Seville

Spain·Europe

Currency

EUR

Language

Spanish

Timezone

Madrid

Continent

Europe

Our guide

Discover Seville

Seville packs three World Heritage monuments into one block: the cathedral, the largest Gothic church in the world; the Alcázar, whose Mudéjar palaces are still a royal residence; and the Archivo General de Indias, which holds the records of the conquest of the Americas. All three can be seen in a day, on foot.

When to go

March to May, October to November. The Andalusian summer is extreme: Seville regularly passes 40 °C in July and August, and the city organises itself around the siesta. Holy Week and the April Feria are extraordinary but fill everything — book months ahead or avoid.

Getting around

The centre is walked, with the bike share filling the gaps. Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter, is a deliberate labyrinth: getting lost in it is the point.

Where to eat

El Rinconcillo, open since 1670, is the oldest tavern in the city — you order standing at the bar and the bill is chalked on the wood. Beyond it, Seville is a tapas city in the strict sense: you do not sit down to a meal, you work through three or four bars.

Good to know

Book the Alcázar online; queues easily reach two hours. Three halal addresses are listed. Bring sun protection from May onwards, and adopt the local clock — nothing is open between two and five.

Smart Planning