From my list of saved places in Seville, this part has the Giralda and the Cuarto del Almirante y Casa de Contratación, rooms inside the Real Alcázar; they have almost no Google reviews, so they're covered in the Alcázar entry. I added the other sights — the cathedral, palaces, a park and museums — on the advice of travel guides, first of all 34travel. Every one is checked on Google — still open, rated 4.2 or higher. I haven't written my own notes yet, so all the descriptions are put together from Google Maps reviews.
Most places here are free or cheap, with ticket prices taken from reviews; hours are from Google, valid as of 7 October 2026. Rate: 1 € ≈ $1.12.
In short
- The essentials in one day: the Giralda and the Real Alcázar are next to each other; book the Alcázar online ahead — the morning slots sell out.
- Free: Plaza de España and the Parque de María Luisa, and at the Torre del Oro you pay what you like.
- Sunset: the top of Setas de Sevilla — one ticket lets you come in the day and return after dark.
- Flamenco: the Museo del Baile Flamenco puts on a show twice a day, ticketed separately.
- If the Alcázar is sold out: Casa de Pilatos or the Palacio de las Dueñas — the same courtyards and tiles, far fewer people.
- Almost free: the Museo de Bellas Artes — 1.5 € (≈$2), open until 21:00, Murillo and Zurbarán.
The cathedral and the Alcázar
La Giralda
Centro · cathedral bell tower
Google Maps · website · Av. de la Constitución, s/n
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 60,000+): the cathedral's bell tower began in the 12th century as the minaret of the city's main mosque — Moorish brickwork below, a Renaissance belfry on top. The way up is 35 ramps rather than stairs, so it's an easy climb. The view is great, though the bird netting gets in the way a little. The ticket is shared with the cathedral, which holds Columbus's tomb. A tip from reviews: come around 16:00, when there's barely a queue. There's no lift, so leave the pushchair behind.
Catedral de Sevilla
Centro · cathedral · Mon–Sat 11:00–18:00, Sun 14:30–19:00
Google Maps · website · Av. de la Constitución, s/n
According to Google Maps reviews (4.8 from 60,000+): a huge Gothic cathedral, one of the largest in the world, with Columbus's tomb inside and the Giralda above it on the same ticket. Reviewers advise buying online: about 13 € (≈$15), with a separate entrance and no queue. Allow an hour and a half to two hours; the audio guide gets praise. The dress code is strict: bare shoulders get you turned away or sold a shawl. There are morning tours of the cathedral roof — places are limited, so book ahead; on Sunday mornings there is mass, and visits start only at 14:30. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Real Alcázar de Sevilla
Santa Cruz · royal palace and gardens · daily 9:30–19:00
Google Maps · website · Patio de Banderas
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 103,000+): a Moorish royal palace with courtyards, Mudéjar carving, 16th-century tiles and huge gardens with fountains whose shade is a relief in the heat. An unhurried visit takes about two and a half hours. In season tickets sell out days ahead, so buy online and pick the earliest slot; bring water and headphones for the audio guide. Inside, by the Patio de las Doncellas, are the rooms of the Cuarto del Almirante y Casa de Contratación. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Squares, parks and the river
Plaza de España
Parque de María Luisa · square · daily 8:00–0:00
Google Maps · website · Av. Isabel la Católica
According to Google Maps reviews (4.8 from 190,000+): a vast semicircular square with two towers, a fountain, a canal with little bridges and benches of painted tiles along the wall. Some recognise it as Naboo from Star Wars. Street flamenco dancers often perform. It's busy all day; come in the morning for calmer photos. Entry is free. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Parque de María Luisa
Sur · city park · free · daily 8:00–0:00
Google Maps · website · 41013 Sevilla
According to Google Maps reviews (4.8 from 42,000+): the city's main park, with Plaza de España built into it: fountains, ponds, a waterfall, pavilions, flowering pergolas and old trees that make it noticeably cooler. You can take a horse carriage, a pedal car or a boat on the square's canal. The tip from reviews is to come around nine in the morning, when it's quiet and only the gardeners are about, or at sunset. Free entry.
Setas de Sevilla
Encarnación · viewpoint · daily 9:30–23:45
Google Maps · website · Pl. de la Encarnación, s/n
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 112,000+): a huge mushroom-shaped wooden structure over Plaza de la Encarnación, with a rooftop walkway giving a 360° view of the city and an archaeological museum underneath. One ticket lets you come in the day and return after dark, when the lights come on. The best time is just before sunset, which is also the busiest, so book ahead. Some found the view modest — Seville has few high points. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Torre del Oro
El Arenal · tower and naval museum · by donation · Mon–Fri 9:30–19:00, Sat–Sun 10:30–19:00
Google Maps · website · P.º de Cristóbal Colón, s/n
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 56,000+): a watchtower from around 1220 on the bank of the Guadalquivir — a chain was once stretched from it across the river. Inside is a small naval museum; entry is by donation, whatever you like. The spiral staircase is narrow, the view from the top modest and the exhibits poorly labelled, so treat it as a stop on a riverside walk. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Palaces, museums and flamenco
Casa de Pilatos
San Bartolomé · palace · daily 9:00–18:00
Google Maps · website · Pl. de Pilatos, 1
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 14,000+): an Andalusian palace from the 15th–16th centuries — courtyards, tiles, carved ceilings, a garden of orange trees and a collection of Roman statues. A ground-floor ticket is about 12 € (≈$13); the upstairs rooms are shown only on a guided tour for an extra fee, and reviewers rate that tour above the audio guide, which runs off a QR code, is rather dry and needs your phone and headphones. Far fewer people than at the Alcázar, so it's a good stand-in if you missed out on tickets there. Allow an hour to an hour and a half.
Palacio de las Dueñas
Casco Antiguo · palace of the Dukes of Alba · daily 10:00–18:00
Google Maps · website · C. Dueñas, 5
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 11,000+): a late-15th-century palace, home of the Dukes of Alba: courtyards, a garden of orange trees and flowers, tapestries, tiles, ceramics and paintings. The free audio guide starts from a QR code — bring headphones; allow about two hours. It's quiet compared with the big sights. Book tickets online. Downside: the information cards have faded and the English text on them is hard to read.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla
Museo · art museum · 1.5 € (≈$2) · Tue–Sat 9:00–21:00, Sun 9:00–15:00, closed Mon
Google Maps · website · Pl. del Museo, 9
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 16,000+): a museum in a former convent with quiet courtyards and paintings from Seville's Golden Age — Murillo (who has a room of his own), Zurbarán, Valdés Leal, Velázquez. Entry is 1.5 €, free for EU citizens, cash only. It's open until 21:00, a good way to sit out the heat. Far fewer tourists than at the cathedral. Downsides: the art is mostly religious, and some labels are in Spanish only. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Museo del Baile Flamenco
Alfalfa · flamenco museum and shows · daily 10:00–18:00
Google Maps · website · C. Manuel Rojas Marcos, 3
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 5,000+): a museum of flamenco history in an 18th-century building — small, half an hour is enough. The real draw is the show, twice a day with a separate ticket: reviewers praise the dancers' energy, the singing and the guitar. No filming during the performance. A tip from reviews: see the museum first, then the show, and it makes more sense. 34travel recommends it too (article).
One last thing
Seville is one of the hottest cities in Europe, and its rhythm allows for it: the Alcázar and Plaza de España first thing in the morning, the shade of the gardens in the afternoon, the Setas at sunset. And book the Alcázar online a few days ahead: in season the morning tickets go first.
More on Seville: where to eat and drink, coffee, breakfast and bars, tapas bars.