We visited Seville for the first time in 2025, and it captured our hearts.

Since then, we have been hoping to return again and again to explore more of its history, beauty, culture, and character.

Why Seville Captured Our Hearts

Seville is breathtakingly beautiful and refreshingly distinctive. So many cities can feel copied and pasted from one place to the next, but Seville still has a soul of its own. Yes, you’ll find Starbucks, McDonald’s, and the usual chain stores, but they haven’t spread far enough to smother the heart of this remarkable old city, shaped by centuries of history, trade, invasion, conquest, and storytelling.

What struck us most was how deeply the people of Seville seem to love their city. They are passionate and protective, yet still eager to share its wonders. At heart, they are not just Spanish; they are Andalusian, and their culture and traditions are alive everywhere you look.

There is so much to see and do, but some of our favourite moments were the simplest ones: getting lost early in the morning, wandering narrow cobbled streets scented with flowers and greenery, and searching for a hidden coffee shop known only to locals. We loved finding a quiet patch of shade in a main square and watching tourists and residents drift through their day.

Orange trees lined the streets, heavy with Seville’s famous fruit. One minute, we were swept along by the energy of a busy city-centre street; the next, we had slipped into a quiet side street where we could hear nothing but our own thoughts.

Getting Around

For our family of four, we bought City Sightseeing tickets for the duration of our stay.

You know the ones: big red open-top buses full of tourists taking photos. That was us, and we loved it. We were sceptical at first, but it turned out to be a cheap, easy way to get around. We could hop on and off as often as we liked, listen to the multilingual audio guide (if we could get a seat), and use discounts or free passes for many of the main attractions. If you’ve got kids the attraction passes are great. Our teenagers needed a break from miles of walking to view history and culture (as much as we loved it), so we went to the Sealife centre for the day. The bus was free, and the entry passes were included in the bundle we bought. It was a great, chilled, and fun family day out. We would definitely recommend the city sight-seeing pass, although, sometimes it feels like you’re in a scene from the Italian Job. The streets are narrow and busy and those drivers have skills! We think our daughter saw half the journey through her fingers!

We also have a tradition when visiting a new city: taking a bike tour on the first day. It gives us a useful overview, introduces us to a local guide, and helps us decide which places we want to explore in more depth.

In Seville, electric scooters are everywhere, used by everyone from schoolchildren to businesspeople. So we opted for this as our mode of transport for our reconnaissance mission! The city is well set up for them, with an extensive network of cycle lanes. There are plenty of operators, but it’s worth checking reviews and choosing a reputable company with well-maintained scooters. Our guide was born and raised in Seville and had a Scottish partner, so we had plenty to talk about—small world! Again this tour was suitable for everyone. Our group was very small, the four of us plus another British couple , who were probably about 60 years of age. They had as much fun as our teenagers so please don’t be put off. Anyone can get the hang of it.

We went with SCOOTNET, located in the city centre and they were brilliant.

Food and Drink

Seville is a wonderful place to enjoy Andalusian food, whether you are looking for a lively tapas bar, a relaxed café, or a memorable restaurant tucked away from the main streets.

The city centre has excellent places to eat for every budget, many open from lunchtime until late. Still, it is worth wandering into the side streets and smaller plazas, where the real hidden gems often appear. Around 9 p.m., the city seems to shift into another rhythm: couples, families, and children fill the streets to enjoy the cooler evening air. Small bars and restaurants appear everywhere, sometimes no more than a hatch or window in the wall. People gather to chat, sip beer or wine, and share small plates of food. Best of all, many of these places are surprisingly affordable. However, make sure you know what you’re ordering. We asked one of these places to surprise us with a few plates of tapas and it was not enjoyable. We love food and love trying new dishes but the selection we were given was “bogging”, to use a good Scottish word! Luckily that was the only food mishap of the holiday.

For snacks/lunch on the go, we often used a little takeaway sandwich/baguette shop just next to the Cathedral – TAKE AWAY PLATA. Freshly made baguettes, crammed full with your filling of choice for a out 5 euros. The owner was very friendly and more than happy for us to try out and practise our terrible Spanish!

Simone and I had a superb adults only evening meal at LA SACRISTIA, again, a stones throw from the cathedral. The tapas and small sharing plates were mouth watering and the laid back, authentic feel of the restaurant was spot on.

If you want to go up market we highly recommend seeking out and visiting HOTEL ALFONSO XIII.

This place is pure luxury. Well above our usual budget however, they have an amazing bar/restaurant, that serves cakes, pastries, coffee and alcoholic drinks at perfectly reasonable prices. We stopped for coffee and cake, ok so Stuart might have had an Old Fashioned, and we basked in the grandeur for an hour or so. There’s a choice of seating areas including outdoors in the garden. Well worth it, you should definitely go!

Highlights Worth Seeking Out

• Parque de María Luisa, Seville (María Luisa Park)

This peaceful Mediterranean oasis sits right in the heart of the city.

Created for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, it is perfect for walking, cycling, picnics, gentle exploring, and feeding the ducks at Isla de los Patos. We found ourselves coming back here on a few occasions, enjoying the picnic benches as a perfect spot to sit, relax and simply chill out.

Opening hours: Daily, 08:00–22:00.

• Plaza de España

Just opposite María Luisa Park, Plaza de España is one of Seville’s most spectacular sights.

Its sweeping semicircular design is framed by grand buildings, now used mainly as government offices.

The central fountain, canal, and graceful bridges make it a brilliant place to wander, take photos, or rent a small boat and see the plaza from the water.

Do not miss the 52 colourful mosaic benches, each representing a Spanish province.

Opening hours: Open day and night.

• Plaza de Toros

This grand 18th-century bullring is now a museum dedicated to the province’s bullfighting history. As the largest ring in Spain, it is an impressive sight, even if you visit only to appreciate the building and its cultural significance. We didn’t manage to catch an actual bullfight – probably for the best! But following our visit appreciated how important to Seville’s identity.

• Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold)

This 12th-century landmark stands proudly on the banks of the Guadalquivir River.

Originally built by the Almohads as a military watchtower for incoming ships, it later stored gold and served as a prison. It once anchored a chain that could be raised across the river to block enemy vessels.

• Iglesia del Salvador (Church of the Divine Saviour)

This Roman Catholic church is the second largest in the city after Seville Cathedral.

Its site has a layered history, once home to a Roman basilica and later a mosque during the Moorish period.

Today, the church is filled with ornate statues, sculptures, and shrines, while archaeological remains from earlier buildings are preserved beneath it.

📝 If you’re planning to pop into a Catholic church in Seville, remember to bring something to cover your shoulder.

Final Thoughts

If Seville is already on your bucket list, keep it there. If it was not before, it should be now.

Clean, welcoming, family-friendly, and full of Spanish and Andalusian character, Seville is a city we cannot recommend highly enough.