In this blog post, I will give you some helpful tips about Where to stay in Seville first time, without a car, best areas to stay in Seville for first-timers (with a video and map), best hotels in Seville for all budgets (including the hotel where I stayed), and safest areas to stay in Seville.
Located on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, the capital and largest city in the Andalusia region of Spain, Seville (Sevilla in Spanish), draws tourists from around the world each year. It is famous for its flamenco dancing, architectural design, historic churches, palaces, and Moorish buildings.
Seville has a rich history dating back to Roman times. It became an important center for trade, culture, and the arts during the Islamic rule in the 8th century. After the Reconquista, it became a hub for exploration and trade with the Americas. Today, it’s famous for its lively culture, beautiful architecture, and lively festivals.
Seville is one of the safest cities in Spain, but as in any famous tourist destination, you should practice common sense and be aware of pickpockets. Seville city centre, Triana, Los Remedios, Nervion are some of the safest areas to stay in Seville for tourists all day and night.
Where to stay in Seville for the first time?
The best areas to stay in Seville for first-timers are Centro, Barrio Santa Cruz, El Arenal, Macarena, Alameda, La Cartuja, Triana, Los Remedios, and Nervion. These are popular neighborhoods for tourists that offer a wide variety of attractions and amenities.
If you are looking for the best areas in Seville without a car, I would recommend staying in the district of Centro, Barrio Santa Cruz, and El Arenal. These are all central locations with easy access to major attractions and amenities, so you can get around on foot, by bus, and taxi.
If this is your first visit, I recommend spending 3-5 days in the city, which is enough to get the sense of the local history and culture, and to visit the most famous attractions. If you have more days, you can take day trips to Cordoba, Granada, Jerez, Carmona, Ecija, Osuna.
Where did I stayed in Seville?
When I visited Seville, I stayed for 3 days at Joya del Casco Boutique Hotel by Shiadu, a good value for money hotel located in a quiet central area. I was able to explore most sights on foot including the Cathedral and Gerald. I had a lovely breakfast at this hotel.
| 💖 Best Area for first-timers: | Seville Centro |
| 💎 Best luxury hotel: | Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel |
| 🏨 Best mid-range hotel: | Hotel Casa de Indias By Intur |
| 💰 Best budget hotel: | Petit Palace Puerta de Triana |
Map of areas and neighborhoods in Seville:
Best areas to stay in Seville for first-time visitors are:
1. Seville Centro
Sellive Centro is the overall best area to stay in Seville for first-timers. It has a central location with close proximity to popular attractions such as Alcazar Palace and Seville Cathedral. Staying here also offers easy walk to many shops, restaurants, tapas, and cocktail bars.
The Centro can be broken into smaller neighborhoods, but generally, it is the area between Plaza Nueva and Plaza de Encarnación, that is home to the famous Seville Cathedral, Arenal neighborhood, and the famous shopping streets of Calle Sierpes, Calle Tetuán, and La Alfalfa.
Much of Seville Centro is quite walkable, you can easily explore the city on foot. You can start exploring the city from the Plaza de Encarnacion where you find several bars, restaurants, a shopping arcade, and the Metropol Parasol.
Known as Las Setas by locals, or The Mushrooms, Metropol Parasol has a giant mushroom shape and is made of wood. You can go up the rooftop walkway Metropol Parasol and enjoy views over the city from its a special walkway and a terrace called Mirador de las Setas.
At the basement of Metropol Parasol lies an archaeological museum called Antiquarium in the central Plaza de la Encarnación square. You can see some remains from Roman period.
You can find several other cultural attractions around Plaza de Encarnacion. The Church of the Annunciation is an interesting Renaissance buildings, while the Lebrija Palace is a beautiful Andalusian house with some stunning Roman mosaics, located in Cuna street;
Architecture lovers can take a look at the The Palace of the Dukes. Built in the 15th century with a mix of Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance styles, by the Pineda family, the palace is now open for the public to view its art gallery, beautiful patios, and gardens.
History buffs and art lovers can also check out the Seville Museum of Fine Arts where you can view art works from Gothic era to the 20th century.
You can learn about the history of flamenco dance at the Flamenco Dance Museum. It is also a great location to watch some of Seville’s best flamenco.
Another popular square in Centro is the Plaza Nueva, which means New Square. It is surrounded by historical buildings. It has statue of King Fernando III at the center of the square.
In its surroundings, you can find the Ayuntamiento de Sevilla (City Hall) with its beautiful façade and clock, the Chapel of San Onofre, and Casa Longoria.
Plaza Nueva is filled with palm and orange trees, making it a popular place to hang out with friends and families. It is home to lots of designer shops, tapas bars, restaurants, as well as the location of a traditional Christmas market in December each year.
The historic center is home to the iconic Seville Cathedral, an UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. Climb up top of its bell tower La Giralda to enjoy sweeping views over the city.
Seville center also hosts the 2nd Catholic church called Church of El Salvador, located in the Plaza del Salvador. It was constructed between the 17th and 18th centuries on the former old mosque.
Sevilla Centro has a lively nightlife. The Calle Perez Galdós street attracts lots of students and tourists with its pubs and tapas bars. Plaza de la Encarnación and Plaza de Los Terceros offers a local atmosphere with traditional bars and restaurants.
If you love shopping, head to the Calle Sierpes, a busy pedestrian street and shopping spot in the historic center of Seville. It has lots of shops, tapas bars, and lively nightlife scene.
Seville’s city center provides luxury hotels, apartments, and boutique hotels. Seville’s best hotels are here, but if you look, you will find something that satisfies a tight budget.
Best places to stay in the Seville Centro for first-time visitors:
- luxury ($$$): Hotel Alfonso XIII
- mid-range ($$): Hotel Casa de Indias By Intur
- budget ($): Petit Palace Puerta de Triana
See more: Best areas to Stay in Seville with Family
2. Barrio Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is one of the best areas to stay in Seville for tourists because it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city because it has an abundance of historic sites including the royal palace of Seville, Alcazar Palace and the Giralda Tower of the Cathedral.
Located in Old quarter of Seville, Santa Cruz is the old Jewish quarter of Seville and its name literally translates to Ancient Shell.
As the former Old Jewish quarter of the city during Medieval times, the streets display distinctive characteristics from that time period. A labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets and alleyways intertwine, to protect the inhabitants from the midday sun.
If you stroll along these streets, you will see white-washed houses, charming plazas and squares filled with orange trees, past some of the oldest buildings in the city, such as synagogues, palaces.
The Seville Cathedral, known as Catedral de Sevilla, is the largest Gothic Roman cathedral in the world after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Seville Cathedral is known for it 104-meter high bell tower La Giralda.
You can climb the Giralda Tower where you can find a four-meter high bronze statue, called Giraldillo, representing faith. From its top, you will have stunning views.
Along with the Giralda, the orange tree courtyard of the cathedral of Seville was the surviving part of the mosque. Muslims wash from this courtyard before entering the mosque to pray.
The cathedral of Seville has the Tomb of Christopher Columbus, a treasure room, paintings of Murillo, Goya, Pedro de Campaña, and Luis de Vargas; and Royal Chapel devoted to King Ferdinand III of Castile who reclaimed Seville from the Moors.
For the best views of the cathedral of Seville, you can visit the Patio de Banderas, located between the Cathedral and the Royal Palace. At the square, you can walk through the orange trees grove, view its central fountain and the Seville Cathedral.
Santa Cruz has plenty of other beautiful squares. The Plaza del Cabildo offers good local restaurants with affordable prices and a flea market on Sunday.
There are also small charming orange trees lined squares such as Plaza Santa Cruz, Plaza Doña Elvira, Plaza de Triunfo, and Plaza de las Cruces.
Another important sight in the old town of Santa Cruz is the UNESCO-listed palace, Real Alcázar de Sevilla, known as the Royal Palace of Seville. Its Mudéjar architectural style is a mix of Moorish and Christian cultural influences.
In the Royal Palace, you can find Ambassador’s Hall, beautiful Moorish, Renaissance-style Murillo Gardens (Jardines de Murillo), and Casa de Contratación which granted the city the exclusive right to trade with the New World.
Another must-see palace is the Casa de Pilatos (Pilate’s House), one of the most beautiful palaces in Seville, located the Plaza de Pilatos. It was built in the 16th century by order of Don Pedro Enriquez.
You can also visit the General Archive of the Indies, an UNESCO World Heritage Sites for free. It displays a small fraction of 80 million pages of documentation about Spain’s conquest of the New World.
While in the area, you can take a look at the Hospital los Venerables, the 17th century baroque style building, located in a beautiful same name orange-tree-covered square. You can view artworks here, as well as visit the church, the Cloister, and the Velázquez Center.
Santa Cruz has several museums. The Murillo Museum is a small museum and art gallery in the home of the painter, Murillo. Flamenco Museum is the world’s first and only museum of its type.
Other places of interest in Santa Cruz are visit the Mateos Gago street full of tapas bars and restaurants; visit Callejon del Agua, known as the Water Alley, 140m long and very narrow street;
While the squares feature a collection of smaller, more traditional bars, taverns, and cafes, the larger streets are filled with bustling shops and restaurants, offering traditional food, souvenirs, handicrafts, and ceramics.
The area even has a number of bars and some clubs, open until the early hours of the morning, providing one of the best nightlife experiences on offer in the city.
Santa Cruz is easily explored on foot, you can choose to book a hotel that is located near subway and tram stops. The tram line stops at many tourist landmarks in the Santa Cruz neighborhood.
Best places to stay in Seville in Santa Cruz for first-timers:
- luxury ($$$): EME Catedral Hotel
- mid-range ($$): Hotel Doña María
- budget ($): Apartamentos Murillo
3. El Arenal
El Arenal along with Seville Centro and Barrio Santa Cruz is the best area to stay in Seville without a car due to its convenient location. El Arenal is located between the Avenida de la Constitucion and Guadalquivir River, within easy access to both Seville Centro and Triana neighborhood.
El Arenal is sit directly to the west of Santa Cruz, which was once the city’s port, from where ships sailed to the New World. “Arenal” refers to dust clouds that would have formed when gusts of wind blew up the river.
While not quite as abundant with history as its neighbor, it still has a rich history, as the primary port of the city from its founding up until the 17th- century, when river silting forced it to be moved to the south of the city.
As this caused much of the industry to move away from the area, it has developed into an area full of local residents, filling up the areas surrounding the attractions with other businesses, such as family-run taverns, tapas bars, and traditional restaurants.
The main attractions in the area is the second most important bullring in all of Spain, Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, or Bullring of the Real Maestranza. It is the venue for the bullfights that take place in bullfighting festivals in the Seville April Fair.
The Plaza de Toros is home to Museum of bullfighting and a hall with bullfighting’s paintings. In its surrounding area, you can find numerous statues of important poeple in the bullfighting’s history.
Other popular landmarks in El Arenal neighborhood are:
- the Reales Atarazanas, the abandoned medieval shipyard dating back to the 13th century;
- the 13th-century Torre Del Oro Moorish (Gold Tower) watchtower. It is home to the Museum of Naval History.
- the Teatro De La Maestranza opera house
- Postigo del Aceite (Oil Gate), one of the three existing gates in the old Arab wall.
- Hospital de la Caridad, 15th century baroque style hospital
When you add this historic list of attractions to the fabulous range of shops, traditional restaurants and tapas bars, taverns in the area, especially on Calle Adriano, making it a fantastic place to for foodies.
To experience local daily life, you can visit the Mercado El Arenal, a covered food market, located in Calle Pastor y Landero, close to the Plaza de toros. Mercado de Artesanes is also a great market nearby to purchase souvenirs for your friends and families.
Combine that with the fact that accommodation in El Arenal tends to be slightly cheaper and more abundant here, and you could have found yourself a winner.
Best places to stay in Seville in El Arenal for first-time tourists:
- luxury ($$$): Hotel Mercer Sevilla
- mid-range ($$): Las Casas de El Arenal
- budget ($): Adriano Boutique Sevilla
4. Macarena
Macarena an authentic neighborhood located north of the Old Town, and is right on the boundary of the ancient city limits of Almohad, a larger portion of those ancient Moorish city walls that can be found anywhere else in the city still run through the district to this day.
Macarena was founded by the Almohades in the 20th century. A fairly affluent area, some of the grandest buildings and attractions in Seville can be found in this part of the city.
There’s the Basilica Of Nuestra Senora De La Esperanza Macarena, a Neo-Baroque, 20th-century basilica, built to house the 17th-century wooden statue of Our Lady Of Hope Macarena.
Beside it is the Museum And Treasure Of La Macarena, a location dedicated to teaching visitors about the famous Holy Week processions in the city.
Elsewhere in the area, you will also find the Andalusian parliament building, located within the 16th-century Hospital De Las Cinco Llagas, an ancient hospital with the Andalusian Mannerism style;
The Torre De Los Perdigones and Los Perdigones, gardens on the banks of the river, containing the last remnant of the 19th-century foundry; the Puerta De Cordoba, a stunning gate in the aforementioned Almohad city walls; and the San Hermenegildo Church.
This authentic Seville barrio also features El Rinconcillo, the oldest Tapas bar in the city and possibly the world, as well as Mercado De La Feria, the oldest marketplace in Seville, constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries respectively.
You can take a stroll along Calle Feria, which is the heart of the La Macarena. it is the location of local market and Thurday El Jueves market to buy antiques.
These give you the opportunity to shop, dine and relax, while surrounded by history and culture, offering you the chance to do your sightseeing around the city at your own pace.
Macarena is ideal for budget travelers who looking for an affordable accommodation area and are still close to the action!
Best places to stay in Seville in Macarena for first-time visitors:
- mid-range ($$): San Gil
- budget ($): Lola 14 Suite Apartment
- budget ($): Oasi Macarena
See more: Best areas to stay in Seville on a budget
5. Alameda
Alameda is the area around La Alameda de Hércules and is one of hippest and trendiest barrios in the city. It is conveniently located in the northern part of Casco Antiguo (Old Town) and is next to the Macarena neighborhood.
In the 19th Century, it was a place for the wealthy, but things changed so that it became a place to avoid. Today, it is now a trendy yet bohemian district with shops, grocery stores, selling a range of old and new, artistic, and literary.
You can expect a lively nightlife with tapas bars, restaurants, music, and shows with outdoor terraces. The square has plenty of open spaces & playgrounds for kids to play, as well as shaded places to relax.
At the south end of the La Alameda de Hércules square stands Two Roman columns with statues of Caesar and Hercules on top of them. Next to the Roman columns is the the clock tower, a popular meeting place for many people.
Within easy walking distance from Almeda’s main square is the Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Carmen y Cruz del Rodeo.
Other points of interest are the Convento Santa Clara, the Torre de Don Fadrique, the Convento San Clemente with its stunning frescoes and 16th-century azulejos, an arts centre, ICAS (Instituto de las Artes y Cultura de Sevilla).
Accommodation of every kind is here, whatever your budget. La Alameda has cheaper hotel options compared to the popular areas of Seville Centro.
Best places to stay in Seville in La Alameda for first-timers:
- mid-range ($$): One Shot Palacio Conde de Torrejón 09
- budget ($): Llama Sevilla Apartamentos
- budget ($): Opera Apartments – Alameda
6. La Cartuja
La Cartuja is a great place to stay in Seville, situated on the Isla de la Cartuja. It can be reached from Seville Centro by crossing the Guadalquivir via numerous bridges such as Pasarela de la Cartuja, Puente de la Barqueta, and Puente del Alamillo.
Formerly an island in the river, La Cartuja was joined to its west bank by a bridge to expand the site to be used for Expo ‘92 (1992 Universal Exposition of Seville).
It is named after the 15th Century Monasterio de la Cartuja de Santa María de Las Cuevas, now a base for Andalusian art shows. The Cartuja Monastery is where Columbus stayed before his second voyage to the Americas.
There is still plenty to see here including the crypt, chapel, and chapter house. The Cajasol Tower on La Cartuja is the highest structure in Andalusia.
While there are now some residences here, the attractions for a visitor also include botanical gardens, a golf course, music venues, clubs, theatres.
You will find the Rocio Jurado auditorium, the CaixaForum Sevilla which is underground cultural centre, and the Andalusian Centre of Contemporary Art.
There are numerous of bridges connecting the island with the city including Barqueta Bridge, close to the Science and Technology Park and the Isla Mágica theme park; and the Alamillo Bridge near Alamillo Park.
Other places of interest area Navigation Pavilion, American Garden, and the Palacio Andaluz which is the flamenco stage.
Accommodation here comes in the form of apartments and a few hotels. They are worth investigating.
Best places to stay in Seville in La Cartuja:
- luxury ($$$): Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento
- mid-range ($$): Exe Isla Cartuja
7. Triana
Triana is the former gypsy neighborhood, the birthplace of famous bullfighters, and flamenco dancers. If you are looking for an authentic experience and local vibe, you must look into Triana, located on the left side of the Guadalquivir River, within walking distance from Seville Centro.
The Triana neighborhood is home to numerous of good tapas bars, a lively market, traditional ceramics, and great flamenco.
Triana connects to the rest of the city by the Isabell II Bridge, also known as Puente de Triana. Featuring a small neo-mudejar chapel on its right-hand side, the pair combine to form the most widely recognized symbol of the area.
Founded as a Roman colony by the emperor Trajan, who was born nearby, there’s some dispute over the origin of the name, with some claiming it to be derived from his own name, while others have translated it to mean “three rivers” or “those beyond the river”.
There are plenty of cultural attractions to explore including the Iglesia de Santa Ana, Capilla del Carmen (Chapel of Carmen), Callejón de la Inquisición (Alley of the Inquisition), the Museum of Tolerance in the ruins of Castillo de San Jorge (Saint George’s Castle).
Triana is home to the Plaza del Altozano, a large square located close to the city’s river. It is where you can find a monument to the Flamenco Art, the statue of Juan Belmonte bullfighter, as well as the Mercado de Triana (Triana Market) for fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish.
You can take a stroll along the popular streets of Betis, Alfarería, Calle Pureza, and Calle San Jacinto; or enjoy a meal or a drink at its one of the many restaurants, terraces, bars, and clubs on Calle Betis, while admire the views over the Guadalquivir river.
Triana is famous for its typical Azulejos tiles and pottery, tile workshops, and potteries, an industry from Roman times. You can learn more about its history at the museum of the Centro Cerámica de Triana (Triana Ceramic Centre), Ceramica Santa Ana (Santa Ana Pottery Factory).
Triana isn’t all about history and culture though, clubs, restaurants, and bars are abundant in the district, offering food, drink, live music, and entertainment, with many open well into the early hours of the morning.
There is a flea market, Mercado del Paseo del Arte (Handicraft market), that’s held at the bottom of the Isabell II Bridge, which perfectly represents the gypsy district moniker the region has earned.
Triani also hosts the traditional Holy Week, the flamboyant Feria de Abril (Seville Fair), or the local Vela de Santa Ana festival.
All of this means Triana is a perfect place to come for people prioritizing nightlife or learning about a unique culture, all while still being surrounded by the sort of historical attractions you can find elsewhere in the city.
Best places to stay in Seville in Triana first-timers:
- luxury ($$$): Eurostars Torre Sevilla
- mid-range ($$): Zenit Sevilla
- budget ($): B&B Casa Alfareria 59
8. Nervion
Nervion is primarily seen as a business district, located next to Casco Antiguo. This area is the location of Santa Justa, the largest train station in Seville. This makes it a perfect option if you like to stay near the station, to avoid missing your train.
It is also home to is the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, the home of La Liga side Sevilla F.C. This soccer stadium opened in 1958 with the capacity of seating 45,000 people. It has hosted a several European Cup and World Cup games.
You can find the Nervion Plaza, a huge shopping center containing a range of stores and a 20-screen cinema, ideal for anyone wanting to indulge in some retail therapy during their stay.
Outside of these, there are attractions like the University Of Seville’s School Of Business, the El Prado, which is a gardened zone featuring the city’s major bus hub, as well as Estacion De Cadiz, the smaller of the city’s two major train stations, which also features a fresh produce market.
It is home to the Iglesia de la Concepcion Inmaculada, built in 1928, and designed by Antonio Arevalo. There is alos beautiful green area of Jardines de la Bulharia. The park is seperated into two parts by the Avenidaa de la Bulharia.
You can grab a traditional Spanish cuisine and wine at Casa Paco, which was first opened in 1999.
Best places to stay in Seville in Nervion:
- mid-range ($$): Melia Lebreros
- mid-range ($$): Hesperia Sevilla
- mid-range ($$): Hotel Novotel Sevilla
9. Los Remedios
Los Remedios along with Seville Centro, Triana, and Nervion is one of the safest neighborhood to stay in Seville for tourists. Located on the Isla De La Cartuja, south of Triana, it takes its name from a Carmelite convent in the district, which was one of the few buildings remaining in the district when development began in the 20th-century.
It has become a fairly busy area in recent years, now featuring the city’s largest port, which opened when the one in El Arenal closed down. That said, it is a location more aimed at locals than tourists, so you will find much of the accommodation here to be in residential areas.
Perhaps the main draw to the area is that it is the site of the Seville Fair (Feria de Abril de Sevilla) in El Real, a week-long festival that begins 2 weeks after the end of the holy week.
Massive tents are erected along the bank of the river, where people can drink, dance, enjoy live entertainment, ride in horse-drawn carriages and even visit an amusement park which is erected for the event.
Outside of the fair, there are a few more attractions, such as Cuba Square and its sculptures, the Museum Of carriages, Los Remedios Tower, the San Telmo Bridge, Calle del Infierno, Paseo de Caballos, and the Parque de los Principes.
Best places to stay in Seville in Los Remedios:
- mid-range ($$): Monte Carmelo
- budget ($): Ático en los remedios
- budget ($): Pierre & Vacances Sevilla
🎬 You can watch the full video about the best areas in Seville in my youtube channel.
See more:
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To summarize, Seville Centro, Barrio Santa Cruz, El Arenal, Macarena, Alameda, La Cartuja, Triana, Los Remedios, and Nervion are some of the best places to stay in Seville for tourists and first-timers. These are popular areas that offer plenty of accommodations for all budgets.
Overall, Centro/Santa Cruz is the best area for first-timers due to its central location. If you stay here, you will be located in the heart of action, within easy walking distance to Seville’s famous attractions and tourist facilities.