The best things to do in Seville
Seville is all about astonishing architecture, from Gothic and Mudejar (Muslim style, built for Christian rulers), to Renaissance and Baroque, sometimes all in the same building. After you’ve visited the world-famous attractions, like the Cathedral and Alcazar, try a flamenco or tile-making class, or take an electric scooter-bike tour. In summer, when the temperature soars, be sure to book a boat tour or an evening, rooftop concert.
Read on to find out more, while for further Seville inspiration, here are guides devoted to the city's best hotels, restaurants, bars, things to see and do for free, plus how to spend a weekend in Seville.
Climb the minaret of the world’s largest Gothic cathedral
If it’s your first visit, Seville Cathedral is a must-see, if only to marvel at Columbus’ tomb, held aloft by knights from the four kingdoms of old Spain. Climb up the Giralda belltower, formerly the minaret of the mosque that stood here – the views over the Jewish Quarter and the next-door Alcazar are spectacular.
Insider's tip: Buy your ticket at nearby El Salvador church, and then slip to the front of the queue. Also, the children’s audio guide is shorter, and more palatable for many than the adult version (20-odd points as opposed to 40), featuring the best bits.
Contact: catedraldesevilla.es
Price: ££
Climb to the top of a modern architectural icon
Metropol Parasol is Seville's modern architectural icon, and the world's largest wooden structure. Consisting of six mushroom-shaped shades – it's known locally as Las Setas, the Mushrooms – the 28-metre tall structure houses an archaeological museum in the basement, with stunning Roman mosaics; a food market and bars on the ground floor; and above this is an open area for concerts.
Insider's tip: Take the lift up to the panoramic walkway with spectacular 360-degree views, from the Expo 92 site at La Cartuja to the cathedral.
Contact: setasdesevilla.com
Price: £
Time-travel to Moorish Seville
Take a virtual trip back in time to the era of the Romans, Moors, or 17th-century Seville. Past View Experience's ingenious and fun system (children love it) consists of smart glasses using Augmented Reality plus a touchpad. You go to various key locations of the city, such as the Torre del Oro, Plaza San Francisco, Metropol Parasol, and the cathedral, where you watch virtual reconstructions of your surroundings, while historic characters tell you about their lives.
Insider's tip: Brush up beforehand on Cervantes, and what happened to him while he was living in Seville, to get more out of this experience.
Contact: pastviewexperience.com
Price: £££
Take a cooking class in a market
These days, markets are so much more than a local place to buy your fresh fruit and veg. The riverside Triana Market is built on top of Castillo San Jorge, the seat of the Spanish Inquisition and as well as eyeballing the extraordinary sea snails and tasting jamón ibérico, have tapas sushi or oysters, nibble on pretty pastries, and even take a cooking class – with Taller Andaluz de Cocina you’ll meet the stallholders, then make four classic tapas – think cod fritters and spinach with chickpeas - washed down with sangria.
Insider's tip: At weekends there's a craft fair down by the river, just outside the market, with stalls selling handmade jewellery, bags and accessories.
Contact: mercadodetrianasevilla.com
Price: £
Experience Jewish life in Seville
Seville had a substantial Jewish population until the end of the 15th century, when the Inquisition took hold. Learn about Sephardic (Iberian-Jewish) history on a tour of the Juderia (old Jewish Quarter) with Jewish history lecturer Moises Hassan-Amselem. He will show you former synagogues, and bring to life the experience of his community in Seville, past and present.
Insider's tip: If you don’t do this tour, it’s worth going into the underground car park at Jardines de Murillo – most incongruously, there’s a Jewish tomb behind a glass wall – this entire area used to be an extramuros cemetery (outside the city walls).
Contact: jewishsevilla.com
Price: £££
Sail up the river in a silent electric boat
Get a different perspective on the city by heading down to the river, especially in the height of Seville's intense summer when it’s slightly cooler on the water. Glide up the Guadalquivir in one of Guadaluxe’s three electric boats, carrying up to 50 passengers – the route is from Puente de las Delicias, past the Torre del Oro, bullring and Expo 1992 site, up to the Puente de la Barqueta.
Insider's tip: The boat can pick up and drop off from any of four docks along the river, from Triana all the way down to the Aquarium.
Contact: guadaluxe.com
Price: ££
Go to a rooftop concert
A number of venues hold outdoor concerts on roof terraces on hot summer evenings, when the best spot to catch any breeze is as high up as possible. One of the best, operating year-round, is Pura Vida Terraza at the Hotel Fontecruz Sevilla Seises near the cathedral - catch the flamenco every weekend, with a Giralda backdrop, at this beach bar-vibe roof terrace.
Insider's tip: You can also use the hotel’s gorgeous rooftop pool, next to the bar, for a fee – morning, afternoon or all-day session, with sunbed, towel and mojito included – just be sure to reserve in advance.
Contact: puravidaterraza.com
Price: £
Paint your own ceramic tile in Triana
The boho barrio of Triana is also known for its azulejos (ceramic tiles), which adorn the interiors of Seville’s churches, houses, hotels, bars and restaurants. You can make your own to take home at pottery studio Barro Azul. Paint tiles using traditional designs and channel your inner Demi Moore to make a pot on the wheel. You can also paint a fan.
Insider's tip: A few steps away is the little-known Centro Ceramica de Triana, where you can learn how tiles were made in the early 20th century, and see the kilns used to fire ceramics centuries ago.
Contact: barroazul.es
Price: £
Delve into a duchess’ life
The pretty Las Dueñas was the preferred abode – out of about 30 – of the late Duchess of Alba, Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart (she was descended from King James I of England). The world’s most-titled aristocrat was a huge fan of all things Sevillano – Semana Santa, Feria, bullfighting, and Betis football club. You can see inside her house, complete with personal mementoes, framed family photos and poems, which sit alongside magnificent tapestries and artworks (she was a keen collector), private chapel, magnificent Mudejar patio, and lemon tree-filled garden, which famously inspired poet Antonio Machado to compose a piece about his childhood spent there.
Insider's tip: Look out for all the representations of the Duchess around the house – paintings, sculptures and photographs, especially the colour photo of her dancing flamenco.
Contact: lasduenas.es
Price: £
Learn flamenco with Eva
Flamenco is one of the trickiest dances to master – get a tantalising taster with the charismatic Eva’s introduction to flamenco class. At a professional studio in gypsy barrio Triana, she’ll take you through all the rhythms, from tango to seguiriya, with clapping, dance steps and arm movements, so by the end you’ll dance a short routine yourself. She even provides flamenco shoes, skirts, shawls and flower (men get a cropped jacket and shawl), so you look and feel the part.
Insider's tip: Eva can take you to authentic local bars to meet her flamenco friends for an evening of spontaneous singing and dancing.
Contact: ishowusevilla.com
Price: ££
Kick the tiles at Santa Ana church
The oldest parish church in Seville, known as “the cathedral of Triana”, recently celebrated its 750th anniversary. The Gothic-Mudejar edifice was built in 1276 by King Alfonso X, whose father Fernando reconquered the city from the Moors after 500 years. Legend goes that if an unmarried girl kicks a 16th-century tiled tomb (hand-painted by master Niculoso Pisano, now protected by a glass case), she’ll find a husband, while babies baptised in its font will be bestowed with gypsy flamenco talent.
Insider's tip: This church is very popular for weddings – sit at the café next door and watch the finely-costumed guests parade past.
Contact: santanatriana.org
Price: £
Go green in Maria Luisa Park
Sevillanos love their electric scooters, but it’s also a fun way for visitors (especially children) to explore the city. Zip off to Parque Maria Luisa with Surf the City’s charmingly laid-back yet knowledgeable guides on their electric scooter-bikes (low platform with bike wheels). Minimum effort, maximum reward as you head along the bougainvillea-lined avenues leading to magnificent Plaza de España, centrepiece of the 1929 Ibero-American Fair. They also rent out electric bikes, and can take you around the lesser-known Macarena neighbourhood, as well as the Expo 1992 site on Isla Cartuja.
Insider's tip: Younger children aged up to eight can ride on a scooter with an adult – eight or nine-year-olds should try out the scooters first to see if they want to ride their own.
Contact: surfthecity.es
Price: £
