Officially Licensed Guides
Over 23 years guiding US travelers
Small Private Tours
Explore Spain your way
Explore Seville (or Sevilla in Spanish) on a customized tour itinerary with your private guide. Discover what makes Seville such a beautiful, historic river city and capital of southern Spain’s Andalucia.
On your private tour, you will enjoy an eclectic mix of Moorish, medieval, renaissance, and gothic architecture, and cuisine that tells the story of the city’s unique history. Visit the enormous cathedral, amazing Alcazar, stunning Palacios, patios and gardens, laid-back bars, and flamenco clubs, and sample authentic Seville between the narrow medieval lanes and Roman ruins.
Popular Locations On Our Tours of Seville
Seville cathedral
Conceived on a magnificent scale by the Canons of Seville as far back as 1401, the Cathedral of Seville is still today one of the largest churches in Europe and the largest in Spain.
It doesn’t fail to impress and not just by its sheer size – the main nave rises to a dizzying 42 meters. There is a wealth of art contained within, not least the fabulous Main Altar and though principally gothic, there are also some Islamic architectural elements.
Though the main Mosque of the Almohad Moors was demolished to make way for it, features remain. Some are obvious – the Giralda tower, for example, but some are less so. The ground plan of the Cathedral follows that of the Mosque’s – a rectangle rather than a cross – and this explains the rather unusual positioning of the entrances.
Highlights of skip the line Seville Cathedral Tour
Giralda Tower:
Originally the minaret of the main Mosque dating from 1172-1198. Very similar is the Kutubiyya in Marrakech. The upper section housing the bells and crowned with the statue of Faith – or the Giraldillo – dates from the 16th century.
Patio de Los Naranjos:
The courtyard or sahn of the original mosque. It was remodeled considerably in the 13th century for use as a cloister and cemetery.
Today it has more or less regained its original form (though not, alas the decoration), after restoration in the 20th century.
Puerta del Perdón:
Once the main entrance to the mosque, it lined up with the mihrab or prayer niche which indicated (erroneously in this case!) the direction of prayer towards Mecca.
Like the Giralda, it was remodeled in the 16th century to include a belltower and terracotta sculpture but still retains its original horseshoe arch and decoration and elaborate doors.
Capilla Real:
Normally in a gothic Cathedral, one would expect an apse with an ambulatory at the eastern end. In Seville, we find the Royal Chapel – the final resting place of members of Spanish Royalty. Among others are Alfonso X and Pedro I, known as the Cruel, who built the Alcázar.
Altar Mayor:
The Main Altar is dwarfed by the golden splendor that is the main altarpiece. Carved and polychromed, it was begun by Flemish craftsmen in 1482 and it took almost a century to complete. Comprising hundreds of figures and depicting scenes of the life of Christ as well as of the City and Cathedral, it is a stunning example of its kind.
Monumento de Colón:
The Tomb (or Monument) to Christopher Columbus is situated near the Capilla Antigua (or Ancient Chapel) where Columbus is said to have prayed before his voyages and perhaps named the island of Antigua after. It has long been claimed that the bones held within belong to the explorer, though this was hotly contested by the Dominican Republic.
The remains were brought back from the island in 1899. In 2006 analysis proved that the DNA was the same as that of his brother Diego’s, also buried in Seville.
Sacristía Mayor:
The Sacristy is the first of the Renaissance additions to the Cathedral dating from 1530-1543. Stylistically a total contrast to the main body of the Cathedral, it stands out with its lovely dome, pale stone, and rich carving.
It houses the Treasury which includes works by Goya, Murillo, and Zurbaran; as well as numerous sculptures and a plethora of reliquaries. The Treasury also holds the Keys to the City, presented to Ferdinand by the Jewish and Moorish communities at the surrender of the city in 1248.
The Royal Palace of Seville - Real Alcázar de Sevilla Spain
Simply a must-visit destination when visiting Spain, let alone Seville, the UNESCO listed Royal Alcazar (meaning “castle” in Spanish and derived from “Al-qasr”, Arabic for palace) dates back to 913, and over the years the Moorish traditions and Christian culture have blended to create a magnificent palace which is still King Felipe V’s official residence when in Seville.
With special skip the line access, your guide will take you around all of the most significant aspects of the incredible royal Alcazar, including:
Puerta del León (The Lion’s Gate):
The Lion’s Gate, or more appropriately courtyard, contains some of the oldest original features found in the Alcazar.
The walls of the courtyard can be dated back to the 12th century. Your guide will discuss the many centuries of war, Moorish and Christian traditions, and history that occurred within these walls before you move onto the Hall of Justice just on the other side of the courtyard.
Patio de las Doncellas or the Patio of the Maidens:
Of the many highlights to be found within the ALcazar, the Patio of the maidens (strategically found in the heart of the palace) could, perhaps, be the finest.
Named after the legend that the Moors demanded one hundred virgins each year in tribute from the Christian kingdoms in Spain and Portugal, but despite the questionable origins, the patio itself is exquisite. With long rectangular pools and gorgeous sunken gardens on either side, your eye will unfailingly be drawn to the fabulous details of the tiling and symmetrical arches. Given this outstanding ornateness and beauty, it will be no surprise to find you will likely recognize the patio from blockbuster productions such as Game of Thrones and Kingdom of Heaven.
Palacio de Don Pedro - The Palace of Peter I:
Built in the 14th Century to mark the beginning of King Peter’s reign, the Palacio de Don Pedro is constructed in stunning Mudejar architectural style – combining both Moorish and Christian features.
You will note that the palace houses Arabic inscriptions, this is due to the fact that the Castilian monarchs of the time made a move away from European tastes and instead used Andalusian models for their inspiration.
The Ambassador’s Hall:
Originally constructed by Al-Mu’tamid in the 11th century, the Ambassador’s hall was renovated in the 14th Century by the Christian King Peter the Just (although in some places he was known as Peter the Cruel!). The hall is a marvelous shining wooden dome, gilded with gold and hundreds of mirrors to create the most opulent setting.
The reason for such a dazzling display of lavish and luxurious splendor is that the Hall served as the welcoming plaza for the most important and distinguished guests of the caliph, and of the Christian rulers. A visit in the present day with your private guide will invite you into the world of splendor those dignitaries received all those centuries ago.
Seville Evening Tour
After a full day exploring the ostentatious side of Seville, in the evening your guide will like to reveal the modern and authentic character of Seville through an evening tour of the Triana district, including dining experiences and evening entertainment.
Located on the bank of the Guadalquivir river, Triana was formerly the cultural heart of Seville where the bullfighters and flamenco dancers would gather. Over time Triana has morphed into a delightful neighborhood that gives you a real insight into Sevilla culture with fabulous gastronomy options and entertainment. After you contact our tour planners we will discuss with you the various options available to ensure that your tour of Seville ends on a high point with exactly the type of experiences you desire.
Meet the Founder of Magical Spain
Hola! I’m Dan O’Beirne C.E.O of Magical Spain, and an American family man who settled here over 20 years ago.
At the heart of Magical Spain lies my two passions in life, travel, and family. After working in the Health and Wellness sector back home in the U.S, my desire to travel led me to Spain where I met my beautiful wife-to-be, and where we now live with our young son. As our relationship blossomed, so did my love for the country, cultures, and people here. It was only natural then that Nuria and I should work together to create Magical Spain as a platform to share this passion and insight into Spain with our American clients.
Step 1
Fill out the form with the destinations, wish-list, & personal preferences for your perfect trip. If you would like your tour planner to offer some inspiration, then we are happy to provide a suggested itinerary which we can then refine with you until you are 100% delighted with it.
Step 2
Soon after receiving your request, your personal tour planner will be in touch to begin planning your custom tour. You will then receive a tailor-made tour itinerary which can be revised an unlimited number of times to ensure total satisfaction and the perfect vacation.
Step 3
Your officially licensed private guide will meet you at the pre-arranged starting point of your tour. You can count on us for 24/7 in-country support and everything else necessary for a wonderful vacation and seamless tour experience. Welcome to Iberia!
Receive A Complimentary Seville Tour Itinerary
With so much to see and do in the city, it is impossible to create a single tour itinerary that would suit all guests. That is why we pride ourselves on offering complimentary tour itineraries that take advantage of our team’s local insight and knowledge to bring our guests the greatest experience possible for their Seville vacation.
Find out what our team could plan for you by getting in touch. Completing the form below will enable our specialists to get started crafting your complimentary Seville itinerary.
California couple did Spain in 2021. Meg shares their experience with Magical Spain…
“Outstanding, seamless planning with a very personalized itinerary executed perfectly…..
In Spain, we felt like VIPs as we met the winemakers in La Rioja and Ribera del Duero, the chefs, the village mayor and flamenco dancer in Sevilla! The unique experiences and memories beat that of 4 or 5 cruises. We will be back to do Andalucia or Portugal in a few years”
“Thanks to the meticulous preparation, contacts, and knowledge of Magical Spain, our trip was sculpted to fit our most personal interests….it was both fun and educational for our two children. Dan and Rachel know more people than a Washington fundraiser and was fantastic…, truly our private Spain tour was a vacation our family will cherish forever.”
“I urge everyone who values unforgettable vacations to contact Magical Spain and talk to Dan or Rachel.
Beyond the personalized planning and fine 24-7 tour support, we loved the quality and care of the licensed guides, the delicious tapas, the exotic ambiance of Seville and Granada, Madrid’s majesty and art, medieval Toledo, and meeting the olive oil estate owners, artist, chef & winemaker.”
The highlight for me was going to the restaurant you picked for us in Cadaqués. Wow, what a treat! Mercedes is an incredible guide. As I reviewed some Rick Steves videos, I noticed that your guides Jesús, and Mercedes featured in them! I’m so glad we had your company to get us to the airport or we’d be standing in Plaza Catalunya waiting to board a bus to the airport after wheeling all our luggage there from the hotel. We’re feeling bad for others but thankful for your excellent planning and the 24/7 support by Inma and Mercedes! Thanks again and we hope to return to do Andalucia and or Portugal soon!”
“I hire lawyers, doctors, tax experts …. well this year I hired the Magical Spain expert team for a custom private guided Best of Spain trip with my granddaughter…. excellent luxury hotels, perfect planning, comfortable transport, no stress and memorable experiences of Spain’s history, cuisine, wine & culture.”
“Our private Spain guided trip was superb and stress-free, thanks for the customization.. we loved the Seville and Granada walking tours, but also the historic hilltowns, medieval castles, wine tasting with the winemaker, tapas on the plazas, flamenco guitar…great insight and memories!”
Click below to read more text reviews, or if you’d like to see our clients’ happy faces for yourself, check out our videos reviews here.
