The 10 best free visits and activities in Seville

Visit Seville: What are the activities and free visits to Seville, the capital of Andalusia, considered one of the most beautiful cities on the Iberian Peninsula?

Seville is the fourth largest city in Spain with 700,000 inhabitants, slightly more populated than Zaragoza but slightly less than Valencia. But it is also one of the most interesting to discover, since the city has an impressive historical and cultural heritage: marked by Arab incursions, the influence of Eastern culture is still felt today when you go there and want to discover what makes the city a unique place in Europe.

If your budget is limited, or you want to spend it on other activities, we offer you some of the free activities to do in Seville: as you will see, it is quite possible to enjoy the city without spending a single cent, since Seville opens the doors of many tourist attractions for free on Mondays.

Here is a selection of the best free visits to Seville; what are you waiting for to discover them? Vamos!

Also read : The 11 best things to do in Seville
The best areas to stay in Seville

1. The alleys of the Santa Cruz district

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The Santa Cruz district, in the heart of the city, is truly the historic heart of Seville. It is here that you can admire most of the city’s emblematic monuments, some of which will be presented below. But for now, stroll through the narrow and lively streets of this area, which actually corresponds to Seville’s old Jewish quarter.

Taking a walk in these alleys giving instead of labyrinth false-airs is undoubtedly one of the best free activities to do in Seville. The walk will give you the opportunity to discover the city from a unique and frankly pleasant angle! Discover the streets lined with orange trees, where traditional handicraft shops, tapas bars and street shows are located. It’s definitely worth it!

2. The Cathedral of Seville

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The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Siege of Seville is undoubtedly one of the jewels of Spain as a whole. Inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1987, this sublime Gothic building was built in place of an old Almohad mosque, which left its minaret, now the famous bell tower of the Giralda.

The building is gigantic! It is the largest cathedral in Spain, and one of the largest in the Catholic world. In addition to the spiritual interest of the site, this monument also houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus himself!

Normally, its access is subject to a charge. But it is possible to book a visit by email, to access this place for free. However, if you prefer a guided tour, it will be charged.

Open to the public free of charge

• Mondays: between 4:30 pm and 6 pm

3. The Maestranza Arena

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The arenas of the city of Seville, known as the arenas of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Seville, are known throughout the world for their exceptional architecture, which led to their classification as a historical monument in 1984.

In this bullfighting Mecca, located just opposite the Guadalquivir (the river that flows through the city), bullfighting enthusiasts come to enjoy this controversial but inseparable show of Andalusian cultural heritage. In addition, the famous Feria de Abril is held here in the spring, bringing together young and old alike to enjoy a lovely popular festival.

Normally charged 8€, it is still possible to visit without paying anything. This mythical space thus becomes one of the most interesting free activities to do in Seville.

Open to the public free of charge

• Mondays: from 3pm to 7pm

4. The Alcazar of Seville

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Classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, this citadel (a fortified palace) – built by the Umayyad dynasty from the 10th century onwards – is undoubtedly one of the city’s most beautiful historical sites.

In addition to the splendid patio de las Doncellas – considered one of the most beautiful in Spain – or the patio of the Virgins and its pond, you can also admire the cedar dome of the Ambassadors’ Lounge, the Casa de Contratación, or the vast Moorish gardens, perfectly maintained and giving a rather precise idea of the way of life at the time !

Open to the public free of charge

• Mondays
• April to September: 6pm to 7pm
• October to March: 4pm to 5pm

So don’t hesitate to enjoy one of the best free activities to do in Seville by exploring this sublime palace! However, please note that if you prefer a guided tour of the Alcazar, the visit will of course be charged.

5. María Luisa Park

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Located south of the historic district of Santa Cruz, María Luisa Park is the largest park in the city of Seville. If we tell you about it, it is because the place is open free of charge all year round, until 10pm in the winter and until midnight the rest of the time.

It houses many of the city’s heritage treasures: the Lions Fountain, the Frog Fountain, the superb Lotus Pond, not to mention the picturesque monument dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes, the father of the equally famous Don Quixote.

In addition to these interesting buildings from a tourist point of view, the park is a botanical garden with many palm and date palm plant species and remarkable fauna. Yes, when you visit the María Luisa Park, you will have the opportunity to see green parrots and majestic swans that make this green space one of the best free activities to do in Seville.

One last thing: don’t forget, when you go to María Luisa’s park, to come and admire its neighbor, the imposing Plaza de España, one of the most beautiful in the country!

6. Explore the Andalusian Centre for Contemporary Art

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Often abbreviated CAAC, the Andalusian Centre for Contemporary Art is located in one of the four Carthusian monasteries in Andalusia: the Monasterio de la Cartuja de Santa Maria de las Cuevas.

Home to many works of modern art, this sumptuous monastery – located on the island of La Cartuja in the middle of the Guadalquivir – is also at the heart of a legend according to which the Virgin Mary appeared there in 1248 in an old ceramic oven built by the Almohads!

The building is in fact an architectural assembly combining Gothic elements and artifacts typical of Mudéjar architecture, including vegetable gardens, chapels but also historical artisanal production units such as hydraulic machines and ceramic ovens.

When you come to visit Seville, be sure to visit it. This point of tourist interest is clearly worth a look!

Open to the public free of charge

• Tuesday to Friday: from 7pm to 9pm
• Saturday: from 11am to 9pm

7. The Museums of Seville

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In fact, the city of Seville is home to many museums, but the three largest cultural centres in the city are undoubtedly:

The Fine Arts Museum
The Museum of Popular Traditions
The Archaeological Museum
These have in common an undeniable advantage when you are looking to save on your holiday budget, or simply when you want to find a free activity to do in Seville: they are not charged for European Union nationals!

As you will have understood, if you come from one of the 27 nations that make up the region, it will not cost you a cent to access the works exhibited in the first, to discover the Andalusian customs and traditions and treasures offered in the second or to learn a little more about the history of the region in the third. Whether alone or with the family, these visits, although free, will undoubtedly prove to be very enriching!

8. The ceramic factory in Santa Ana

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In this former centre of ceramic production, a grandiose art whose mastery was undoubtedly brought by Arab civilization, is the Seville Ceramics Museum, which presents the ancestral know-how and historical productions found throughout southern Spain.

If you have taken the trouble to discover this cultural space, which is one of the best free visits to Seville after walking around the city, you will quickly realize that it is here that countless elements present in the city were produced, such as in the Plaza de España, for example.

Open to the public free of charge

• Tuesday to Saturday: between 11am and 5.30pm
• Sundays and public holidays: between 10am and 2.30pm

In addition, it should be noted that after purchasing your ticket to export the Seville Alcázar, it will give you free access to the Santa Ana ceramic factory, even outside the hours when the visit is free. Good plan, right?

9. The Museum of the Inquisition

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The Museum of the Inquisition is located in the Triana district, within the walls of the Castillo de San Jorge, which was used during the Middle Ages during the Spanish Inquisition, the purpose of which was to hunt down heretics.

In this dark and unusual place, we find many elements of religious repression, macabre torture machines and many information about this dark and unknown period.
Although terrifying, the place is still worth a look as long as you have a strong stomach! It is therefore one of the best free activities to do if you are determined to visit Seville.

Open to the public free of charge

• Tuesday to Saturday: from 11am to 5.30pm
• Sundays and public holidays: from 10am to 2.30pm

10. The monastery of Santa Clara

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Seville is the capital of Andalusia and, by extension, of flamenco. To give yourself the opportunity to discover this elegant dance, symbol of Spain on its own, why not visit one of the most beautiful palaces in Seville: the monastery of Santa Clara.

This former Almohad castle now welcomes tourists who have come to learn more about Andalusian music and the famous dance that is inseparable from the region. It is here that exciting cultural and artistic events dedicated to music and dance take place. It also hosts one of the most famous festivals highlighting the latter: the Biennale del Flamenco. The latter brings together some of the greatest protagonists of this secular discipline with a strong character.

Open to the public free of charge

• Tuesday to Saturday: from 10am to 7.30pm
• Sundays and public holidays: from 10am to 2.30pm