To experience the best of Seville, start in Santa Cruz. This former ghetto has been restored to reveal the beauty of the city's most popular sites as well as hidden treasures in its maze of picturesque alleys. This itinerary takes you from royal gardens to the grand Seville Cathedral and its historical plazas, to the magnificent Mudéjar artwork of the Casa de Pilatos. In between sites, discover delicious tapas and unique souvenirs. The Real Alcázar palace deserves several hours to explore, so while it is also in Santa Cruz, we have included it in a separate itinerary, Royalty for a Day.

As the main tourist area, Santa Cruz is busy year-round. Compass & Key recommends planning ahead and booking a rooftop tour of the Seville Cathedral as part of this itinerary. Reserve a tour time before 12:30pm and your ticket includes reentry to the cathedral the same day. Tours require a minimum of ten people, so all tour times may not be available.