10 Iconic Landmarks in Seville and Must-Visit Attractions
April 17, 2023
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Seville is a destination that steals your heart as soon as you arrive. It preserves the country’s most famous traditions, such as flamenco, cheerful people, and picturesque landscapes, receiving multiple visitors yearly.
It is also home to an attractive mix of Moorish, Christian, and Jewish architecture and history. In this article, I bring you the best landmarks worth visiting if you come to Seville and the main sights and attractions you can’t miss for an unforgettable experience.
Among the most outstanding and emblematic places are the historic city center with Moorish influences, palaces, cathedrals, towers, parks, and many other vital visits you should plan to visit.
Get ready to immerse in the Sevillian culture!
If you are also looking for itineraries, we have created 11 itineraries for you to travel Spain! Click to get a planned trip (all free)!
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Table of Contents ▼ ▶
1. Royal Alcázar of Seville
📍Patio de Banderas, s/n, 41004 Sevilla
The Alcázar of Seville comprises the entire history of Seville for more than a thousand years. It is one of the oldest royal palaces in use in the world and was built on ancient Roman and Visigothic buildings in 913 as a royal residence and defensive construction.
It was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco since it is a fantastic setting to appreciate the mix of culture, architectural sites, and beautiful gardens.
In case you didn’t know, Muslim Spain refers to a period in history when Spain depended on Muslims from 711 to 1492.
This way, the Alcázar brings together elements of Muslim, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Romantic art, as well as some of the best examples of the Mudéjar style, a product of the mixture of Islamic cultures, including Christianity.
The visit lasts at least 2 hours, although it is advisable to reserve about 3 hours. The best time to go is first in the morning to avoid queues. Be there 30 minutes before opening (see below) and purchase in advance the tickets online. This way, you’ll save lots of time. Especially if you’re on a tight itinerary.
A must-visit landmark to appreciate what I am telling you firsthand. In this fortress, kings, nobles, and notable characters have lived and shaped the history of Seville and Spain!
📅 Opening Times: From 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.
🎟️ Entrance Fees:
- General admission to the ground floor: €13.50
- Admission to the ground floor for EU citizens, seniors over 65 years old, students from 14 to 30 years, or holders of the European Youth Card: €6.00 (valid identification must be presented at the ticket office)
- Admission to visit the Royal Bedroom: €5.50
- Admission for disabled persons, children younger than 13 years old, and residents of the city of Seville: Free (valid identification must be presented at the ticket office)
The entrance is free on Monday afternoons!
2. Catedral de Sevilla
📍Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004 Sevilla
The iconic Catedral de Sevilla is the world’s largest Gothic temple and the third in size after St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican in Rome and St. Paul’s in London.
It is one of the city’s most tourist points and receives more than millions of visitors annually. In other words, thousands of people walk through its doors daily to experience this incredible historical landmark. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
Since the conquest of Seville in 1248, the old Almohad mosque was used as a cathedral. Its construction began in 1403 after the demolition of the Muslim building. Its works date back to the 16th century when the dome was closed in 1507.
The current one is the work of Gil de Hontañón after the collapse of the first in 1511.
Write this down because you won’t want to miss these sights inside the Cathedral:
- The Giralda.
- The Chapter House.
- The Greater Sacristy.
- The Main Altar.
- The Patio de los Naranjos (which is not free to enter).
- The tomb of Christopher Columbus, who discovered America.
Also, it is essential to highlight that the Seville Cathedral is the scene of numerous traditions throughout the year. Some of the best-known are the Dance of the Sixes, Saint Ferdinand’s Day, the Virgin of the Kings, and the famous Corpus Christi! To read more about Holidays in Seville, see the following article:
List of Public Holidays in Mallorca (2023 and 2024 calendar)
📅 Opening Times:
- From 11:00 am to 15:30 pm on Mondays.
- From 11:00 am to 5:00 pm: Tuesday to Saturday.
- From 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm on Sundays.
- Closed on: January 1, January 6, and December 25.
- Reduced hours: from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on January 5 and December 24 and 31.
🎟️ Entrance Fees:
- Regular Tickets: 8 €(including audio guide)
- Guided Tour: 15 €
- Reduced ticket: 5 € ( pensioners and groups 10+)
- Students and Cultural Associations: 4€
- <18 years old: 2.50 €
Free: Mondays, 15:30 to 19:30, for children under 7.
3. Plaza de España
📍Plaza de España, s/n. 41013 Sevilla
If you’re in Seville, you can’t miss visiting the spectacular Plaza de España, among the most important squares in Spain and an authentic jewel of regionalist architecture designed by Aníbal González.
The square was built for the Ibero-American exhibition of 1929, inaugurated by His Majesty King Alfonso XIII.
It has a beautiful Renaissance style mixed with the typical elements of the city and a Baroque touch in its towers.
It is a large square of 170 meters in diameter with a semi-elliptical shape, symbolizing Spain’s hug to its former American territories. Also, it looks out over the Guadalquivir River as a route toward America.
Walking through the Plaza is a delight since each corner is unique. You’ll get lost in every detail while admiring the contrasts between the water and the stone.
In addition to exploring the square on foot, renting a small boat to row through the canal is also possible, as taking a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride. (which is a must, by the way!)
The central building celebrates Spain as a whole since all the provinces of Spain are represented on its benches and on its walls. Moreover, access to the building is via four bridges that cross the canal, representing one of the four ancient kingdoms of Spain: León, Castilla, Aragón, and Navarra.
📅 Opening Times: Free Access
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free Access
4. Setas de Sevilla
📍Pl. de la Encarnación, s/n, 41003 Sevilla
Giant mushrooms in the middle of Seville? Yes. In case you think you’ve seen it all, you haven’t.
The Metropol Parasol, or Las Setas de la Encarnación, is an incredible wooden structure with 2 concrete columns in the central Plaza de la Encarnación.
The famous structure consists of six parasols in the shape of giant mushrooms. Its design was inspired by the vaults of Seville Cathedral and the ficus trees in the nearby Plaza del Cristo de Burgos.
It is the largest wooden structure in the world! It is 150 meters long by 70 meters wide and almost 30 meters high.
Its construction was carried out by the architect Jürgen Mayer to renovate the Plaza de la Encarnación and its deteriorated market. Today, it is one of the most central places in Seville.
Las Setas has 5 levels:
- On the first level is the Antiquarium or Archaeological Museum.
- The second level has a market, bars, and restaurants to grab drinks or snacks.
- On the third level is a raised plaza where the six parasols structure is located.
- On the fourth level, you’ll see the beginning of the catwalk visit, a small bar, and an event area.
- On the last level is the fantastic viewpoint with breathtaking Seville views.
Go at sunset to appreciate the natural beauty of the city.
📅 Opening Times:
- Winter hours (November to March): Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 12:00 am. The last access is half an hour before closing.
- Summer hours (from April to October): Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. The last access is half an hour before closing.
🎟️ Entrance Fees:
- Adults: €15 (US$16.50).
- Students and over 65s: €11 (US$12.10)
- Children under 5 years: Free admission
- Entrance tickets for “El Mirador” in the daytime: € 5
- Entrance tickets for “El Mirador” in the evening: € 10
- You can also do a Virtual Reality Tour at Metropol Parasol.
5. Casa de Pilatos
📍Pl. de la Encarnación, s/n, 41003 Sevilla
The Casa de Pilatos is a beautiful Italian Renaissance-Mudéjar style palace with romantic elements, considered the best Andalusian noble building.
This visit is a fantastic example of 16th-century Sevillian architecture thanks to its Roman collection, artistic legacy, and marvelous architecture, which are the keys to this palace.
The collection of wall tiles is one of the best in the world, and it houses many statues and artifacts from the Roman Empire.
The place got named after Pontius Pilate, which they tried to emulate.
First, Casa de Pilatos was the residence of the Dukes of Medinaceli and the headquarters of the Casa Ducal de Medinaceli Foundation, dedicated to managing a historical-artistic heritage dispersed throughout all the autonomous communities of Spain.
Then it became part of the patrimony of the Dukes of Medinaceli in the 17th century through the Marqueses of Alcalá de la Alameda.
Make sure you download the audio guide, and be prepared to spend at least a couple of hours there and book your visit to the upper floor in advance. It is only possible to get there with a prior reservation.
📅 Opening Times: From 9:00 am - 6:00 pm.
🎟️ Entrance Fees:
- Complete Visit: €12 (free audio guide)
- Ground floor only: €10
- Admission is free on Mondays from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
6. La Giralda
📍Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004 Sevilla
The Giralda is the emblematic bell tower of the Sevilla Cathedral. It consists of two different but perfectly unified pieces, a perfect example of the mix of cultures existing in the city.
It is about 318 ft. high overall and rises between the Puerta de Oriente and the Puerta de los Palos.
It was once the minaret of a mosque. It was used to sing and call people to prayer. However, nowadays, you hear church bells calling people to Catholic mass.
This tower represents the Muslim control in Seville, the Catholic Reconquest, the Inquisition, and the Renaissance.
The word “Giralda” comes from the Arabic “jug,” which means “bell.” Because the tower was initially decorated by the Muslims with a figure of a bell called “Giraldillo.”
Therefore, the Giraldillo represents the triumph of the Christian faith and is depicted as a robed woman with a palm in one hand and a shield in the other, which serves as a weather vane.
This 16th-century sculpture has presided over the Giralda since 1568.
La Giralda has inspired many works of art and even very similar monuments, making anyone quickly recognize it, even if they have never been to Seville.
📅 Opening Times:
From September to June:
- Monday: 11:00 am to 3:30 pm.
- Tuesday - Saturday: 11:00 - 17:00.
- Sunday: 14:30 - 18:00.
July and August:
- Monday: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
- Tuesday - Saturday: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.
- Sunday: 14:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
🎟️ Entrance Fees:
- Adults: 8 € (includes visiting the Church of Salvador).
- Reduced price: 3€ (students <26 years old, retirees).
- Free for natives and residents of Seville and the province, the unemployed, disabled, and a companion, <16 years of age, accompanied, and authorized groups.
- Free Mondays from 16:30 – 18:00
7. Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza
📍P.º de Cristóbal Colón, 12, 41001 Sevilla
The remarkable Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza is the oldest bullring in Spain. It makes an exciting homage to Spain’s long-standing tradition of bullfighting.
Moreover, it is the headquarters of one of the most recognized bullfighting festivities in the world! Which takes place during the famous Seville April Fair, one of Seville’s most international and popular festivals.
The tour is complemented by a visit to the Exhibition Hall-Museum, with an exhibition of oil paintings from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries and a selection of bullfighting prints that belong to the collection of the Real Maestranza, one of the most important in the world.
You can see Goya’s paintings on display. They have old event posters and costumes from famous Spanish matadors!
To learn more about this tradition, read the following articles:
What Is Bullfighting? Origin, Purpose, and Top Festivities in Spain
Is bullfighting legal in Spain? Never-ending Legal, Moral Debate
31 Cultural and Interesting Facts About Bullfighting in Spain
Regardless of one’s opinion or interest in bullfighting, spending up to an hour in the Plaza de Toros is fun and enriching.
Moreover, if you’re curious about visiting a bullring without watching an actual bullfight, this is the perfect way to experience it.
You can do the tour at your own pace. There is a QR code that links you to the audioguide.
📅 Opening Times:
Every day: 9:30 am to 8:15 pm
Bullfight days: 9:30 am to 3:00 pm
🎟️ Entrance Fees:
- General ticket: €10
- Students < 26 years old, children between 12 and 16 years old, and retirees: €6
- Children from 7 to 11 years old: €3.50
- Free: < 6 years old and Wednesday from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm (limited capacity)
8. Palacio San Telmo
📍P.º de Roma, 41013 Sevilla
To know the origin of The Palace of San Telmo, we have to go back to 1682, when it was built. It was first a Seminary College of the University of Seafarers.
In 1849 it became the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Montpensier, who finished the north tower and built the main entrance, the east wing, and the ballroom.
The walls are covered with paintings brought from the Palace of Vista Alegre. The impressive ceilings of the ballroom are decorated by Rafael Tejeo.
This is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city of Seville. It has a rectangular floor plan with four towers and a large central courtyard.
It is essential to highlight its 18th-century facade, by Leonardo de Figueroa, and its side facade with sculptures dedicated to the famous people of Seville.
The palace had a telegraph, and even its own pier to access the Guadalquivir and some Versailles-style gardens that would later become the Maria Luisa Park.
And the Chapel represents a jewel of Andalusian and Spanish art.
Maria Luisa Fernanda, on her death in 1897, donated the palace to the archbishopric. In 1901 it became a diocesan seminary.
Since 1989 it has belonged to the Junta de Andalucía, which, after rehabilitating several areas and regaining its status as a palace.
📅 Opening Times:
- Monday to Thursday: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.
- Fridays: 9:00am to 3:00 pm.
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free Access
9. Puente de Triana
📍Isabel II Bridge, 30, 41010, Seville
Declared a National Historic Monument in 1976, the Isabel II Bridge, better known as the Triana Bridge, spans the Guadalquivir River to connect the city’s heart with the charming neighborhood of Triana.
It was not until 1852 that they inaugurated the bridge 1852. Before the construction of the Triana Bridge, there was the Puente de Barcas (Bridge of Boats) to cross the Triana neighborhood.
The Puente de Barcas was a precarious crossing because it was strongly affected by the river’s floods, so the challenge of building a permanent and resistant bridge was posed.
Triana Bridge took place during the reign of Isabel II. Therefore, its official name is Isabel II due to this monarch. Its construction was inspired by the Carrousel Bridge over the Seine River in Paris.
Nowadays, the Triana Bridge is currently the oldest iron bridge in Spain as well as one of the symbols of the city and one of its most outstanding attractions.
📅 Opening Times: All Day
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free Access
10. Maria Luisa Park
📍Paseo de las Delicias, 41013, Sevilla
Maria Luisa Park is the city’s lung. It is the most beautiful park in Seville and one of the most beautiful parks in Spain.
These incredible gardens were donated in 1893 by the Duchess of Montpellier, the Infanta Maria Luisa Fernanda de Bourbon, which is why they gave this name to the park.
Until that moment, they belonged to the private gardens of the Palace of San Telmo. After a significant reform in 1914, they became available to everyone.
The reform was carried out respecting the original layout of the gardens of the Infanta and the numerous walks across in various traffic circles where we can find fountains and statues.
If I were you, I would take a guided tour around the park because it has very curious corners that may go unnoticed if you go alone.
It is a real open-air museum worth visiting, knowing each traffic circle and its different fountains and statues we will find in our walk.
The main highlights include the Quintero Brothers, Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, and Infanta Maria Luisa. Together they form a beautiful ensemble that will amaze you.
📅 Opening Times:
- Winter hours: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm
- Summer hours: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free
As you can see, these landmarks make up the list of the most exciting attractions to visit in Seville. But there are many more! For a more extensive list of museums and iconic places to visit, check out this post:
Hope this list was helpful! Don’t hesitate to contact us for any further help. We’ll be happy to read you!
