Updated in January 2026 with an extra decade of experience.

After eighteen years calling Seville my home, I’ve come to know the city and its nuances – from the best places to eat in Seville (I’ll always go with my old favorites), Seville’s hidden gems and the best of the best.

Here’s my curated collection of the Best of the Best in Seville travel guide, in an order as random as the streets of Santa Cruz:

Best in Culture & Heritage

Seville is what you conjure when you think of Spain – whitewashed buildings sidling up to colorful doors, flamenco chords slicing through the balmy evening, locals spilling out of tapas bars. You literally trip on culture in Seville – it’s a rich city that teeters between the old and new, and it borders on sensual.

Best can’t-miss attraction: Plaza de España. It’s free (for now), always open and is a special part of Seville’s history. Built nearly a century ago by famed sevillano architect Aníbal González and crowning the Parque María Luisa, the tiles, benches and moats were the focal point of the 1929 Ibero-American Fair. Go early in the morning or at the twilight to avoid crowds and the people hawking inexpensive fans.

Best for architecture lovers: I’m from Chicago, so I appreciate the nuances In a building or civil design perhaps more than most. And while literally every corner of Seville has something eye-catching, I will always recommend the rooftop tour of the Cathedral. Apart from being the third-largest cathedral in the world, it’s one of the city’s most iconic elements, and you can get up close and personal with the Giralda bell tower.

Best traditional experience: Toros? Tapas? Horse carriage? There are many “typically Spanish” things to do in Seville, and some of my favorites aren’t a single activity or place, but simply a long meal that stretches into the afternoon copas. Be open to walking until a terrace or a tavern calls to you, and let the hours slip away.

Best Flamenco Show: Admittedly, I’m not a huge follower of flamenco, but everyone I have sent to Casa de la Memoria, housed in an old palace on Calle Cuna, has not left disappointed. For kids, there are matinee and early performances at the Museo del Baile Flamenco.

Best Tour to Dive Into History: Seville is brimming with history, and of literally every single sort you can think of. And while I’ve been on a number of them, I cannot recommend Seville a la Carta enough. They go beyond the simple history of the city and pointing out monuments. Think the macabre, the weird or even bucking all the things you think you knew about the city.

Julia is admittedly a close friend of mine (she planned an 80s-themed birthday party for my 40^th!), but her enthusiasm and deep knowledge is impressive. She offers be-spoke experiences and speaks English, Spanish and French.

Best Place to Catch Something Cultural Without Planning It: The Patio de la Diputación almost always has something on during the weekends and summer. Think movies, talks and free food samples.

 

Best in Food & Drink

Gone are the days when you’d see your dish being microwaved in the open kitchen – Seville has reinvented its gastronomic scene in a million ways in the last 15 years. From traditional to trendy, you can find just about anything in town (well, just about anything Spanish). There’s a long way to go before we have decent international cuisine, but all of your Spanish favorites are on the menu here.

Try pringá, espinacas con garbanzos, pescaíto frito, huevos a la flamenca. Wash it down with a sherry or cold Cruzcampo, the local beer. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Best tapas bar for locals: My forever favorite will be Bodeguita Antonio Romero, and I always take guests here. Kitchen is open all day, you stand at the bar or teeter on a stool, and the menu has something for everyone – plus, it’s not expensive. Sample the piripi sandwich – pork slathered in garlicky mayonnaise with a strip of bacon, a tomato wedge and a slice of cheese. I always order two.

Best sweet treats: Manu Jara pastries are an absolute dream because he uses butter instead of olive oil. The Triana location Calle Pureza, 2, doesn’t have tables, but you can take your coffee and treat to Calle Betis and sit along the river. Or, grab a table on the top floor of the Corte Inglés – Duque and enjoy views of the Giralda.

Best spots for a long sobremesa: There is nothing quite like a sobremesa, the languid time between lunch and afternoon drinks, sitting around a table chatting and nursing a cortado in between a few bites of something sweet. Sobremesa is a Spanish institution and one of the best ways to spend a weekend afternoon (in my opinion, best done at someone’s house, but then again, sevillanos consider the street to be their living room.

While most places close around 5 p.m. after lunch, you’ll find a few places willing to let you linger. Try Princepico in Parque de los Príncipes, Bar Barraba’s (Museo is the elite pick for tardeo) or Mentidero near Jardines de Murillo.

Best Local Market: I’m partial to two – Mercado de Feria‘s is set in a crumbling building next to a church with a bar on two of the four corners. In one of those bars, you can actually buy something from a fish stall and have it served up! There are also small tascas for nibbles with your beer, and the plaza directly behind the market gets delicious midday sun.

The other is my local market, el Mercado de San Gonzalo. It’s gritty and cheap and was one of the area’s first permanent buildings. Rafa carves up jamón, Curro has the cold botellines and Curro’s son’s olive selection is top.

Best Food Tour: Seville is a dream for gastro travelers: budget-friendly, accessible and full of dishes and experiences to try. I’ve been invited on loads of cool tours but think my favorite would be Devour Spain‘s part-history, part-gastronomy tour.

Best Food to Try, Just Because: Caracoles, or snails. Look for them in the springtime. I prefer them to, say, coagulated blood in onions.

Best Bar Manolo: Call it what you want – Bar Manolo, Bar de Viejos or Old Man Bar, but these establishments are seriously the salt of the Spanish earth. You get beer, house wine, vermouth and a shot of anís on the menu, but what they lack in choice they make up for in character.

In my neighborhood I hit La Estrellita and Tasca Triana; in Santa Cruz, Bodega Santa Cruz or El Goleta for orange-infused wine, or Bodega La Aurora in Alfalfa.

Really, if there’s a Spanish abuelo outside, I’ll go in.

Best Tapas Bar: I’m often asked about where to dine in Seville, and while this is an entirely personal question, I always suggest La Azotea. Inventive takes on traditional and local fare, plus an unbeatable wine list and terrific service. I usually head to the one in Santa Cruz. Another favorite is Bodeguita Antonio Romero, which has loads of different types of dishes for any taste.

Best Chocolate con Churros: Churros on a Sunday morning are one of my treasured traditions, and none are as good as the ones at Bar La Rueca in Plaza del Juncal. It’s a trek unless you’re in Nervión. For something closer to the center, Bar El Comercio is a good substitute.

Best Menú del Día: three parts food and a million parts a wallet-saver, the menú del día is a fixed-price menu with two entrees, dessert, drink and bread for cheap. As tourism has changed and laborers move outside the city, these are sadly tougher to find unless you head to the periphery of the city.

That said, Ô Delice, the Lycée Français International Seville’s on-campus bar, serves a plentiful and delicious one Monday thru Friday. Chufi is a classically trained chef who sources the food himself. The menu will run you 10,50€ (you can also get a half menu) – tell him La Cat sent you!

Best Cruzcampo Bar: Loaded question. It seems that, in Seville, you’re never more than 100 feet from a bar or an ATM, and the question of who has the best pour is largely debated. I’ll go with my perennial favorite, La Grande in Triana, or non-descript La Melva in Sector Sur, and also give a shout to El Tremendo in Santa Catalina.

Best Semana Santa Bar: I always take my visitors to a church to explain Seville’s reverance to Holy Week, and follow up with a beer at a Semana Santa bar, covered with relics and photos of this important celebration. I either do the Esperanza de Triana and Bar Santa Ana route, or skip the church and head right to La Fresquita in Santa Cruz, where the barkeep is a member of the Macarena and has a botafumeiro going every so often.

Best Terrace Bar: As long as we’re talking about bars, rooftop bars are a great way to spend the languid afternoon hours between sightseeing. There are loads clustered around the Cathedral that boast incredible views, but you’ll pay (I once put down 14€ for a non-alcoholic drink while pregnant). If you head out a bit further, you’ll still have incredible views while not sacrificing your souvenir euros. Try Pura Vida to get up close an personal with a bit of a vibe or Terraza 1912.

Best Scoop of Ice Cream: Ice cream shops abound, but my favorite is Verdú in Triana – my local scoop. Who can resist cream of torrijas (a Spanish French Toast) or lemon with mint sorbet?

Best Tortilla de Patatas: Spain’s cuisine is rich with options, many that are regional. But the Spanish omelette? The only question here is whether or not you want it with onions(and the only acceptable answer is yes). I have tried a lot, and my favorite in Seville is at Bar Zuburán, tucked into a small plaza near the Setas. Go early to get a table, as they don’t take reservations and are very popular.

Best Disco: I am not the person to be asking about this (look for me instead at the Bar Manolos), but I like Alfonso in Parque María Luisa during the summer months.

Best Montaíto de Pringá: This mincemeat sandwich is one of Seville’s culinary claims to fame, and most traditional tapas bars will have it on the menu. For me, Bodega Santa Cruz‘s is top notch and a perfect, hot snack if I’m in the Santa Cruz neighborhood.

Best Traditional Breakfast: I wasn’t a huge fan of breakfast until I moved to Southern Spain and got coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice and bread with crushed tomato and olive oil for 2.50€. It ruined me. If I am craving something traditional, I love La Esquina del Arfe in the El Arenal district or PLACE WITH HAYLEY.

Best Brunch: I used to travel to Madrid for a decent brunch, but they’re now all over the place in Seville! Billy Brunch is a popular one, and it has all of your favorites – eggs, pancakes, açai and detox juices for after your tapas binge.

 

 

Best in Tourism & Sightseeing

My sister – who has been to Seville half a dozen times – recently stated that there is nothing to do in town. She could not be more wrong. Seville has upped its cultural offerings to be more than museums and pretty buildings, and you can find plenty of ways to see and experience the city.

Best Barrio to Stay in: Crowning a neighborhood as queen of them all is difficult because of taste. I’m partial to a few for their cultural and gastronomical offering, and am a big fan of mi querida Triana. I also like bullfighting neighborhood El Arenal, hip Feria with its weekly flea market, El Jueves, and even Alameda is growing on me.

If you’re coming on a short visit, I would recommend staying near the Setas / Encarnación. You’ll be walking distance to just about everything – everything but a metro station, truthfully.

Best photo-friendly corners: I find myself taking snaps of the same things after all this time: the colorful buildings in Barrio Santa Cruz, the Puente de Triana, Plaza de España. Get lost in the Feria or San Julián neighborhoods and their tangle of streets instead.

Best Spot for a Selfie: Calle Placentines where it crosses Argote de Molina, has the best unobstructed view of the Giralda tower. You can get the entire Giralda in for free (though if you’re willing to pay, take the Cathedral Rooftop Tour).

Best iconic landmark: Seville’s skyline has long had the Giralda piercing the skyline, but the Puente de Triana at sunset is my ultimate pick!

Best Souvenir to bring home: If your carry-on can handle it, the hand-painted ceramics on sale in Triana’s shops are my favorite things to buy for friends. Check Calle San Jorge and spend an hour in the Ceramics Museum if you have the time.

Best Museum: I love a good museum, and Seville is bursting with them. Seriously – this city is 2000 years old! From Flamenco to Fine Arts, ceramics to horse carriages. Espacio Santa Clara isn’t technically a museum, but hosts exhibitions throughout the year in an old nunnery. Find it near the Alameda in the Macarena neighborhood.

Best Place to Watch a Sunset: As the popular song goes, El sol duerme in Triana y nace en Santa Cruz. My favorite place to see the sun go down is on the banks of the Guadalquivir with a clear view to the Triana bridge that links the city center to my neighborhood. There are loads of bars to stop for a tipple that way, as well.

Best Museum You’ve Never Heard Of: Parque María Luisa’s Casa de la Sciencia was a huge surprise for us! Housed in one of the pavilions from the 1929 Iberoamerican Expo, the building itself retains its decoration, and you’ll find permanent exhibits exploring Andalusia’s flora, fauna and geology, plus rotating exhibits on science and technology. My kids learned about the brain, memory and Santiago Ramón y Cajal, one of my elder son’s heroes.

Best Tourist Attraction to Skip and Spend that Money on Tapas: The Torre del Oro and it seafaring museum are largely disappointing, and the view from the top isn’t any better from it because of large plexiglass barriers. On that note, the mirador at the Torre de Sevilla is also lackluster. Better to take in the views from a terrace bar!

Best Splurge: Seville can be done on the dirt cheap (hostels, bocadillos and beer buckets at La Sureña) or you can make it lavish. While it could be tempting to stay and play at Seville’s only 5-Star hotel, Alfonso XII, I’d vote for the hammam and massage at Aire de Sevilla, tucked away in Santa Cruz. I also enjoyed my massage at Massages SVQ, also in Santa Cruz.

Best local products to bring home: Fans, mantón de manilla, ceramics. Seville has lovely handicrafts, but you can’t go back home without olive oil. Nab a few bottles at La Oleoteca Sevilla, a gourmet olive oil shop in El Arenal.

Best Day Trip: Sadly, Seville doesn’t have too many quaint towns or natural highlights. While I’d spring to go to San Nicolás del Puerto at any free chance and hike the Vía Verde, I usually send other visitors to Córdoba. A 45-minute train ride straight to a quainter version of Seville and home to as Spanish of a corn dog as you can get, the flamenquín.

 

Best in Family

I may get in trouble for saying this, but for as friendly as Spain is for families, it does not bend its long-seeded cultural rules for kids. That’s why you’ll see kids running around plazas after midnight come the summer! But I loved having young kids in Seville.

Best outdoor spaces: Parque María Luisa is charming and has a bunch of resident pigeons (your kids will love paying a euro to feed them), but Parque del Alamillo is sprawling and includes a zip line and far less flying rats. Both include places to grab a granizado or a quick bite.

Best neighborhood strolls: If you’re looking for a neighborhood that has a bit of everything, check out La Alameda. There’s a wide promenade anchored by two parks, dancing fountains for the summer, plenty of bars and restaurants for a snack – including a pizza by the slice window. It’s also easy to reach from many other barrios.

Best rainy day activity: Head to Isla de la Cartuja and to the Torre Sevilla mall. Anchored by a shopping plaza, there are places to eat (VIPS and Burger King are my kids’ favorite), covered shopping areas, a mirador and a Caixa Forum with great programming for kids.

Trampoline parks are usually outside of the city center but close enough to take a taxi. My kids prefer Party Jump and Jump Yard, both in the Aljarafe. Just be aware you should book ahead if it’s raining.

Best flamenco for kids: What dance obsessed little kid can come to Seville and not partake in a show? The Museo del Baile Flamenco offers matinee shows at noon and 5 p.m. daily to adjust to siesta times and toddler meltdowns. Kids pay just XX, and you can pair the show with a visit to the museum.

Best foods for kids in Seville: Dining out can be a bit tricky between meal times that coincide with nap time (or are after bed time!) and new foods. Seville also has a reputation for fried food.

Most meals come with potatoes in some form, mini hamburgers are easy to find on tapas menus, and you can usually get a bikini (grilled cheese with a slice of boiled ham). Other things to consider are lagrimitas de pollo (fried chicken), croquetas with various fillings, and cold cut plates. Bread baskets come with every meal, in case you’re really desparate.

 

Best in Seasonal & Events

There’s a local joke that goes something along the lines of having a religious procession, a big concert, a neighborhood 5K and a soccer match all at once, and often in the same corner of the city. Seville has made a serious push to host large events (I can’t believe I stepped away from international education right before CIS Forum!) and become a cultural hub. I’m still in shock I saw Justin Timberlake perform last summer but also join sevillanos in groaning about traffic and road closures as a result.

Best Month for Sevillanos: April. Orange trees are in blossom, the weather is perfect, Cruzcampo seems to taste better and, if we’re really lucky, both Semana Santa and Feria fall in April.

Best Month to Visit: I usually push for October, March and April because of the weather and cheaper prices. But seriously, Seville has a lot to offer whenever you come – even in the stifling summer months!

Best Local Festival: If you’ve read my blog long enough, you’ll know the cattle fair-turned Andalusian showcase the Feria de Abril is my favorite, but I’ll give the Velá de Santa Ana and Holy Week each a nod, too.

Best festive-season traditions: Seville has really stepped it up at Christmas, but you’ve got to pace yourself: belénes around the city recount the Nativity, Christmas lights are everywhere, and small pop-up markets about. One of my favorites is the Recoveco market, held in various shops clustered in the San Julián neighborhood, typically in weekends in December. You’ll find handmade goodies here from local artists.

Best summer-night vibes: Seville used to be a ghost town in the summer, where locals would flock to the coast to escape the heat. More and more people are opting to stay in the city during the summer – the city is a ghost town between noon and 8 p.m. but nights are lovely. From open air discos to movies in the park to simply popping down to a plaza, it’s important to not count the summer out (and to fill up on granizados and ice cream!).

Best of Seville FAQS

How many days do I need in Seville?

I’ve lived in Seville for 18 years and have yet to experience it all. If you’re coming for the first time and want to take things at a leisurely pace, I would do three days and two nights – add an extra day if you want to daytrip to Córdoba or Granada.

Is Seville a good place to visit with kids?

Raising my own two kids in Seville has been a positive experience. While the parks in the center of the town are not well-kept, kids have plenty of space to roam, will like the experience of tapas, and can find ways to stay busy between museums and other exhibits. Be sure to indulge in a siesta and remember that kids go everywhere in Spain, so you can give them a bit of a long leash while in town!

How can I get more information about moving to Seville?

There’s been an uptick in North American expats to Seville since COVID, and I don’t think it will slow. Your local consulate is the best place to start asking questions about your visa, working in Spain and settling, and you can check out James Blick’s extensive YouTube series and move abroad masterclass for more. Facebook groups like Expats Seville are also a solid resource.

Seville seems to have one foot firmly in the past and another stepping towards the future. It’s constantly changing within its parameters but hold true to its values and customs. In eighteen years, I’ve explored every inch of the city center and a number of barrios, become a fierce supporter of a local team, learned the lingo and have come to feel like one of them – I am even in the process of getting a Spanish passport.

Challenge me on anything, and you’ll give me something to do at the weekend! Or, if you liked this post and want to take it with you, why not download the GPSMyCity app and purchase the GPS-enabled guide? Your dollars help run this site!