Night Tours in Seville

At nightfall, Seville becomes a fairytale city. Strolling through its alleys is like taking a trip back in time. You will feel like in the Golden Age, when Seville was a central axis of trade with America. After sunset the monuments glow in the dark and the waters of the Guadalquivir reflect the light. Can you imagine that they also tell you stories while you take a night walk through the Andalusian capital? Undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Seville at night is a guided tour and these are the best.

We start with a classic route that touches some monuments and points of interest before concluding in a tablao. As usual, these routes focus on the surroundings of the Palacio de San Telmo and foresee the following stages:

• Plaza de España, the jewel of Aníbal González. It occupies an area of 50,000 square meters and is dominated by a palace in regionalist style. In the lower part, tiles represent the Spanish provinces and a navigable canal runs around the perimeter of the square. This wonderful place has been used as a set for the big and small screen; movies ("The Dictator", "Lawrence of Arabia", "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones", etc.) and series ("Game of Thrones") have been filmed here.
• Torre del Oro, a watchtower built in Almohad times. It delimited the access to the old port of Seville.
• Maria Luisa Park. The most beautiful garden of the city is located two steps from Plaza de España and is a real oasis of peace. In its interior there are ponds, fountains, monuments and the Archaeological Museum. It bears the signature of the French gardener Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, who also designed Mount Gurugú, a miniature replica of the mountain of the same name in Melilla. It is a tribute to the fallen of the Rif War. From the top you can enjoy one of the best views of Seville.
• Plaza de America, an elegant space inside the park. A pond with water lilies frames a pavilion of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 which now houses the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs.
• Casino de la Exposición, a small palace built by the Valencian architect Vicente Traver y Tomás in neo-baroque style. It currently hosts art exhibitions and cultural activities.

As you may have understood, these tours focus on the legacy of the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, an event that changed the face of Seville. After the walk, the guide will take you to a flamenco tablao where you will enjoy the exhibitions of the dancers. Generally, these tours include a drink and one or more tapas.

• Duration: more than 3 hours
• Price: from 50 €.

Triana is the most famous and picturesque neighborhood of Seville. It is located on the banks of the Guadalquivir and its history is linked to both the river and maritime explorations.

It used to host a School of Seafarers that trained the crews that sailed to America. For example, Magellan and Elcano's famous round-the-world voyage started from here.

Triana is many things: cradle of flamenco, home of the first Spanish aeronautical industry, center of the Inquisition and, above all, a neighborhood with its own identity.

A night visit will give you the opportunity to see its monuments illuminated by street lamps and, with a little luck, by the luminescence of the full moon. The routes usually have the following stages:

• Capilla del Carmen, an icon of the neighborhood. It is located next to the Isabel II bridge and is nicknamed "el mechero" (the lighter) because of its resemblance to the old tinder lighters. The project was designed by Aníbal González, the same architect who designed one of Seville's must-see monuments, Plaza España.
• Castillo de San Jorge, a defensive bastion that became the center of the Seville Inquisition. It now houses a museum dedicated to religious repression.
• Patio de Monipodio, a house on the corner of Calle Troya and Calle Betis. Miguel de Cervantes "used" it as a backdrop for his novel "Rinconete y Cortadillo".
• Capilla de los Marineros, the temple that houses the Virgen de la Esperanza de Triana. In addition to the figure of Mary, the chapel is known for its richly decorated red pine wood ceiling.
• Cava de los gitanos, today's Pagés del Corro street. It hosted a large gypsy community and it is considered that flamenco was born in this part of the city.
• Isabel II Bridge, the elegant footbridge built by the French engineers Steinacher and Bernadet. It was the first bridge to cross the Guadalquivir.

Triana is beautiful and when night falls it takes on a magical touch. Take the opportunity to listen to the guide's explanations and take suggestive photos. Please note that these tours do not usually include food and drinks. If you stop for a drink it will be on your own.

• Duration: about 2 hours
• Price: between 10 € and 5 €.

Did you know that Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world? It was built in several stages and is a true symbol of the city along with the Giralda, the adjoining bell tower. If the exterior is already a jewel in itself, inside there is much more to discover...

In addition to the tombs of Christopher Columbus and other kings and aristocrats you will see numerous altars, chapels and sculptures molded by the best artists of the time. Night tours often include a walk below deck. You will see the Cathedral from a bird's eye view and discover the stories of the people who built it.

Please note that the temple is very crowded and tours usually sell out quickly. I recommend you to book your tickets in advance. For more info I recommend you to read the post how to visit the Cathedral of Seville and the Giralda.

• Duration: 1 hour and a half
• Price: around 20 €.

Long before the Reconquest, the Caliph of Cordoba Abderrahman III ordered the construction of a fortress on the foundations of a Roman building: thus was born the Real Alcazar of Seville.

The building was enlarged and modified by his successors as well as by the Christian kings and today has five different styles: Mudejar, Gothic, Mannerist, Renaissance and Baroque.

The Royal Alcazar of Seville is the oldest royal residence in use in Europe. It is located in the heart of the city, a stone's throw from the Palace of San Telmo and the Cathedral of Santa Maria. Its main attraction is the Palace of Pedro I, a set of rooms, gardens and corridors for the exclusive use of the monarch. Other highlights are the Casa de la Contratación, the Cuarto Real Alto (the official residence of the Kings) or the Gothic Palace, among others.

The night tours are usually dramatized and revolve around the painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. He was the master of chiaroscuro and tenebrist techniques that he learned from Flemish artists, Velázquez and Italian Renaissance artists. He lived almost always in the city of Seville and the Real Alcázar preserves one of his paintings: San Francisco Solano and the bull.

The show begins with the representation of a young Murillo who arrives at the Palace of King Don Pedro after having been rejected from a ship bound for the Americas. From this the whole story unfolds. The night tours take place during the weekend and are for groups of a maximum of 45 people.

• Duration: 1 hour and a half
• Price: about 15 €.

Before the edict of Granada and the subsequent expulsion of the Sephardim, the neighborhood of Santa Cruz was the Jewish quarter of Seville. In these streets time seems to have stopped and if you visit it after sunset you will enjoy its relaxed atmosphere even more. The night routes will make you discover the most important corners and monuments:

• Church of Santa María la Blanca, one of the most beautiful in the capital of Seville. Although the exterior is rather simple, behind the threshold hides a wonderful interior. Its richly decorated vault is spectacular, as is the figure of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Our Lady of Snow).
• Plaza de Santa Cruz, the space that gives its name to the neighborhood. A synagogue used to stand in this very place.
• Calle del Agua, a street named after an ancient aqueduct.
• Murillo Gardens. Until 1862 they were part of the Royal Alcazars of Seville while today it is one of the most suggestive corners of the Andalusian capital. You will walk under orange trees, ficus and magnolias.
• Calle Fabiola and the remains of the old wall.
• Plaza de la Alfalfa, the heart of Roman Seville. Here you will find some of the best tapas bars in the city.

More than a big city, this part of Seville is reminiscent of an Andalusian village with its typical alleys flanked by orange trees.

The guide will tell you the stories linked to the neighborhood and the legend of the Susona, a Jewish woman known for her great beauty. As usual, the tours start in front of the Casa de la Memoria, a cultural center that hosts flamenco performances and exhibitions (Calle Cuna 6).

• Duration: about 2 hours
• Price: more or less 10 €.

The center of the Andalusian capital concentrates the main mysteries of the city. In these streets, ghosts and mysteries are more common than you think and thanks to these itineraries you will discover a different side of Seville. The routes stop at all or some of the following attractions:

• Ghost Restaurant, Seville's Bermuda Triangle. Electronic devices stop working and some objects change places for no apparent reason. The guide will tell you all the terrifying events of this place.
• Facultad de Bellas Artes, the former Casa Profesa de la Compañía de Jesús in the heart of the old town. A few years ago, some cleaners noticed that something strange was going on here...
• Hospital de las 5 llagas, the seat of the Parliament of Andalusia. The deputies are not the only ones to walk its corridors...
• Former warehouses Vilima, an icon of the city that was never the same after a devastating fire. It is located in Lagar street, a short distance from the Setas de Sevilla. By the way, from the top you can enjoy one of the best views of the Andalusian capital.
• Cuna maldita, a little bed where you would not leave your child even for a minute.
• British Institute, the academy in the heart of the Santa Cruz neighborhood. A few years ago, during remodeling works, the remains of a young girl were found along with a bronze candelabrum.
• Casa de las Sirenas, a romantic palace in the Alameda de Hércules. A lost soul still enjoys its elegant halls.
• Plaza San Leandro, a peaceful urban corner with a fountain known as Pila del Pato (Duck's Basin)
• Casa Fabiola, a 16th century palace that houses the Bellver Museum, a collection of more than 500 works by various artists. Those who work here often see inexplicable phenomena...

In addition to the explanations of an experienced guide, the routes often include images and audios recorded in these same places. This way you can immerse yourself in the stories and enjoy the tour even more. Usually, the tours start in a central location such as Plaza de la Encarnación or Plaza del Triunfo.

• Duration: between 1 hour and a half and 2 hours.
• Price: around 15 €.

It may be because of the reflections on the river or perhaps because of the silhouette of the Giralda illuminated in yellow. One thing is certain, Seville is even more beautiful at night. Its monuments glow in the dark creating a romantic picture of rare beauty.

In addition, it can be an ideal choice if you visit the city in summer. During the day, temperatures often reach 40 degrees and walks become difficult.

It depends on the day and the means of transport. Metro Sevilla is an easy and economical option. You can't go wrong: it has only one line. The price of a single ticket depends on the sections and ranges from 1,35 € to 1,8 €. As for the timetables, it works as follows:

• from 6:30 to 23:00 (Monday to Thursday)
• from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. (Friday and holiday eves)
• from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. (Saturday)
• from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Sunday and holidays)

As for the buses, in Seville, they are managed by the company TUSSAM. It has dozens of lines that operate at different times. They usually start running around 5:00 and end at midnight, although there are exceptions.

I recommend you to have a look at the official website. For more info I recommend you to read the post about how to move around Seville.