By rail
Sevilla Santa Justa, ~2.5 h by AVE from Madrid
Europe · Spain
Seville, Spain
Flamenco, orange trees and Moorish palaces
Getting there
By air
Seville (SVQ), ~10 km
Best time to visit
March to May and October to November (summer is very hot)
Don't miss
The Real Alcázar
The Cathedral and the Giralda
The Plaza de España
The Triana quarter
Things to do
The Real Alcázar
A flamenco evening in Triana
The cathedral and the Giralda
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Light clothes, a sun hat
A quieter corner
The Setas (Metropol Parasol) walkway at dusk
Questions travellers ask
Is summer a good time to visit Seville?
Summer is very hot, so March to May or October to November is the better bet. Pack light clothes and a sun hat either way.
What are the must-sees in Seville?
The Real Alcázar, the cathedral and the Giralda, the Plaza de España and the Triana quarter. At dusk, walk the Setas (Metropol Parasol) walkway.
Where can I see flamenco in Seville?
Spend a flamenco evening in Triana, and stay for tapas there, with salmorejo and jamón.
How do I get to Seville from Madrid?
The AVE reaches Sevilla Santa Justa in about 2.5 hours. If you're flying, Seville (SVQ) airport is about 10 km out.
About Seville
- Riverside
Where it is
Seville is the capital and largest city of Andalusia in southern Spain, on the Guadalquivir river, which ships can navigate from the Atlantic up to the city, making its harbour the only river port in Spain.
History
Roman Hispalis grew up beside Italica, the birthplace of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Under Moorish rule the Almohads built a great mosque whose minaret survives as the Giralda, and Ferdinand III of Castile took the city in 1248. From 1503 the Casa de Contratación made Seville Spain's gateway to the Americas, and it later hosted the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 and Expo 92.
People
Sevillanos speak Andalusian Spanish. In Holy Week religious brotherhoods carry ornate floats through the streets, and at the April Fair families and friends gather in striped casetas to dance sevillanas in traditional flamenca dress.
Known for
- The Real Alcázar
- The Cathedral and the Giralda
- Holy Week processions and the April Fair
- Flamenco in the Triana quarter
- The Plaza de España
Did you know?
Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, and one of the two places claimed as the burial site of Christopher Columbus.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.