Seville tours and tickets
Seville's biggest sights sell by timed slot. The Real Alcázar fills weeks ahead in spring and autumn, the Cathedral and Giralda a week or two ahead, and flamenco shows a few days before. Plaza de España, Santa Cruz and the Metropol Parasol need no ticket or only a short queue. Córdoba, Jerez and Ronda are easy by train or with a guide.
Book these first
- Real Alcázar
- 2 to 4 weeks ahead. Timed slots, and queues are long at midday.
- Cathedral and the Giralda
- 1 to 2 weeks ahead. Timed entry in busy months.
- Flamenco show
- a few days ahead. The best small venues sell out.
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Churches and palaces
Real Alcázar
A royal palace of Mudéjar courtyards, tiled halls and gardens, still in use by the Spanish royal family. Tickets are timed, with audio guides, guided tours and special night visits. A visit takes two to three hours.
Which to pick. Book the official timed ticket for the morning as soon as dates are fixed. Add the night visit if you want a quiet look at the courtyards.
2 to 4 weeks aheadVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorCathedral and Giralda
The largest Gothic cathedral in the world, with Columbus's tomb, a huge altarpiece and the former minaret tower, the Giralda. Tickets include the climb by ramps. Guided visits and rooftop tours are sold.
Which to pick. Buy a timed ticket online and go early. Combine with the tower climb, which is by ramp, not stairs.
1 to 2 weeks aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorCasa de Pilatos
A noble palace that blends Mudéjar, Gothic and Renaissance styles, with tiled courtyards and gardens. Tickets cover the ground floor and the upper floor separately or together.
Which to pick. Choose it for a quiet alternative to the Alcázar. Buy at the door, and visit the upper floor with a guide.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Monuments and landmarks
Plaza de España
A huge semicircular plaza from the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, with tiled alcoves for each Spanish province and a canal with rowing boats. It is free to enter and open all day.
Which to pick. Go early in the morning or at dusk, when it is cool and quiet. Hire a boat only if you want the novelty.
Not needed, entry is freeVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorMetropol Parasol
A modern wooden structure called Las Setas, with a walkway on top and a market underneath. Tickets include a drink and the view of the old town. Sunset is popular.
Which to pick. Go at sunset for the light, when the walkway is at its best. Buy at the lift, and allow an hour.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Experiences and nights out
Flamenco show
Small venues in Triana and the center put on shows of about an hour, with singing, guitar and dance. Some are intimate tablaos, while others are larger stages. Early shows are for visitors, and late ones are more local.
Which to pick. Pick a small tablao over a big theater. Book a front row seat, and go to the 21:00 or later show.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorTapas tour
A guided evening walk through Santa Cruz, Arenal or Triana, with stops at bars for jamón, fried fish and local wine. Tours last about three hours and are often run in English.
Which to pick. Join on your first night to learn the routine. Then go alone to the bars you liked.
2 to 5 days aheadTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Córdoba
The Mezquita-Catedral, the Jewish quarter and the patios, about 45 minutes by fast train. The Mezquita needs a timed ticket in busy months.
Which to pick. Go by train and buy a Mezquita ticket in advance. Choose the first slot to avoid the heat.
A few days ahead for the MezquitaOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorJerez de la Frontera
A sherry town about an hour by train, with bodegas, the Alcázar and a horse school. Tours of the bodegas include a tasting.
Which to pick. Book a bodega visit the day before, and go early. A guided day trip is easy if you want the wine without the planning.
A day or two aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorRonda
A town perched on a gorge with a famous bridge, the Puente Nuevo, and the oldest bullring in Spain, about two hours by road. Trips combine it with white villages.
Which to pick. Take a guided day trip if you have no car. The train is slower, and the road is scenic.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Seville
- Sevilla CardA card with free entry to the main monuments and a number of discounts, plus transport options. It pays off if you plan several paid sights, but timed slots at the Alcázar still need reserving. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Seville
Do I need to book the Real Alcázar?
Yes. Slots sell out weeks ahead in spring and autumn, and queues at the gate are long. Buy the official timed ticket online and take the morning.
Is the Cathedral visit worth the ticket?
Yes. The size and the tomb are striking, and the Giralda ramp is a pleasure. Buy a timed ticket online, and go at opening.
Is a flamenco show touristy?
Some are. A small tablao in Triana or the center is more intimate than a big stage. Read the venue's details and check the length of the show.
Is the Sevilla Card worth it?
It is worth it if you plan many paid monuments in a short time. If you only visit the Alcázar and the Cathedral, single tickets are simpler.
Can I visit Córdoba from Seville without a car?
Yes, by fast train in about 45 minutes. Book the Mezquita in advance for busy months, and go early to avoid the heat.
What can wait until I arrive?
Plaza de España, Santa Cruz, the Metropol Parasol and Triana can be done on the day. Book the Alcázar, the Cathedral and flamenco ahead.