Rooftops in Seville: the Giralda, the Guadalquivir and the white city seen from above
A city made for roof terraces
Capital of Andalusia and Spain's fourth-largest city, Seville stretches out on both sides of the Guadalquivir. Its historic centre is a maze of narrow streets, patios and white houses topped with terraces. Here, the azotea is part of everyday life: people go up to enjoy the cool air on summer evenings, and many hotels have turned theirs into a bar or a restaurant open to the sky.
In the middle of this sea of roofs rises the Giralda, a former Almohad minaret that became the Cathedral's bell tower. An unwritten planning rule forbids buildings in the centre from exceeding its height, so the tower remains visible from almost everywhere. The Gothic Cathedral, built from 1402 onwards, the Alcázar and the Archivo de Indias form an ensemble that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
From Las Setas to the Torre Sevilla
Seen from above, Seville also reveals its contemporary face. North of the centre, the Metropol Parasol, a huge wooden structure measuring 150 by 75 metres nicknamed Las Setas, has been undulating above Plaza de la Encarnación since 2011. Along the river, the Torre del Oro recalls the Almohad fortifications of the 13th century, while on the right bank, at the edge of the Isla de la Cartuja, the Torre Sevilla, the city's first skyscraper, inaugurated in 2016, now defines the skyline. Opposite the centre, the Triana district lines up the colourful façades of calle Betis above the water.
Where to get a view from above in Seville
Santa Cruz: the Cathedral within reach
Around the Cathedral, three hotel terraces offer a rare face-to-face with the Giralda. On the roof of the EME Catedral Mercer hotel, La Terraza del EME has set up its bar some fifteen metres from the buttresses, with a 360-degree view and a DJ at weekends. On calle Don Remondo, the Terraza Doña María looks out at the tower over the rooftops, every day of the year. A little further on, Pura Vida Terraza has created a small urban beach on top of the Los Seises hotel, where you can listen to acoustic flamenco on Sundays.
Centro: from historic squares to Las Setas
In the shopping heart of the city, two upscale hotels have fitted out their roofs. On Plaza Nueva, La Terraza del Hotel Inglaterra spreads a panoramic bar across the top floor, facing the Cathedral. Close by, on Plaza de San Francisco, the Terraza 1912 of the Mercer Plaza Sevilla rises in three tiers above City Hall. Further north, near the Metropol Parasol, the Recoveco restaurant extends its dining room with a terrace on the roof of the Vincci Selección Unuk, facing the Giralda.
Arenal and Triana: along the Guadalquivir
Between the Cathedral and the river, the Arenal brings together three addresses with very different atmospheres. El Mirador de Sevilla serves dinner on the roof of the Vincci La Rábida hotel, facing the Cathedral. Ático, on the top floor of a hotel on Paseo de Colón, goes for an urban jungle look with views of the Triana Bridge. On the other bank, Mariatrifulca occupies a former 1922 landing stage at the end of the Triana Bridge, with two raised terraces above the water.
Cartuja: the top of Andalusia
For the most spectacular view, you have to cross the river to the Torre Sevilla. On the 37th floor, more than 180 metres up, the Terraza Atalaya offers a complete panorama of the city, the Guadalquivir and the Aljarafe hills. Access is charged for outside visitors.
Gastronomy and cocktails up high
From tapas to produce-driven tables
Seville's rooftops carry on the local tradition of tapeo: Iberian ham, Andalusian cheeses, croquettes, fish or seafood are shared in front of the panorama. Some, such as Mariatrifulca, El Mirador de Sevilla or Recoveco, are genuine restaurants, with produce-driven cuisine and grilled dishes. Others focus on the end-of-day drink: classic cocktails, gin and tonics, vermouth and sherry wines, with cocktails at around €10 to €16 depending on the venue.
A rooftop for every occasion
As a couple or with friends
For a dinner for two, the terrace of El Mirador de Sevilla or the tables of the Mirador at Mariatrifulca offer a romantic setting at dusk. With friends, the DJ sets at La Terraza del EME, the jungle of Ático, reserved for over-18s, or the Sunday flamenco at Pura Vida lend themselves more to drinks that go on late into the night. Most of these terraces can also be booked for private parties or corporate events.
Getting around easily
The historic centre is easy to explore on foot, and most of the rooftops are just a few minutes from one another. The T1 tram serves Plaza Nueva and Archivo de Indias, at the foot of the Cathedral, and metro line 1 stops at Puerta de Jerez. For the Torre Sevilla, you need to cross the Guadalquivir towards the Cartuja.
Tips for making the most of Seville's rooftops
Choosing your time
Seville is known for its scorching summers: in July and August, it is best to head up to the rooftops at the end of the day or in the evening, when the heat subsides. To watch the sunset over the Giralda, arriving early remains the best strategy, especially as some terraces do not take reservations. Opening hours often change with the season: check them before you go.
Photo : Mariano Asensio / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0