From a massive palace to tiny tapas joints and passionate Flamenco nights, here are the best things to do in Seville
Spain’s most beguiling city? Scorching Seville might just take that particularly delicious biscuit. This is Spain as you always dreamt, with magnificent palaces, romantic courtyards, buzzing bars and conversation as heated as it is heartwarming. ‘Heat’ and ‘warm’ are apt words when discussing Seville, so be sure to bring suncream, a good hat and a keen eye for the shade.
The best things to do in Seville are a rollercoaster ride through the best of Andalusia, from flamenco joints to shimmering palaces with plenty in between. It is a poetic sort of place, where a good time is a good time is a fabulous time.
What is it? This is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe, with a history that spans more than a thousand years. The original Abbadid fortress was converted into a lavish royal residence under the Castilian kings.
Why go? This place is mind-bendingly beautiful. Inside, the walls are tiled in rich hues, and the intricate ceilings look like they’re spun from icing sugar. Outside, tinkling fountains and manicured gardens are enchanting. Catch a summer concert here if you can.
What is it? This glorious, golden cathedral is the result of a fifteenth-century plan by Sevillanos to build a church so big that everyone would ‘think they were mad’. They hit the jackpot: it’s still the world’s largest Gothic cathedral.
Why go? Visit the tomb of Columbus (whether it contains his bones is another story) and wander around the Patio of the Orange Trees. Then climb the Giralda bell tower to soak up the views.
What is it? The oldest bar in Seville, dating back to 1670, this minuscule spot is atmospherically lined with dusty bottles and hung with hams. Undoubtedly a tourist haunt, it’s still worth a visit to watch the aproned waiters deftly dishing up tapas and ice-cold fino.
Why go? This bar, for all its popularity, has fiercely resisted all attempts to modernise, and it’s one of the last places in town where your bill comes chalked on the countertop. Perfect for a glass of sherry and a plate of wafer-thin ham, it’s also fun to see if you can get the famously gruff waiters to crack a smile.
What is it? Officially called the Metropol Parasol but universally known as Las Setas (‘the mushrooms’), this is the world’s largest wooden structure. Designed by German architect Jürgen Mayer, it was completed in 2011, and the building inspires equal amounts of love and hate.
Why go? Look under the birch parasols, and you’ll find a great produce market (with a couple of cafés), and a museum of Roman and medieval finds (discovered during the construction), but the biggest draw is the fabulous view from the rooftop walkways.
What is it? The Eslava was one of the first of the new breed of Sevillano tapas bars to serve contemporary cuisine. Still a big local favourite, it’s always a squeeze to get into the simple, blue-painted bar, but well worth it for the creative tapas.
Why go? It’s hard to pick a favourite here, but the signature dish – a slow-cooked egg on a wild mushroom ‘cake’ with caramelised wine reduction – is hard to beat. The menu also has plenty of deftly handled classics.
What is it? Seville’s inexplicably little-visited Museum of Fine Arts is housed in the sixteenth-century Convento de la Merced, and its high-ceilinged galleries are arranged around elegant courtyards. It’s full of remarkable Spanish paintings and sculptures from the fifteenth to the twentieth centuries.
Why go? This is one of Spain’s biggest fine art museums, and its extensive collection includes works by El Greco, Velázquez and Murillo. Take a breather in the charming courtyard with a little boxwood maze.
What is it? Seville’s old Jewish Quarter is the Spain that everyone dreams of; whitewashed lanes, balconies spilling over with scarlet geraniums, fountains tinkling in secret tiled courtyards.
Why go? It’s a place to abandon the map and wander at will, exploring the whitewashed maze of narrow alleys and pretty squares. Stop for the killer tortillita de camarones (shrimp omelette) at the Bodega Santa Cruz (better known as ‘Las Columnas’). Well, when it reopens, at least.
What is it? This elegant, intrinsically Andalusian park was created as the focal point for the 1929 Exposición Iberoamericana. Shady walkways, covered in colourful tiles and dotted with fountains, expand around the central Plaza de España, where two handsome pavilions now function as museums.
Why go? A delicious oasis in the heart of the city, this is a place to linger. You can also rent a bike or, if you’re feeling cultural, visit the museums of archaeology and folklore.
What is it? Alameda is now possibly Seville’s hippest, alternative neighbourhood, packed with funky shops and bars. The centrepiece is the Alameda de Hercules, a tree-lined square crowned by a pair of Roman columns.
Why go? Come for a stroll along the Alameda de Hercules, a peek at the art in the Convento Santa Clara, coffee at an offbeat café such as Gigante (also great for cocktails), and then a spot of vintage shopping (Buhoneras is a treasure trove of funky finds).
What is it? Triana is a traditionally humble neighbourhood across the Guadalquivir that retains lots of authentic charm despite recent gentrification. Long famous for its ceramics (check out the Centro Cerámica museum) and flamenco taverns, its riverfront bars are perfect for cooling off on hot summer nights.
Why go? Potter around the fantastic food market, pick up some ceramics (Cerámica Triana has a fantastic choice), then eat lunch somewhere like century-old Mariatrifulca.
What is it? This spectacular fifteenth-century Andalusian palace, arranged around a magnificent marble courtyard, is the residence of the Dukes of Medinaceli. Everywhere you turn are dazzling ceilings, woodwork, azulejo tiles and stucco to admire, but it’s the secret garden that truly bewitches.
Why go? For all its opulence, this beautiful palace feels like a secret oasis. Its courtyard gardens are ablaze with colourful flowers. The Medinaceli collection – paintings, sculptures and objects – are displayed in the sumptuous salons.
What is it? This spacious tavern, run by the eponymous Lola, is one of the best places to see authentic flamenco. Located in Triana, flamenco’s heartland in Seville, it has no microphones and no frills, but Lola has a voice that will give you goosebumps.
Why go? Seville has many places to see flamenco, including many tourist-oriented tablaos (the Tablao El Arenal is good). But if you want something accessible yet intimate, head to Lola’s in Triana, where a mix of locals and visitors soak up the Duende.
