Two-day tours of Seville

You can start your morning walk at Plaza del Triunfo. This central location boasts Seville’s three World Heritage Sites: the Real Alcázar, the General Archive of the Indies and the cathedral with its Giralda, a belltower over 90 metres tall with fantastic views over the entire city.The cathedral, the world’s largest Gothic house of worship, is also the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. He is at least partly responsible for the existence of another icon of Seville: the General Archive of the Indies. Now an archive of the colonies, at the height of the Spanish empire this building was the point of entry for merchants and their goods arriving from the Americas. You can follow up with a visit to the Real Alcázar, one of the world’s oldest palaces still in use.

Visit the Arenal neighbourhood in the afternoon, less than 10 minutes’ walk from the cathedral. Next to the Guadalquivir, the river at the city’s heart, is one of its most authentic neighbourhoods. Here you have another taste of history in the Torre del Oro, now a maritime museum.Just ten minutes away is one of the most iconic sights in Seville: the Maestranza bullring, with its colourful exterior. Depending on the season, there may even be a bullfight scheduled. To end the afternoon with a good dinner, there are plenty of traditional taverns less than five minutes away offering excellent tapas, such as pescaíto frito (tiny fried fish) or a platter of delicious Iberico ham.

No visit to Seville is complete without a flamenco show. You can walk to Tablao El Arenal, five minutes from the Maestranza bullring, or a little further - about eight minutes - to Tablao Los Gallos. Two unique experiences where you can enjoy great live performances by flamenco guitarists, dancers and singers.

Triana, Santa Cruz and Alfalfa: Seville has great sights to see, but its exuberant neighbourhoods make it unique. We recommend starting your second day on Calle Betis in Triana, one of the city’s most famous districts. There are colourful houses along the riverside and plenty of bustling, cheerful bars and cafés where you can enjoy a traditional breakfast to set you up for the day.Cross the Triana bridge and walk 15 minutes towards the centre to find Santa Cruz and Alfalfa, two neighbourhoods full of little shops selling crafts such as ceramics and leather goods, and local foods and wines which also make great souvenirs. Santa Cruz also offers one of the most famous “postcard” views of Seville: Callejón del Agua, a narrow street full of flowers and the heavenly smell of jasmine.

To round off this tour of Seville, we suggest a visit to the famous Setas de Sevilla. This wooden mushroom-shaped structure on Plaza de la Encarnación is five minutes from Plaza de la Alfalfa, and here you can take a walk 25 metres up, among the roofs of the city centre. If you want a little something, the nearby cake shop La Campana is just five minutes from the Setas, offering traditional sweets and pastries.

Seville boasts one of Spain’s best-kept green spaces, María Luisa Park. It’s a 25-minute walk from the Setas to this vast garden, perfect for a picnic, a stroll, or sports any time of year. It’s also the site of the unique Plaza de España, a circular space which is one of the most famous sights in Seville, the ideal spot for a memorable photograph. The square was designed as one of the centrepieces of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929.

Our last suggestion is a tour of the old quarter in a calesa. These horse-drawn carriages can be booked in advance, but you can also find them waiting at various places in the centre. There are stops at Plaza del Triunfo, the cathedral and María Luisa Park where you can take a ride to see the city in a different way, with the best possible guides: the drivers, who can entertain you with their stories about Seville. Let yourself be soothed by the charm of ancient Hispalis at sunset, and you’ll understand the words of the flamenco singer Juan Peña, el Lebrijano: “what Seville gives you, nobody can take away”.