Seville · Andalusia · Spain
The top things to do in Seville start with three monuments side by side: the Cathedral with its Giralda tower, the Royal Alcázar and the Archive of the Indies, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Around them lies the Barrio de Santa Cruz, and a short walk away are Plaza de España, Las Setas and, across the Guadalquivir, Triana.
Beyond the sights: walk over the Triana Bridge at sunset, get out on the river, watch flamenco and, if your dates line up, see Holy Week or the April Fair. Two days cover the essentials. Below is each area with official details as of October 2026, when to go and how to get around.
Here you will find Viator experiences in Seville, such as guided tours of the Cathedral, the Giralda and the Alcázar, plus other activities around the city. Each one shows its price and reviews from people who have done it; availability depends on the date you choose.
The Cathedral was built on the site of the great Almohad mosque from 1401, and Seville's tourist board calls it the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Inside is the tomb of Christopher Columbus; outside, the orange-tree courtyard, the Patio de los Naranjos. The visit starts with the Giralda, the former minaret: 104 metres including the Giraldillo, its bronze weathervane, climbed by 35 ramps instead of stairs.
It opens Monday to Saturday 10:45 to 19:00 and Sunday 14:30 to 19:00, with the ticket office closing at 18:00. Standard entry is €13 online or €14 at the desk, and numbers are capped. On Sundays that are not holidays there is a free public visit from 16:30 to 18:00. The official site allows 75 minutes.
The Royal Alcázar, opposite the Cathedral, is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe. Tickets sell out in high season, so book it first; prices and opening hours are on our Alcázar page.
Between the two, the General Archive of the Indies has kept Spain's records on the Americas since 1785, in the old merchants' exchange. Entry is free and it closes on Mondays.
Right beside the Alcázar is the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the Jewish quarter until 1492: narrow lanes, patios and orange-shaded squares such as Plaza de Doña Elvira and Plaza de Santa Cruz, next to the Murillo Gardens. People live here and it gets busy, so the tourist board asks visitors to be respectful.
Plaza de España, designed by Aníbal González, was built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. Its semicircular building wraps around a canal you can row along and tiled benches dedicated to Spain's provinces. It is open 08:00 to midnight with no ticket; go early or at sunset.
Around it spreads María Luisa Park, more than 34 hectares redesigned by Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, with the Bécquer roundabout, the Frog Fountain and Plaza de América, home to the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs.
On Plaza de la Encarnación stands the Metropol Parasol by Jürgen Mayer, opened in 2011 and known to everyone as Las Setas, the mushrooms. Below are the Antiquarium, with Roman remains, and the Encarnación Market; on top, walkways and a viewpoint.
You go up from level -1, where the ticket desks are. The standard ticket is €16 and includes the viewpoint and the 'Aurora' light show, which starts at 21:30 from April to October. It opens 09:30 to 01:00 and a visit takes about 60 minutes.
The Torre del Oro is an Almohad defensive tower from 1220-1221 that now houses the Naval Museum, with a terrace over the river; entry is free on Mondays. The Maestranza bullring is just nearby.
Cross the Triana Bridge, opened in 1852. On the other side are Calle Betis, Plaza del Altozano, the Triana Market, built over the remains of the San Jorge Castle, and the Church of Santa Ana. The tourist board suggests crossing the bridge both ways at sunset.
The Guadalquivir is navigable up to the city, with sightseeing cruises and kayak trips past the Torre del Oro and Calle Betis.
Flamenco can be seen every day in tablaos, local peñas and venues such as the Flamenco Dance Museum, open daily from 11:00 to 18:00. The Bienal festival is held in even-numbered years; the next one is in 2028.
Holy Week 2027 runs from 21 to 28 March, with processions to the Cathedral every day. The April Fair 2027 runs from Tuesday 13 to Sunday 18 April: many casetas, the fair marquees, are private, but there are public ones too. If you travel on those dates, book ahead.
Two days cover the essentials: the Cathedral, Giralda and Alcázar on the first; Santa Cruz, Plaza de España and Las Setas at dusk on the second. A third day leaves time for Triana, the river and flamenco.
At Seville airport the average daily high in July is 36°C (AEMET, 1981-2010), so in summer see monuments in the morning and walk in the evening. April and October, averaging 23°C and 26°C, are milder.
The centre is flat and walkable. For longer trips there is the Metrocentro tram, a metro line, city buses and Sevici public bikes. The EA airport bus takes about 35 minutes to the centre.
Sierra Nevada is 268 km from Seville's railway station, according to the resort, and about three and a half hours by car. The practical option is to stay in Granada, 31 km from the slopes, and ski for the day. Check the webcams and lift pass prices first.
The Cathedral and Giralda, the Royal Alcázar, the Barrio de Santa Cruz, Plaza de España, Las Setas and Triana. The first three are next to each other and fit into one day.
Two days cover the main monuments and Plaza de España. With three you can add Triana, the river and flamenco without rushing.
Plaza de España, María Luisa Park and Santa Cruz are public spaces, and the Archive of the Indies has free entry. The Cathedral is free on Sundays that are not holidays from 16:30 to 18:00, and the Torre del Oro on Mondays.
From Tuesday 13 to Sunday 18 April 2027. Holy Week runs from 21 to 28 March.
Very: according to AEMET, the average high in July is 36°C. See the monuments first thing and save walks for the evening.
Yes, in Sierra Nevada, about three and a half hours by car. The easiest option is to stay in Granada, 31 km from the slopes, and go up for the day.