Guadalquivir River Sightseeing Cruise Seville

Torre del Oro and the Muelle de Nueva York

The cruise starts at the Muelle de Nueva York, the riverside dock on the city side of the Guadalquivir, just a few steps from the Torre del Oro. This twelve-sided watchtower was built around 1220 by the Almohads as part of the walls that protected Seville, and a heavy chain once stretched from its base across the river to block enemy ships. Its name, the tower of gold, may come from the golden reflection of its lime and straw facing on the water.

Today the tower houses a small naval museum, and seeing it from the river shows how Seville once lived from its port, the gateway for ships sailing to and from the Americas for two centuries. If you are wondering how to get to the boat, the dock is a ten-minute stroll from the cathedral along the riverside promenade, and trams and buses stop nearby.

Triana from the river

Across the water lies Triana, the historic quarter of sailors, potters and flamenco artists. From the boat you see Calle Betis, the riverside street whose houses are painted in ochre, yellow and blue, with balconies and terraces overlooking the Guadalquivir. The commentary explains how Triana grew as an independent world on the far bank, famous for its ceramic workshops and its tiles, which still decorate houses all over Seville.

The cruise passes under the Triana bridge, the iron bridge built in the 1850s and the oldest of its kind in Spain, and near the market built over the remains of the medieval castle that once housed the Inquisition. Seeing Triana from the river is one of the most photogenic views of Seville, especially in the warm light of the late afternoon.

The Giralda, the cathedral and the bullring

From the river, the Giralda bell tower stands out above the rooftops of the old town. It began as the minaret of the great mosque of Seville in the late 12th century, and a Renaissance belfry was added in the 16th century, bringing it to about 104 metres. The cathedral beside it is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, and together with the Alcázar and the Archive of the Indies it forms a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Closer to the water you pass the Real Maestranza bullring, an elegant 18th-century Baroque building with a white and ochre façade, one of the oldest of its kind in Spain. The live commentary puts each monument in context, so the cruise works well as an introduction to the city at the start of your stay, or as a relaxing break between visits.

La Cartuja and the modern riverside

Upstream, the cruise reaches the island of La Cartuja, transformed for the Universal Exposition of 1992. Here Seville shows its modern face: futuristic pavilions, bridges designed by leading engineers, including the harp-shaped Alamillo bridge, and the tall glass tower that now dominates the city skyline. The contrast between the medieval watchtower and these modern landmarks is one of the themes of the commentary.

The boat then turns back towards the Torre del Oro, ending the cruise where it began. The best time for a Seville river cruise is in spring and autumn, or in the late afternoon in summer, when the breeze on the water helps you escape the heat. Is a Guadalquivir river cruise worth it? For one relaxed hour with the city's great sights in view, it is one of the best things to do in Seville.