Cathedral

Seville's immense cathedral, one of the biggest in the world, was built on the site of Muslim Seville's main mosque between 1401 and 1507. One highlight of the cathedral's lavish interior is Christopher Columbus' supposed tomb inside the south door. (See: Seville Cathedral)

Giralda

The tower which adjoins the Cathedral is La Giralda. It was the mosque's minaret and dates from the 12th century; climb up for great views. Use the same ticket as for the Cathedral.

Torre de Oro

On the banks of the River Guadalquivir stands the Torre de Oro which today represents one of Seville's major landmarks. It was originally built by the Moors as a way to close access to the harbour by attaching a chain to it and to the opposite bank of the river.

Alcázar

This was a fortress from the Muslim-era (dates from AD 913) which served as a hideout of Muslim and Christian royalty for many centuries. (See: Seville Alcazar).

Plaza de España

This is one of the country’s most spectacular Plazas de España which was the centrepiece of the 1929 Spanish-Americas Fair. It containing fountains and mini-canals and is surrounded by a display of tile work representing all the provinces of Spain. If you need a break from the city head into the tranquillity of the adjoining Parque de María Luisa which is only a 10 minute walk east of the Cathedral.

Antigua Fábrica de Tabacos

On the way to the Plaza de España you will the city’s old tobacco factory which was the setting for Bizet’s Carmen. Today it is a part of Seville University, and is open to the public during daylight hours.

Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza – Seville’s Bullring

It’s well worth a visit to Seville's bullring which is one of the oldest (1758) and most famous in Spain. Short guided tour is compulsory.

Archivo de Indias

Since 1785, this building on the west side of Plaza del Triunfo has been the main archive of Spain's American empire. Its endless shelves hold more than 80 million pages of documents dating from 1492 through to the end of the empire in the 19th century.

City Sightseeing by Open Top Bus Tour

One way to get to grips with the city is to take an open-top bus tour – especially good if you're pressed for time. This hop-on hop-off service is operated by Sevirama (tel 954 560 693) and the buses leave half-hourly from the riverside Torre del Oro, stopping at or near the main sites (all-day tickets cost around €9).

Seville City Tours and Excursions

Pre-book excursions to Jerez, Sanlucar and beyond or city tapas tours and flamenco performances.

Seville Flamenco

And finally, of course, there is flamenco in Seville. In actual fact, there are many differing styles that come under the generic name of flamenco – but this is the part of the world where the gypsies first found this form of music and dance in order to express their suffering so flamboyantly. The famous Seville 'tablaos', which you'll see plenty of advertising for, undoubtedly offer high quality, superbly choreographed professional shows – often with a meal as part of the package. Some people prefer to take in what they consider the 'true' flamenco of the back street bars, where local artists sing, dance and play the guitar in unforgettably soul-stirring flamenco rhythms. Whatever your taste, Seville will offer you plenty of high-quality nightlife which, along with the fascinating places you'll want to visit during the day, will make your stay here one incredible experience.

Samay Hostel ®

Located in the heart of Sevilla’s oldest and most romantic neighborhood. Take a stroll through these dim, mazelike streets and alleyways and bask in the city's ancient past. We are de firs hostels in seville. You can stuff your belly in one of the many Tapas bars located just outside our doors. If it’s flamenco or bullfighting you’re after we’re a stone’s throw from the bullring and some of Sevilla`s best flamenco bars.

The Samay Team, composed of backpackers and independent travellers has created the perfect space for those who want more from their hostel. We have completely restored a traditional Sevillan “town house”, adding our own unique touches to better serve you. Our spacious, designer, well lit and ensuite dorm rooms keep you comfortable while visiting this Andulacian capital. The “Samay Touch”: Never-ending hot water, premium mattresses, sturdy hand-crafted bunk beds, personal safes, key card access, air conditioning, central heating, free linen, and fully equipped kitchen. Samay also helps you stay connected with Wi-Fi, high-speed Internet access and guest phone services.

Seville Nightlife

As one of the hottest cities in Europe, it should come as no real surprise that the Seville nightlife scene is widely regarded as being amongst the 'hottest' in Spain. After all, Andalucia is the home of flamenco, tapas, sherry and one Spain's best beers, Cruzcampo – all pretty good ingredients for a flourishing nightlife when combined with those balmy summer nights. Seville is a wonderful city in which to enjoy yourself. It is large enough to have a great variety of places to go but, at the same time, it's compact enough to negotiate your way around easily. It also has a large student population, a thriving Bohemian or 'underground' element and a lively gay scene, as well as a socially mixed community and an ever-changing population of foreign workers and tourists. As with many Spanish cities, though, if you venture into the streets before 11 o'clock in the evening you might get the impression that it's only the tourists who know how to enjoy themselves in Seville. Aside from a few people having a beer on their way home from work, the locals will not come out until later – and that's when things will start hotting up.

Seville Bars & Tapas Bars

It's customary here to begin the evening with a beer or two before moving on to other places and you'll find a wide range of Seville tapas bars – many of them overflowing into the streets – offering the ubiquitous ice cold Cruzcampo. Don't worry if you want a more 'international' selection, though – in recent years the number of bars offering a wider range has increased considerably. And there are, of course, numerous Irish pubs throughout the city – of, it has to be said, varying degrees of legitimacy.

When you think of food in Seville, I suppose it's only natural to think of tapas, and the reputation that the city has for the quality and variety of the tapas selections you will find here is completely merited. There are so many places where you can pop in for a tapa or media ración of delicious home-made food. There are few better ways of eating than having a few friends sharing half a dozen or so of these wonderful dishes before moving on to the next tapas bar as part of your 'tapeando'. Interestingly, although the traditional tapas offerings will still be readily available wherever you go, the revolution in Spanish cooking has led to some restaurants and bars offering innovative, contemporary – even fusion-style, tapas dishes. And there's certainly more for the vegetarian diner than was the case a few years ago.