Our favourite destination (so far)!
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Seville is an authentically Spanish city where culture is on every single corner. They truly embrace their heritage, so when you walk through the city centre you are constantly in awe of the architecture and atmosphere that fills every street. If you’re looking for a beachy holiday where you’ll find a full English breakfast in every bar and don’t have to speak a word of Spanish, Seville probably isn’t the place for you.
The city is packed full of tiny tapas bars and bodeguitas, where tourists and locals alike are welcomed for wine and traditional Andalusian food. This is our favourite city of all time - if you keep reading you’ll find out why!
Seville takes pride in its culture, the whole city is branded with their emblem NO8DO - meaning “She has not abandoned me”. The cathedral stands tall over the city, with the spire reaching heights of 105m. This cathedral, like many others in Andalusia, was originally a mosque until it was rebuilt in its current Gothic style in 1401. It’s an absolutely stunning building, and one that takes your breath away even when you walk past for the seventh time that day!
There are too many amazing heritage sites in Seville to list in this summary post - but our favourite has to be the beautiful Plaza de España, where every region of Spain is named and shown in tiled artwork. It's free to visit and absolutely breathtaking. You can often find street performers creating music or doing traditional dances such as Flamenco around the space.
Another key spot is La Maestranza, the oldest bullring in Spain, where you can still witness a traditional Spanish bullfight. These can apparently be quite gory - we didn’t see it because I was concerned I’d cry when the bull died! If you feel strongly about animal cruelty, it’s probably not the best activity.
Don't miss the Royal Alcazar, if you're going to pay for one activity in Seville, let it be this one. The gardens are stunning and you could wander around them for hours, and the interior really is amazing. You'll think you've seen every room, and then all of a sudden another door appears out of nowhere and you have more to explore!!
Andalusia is also the home of flamenco, so if you are at all interested in this incredibly intense and expressive style of dance, definitely head to Plaza de España and see if you can catch a free flamenco show, or book yourself in at a specialised flamenco bar or theatre for the full experience. We watched this flamenco show at the theatre and loved it! We go into more detail about things to do in Seville in our Seville Checklist, so have a read if you're interested.
Seville is a city not to be missed for foodies! There are tapas bars on every corner, beautiful restaurants and rooftop bars with the most spectacular views. If you want to try an authentic Sevillian dish, we would definitely recommend carrillada. We tried this on the first day of our trip and didn’t stop ordering it after that! It’s a slow-cooked pork’s cheek in a thick, gravy-like sauce. My mouth is literally watering just writing about it!
The patatas bravas in Seville are also to die for. Most restaurants serve all of their dishes in either a tapas (very small portion), medio (half plate) or plato (full plate - enough for a full meal). You might think of cheese and wine as a French delicacy, but Manchego cheese paired with a semi-sweet white wine is a mouth-watering combination in the tapas bars of Seville!
Whilst in Seville, make sure to head over the river to the neighbourhood of Triana. It’s a part of Seville that is sometimes missed off of people’s list, but a great area to get a true feel of the local culture. You can visit Mercado de Triana to browse fresh fruit, fish, meat and small tapas bars within this indoor market. The tapas bars in Mercado de Triana were some of the only places we spotted selling orange wine (vino de naranja) - which is another Sevillian speciality.
The walk along the bank of the river is so peaceful in comparison to the very lively streets, generally filled with locals on their way to or from work. We spent hours on our trip just sat by the river, listening to buskers perform and watching the world go by. But you can actually take a short cruise down the River Guadalquivir if sitting on the river bank doesn't sound too comfortable!
If you want to explore even further, you could also venture out of the city and take a day trip to Cádiz by train, like we did, to soak in as much Spanish culture as you can.
Honestly, there’s not really anything we would change about Seville. From sitting by the river at sunset to packed-full days of exploring the huge range of parks and gardens, we loved every second in this city. The great food, wine and cocktails certainly help too!
Embrace Spanish culture and explore Seville - we’re sure you won’t regret it. Make sure you read our Seville checklist if you're thinking of visiting one day, or just want more insight into what a trip to Seville would be like, it covers all of the best things to do in the city in much more detail!
Additional information:
How do I get to Seville?
Seville is easily accessible by air, with direct flights from many major cities around the UK. There is a short, public bus to and from the city centre from the airport. Seville is also easily accessible by train or coach from major cities in Spain and surrounding countries.
Where should I stay in Seville?
We stayed in this apartment in Seville which we can't recommend enough if you're travelling with up to 2 people. It's ridiculously close to the Cathedral and the centre of Seville, and has absolutely everything you need. It has great air conditioning too, which is absolutely needed in this very hot city! Alternatively, search for places to stay in Seville on booking.com or Expedia to find somewhere that suits your budget and group size .
Do I need a visa to visit Seville?:
Citizens of most countries do not need a visa to visit Spain for a stay of up to 90 days. Read our Schengen Agreement post to find out more details about this rule.
What's the currency in Seville?
The currency of Spain is the Euro. You can change money when you arrive or withdraw from ATMs, but be aware of high conversion fees! Some ATMs may charge you to withdraw money, even if your bank doesn't. It's always best to pay in local currency, but we had no issues paying by card in Seville.
What languages are spoken in Seville?
The official language of Spain is Spanish, but English is widely spoken as Seville is a major city. It's always polite to learn a few phrases, though! And some of the smaller, independent bars and shops, out of the main tourist areas, may only speak very little English.
What's the weather like in Seville?
Seville is in the very South of Spain so it's pretty warm all year around. When we visited in June it was getting up to 40° Celsius, but there was a heatwave. Here's the average high / low temperatures for each season:
Spring: 24°C / 14°C
Summer: 35°C / 19°C
Autumn: 26°C / 14°C
Winter: 16°C / 7°C
Always make sure to check the forecast before your trip so you pack the correct clothing. This is the current weather in Seville.
What's the time zone in Seville?
Spain is in the Central European Time Zone, usually an hour ahead of the UK.
What are the best things to do in Seville?
We have absolutely loads of recommendations of things to do on our newly updated Seville Checklist post, so definitely have a read through and see what you can find. Alternatively, you can look for things to do in Seville with GetYourGuide here.
Where else can I visit in Spain?
We have a pretty good collection of posts about Spain if you want to read about more Spanish destinations that we've visited. If you're looking for cities to extend your trip to Seville, why not try a nearby city like Granada or Malaga.
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