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Seville - the birthplace of Flamenco, home to the Kingdom of Dorne, and the final resting place of Christopher Columbus (who first sailed from the city on his way to the New World). Intrigued? You should be. It's a fascinating city to explore, rich in culture and history. It's also one of the hottest cities in Europe during the summer, so prepare yourself if you're planning on travelling then. With more than 3000 years of history to delve into, I can promise you won't be running out of things to do any time soon. We took a day trip to Seville and managed to fit a lot in. The train station in Seville is within walking distance of the old town which is ideal, and it's a pretty straight forward walk too.
The cities of southern Spain are in a world of their own, and each one has its own unique charm to it. Sure, there are a lot of things to do in Barcelona and Madrid, but you haven't experienced Spain without a trip to Seville. Here are my recommendations for the top things to do in Seville:
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1. Plaza de Espana
Should Plaza de Espana really be called a plaza? It looks more like a palace to me, especially with its Venetian style canal running along it. If you only have one day in Seville, make sure you come here. It's stunning to walk around, and the details in the structures are incredible. The plaza has been used in a number of films such as Lawrence of Arabia too.
2. Parque de Maria Luisa
Parque de Maria Luisa is a beautiful park to walk through, and Plaza de Espana is situated in it as well. We ended up walking through the park on our way to the plaza. There are orange trees everywhere, but don't be tricked into eating one! They're very sour and aren't supposed to be eaten. It's a great place to catch some shade in the hot summer months, and you can hardly hear any traffic from the park either despite it being in the city centre.
3. Explore the Streets
There are some pretty amazing sites to see in Seville, but take time to walk along the narrow streets as well, you never know what you'll come across. If you're looking for things to do in Seville at night, the streets are bursting with artisan shops and tapas bars, many of which are open very late.
4. Real Alcazar (or Dorne, if you watch Game of Thrones)
Is that a Game of Thrones filming location I spy? Yes. Yes it is. The Royal Alcazar of Seville is not cheap to get in, but can you pass up the opportunity to walk through Dorne? I don't think so. Just make sure you don't try and get a photo sitting on the floor, or lean on anything, because a very angry security guard will chase you out. This is one of the top things to do in Seville, so I would recommend heading here first as it's close to a number of other attractions.
5. Torre del Oro
Torre del Oro is a defensive tower which dates back to the 13th century. It's now the Maritime Museum of Seville and entry is only €3 (free on Mondays). You definitely can't miss it if you're planning to take a walk along the river, which is what we were doing when we came across it. The tower may not be one of the top things to do in Seville, but it's still really interesting to see.
6. Metrosol Parasol
Metrosol Parasol. You either love it or hate it. For a small fee you can ride the elevator to the top and take in probably the best views of Seville. It also claims to be the largest wooden structure in the world! It does look very out of place in the historic old town though, and locals like to refer to it as "The Mushroom". It's definitely one of the more unusual things to do in Seville.
7. Take a Break for Churros
Did I eat churros every day I was in Spain? Pretty much. Where else can you have chocolate guilt-free for breakfast if not in Andalusia? There are lots of places with churros on the menu, but the best ones are tourist free and full of locals.
8. Visit a Bullring
Get ready for this name ... Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla is the site of the world's most famous bullfights (if you like that kind of thing). I personally just wanted to go for a tour inside the stadium itself, rather than seeing bulls being killed for sport.
9. Archives of the Indies
Did someone say free? In Seville? Yes! Archives of the Indies is situated right next to the cathedral and Real Alcazar, and offers a great insight into the age of exploration. It's also a great place to go and get out of the sun for a bit. We visited Seville towards the end of February and the weather was still very hot compared to other areas of Andalusia. It wasn't overcrowded either, so I would say it's the best time to visit Seville.
10. Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral is quite expensive to get into, especially if you're trying to travel on a budget (like me). So I opted to take in it's majestic architecture from the outside. There's an option to buy Seville Cathedral and Alcazar tickets together at the entrance, so you can skip the line and save a bit of time at the other attraction. There are a few rooftop terraces that you can go to that give you another interest view of the cathedral, and it'll only cost you the price of a drink!
11. Treat Yourself to a Stay at Hotel Casa 1800
Hotel Casa 1800 is basically on the doorstep of the cathedral. It's considered one of the best hotels in Seville, so if you're looking for a luxurious stay in the city, this is probably your best bet. They've kept the interior as original as possible and each room is completely unique. Fancy taking a swim while overlooking the cathedral? You can do that here too.
12. Cocktails on a Rooftop Bar
What better way to end the day than with a couple of cocktails? Minus the smashing of my first cocktail (oops)! The nibbles come free of charge as well - bonus! There are numerous rooftop bars around Seville, and the ones that are around the main plaza have fantastic views of the cathedral. We stopped at one just before we had to catch our train, and managed to watch the sun setting in the distance. This is one of the many unique things to do in Seville, and it doesn't have to cost a lot either.
Seville is a great city to explore, and it probably needs a couple of days for you to really get a feel for it. But you can definitely visit Seville in a day if you plan ahead. Getting tickets online for the main attractions is something I'd highly recommend to anyone planning a trip here, because the queues are enormous. With so many things to do in Seville, you'll have an incredible time exploring this Andalusian gem.
Get in touch if you have any recommendations on what else I should visit in Seville when I return, either by email or Instagram (and don't forget to follow my page too). If you're looking to do some day trips from Seville, I'd recommend visiting Cordoba or Cadiz, which are both easily accessible by train if you don't have a car. Fancy taking a road trip in southern Spain? Check out my blog post for some travel inspiration!
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