indias
  3. Plaza del Triunfo
  4. Patio de Banderas
  5. Plaza de Doña Elvira
  6. Plaza de Santa Cruz
  7. Callejón del Agua
Walk 2

The river and Triana

About 1.8 km · 1.5 hours walking, half a day with the market and ceramics

Along the Arenal riverbank from the Torre del Oro and the Maestranza, over the Isabel II bridge to Triana's market, the sailors' chapel and Santa Ana, back along Calle Betis.

  1. Torre del Oro
  2. Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza
  3. Puente de Isabel II (Triana bridge)
  4. Mercado de Triana
  5. Capilla de los Marineros
  6. Iglesia de Santa Ana
  7. Calle Betis
Walk 3

Setas, palaces and La Macarena

About 2.6 km · 1.5 hours walking, half a day with visits

North from the Setas past the Palacio de las Dueñas and the Baroque San Luis de los Franceses to the Almohad walls and the Macarena basilica, then down Calle Feria to the Alameda de Hércules.

  1. Setas de Sevilla (Metropol Parasol)
  2. Palacio de las Dueñas
  3. Iglesia de San Luis de los Franceses
  4. Murallas de la Macarena
  5. Basílica de la Macarena
  6. Mercado de Feria
  7. Alameda de Hércules
Walk 4

Plaza de España and Parque de María Luisa

About 1.9 km · 1 hour walking, half a day with stops

From the old Royal Tobacco Factory, now the university, to Plaza de España, then through the shady paths of María Luisa park to the Glorieta de Bécquer and the museums on Plaza de América.

  1. Universidad de Sevilla (Real Fábrica de Tabacos)
  2. Plaza de España
  3. Glorieta de Bécquer
  4. Parque de María Luisa
  5. Plaza de América

Places to visit in Seville

The 20 sights we would plan a first trip around, with the official site for opening times and tickets.

The Patio de las Doncellas with its long pool in the Real Alcázar of Seville
Santa Cruz (Patio de Banderas)Free on Mondays (book)

Real Alcázar

Europe's oldest royal palace still in use, a layered complex of Mudéjar halls, Gothic rooms and tiled courtyards such as the Patio de las Doncellas, set in huge walled gardens.

Tip: Book a timed slot on the official ticket site well ahead; you need a passport number when buying and the passport itself at the gate. Open daily 09:30-17:00 from October to March and 09:30-19:00 from April to September. Take the first slot of the day and do the palaces before the gardens. The general ticket also gets you into the Antiquarium under the Setas and the Centro Cerámica Triana.

Time needed: 2-3 hours

Website
The Giralda tower of Seville Cathedral at dusk
Santa Cruz (Avenida de la Constitución)Free for worship

Seville Cathedral and the Giralda

The largest Gothic cathedral in the world, with Columbus's tomb, a vast gilded altarpiece and the Giralda, the former minaret you climb by 35 ramps rather than stairs.

Tip: Tourist visits run Monday to Saturday 10:45-18:00 and Sunday 14:30-19:00, with the Giralda first on a timed entry. Buy online and enter by the Puerta del Lagarto; the box office is at the Puerta del Príncipe. Restorers are working on the top of the Giralda this autumn, but the climb stays open.

Time needed: 1.5-2 hours

Website
Centro (Plaza del Salvador)

Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador

Seville's second-largest church, built on the site of the old main mosque, with a dazzling run of gilded Baroque altarpieces.

Tip: Entry is included in the cathedral ticket, so keep it for the same day. Open Monday to Thursday 10:15-18:00, Friday and Saturday 10:15-17:00, Sunday 14:30-19:30. The bars on the square outside are an after-work institution.

Time needed: 45 minutes

Website
Plaza de España in Seville with a tiled bridge reflected in the canal
Parque de María LuisaFree

Plaza de España

A huge semicircular brick and ceramic showpiece built for the 1929 exposition, with a canal crossed by tiled bridges and an alcove for every Spanish province.

Tip: Free and open all day. Come early in the morning or in the hour before sunset when the brick glows; find your favourite province among the tiled benches and watch for street flamenco under the arcades.

Time needed: 1 hour

Website
A pavilion on Plaza de América reflected in a pool in Parque de María Luisa
South of the centreFree

Parque de María Luisa

Seville's main park, laid out with fountains, pavilions, pools and tiled glorietas, running from Plaza de España to the Plaza de América and its museum buildings.

Tip: Free, open daily 08:00 to midnight. On a hot afternoon it is several degrees cooler under the trees; the Glorieta de Bécquer and the duck pond on Isleta de los Patos are the prettiest corners.

Time needed: 1-2 hours

Website
The wooden canopy of the Setas de Sevilla over Plaza de la Encarnación
Centro (Plaza de la Encarnación)

Setas de Sevilla (Metropol Parasol)

A giant waffle-like wooden canopy over Plaza de la Encarnación, with a winding rooftop walkway and Roman remains in the Antiquarium in the basement.

Tip: Open daily 09:30 to 01:00 (last entry 00:15). Go up around sunset for the best light over the rooftops; from April to October the 'Aurora' light show runs after dark. The Antiquarium is covered by the Alcázar general ticket.

Time needed: 1-1.5 hours

Website
The arcaded main courtyard of Casa de Pilatos in Seville
Santa Cruz (Plaza de Pilatos)

Casa de Pilatos

A 16th-century palace that mixes Mudéjar plasterwork, Renaissance arches and Roman statues around a superb tiled courtyard, still owned by the Medinaceli family.

Tip: Open daily 09:00-18:00. The ground floor and garden are the highlight; the upper floor is a separate ticket. The individual ticket includes a guide or audioguide, and early afternoon is usually quiet.

Time needed: 1-1.5 hours

Website
Centro (Calle Dueñas)Free on Mondays (book)

Palacio de las Dueñas

The Seville home of the Dukes of Alba, a Renaissance palace with lemon-tree patios, gardens and rooms full of family art, bullfighting posters and flamenco memorabilia.

Tip: Open daily 10:00-18:00 from October to March and 10:00-19:00 from April to September, with last entry 45 minutes before closing. Non-holiday Monday afternoons from 16:00 are free, but only with a ticket booked online.

Time needed: 1 hour

Website
Centro (Calle Cuna)Free on Friday mornings

Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija

A noble townhouse known as the best-paved palace in Europe, its floors covered in Roman mosaics brought from Itálica.

Tip: Open daily 10:00-18:00 from September to June and 10:00-15:00 in July and August, last entry 45 minutes before closing. It pairs well with a flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria next door.

Time needed: 45 minutes

Website
The Torre del Oro on the Guadalquivir river with tour boats
El Arenal (Paseo de Cristóbal Colón)Donation

Torre del Oro

A 13th-century Almohad watchtower on the riverbank that once guarded the port, now home to a small maritime museum and a rooftop lookout.

Tip: Open Monday to Friday 09:30-19:00 and weekends 10:30-19:00 (last entry 18:30). Entry is by voluntary donation. The river cruises leave from just beside it.

Time needed: 30-45 minutes

Website
Santa Cruz (Avenida de la Constitución)Free

Archivo General de Indias

The Renaissance merchants' exchange between the cathedral and the Alcázar, now holding the archive of Spain's American empire, with maps and documents on show upstairs.

Tip: Always free with no booking. Open Tuesday to Saturday 09:30-17:00 and Sundays and holidays 10:00-14:00; closed Mondays. A good cool stop between the two big queues.

Time needed: 45 minutes

Website
Centro (Plaza del Museo)Free on set days

Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla

One of Spain's finest art museums, in a former convent, with the great Seville painters Murillo, Zurbarán and Valdés Leal.

Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday 09:00-21:00 and Sundays and holidays 09:00-15:00, closed Mondays (shorter summer hours in August). Room 5, the old convent church, closed on 15 October 2026 for a Juan de Mesa exhibition, so check what is on. The Sunday art market fills the square outside.

Time needed: 1.5-2 hours

Website
Colourful houses lining Calle Betis on the Triana riverbank
Triana (Plaza del Altozano)Free at set times

Mercado de Triana

Triana's covered food market, built over the ruins of the Castillo de San Jorge, with fish, ham and spice stalls plus tapas counters.

Tip: Stalls trade Monday to Saturday 09:00-14:30, so go in the morning; the bars inside stay open into the evening. Eat at the counters rather than buying to take away.

Time needed: 45 minutes

Website
Triana (Calle Callao)

Centro Cerámica Triana

A museum in a restored tile factory, complete with old kilns, that tells the story of Triana's potters, whose tiles cover Plaza de España.

Tip: Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-19:00 and included in the Alcázar general ticket. Afterwards browse the working ceramics shops on Calle Alfarería and Calle Antillano Campos.

Time needed: 1 hour

Website
Centro (Calle Cuna)

Casa de la Memoria

An intimate flamenco cultural centre in an old courtyard house, with a nightly hour-long show of dance, song and guitar.

Tip: Shows run at 18:00 and 19:30, with extra performances at busy times of year. Book online, arrive early for a front seat, and note that the show is not suitable for children under six.

Time needed: 1 hour

Website
Centro (Alfalfa, Calle Manuel Rojas Marcos)

Museo del Baile Flamenco

A flamenco museum founded by the dancer Cristina Hoyos, with costumes, film and interactive rooms, plus its own stage for evening shows.

Tip: The museum is open 10:00-18:45 (last entry 18:00), opening at 14:30 on the first Monday of each month. Shows are at 17:00, 19:00 and 20:45; the early one suits families.

Time needed: 1-2 hours with a show

Website
The white and ochre entrance of the Real Maestranza bullring in Seville
El Arenal (Paseo de Cristóbal Colón)

Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza

One of Spain's oldest bullrings, built from the 18th century, whose guided tour covers the arena, the chapel and a museum of costumes and paintings. Bullfighting is controversial and some visitors prefer to skip it.

Tip: Tours run daily, 09:00-19:30 from 1 November, with the ticket office closing 30 minutes earlier; on event days visits finish at 15:00. You can admire the white and ochre facade from the riverside for free.

Time needed: 45 minutes

Website
La MacarenaFree at set times

Basílica de la Macarena

The modern basilica that houses the Esperanza Macarena, Seville's best-loved Virgin, with a treasury museum of processional floats and robes.

Tip: The church is free and open Monday to Saturday 08:00-14:00 and 17:00-21:00 (Sundays from 09:30). The treasury museum keeps similar hours and charges entry. Combine it with the old city walls across the road.

Time needed: 45 minutes

Website
El Arenal (Calle Temprado)

Hospital de la Caridad

A 17th-century almshouse still run by its charitable brotherhood, whose church holds Valdés Leal's chilling 'Hieroglyphs of Death' and fine works by Murillo.

Tip: Open daily 10:10-17:00 and until 20:30 on Fridays (last entry 15 minutes before closing). Allow time to look at the Valdés Leal paintings by the entrance.

Time needed: 45 minutes

Website
The iron Triana bridge over the Guadalquivir in Seville
El Arenal (beside the Torre del Oro)

Guadalquivir river cruise

A sightseeing boat trip on the Guadalquivir past the Torre del Oro, Triana and the bridges and pavilions of Expo 92.

Tip: Boats leave from the quay next to the Torre del Oro between 11:00 and 19:00. Pick a late-afternoon departure for the softest light, and sit on the side facing Triana.

Time needed: 1 hour

Website
No ticket needed

Free things to do in Seville

Seville’s squares, parks, riverbanks and Plaza de España are free every day, and several of its big sights have free slots for residents or on set days, some for everyone. Free slots are limited and often need booking online, so check each entry before you go.

Real Alcázar

Santa Cruz

Free: Free general visit on Mondays, in a limited number of late-afternoon slots (usually the last hour of the day).

The royal palace and gardens, with their Mudéjar courtyards and fountains, open free to everyone on Monday afternoons.

Tip: Check the official ticket site a week or two ahead and book the moment slots appear; bring the passport you booked with.

Website

Seville Cathedral and the Giralda

Santa Cruz

Free: Free for worship only: the cathedral opens for prayer and Mass early each morning (from 08:00), and the Capilla Real and Parroquia del Sagrario also open for worship at set times. There is also a free cultural visit on some Sundays, subject to the church calendar.

Attending Mass is a free way to see the vast Gothic interior; Sunday 13:00 Mass at the high altar is sung with organ, and there is a Mass in English on Saturdays at 17:00.

Tip: Behave as a worshipper, not a tourist: no photos or wandering. For the Giralda and the full visit, you need a ticket.

Website

Archivo General de Indias

Santa Cruz

Free: Always free. Tuesday to Saturday 09:30-17:00 (last entry 16:30), Sundays and holidays 10:00-14:00; closed Mondays.

The Renaissance exchange building holding the archive of Spain's American empire, with exhibitions upstairs.

Tip: Look up at the marble staircase and the long galleries of mahogany shelves.

Website

Plaza de España

Parque de María Luisa

Free: Always free, open daily 08:00 to midnight.

Seville's showpiece square, with tiled province alcoves, bridges and a canal.

Tip: Rowing boats can usually be hired on the canal for a different angle; or come at night, when it is lit up and quiet.

Website

Parque de María Luisa

South of the centre

Free: Always free, open daily 08:00 to midnight.

The city's great park of fountains, tiled benches, pools and pavilions.

Tip: Bring a picnic and look for the Glorieta de Bécquer, with its statues around a cypress tree.

Website

Basílica de la Macarena

La Macarena

Free: The church is free: Monday to Saturday 08:00-14:00 and 17:00-21:00; Sundays and holidays 09:30-14:00 and 17:00-21:00. The treasury museum charges.

Home of the Esperanza Macarena, the Virgin carried through the streets in the early hours of Good Friday.

Tip: Visit around the 19:40 rosary to see how much she means to locals, then walk along the Almohad walls opposite.

Website

Palacio de las Dueñas

Centro

Free: Free on non-holiday Monday afternoons, from 16:00 until last entry (17:15 October to March, 18:15 April to September).

The Duke of Alba family's Renaissance palace, with lemon-tree patios and family art.

Tip: Book as soon as you know your dates, and go straight to the main patio before it fills.

Website

Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija

Centro

Free: Free ground-floor visit on Fridays at 10:00.

A palace famous for its Roman mosaic floors brought from Itálica.

Tip: Get there before 10:00 on a Friday; the ground floor holds the best mosaics.

Website

Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla

Centro

Free: Free for EU citizens with ID, and for everyone on 28 February, 18 May, 27 September, 4 December and European Heritage Days. UK passport holders do not qualify for the EU-citizen rule and pay a small entry fee on other days.

Seville's fine art museum, with Murillo, Zurbarán and Valdés Leal in a former convent.

Tip: If you are in town on 18 May (International Museum Day) or 4 December, go early as it gets busy.

Website

Torre del Oro

El Arenal

Free: Entry by voluntary donation. Monday to Friday 09:30-19:00, weekends 10:30-19:00 (last entry 18:30).

The 13th-century riverside watchtower, with a small maritime museum and a lookout.

Tip: Climb to the top terrace for the view along the river to Triana and the Maestranza.

Website

Mercado de Triana

Triana

Free: Free to browse. Stalls Monday to Saturday 09:00-14:30; bars Monday to Saturday 09:00-17:00 and 18:00-midnight, Sundays 10:00-17:00.

Triana's food market, with remains of the Castillo de San Jorge visible beneath it.

Tip: Go mid-morning on a weekday to see the fish stalls in full swing.

Website

Callejón del Agua and the Jardines de Murillo

Santa Cruz

Free: Always free and open.

A whitewashed lane running along the Alcázar's outer wall, opening onto the shady Murillo gardens.

Tip: Walk it first thing in the morning, before the tour groups, and finish with coffee on Paseo de Catalina de Ribera.

Website

Alameda de Hércules

Alameda

Free: Always free and open.

A long boulevard laid out in 1574, flanked by Roman columns topped by Hercules and Julius Caesar, now lined with bars and terraces.

Tip: Come in the early evening when families, dog walkers and the first drinkers share the benches.

Website

Free times checked on the official sites on 6 November 2026. They change, so check the link before you go.

Where to stay in Seville

For a first visit, stay in Santa Cruz, El Arenal or the Centro: the walks above all start within a short walk. Triana suits evenings out across the river, the Alameda is younger and livelier, and Nervión, near the station, gives the best value.

Barrio de Santa Cruz

The old Jewish quarter beside the cathedral and the Alcázar: a maze of whitewashed lanes, orange-tree squares and tiled patios that empties out pleasantly once the day-trippers leave.

Best for: First-timers who want the cathedral and Alcázar on the doorstep, and evening strolls

El Arenal

The old river-port district between the cathedral and the Guadalquivir, home to the Maestranza bullring, the Torre del Oro, classic tapas bars and the Teatro de la Maestranza.

Best for: Walking to the river and the main sights, and traditional bars

Triana

The working-class, seafaring barrio across the Isabel II bridge, famous for its ceramics workshops, flamenco families, food market and the riverside bars along Calle Betis.

Best for: Ceramics, flamenco, the market and views back across the river to the old town

Alameda de Hércules

A long, tree-lined boulevard in the north of the old town, framed by Roman columns at one end, that has become Seville's most relaxed nightlife hub and the centre of its LGBTQ+ scene.

Best for: Bars and terraces, younger travellers and LGBTQ+ nightlife

La Macarena

The north of the old town, a residential barrio of churches and markets around the surviving Almohad walls and the basilica of the Virgen de la Macarena.

Best for: Everyday local life, Calle Feria's market and Semana Santa traditions

Plaza de España and Parque de María Luisa

The south side of the centre, where the grand 1929 Ibero-American Exposition pavilions sit in Seville's biggest park, with tiled benches, ponds and shady avenues.

Best for: Families, photographers and a green escape from the heat

Hotels for every budget. Each button opens our live search with that hotel at the top, so you can change the dates and nights.

Luxury hotels

Grand hotels beside the Alcázar and the cathedral, several with rooftop pools.

Centro (beside the Alcázar)Historic palacePool

Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Seville's grandest hotel, a neo-Mudéjar palace built for the 1929 exposition, with tiled courtyards, a pool garden and the Bar Americano.

Gran Meliá Colón, Seville
El Arenal (Calle Canalejas)Five-star classicRooftop and spa

Gran Meliá Colón

A five-star classic near the Maestranza, decorated with Spanish art, with a spa and a rooftop terrace.

Santa Cruz (opposite the cathedral)Cathedral viewsRooftop bar

EME Catedral Mercer Hotel

A design hotel made from a row of old houses facing the cathedral, with several restaurants, a spa and the Terraza del EME rooftop.

Boutique and mid-range hotels

Boutique hotels in old palaces and townhouses, walkable to the sights.

Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza, Seville
Centro (near Casa de Pilatos)Patio houseRooftop pool

Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza

A former corral house built around galleried white-and-ochre patios, with a rooftop pool and a quiet spot near Casa de Pilatos.

Centro (Plaza Nueva)Historic hotelCentral square

Hotel Inglaterra

A long-established four-star on Plaza Nueva, one of the city's oldest hotels, ideally placed between the cathedral and the shopping streets.

Alameda (Calle Trajano)Near the AlamedaRoof terrace

Casa Romana Hotel Boutique

A boutique hotel in a classic Seville townhouse near the Alameda, with a panoramic roof terrace.

NH Collection Sevilla, Seville
Nervión (Avenida Diego Martínez Barrio)ModernPool

NH Collection Sevilla

A modern four-star south-east of the old town, near the Nervión shopping district, with an outdoor pool.

Meliá Sevilla, Seville
Beside Parque de María LuisaOutdoor poolNear Plaza de España

Meliá Sevilla

A sleek, contemporary four-star beside María Luisa park, about 600m from Plaza de España, with a large outdoor pool and a terrace bar.

Good-value hotels

Comfortable, well-placed hotels in the old town and near Santa Justa station, for when the room is just a base.

Petit Palace Santa Cruz, Seville
Centro (Calle Muñoz y Pabón)CentralModern rooms

Petit Palace Santa Cruz

A modern hotel in a restored historic building in the old town, close to Casa de Pilatos and a short walk from the cathedral.

Catalonia Santa Justa, Seville
San Pablo-Santa Justa (Calle José Laguillo)Near the stationDay trips by train

Catalonia Santa Justa

A practical four-star near Santa Justa station, handy for the airport bus and for train day trips to Córdoba.

Hesperia Sevilla, Seville
Nervión (Avenida Eduardo Dato)Good valueLarger rooms

Hesperia Sevilla

A bright, design-led four-star a little outside the old town, with good transport links and roomier bedrooms than most old-town hotels.

El Arenal (Calle García de Vinuesa)Historic houseGreat location

Hotel Simón

A simple, friendly hotel in an 18th-century house with a tiled patio, a few minutes' walk from the cathedral.

Hotel Sevilla Center, Seville
NerviónRooftop poolCity views

Hotel Sevilla Center

A modern, design-led four-star about a kilometre from the Alcázar, with a rooftop terrace, a seasonal pool and wide views over the city.

Search every hotel in Seville

Live prices for hundreds of Seville hotels. Pick your dates and nights, or switch to Holidays to add flights from the UK.

Best restaurants in Seville

From Michelin-starred tasting menus to standing-room tapas bars that have served the same dishes for a century. Seville eats late: lunch from 2pm and dinner from 9pm, so book the popular places ahead.

Cañabota

Fish and seafood tasting menu

Centro (Calle Orfila)

A one-Michelin-star fish restaurant where the day's catch is displayed like a fishmonger's counter and cooked over the grill in front of you; its sister counter La Barra is next door.

WebsiteInstagram

Abantal

Creative Andalusian tasting menu

Nervión (Calle Alcalde José de la Bandera)

Julio Fernández's long-standing one-Michelin-star restaurant, reworking Seville recipes and local produce into seasonal tasting menus.

WebsiteInstagram

Az-Zait

Contemporary Andalusian

San Lorenzo (Plaza de San Lorenzo)

A smart, friendly Bib Gourmand dining room on a quiet square near the Gran Poder basilica, known for careful cooking of fish, rice and game.

WebsiteInstagram

Balbuena y Huertas

Contemporary tapas and grills

Triana (Calle San Jacinto)

A Bib Gourmand bar-restaurant in Triana serving modern takes on Andalusian dishes from breakfast through to late dinner, every day.

WebsiteInstagram

Lalola de Javi Abascal

Traditional Andalusian

Feria (Calle Conde de Torrejón)

Chef Javi Abascal's Bib Gourmand bistro near the Alameda, built around slow-cooked stews, game and market vegetables.

WebsiteInstagram

El Rinconcillo

Classic tapas bar

Centro (Calle Gerona)

Seville's oldest tavern, trading since 1670, where the bill is still chalked on the wooden bar; order the spinach with chickpeas and a glass of sherry.

Website

Bar Las Teresas

Classic tapas bar

Santa Cruz (Calle Santa Teresa)

A tiny, hams-from-the-ceiling bar in the heart of Santa Cruz that started as a grocery in 1870, good for jamón, tortilla and a cold beer standing up.

Website

Espacio Eslava

Modern tapas

San Lorenzo (Calle Eslava)

A much-loved neighbourhood bar and restaurant near San Lorenzo whose inventive tapas, such as its slow-cooked egg on a mushroom cake, have won national awards.

WebsiteInstagram

La Brunilda

Modern tapas

El Arenal (Calle Galera)

A small, busy Arenal bar serving creative tapas and plates with Mediterranean flavours; arrive when it opens or expect to wait.

WebsiteInstagram

El Pintón

Modern Andalusian

Centro (Calle Francos)

A stylish restaurant in a restored historic building near the cathedral, serving updated Andalusian cooking; the Aníbal Club cocktail bar is hidden in the same building.

WebsiteInstagram

Casa Robles

Traditional Andalusian

Centro (Calle Álvarez Quintero)

A family-run Seville classic a few steps from the cathedral, serving classic Andalusian dishes in a formal dining room or as tapas at the bar.

WebsiteInstagram

Mercado Lonja del Barranco

Food market

El Arenal (Calle Arjona)

A gourmet food hall in a 19th-century iron market building by the Isabel II bridge, with stalls for seafood, ham, rice, tapas and drinks, and a riverside terrace.

Website

Best bars in Seville

Rooftop terraces facing the Giralda, old bodegas with sherry from the barrel, cocktail bars and a flamenco show.

La Terraza del EME

Rooftop cocktail bar

Santa Cruz (EME Catedral Mercer Hotel)

A rooftop terrace almost close enough to touch the Giralda, serving cocktails into the night; arrive before sunset to get a table on the cathedral side.

WebsiteInstagram

Pura Vida Terraza

Rooftop cocktail bar

Centro (Hotel Fontecruz Sevilla Seises)

A relaxed rooftop on top of a hotel beside the cathedral, with views of the Giralda, cocktails and live flamenco on some evenings.

WebsiteInstagram

Terraza Hotel Doña María

Rooftop bar

Santa Cruz (Hotel Doña María)

An old-fashioned hotel roof terrace beside a small pool, looking straight across at the Giralda; quieter and more traditional than the trendier rooftops.

WebsiteInstagram

Terraza Casa Romana

Rooftop bar

Alameda (Casa Romana Hotel Boutique)

A panoramic hotel roof terrace near the Alameda, a good place to start a night in the north of the old town.

WebsiteInstagram

Aníbal Club

Speakeasy cocktail bar

Centro (inside El Pintón, Calle Francos)

A hidden cocktail bar tucked inside the El Pintón building, known for inventive twists on the classics; book ahead.

WebsiteInstagram

Bar Americano at Hotel Alfonso XIII

Classic hotel cocktail bar

Centro (Calle San Fernando)

The grand hotel bar of Seville's 1929 palace hotel, all dark wood and tiles, for a properly made martini before dinner.

Website

Maquiavelo

Garden cocktail bar

Muelle de las Delicias (riverside)

A riverside garden venue by the port, with a restaurant by day and cocktails in the evening; drinks tables can be reserved by WhatsApp.

WebsiteInstagram

Bodeguita Romero

Sherry and tapas bar

El Arenal (Calle Harinas)

A family-run Arenal bodega since 1939, good for manzanilla from the barrel and its famous pringá montadito.

Website

Vinería San Telmo

Wine and sherry bar

Santa Cruz (Paseo de Catalina de Ribera)

A lively wine bar facing the Murillo gardens, with a long list of sherries and Spanish wines by the glass and inventive tapas.

WebsiteInstagram

La Casa del Flamenco

Flamenco venue

Santa Cruz (Calle Ximénez de Enciso)

A small flamenco stage in a historic Santa Cruz courtyard house, with nightly shows close enough to hear the footwork.

WebsiteInstagram

Gay bars in Seville

Seville’s LGBTQ+ life centres on the Alameda de Hércules, the long tree-lined square north of the centre, with bars and late clubs around it and a relaxed, mixed crowd. Spain has had equal marriage since 2005, and Seville is one of the most welcoming cities in Andalucía.

Ítaca

Gay club

Alameda (Calle Amor de Dios)

Seville's long-running gay nightclub, with a dance floor of pop and Latin hits, drag nights and monthly parties; it gets going after 1am.

Instagram

Dilema

LGBTQ+ café-bar and terrace

Alameda de Hércules

A friendly queer café-bar with a terrace on the Alameda, open from lunchtime into the night.

Instagram

1987 Bar

LGBTQ+ music bar

Alameda de Hércules

An Eighties-themed music bar on the Alameda, busy late every night with a mixed, gay-friendly crowd.

Instagram

Pride B4R

Gay disco bar

Alameda (Calle Trajano)

A late-night gay disco bar near the Alameda, formerly Men to Men, with drag shows from Thursday to Saturday.

Instagram

All venues checked as trading on 6 November 2026. Opening hours change, so check Instagram before you go.

Seville FAQ

When is the best time to visit Seville?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November) are ideal, with warm days for walking and orange blossom in March and April. July and August are fiercely hot, often above 40°C in the afternoon, so plan sightseeing early and late. Winters are mild and sunny, with short queues and Christmas markets in December.

How hot does Seville get in summer?

Very. Afternoon highs regularly pass 40°C in July and August, and nights stay warm. Locals sightsee before about 13:00, retreat indoors through the afternoon and come out again after 20:00. Book a hotel with air-conditioning and ideally a pool, carry water, and save covered sights such as the cathedral, the Archivo de Indias and the Centro Cerámica Triana for the hottest hours.

How many days do you need in Seville?

Three days covers the Alcázar, the cathedral and Giralda, Santa Cruz, Plaza de España, Triana and a flamenco show at an unhurried pace. Add a fourth or fifth day for the palaces of Pilatos and Las Dueñas, the Museo de Bellas Artes, or a day trip to Córdoba.

How do I get from Seville airport to the city centre?

The airport bus (line EA) runs roughly every 20-30 minutes and takes about 35 minutes to the centre, stopping at Santa Justa station, Prado de San Sebastián and Plaza de Armas. Taxis wait outside arrivals and charge a fixed fare to the centre, which is quicker if you have heavy bags. There is no train or metro to the airport.

Do I need to book Real Alcázar tickets in advance?

Yes, especially from March to October and at weekends. Entry is by 30-minute time slot, tickets are sold on the Alcázar's official site, and you need your passport number when buying. The box office in the Patio de Banderas only sells same-day tickets and they often sell out. The free Monday slots must also be booked online and go quickly.

When are Semana Santa and the April Fair, and how do they affect a visit?

Semana Santa (Holy Week) brings religious processions through the old town every day from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday; in 2027 that is 21 to 28 March. The Feria de Abril follows about two weeks later, usually in April or early May, with a week of casetas, horses and sevillanas south of the river in Los Remedios. Both are unforgettable, but hotels fill up and prices rise, many streets close and some sights change their hours, so book months ahead.

Can I do day trips to Córdoba and Granada from Seville?

Córdoba is an easy day trip: high-speed trains take about 45 minutes, leaving time for the Mezquita, the Jewish quarter and the Alcázar. Granada is about two and a half hours each way by train or bus, so it is better as an overnight stop; Alhambra tickets sell out weeks ahead. Our multi-centre trip links Seville, Córdoba and Granada in one holiday.

Is Seville LGBTQ+ friendly?

Yes. Spain has had same-sex marriage since 2005 and Seville is relaxed and welcoming, with its LGBTQ+ bars and terraces centred on the Alameda de Hércules. The city hosts Pride of Andalucía at the end of June. Normal big-city awareness applies late at night, as anywhere.

Keep planning