Visiting Sevilla? Don’t just stay in the historic center. Venture to the south of the city! Here you’ll find the magnificent Plaza de España. We were stunned by its beauty and grandeur. The brick, stone and azulejo buildings were constructed for the1929 Hispano-American Exhibition. In front of them lies a canal where you can take a boat ride. So, are you ready for a magical stroll?
Here are some useful tips for planning your visit to the Plaza de España in Sevilla.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Is a visit to the Plaza de España worthwhile?
Yes, the Plaza de España is well worth a visit! In fact, it’s our favorite place in Sevilla. We’ve rarely seen a square so beautiful, and it’s even more so in the sunshine. The square is very busy, with tourists and locals alike, but it’s so large that you don’t feel the crowds. Its buildings, designed to host athletic events, form a semicircle 200m in diameter! Designed for the 1929 Hispano-American Exposition to promote ties between Spain, Portugal, Brazil, the United States and Latin America, the Plaza de España is now a must-see strolling area, day and night!
This is one of Sevilla’s best activities.
What you can see
An impressive central building
The central pavilion boasts particularly refined architecture. We admired its azulejo-adorned arcades with great interest. The importance of this building is highlighted by the fountain, illuminated at night. Under the arcades of the building’s forecourt, flamenco shows can be enjoyed at random. Perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to see some?
A pebble floor with decorative motifs
Near the central fountain, we observed this superb decorative paving, made from different types of pebbles. One part in spirals and the other in a checkerboard pattern, contribute to the grandiose dimension of this square.
RENT A CAR IN Andalucia
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a compact car, as some villages have very narrow streets!
- Think ofcomprehensive insurance for the same reason
- Book early for choice.
A canal just like in Venice!
In our opinion, the Plaza de España canal gives it much of its charm. You can hire a boat for a different view of the square. We’ll probably do it next time!
Bridges adorned with azulejos
Beautiful bridges span the Plaza de España canal. We were stunned by the elegance of the azulejos, in shades of green, yellow and blue. Even the risers have their own azulejos! The 4 bridges symbolize the 4 kingdoms of the Spanish crown: Castilla, Aragón, León and Navarra.
Benches representing the Spanish provinces
Following the same logic as the bridges, the benches leaning against the pavilion walls represent the different Spanish provinces. The brick walls feature 48 panels of azulejos, made in the Triana district. As we admired them, we realized that they were in alphabetical order!
Sophisticated interiors
You can enter any of the pavilions. We also recommend climbing to the top floor for another view of the square. Whether inside the towers or the central building, you’ll see majestic staircases adorned with azulejos, and wooden ceilings in the Mudejar style (influenced by Islamic art).
Impressive towers
The Plaza de España is bounded by two impressive towers, to the north and south. You can access it here. Even if the spaces are empty, they are adorned with beautiful azulejos. We recommend you climb one of the two towers and then stroll around the pavilion to enjoy the views over the square.
WHERE TO STAY IN Andalucia
Our independent picks for the accommodation of your dreams:
Select by city:
- Best hotels in Sevilla
- Best hotels in Malaga
- Best hotels in Granada
- Best hotels in Cordoba
- Best hotels in Ronda
- Best hotels in Almeria
- Best hotels in Cadiz (coming soon)
Select by hotel type:
- Best 5-star hotels (coming soon)
- Best boutique hotels (coming soon)
Getting to the Plaza de España in Sevilla
Where is Plaza de España?
- South of Sevilla, in Maria Luisa Park, in the Porvenir district.
- It’s a 20-minute walk from Sevilla Cathedral. For quicker access, we recommend taking a cab.
Access by car and parking
The roads surrounding the square are busy main thoroughfares. We recommend parking in one of the nearby pay parking lots, such as Parking Meliá-Sevilla, a 10-minute walk away.
Public transport access
To get to Plaza de España from downtown, take streetcar T1 to the “Prado de San Sebastian” stop, or bus 01 to “Avenida La Borbolla”. To plan your route, visit the official public transport website here.
Access on organized tours
You can visit the square on a guided tour of Sevilla’s main attractions. You can book this tour, which takes in the Cathedral, the Alcazar and the Torre del Oro, ending at the Plaza de España.
Visiting difficulties
Although the ground in the park and square is not very wheelchair-friendly (sand and pebbles), the pavilions are accessible to people with reduced mobility. There are elevators in the towers to take you up to the upper floors.
Toilets are available in the park, next to the square.
Visiting the Plaza de España: useful tips
Schedules and prices
The site is free and can be visited from 8am to midnight!
However, boat hire is not free. You can choose between rowing boats (€6 per 35 minutes for up to 4 people) and motor boats (€12 per 15 minutes for up to 12 people).
See the latest information on the tourist office website here.
How long
Allow 30min to 1h depending on your interest in the site. If you’d also like to take a stroll in Maria Luisa Park, allow an extra 1 hour.
Best moment
The square is less busy in the morning and at night.
Direction of visit
There’s no set direction for your visit, but we recommend you start at the North Tower, then stroll up to the Central Pavilion or South Tower to come back down and enjoy the center of the square.
Eating out
If you enter through the main entrance, i.e. at the Avenida del Portugal traffic circle next to the university, you’ll come across the El 29 restaurant. There’s also a refreshment bar offering take-away sales. The area also boasts a number of excellent restaurants, including Michelin-starred Sobretablas. Find out more in our article on Sevilla’s best restaurants .
Hotels
The area boasts quality hotels, as does the city center, just a 20-minute walk away. See our article on the best hotels in Sevilla!
