The Locals-Only Guide to My Favorite Spots and Activities in Sevilla

My tips for best sightseeing, activities, and favorite restaurants in the best city in Spain.

**Disclaimer that this is very different from what I typically write about, but after years of writing & re-writing the below list to share and send to those visiting Sevilla, I figured it was easier to post here and I can just send the link to people whenever I get asked for my recs in Sevilla**

Below you’ll find my must-do’s and recommendations for your trip to Sevilla. I get asked for this list anytime a friend, friend of a friend, etc comes to visit and finally realized it makes way more sense to just have this live on a post.

For some context to Sevilla itself, Sevilla is a very walkable city. There are about 5 main neighborhoods in the “center” and you can walk from one end of the city to the other in about 40 minutes. If you’re looking for a place to stay I recommend the main center (El Centro) or Santa Cruz.

Hope you enjoy!

Sightseeing:

• The Cathedral - worth buying the ticket so that you can walk up the "giralda" the tall bell tower in the cathedral.

• Alcazar - you can buy tickets online in advance for both Alcazar and the Cathedral, I really recommend buying in adanvace as the lines are quite long.

• Plaza España + Parque Maria Luisa - this is public, no need to buy tickets. The plaza is incredibly gorgeous and you have to plan time to explore the park around it.

• Las Setas - You can buy a ticket to go to the top, but honestly I think it's fine to just see it from below. It's just a cool wooden structure they built for shade, built by a famous German architect. 

• Walk along the river (Calle Betis). There are lots of cute bars with nice views where you can have a drink.

Activities:

• Cooking class in Triana Market - I haven't done this one myself but a lot of people recommend it

• Explore either Triana Market or Mercado de Feria, both are cool local markets. 

• Bike tour or free walking tour, both really good options. The city is really bike-able and walkable. I'd say you can walk from one side of Sevilla to the other in about 40 minutes. 

• Tapas Tour - I used to work for this company, I personally find it a really great activity to get to know the tapas culture in Spain and it's usually a fun group of people (5-10 people per group).

• Aires de Sevilla - Arabic baths in the main center, the space is absolutely beautiful and they have several different jacuzzis, a salt bath, cold plunge and a sauna. I used to love going here but they’ve increased the prices quite a bit so just depends on your budget. I usually do the normal circuit without a massage cause I’ve never found the massages worth it, the best part of this place is the spas.

• If there's a futbol game while you're here, keep an eye out for tickets on the website as you'll have to buy them in advance and they sell out quickly. There are two teams here: Sevilla FC and Betis FC. It's really fun to go to a game even if you're not a big sports person. 

Favorite Places to Eat

As a preamble, I personally like to share my favorite places with small descriptors and favorite plates, and then each person can choose based on their own personal taste and what they’re looking for.

In general most places in Sevilla are "tapas" places. The idea is you order lots of tapas and share. I bolded the places that are more "typical Spanish" places. The rest are more modern tapas fusion, so a different vibe but great food.

Also as a side note, Sevilla is not the place to order paella as Sevilla isn't known for paella. You can certainly order Spanish “rice dishes"/"arroz"...but paella itself I'd avoid here because I’ve never once ordered paella in Sevilla, at the most I’ve gone to a friend’s house who knows how to make it properly. Also, final note, if you look up a place and it has the "reserve" option on Google, definitely reserve in advance. Ever since Covid it’s a lot harder to just show up to a place here, so if you don’t have a reservation, get there right when they open.

For the typical Spanish places, the ones in bold, you probably can’t reserve but just show up close to when they open so you don't have to wait a long time:

• Trastienda - if you like seafood, this place is a must visit but it's pricier compared to Sevilla standards. It's hole in the wall vibe, it's not like a nice sit down place, they're high top tables and very few of them so you have to arrive right when they open...basically any of the fresh seafood they have that day is amazing. My recs if they have them are: gambas rojas a la plancha, cigala a la plancha, coquinas or almejas, carabinero a la plancha is amazing.

• Golondrinas - very typical Spanish bar in Triana, hole in the wall vibes...puntas de solomillo, chipiron, cabellito de jamon, stuffed mushrooms are a must, calabacin relleno if they have it.

• Sobretablas (this place is the new hot spot in Sevilla for fancy dining...pricier, I've only been once but I really liked it. The Pringa, ensaladilla, roast beef, and cochinillo were all really good. They have good wines too!)

• T Espacio - modern gastro restaurant but this place is reallyyy cool on the inside. It's just a u-shaped table and then the kitchen is right behind it so you see the chef making everything. The menu changes constantly so hard to recommend, but usually the waiters are good at giving recs. 

• Las Teresas - this a must visit, albeit a "tourist spot" it's just actually really great. Classic old school Spanish tapas bar...I recommend: champinones, tiras de buey, pavia, kobe meat, carillada, boquerones en vinagre.

• Barra Baja - modern gastro restaurant, love this place, the steak tartar and cigala carpaccio are amazing.

• Brunilda - this is a modern gastro restaurant as well, you'll never find Spanish people here but the tapas are great. From what I remember specifically the queso costeño is delicious, along with any of the pork or duck tapas. 

• Acerao - this is a hole in the wall Spanish place, very authentic, it's a stop on the tapas tour. The queso payoyo is really good as well as the chicarron de cadiz. This isn't a place I'd have a full meal at, just a drink and 1-2 tapas. They’re known for their icy cold Cruzcampo beer, but I’d also recommend trying one of their vino finos (sherry wines): manzanilla, amontillado, etc.

• El Disparate - modern gastro restaurant, in the Michelin guide. The menu changes quite frequently but what I love here are these chocolate/cheese "bombones" and the huevos estrellados. I'd recommend all of their appetizer plates over the fish or meat plates, personally.

• El Rincocillo - The oldest tapas bar in Sevilla. I wouldn't eat here but just stop by and have a drink as it's a really beautiful spot.

• Condede - this is a cool alternative spot at "mercado de feria", not Spanish food but the arepas are amazing and it's nice for a change of pace if you get sick of tapas.

• Manu Jara - best pastries in all of Sevilla. The caracol is my favorite, as well as any of the desserts they have.

• The rooftop bar at Pura Vida. This is a beautiful spot to have a coffee or a drink with fantastic views of the cathedral.

Photo by Joan Oger on Unsplash