My guide on what to see in Seville in 3 days has been designed for active travelers who don't mind counting the miles covered on foot: here you will find the best things to do and see to have a peaceful experience but at the same time get the most out of this city, especially if it's the first time you go there.
This Seville guide also assumes that you will arrive the night before, so you will have three full days (and four nights) in this magnificent city. On the day of your arrival, I suggest you check in at the hotel, relax over a drink while enjoying some tapas, and then get a good night's sleep. The next three days in Seville they will be great, but very challenging!
Seville is a city of great beauty, but what makes it truly special is its own atmosphere.
An atmosphere that smells of magic, sadness and "alegrìa" at the same time. An Atmosphere that when it enters your soul you would never want to leave.
Seville, like all of Andalusia, is Europe less Europe than any other place: the Arab and European contaminations, together with the gypsy culture of the ROMs are the explosive mix that gave birth to Flamenco and "l'Alegria", a typical dance Andalusian (but there are others) which represents at the same time melancholy, yearning, but also the truest joy of a gypsy people.
Dedicate 3 days in Seville it is the least that can be allowed, for a city that captures you from every point of view.
Seville is a city that creates stunning for all the senses: it smells of orange and hibiscus, the soundtrack that will accompany you throughout your stay will be that of the patter of horses 'hooves and the melody of street artists' guitars, light reflecting on the extraordinary buildings of the center and its wide "Avenida" will dazzle you, the tradition of tapas will conquer your stomach, but also your heart.
The itinerary that I am about to suggest has been designed to visit Seville in 3 days, without the use of public transport, although public transport, mostly buses, are well organized: stroll through the streets of the center to reach the places to visit it is part of the extraordinary experience that allows you to immerse yourself in the truest Sevillian atmosphere.
When I was in Seville, I was staying on the outskirts and then I used the bus to reach the terminus of the center: Maria Luisa Park.
Arriving at the terminus and waiting for the bus to return in the evening was a pleasure, right at the bus stop there was an appreciable shack that sold refreshing juices and slushes.
FREE guided tour of Seville
Civitatis It offers a FREE guided tour (in English) of Seville: it's a great way to get a first taste of the city and to understand how to get around. Don't miss it:
You can find it CLICKING HERE
- Day 1:
- 1.1 Seville Cathedral
- 1.2 Giralda
- 1.3 General Archive of the Indies
- 1.4 Santa Cruz neighborhood
- 1.5 And in the evening… Flamenco in Seville!
- Day 2:
- 2.1 Alcazar of Seville
- 2.2 Bullring
- 2.3 El Arenal Market
- 2.4 Triana Market
- 2.5 Metropol Parasol o Las Setas de Seville
- Day 3:
- 3.1 Maria Luisa Park
- 3.2 Spain Square
- 3.3 Tower of the Gold of Seville
- 3.4 Mini cruise on the Guadalquivir
- 3.5 Triana neighborhood
- What to see in Seville for FREE
- Seville in 4 or 5 days: what to see in the surroundings
- 1 Doñana Park
- 2 El Rocio
- How to save money in Seville
- Getting around in Seville
1 day
Il first day it focuses on the most famous attractions that can be visited in Seville and which are all in close proximity to each other. If you were to stay in Seville for 1 day only, these are the places of interest that you shouldn't miss!
1 - Seville Cathedral
By Delpixe /
La Seville Cathedral it is a Unesco World Heritage Site: it is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the third largest ever.
The cathedral was built on an ancient mosque after the Moors were driven out by Christians. The mosque was transformed and used as a church for about a century and a half then, given the deterioration in which it poured, it was razed to the ground and completely rebuilt.
Legend has it that the intentions of the clergy were precisely those of building a cathedral that was considered grandiose, so grandiose that the creators and designers had to be considered crazy.
Hours to visit the cathedral:
The cathedral is not only a tourist place to visit but also a place of worship, very popular with Sevillians.
If you search on the net you will find different indications on opening hours, closure, on the hours of liturgical services, not because there is no rule, but simply because, depending on the season or holidays or particular events, the times could be changed.
In general, the hours are differentiated from winter to summer and vary for weekdays or holidays, but in principle the official timetable must be consulted at the entrance of the cathedral itself.
I happened to be in Seville in the week of August XNUMXth and the times were completely “personalized” for that week, but I learned it by arriving in front of the front door.
Hours you can find them HERE.
During the opening hours for worship, masses and prayers are held for which admission is free, but it is absolutely forbidden to disturb. At all other times of the day you pay the ticket which also includes a visit to the Giralda bell tower, which I will tell you about later.
Curiosities about the Cathedral of Seville
Inside the gigantic cathedral there are many chapels and many treasures. Many of these treasures are attributed to great masters from the golden age of Seville, the XNUMXth century.
Inside the Cathedral of Seville is preserved the monumental tomb of Christopher Columbus on which hovers a mystery: will the body of Christopher Columbus really be kept here?
Many believe that the body of the great navigator rests in Santo Domingo, others, after some DNA tests, claim that the remains are those of CristĂłbal ColĂłn (the name of Christopher Columbus in Spanish)
Seville Cathedral is famous for its 15 doors. One of these is called Porta della Lucertola and is the door that allows, descending from the Giralda tower, to access the Patio de Los Naranjos.
The Lizard Door owes its name to the stuffed crocodile that hangs on the porch just outside the door. It is a copy of an embalmed crocodile that the sultan of Egypt gave to Alfonso X to ask for his daughter's hand.
Alfonso did not grant his daughter but gladly kept the gifts. The crocodile, it is said, lived for a long time in the gardens of the Alcázar together with a giraffe.
Il Courtyard of the Orange trees it is like a corner of relaxation. In the Patio, which is nothing more than an internal courtyard, 66 orange trees are planted which make this courtyard a quiet and relaxing place, shaded by orange trees, where you are happy to stop for 5 minutes to relax.
It is such a relaxing place that I have seen Japanese people practicing yoga poses in the shade of the trees.
Below you will find tickets and tours to the Cathedral of Seville:
- ⇒ Skip-the-line ticket to the Cathedral and Giralda
- ⇒ GUIDED TOUR of the Cathedral in ENGLISH
- ⇒ GUIDED TOUR in ENGLISH, Cathedral, Giralda and Alcazar
2 - Giralda
In the Lunar /
La Giralda is the extraordinary bell tower of the cathedral of Seville. It is an unmissable monument for anyone visiting the city.
You enter the Giralda from inside the cathedral and go up to 90 meters in height that allow you to enjoy a magnificent 360 degree panorama of the whole city.
La Giralda is 104 meters high and what was built as a minaret was considered the tallest tower in the world.
One of the peculiarities of the climb to the top is that there are no steps, but a series of ramps that were used to make sure that the muezzin could get on horseback.
The Giralda also boasts the title of Unesco Heritage.
Visiting times of the Cathedral of Seville including the Giralda: consider 2 or 3 hours.
3 - General Archive of the Indies
By Artur Bogacki /
Among the things to see absolutely in Seville is theGeneral Archive of the Indies.
It is a very interesting palace to visit for two main reasons.
- Entry is free and the building also boasts the title of Unesco Heritage.
- It is a historical archive which holds an incredible amount of historical documents dating back to the times of the Spanish domination over the Americas.
Originally this building had another function was the Sala della Borsa, a market where commercial exchanges took place.
The archive is considered the largest library in all of Spain and in addition to volumes and documents it also contains a wealth of ancient historical maps.
As I have previously written theadmission is free, except on Mondays, the day on which the archive is closed to the public.
4 - Santa Cruz neighborhood
Spatuletail /
After this wealth of Unesco Heritage, which are all concentrated within a few meters of each other and all facing Avenida de la ConstituciĂłn, you can delve into the liveliness of the Santa Cruz neighborhood.
Despite its name, this neighborhood was born as a Jewish ghetto, then when the Jews were expelled, the neighborhood lost some vitality and fell into decay, a condition in which it remained until the nineteenth century, a period in which it began to acquire the liveliness that still today they make it one of the most popular and most visited neighborhoods by all tourists in the world
What goes on in the Barrio de Santa Cruz? You get lost in the alleys, in the narrow streets and in the squares. In this neighborhood it gives shape to what Seville is in the world imagination: white houses, wrought iron grates, patios full of flowers, walls adorned with geraniums, orange trees.
The Barrio de Santa Cruz is the architectural and cultural epitome of all of Andalusia and Southern Spain.
A curiosity about this neighborhood? One of these streets is called by the inhabitants of Seville "the road of the kiss": the road is so narrow that two lovers opening the windows, facing each other, would be able to kiss.
This neighborhood reborn it is also a concentration of places to stop for a beer accompanied by tapas, perhaps under a ceiling studded with hanging Iberian hams.
5 - And in the evening… Flamenco in Seville!
Go to Seville without going to see one Flamenco show it would really be an inhuman crime.
Flamenco is the expression of Andalusian folklore, in particular of the gypsy people.
Gypsies belong to the Roma group and are therefore of nomadic origins. Flamenco is the expression of their culture.
Flamenco is therefore a dance that comes from below, from the people, which is represented in different forms and styles but which has been named Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
A particularly iconic place to attend a Flamenco show is the Baile Flamenco Museum which can be reached on foot from Barrio Santa Cruz in just under 10 minutes.
BAILE FLAMENCO MUSEUM and LIVE SHOW
The room is not very large and the show is very intimate, I recommend you plan ahead.
⇒ HERE you can find the ticket for the show.
I have personally tried the Andalusian Palace which is a little more peripheral (it takes about twenty minutes on foot) compared to the Museo del Baile Flamenco.
The dinner, for what I saw, I would exclude it, it did not seem like a great dinner, while I really enjoyed the show, so I recommend it with limitations.
- ⇒ Show at the Palacio Andaluz (the one I witnessed) with optional dinner
- ⇒ Flamenco show in Triana
Didn't find what you were looking for? READ HERE ⇒ the best Flamenco shows in Seville!
2 day
1 - Alcazar of Seville
THEAlcazar and the Royal palace of Seville. It is a palace of enormous and incredible beauty and even if for its majesty and vastness it certainly cannot be put on a par with the Alhambra in Granada, in terms of beauty it has nothing to envy to that monument.
==> Read HERE my advice on visiting the Alcazar
It is not for nothing that this building has also been awarded the recognition of Unesco World Heritage.
The origin of the Alcázar of Seville dates back to before the year 1000.
It had been built with a completely different function it was in fact a fortress. Over the centuries it has undergone alterations and extensions to the point of having completely lost the austere and severe stretch of the fortresses dedicated to defensive purposes.
Today is the most typical example of Mudejar style, typical Andalusian style that contains elements of Christian style with Arabesque details.
A very pleasant element of the AlcĂ zar is the luxuriant, very rich and well-kept internal garden. If Eden exists, surely this garden is the closest one can think of
For the visit it is advisable to buy tickets in advance and take advantage of the early hours of the morning. The first time I did not really enter, the line was blocked because it would not have been possible to let everyone in within the opening hours.
How long does it take to visit the AlcĂ zar? Time is always very subjective, but this construction is so full of details, details and beauties that you need consider at least 3 hours.
During the summer there are also night entrances. Check the official website to check days and times of night entrances.
Curiosity: the AlcĂ zar was the scenography of some scenes of the Throne of Swords, in particular the luxuriant gardens were used.
- ⇒ Alcazar online ticket
- ⇒ guided tour of the Alcazar
- ⇒ guided tour in ENGLISH Alcazar, Cathedral and Giralda
2 - Bullring
Di NaughtyNut /
La Plaza de Toros it is not a square, it is thearena where bullfighting takes place.
Bullfighting is a tradition throughout Spain, but Seville has a special place in this tradition: the Siviglia Bullring it is the oldest in Spain and together with that of Ronda it contends for the primacy of the first bullfights on foot.
Bullfighting derives from Bullfighting, a word that encompasses as a category all the fights involving cattle, which Romans and Greeks already practiced until evolving into what we know today in the form of combat between a large bovine and a human bullfighter.
It is part, of the Plaza de Toros in Seville, too a museum on the practice of bullfighting which is really very useful for understanding the culture of this practice, why it has become a tradition and the curiosities related to bulls, bullfighters and fights.
For example, it is truly strange that in reality a sort of falling in love is established between the bull and the bullfighter who are fighting. True it seems absurd and yet beyond the fact that I totally disagree with this practice (which makes me suffer just thinking about it), visiting the Plaza de Toros and its museum is definitely a way to try to see this tradition from a another point of view.
Hours of visit of the Plaza de Toros: from 09.30 to 19.00 in winter and from 09.30 to 21.00 in summer.
Attention in the period of the bullfights the hours for the visits are reduced. Check the timetables here.
3 - El Arenal Market
If there is one thing that absolutely puts me in touch with the habits of the locals, it is going to the food markets.
A few minutes walk from the Plaza de Toros is the Mercato el Arenal: one of the markets of Seville.
This it is not a tourist place: it is a place where locals go shopping, where you can get to know local products, where you can recognize the eating and daily habits of the inhabitants of Seville.
You go to the Arenal market to go shopping but also to take a break or a coffee or to taste the typical products.
Market hours: Sunday and Monday from 09.00 to 19.00 while on other days the closing is scheduled at noon. Adjust according to the days you will be visiting Seville.
4 - Triana Market
At Anibal Trejo /
Il Triana market it is the market that more than others is faithful to tradition. The Triana market is located just beyond the bridge over the Guadalquivir River.
The market was built on the remains of what was once the San Jorge Castle, which from 1481 became the court of the inquisition.
At the Triana market you can buy and taste typical products but also international dishes. The market is colorful and lively and has opening hours that facilitate the lunch break.
Triana market hours: from Monday to Saturday from 09.00 to 15.00, on Sundays and holidays from 12.00 to 17.00.
Unmissable stop to eat boccadillo and drink cerveza. Super super recommended.
To end the day I recommend a nice walk to the Metropol Parasol which is about 20 minutes from the Triana market, a little less from the Arenal market.
5 - Metropol Parasol or Las Setas de Sevilla
Il metropol Parasol is an architectural installation located in the Plaza de la EncarnaciĂłn.
It is an imposing wooden structure that occupies practically the whole square. This structure was designed and built by the German architect Jurgen Mayer and represents, as the name implies, a huge parasol.
It is also called Mushrooms which in Spanish means mushrooms because the shape reminds them.
It was built to restore splendor to a square that was in decline and which instead represented a focal point of the city.
The square was the place where the first agricultural markets were born, then it was transformed into a parking lot. With the Setas of Seville the square has become the emblem of a contemporary Seville.
The wooden structure is all "perforated" to make it possible for the air to pass but to shelter from the sun. Under the structure, musical events and shows are often organized and on the ground floor of the structure there is another Seville food market.
To have a wonderful view of the city from a privileged point, you can climb the structure and have Seville at your feet.
The opening hours of the "mirador" (the panoramic walk) of the Metropol Parasol: from 09.30 to 23.00.
3 day
On the third day you can dedicate yourself to Maria Luisa Park and in particular a Plaza of Spain.
1 - Maria Luisa Park
By Jose Ignacio Soto /
Il Maria Luisa park o Parque de Maria Luisa in Spanish is the green lung of Seville.
The garden is dedicated to Maria Luisa of Bourbon who was the wife of the Duke of Montpellier who had expressly requested its construction in 1849. Later the Duke donated part of the gardens to the city.
The park is fenced and has opening and closing times, although access is free during opening hours.
When I was in Seville and I was staying on the outskirts, I took the bus to get to the city center and the terminus was right next to the Park.
Just behind the bus stop there was a shack that sold freshly squeezed juices and slushes that were really a godsend when I got off the bus and was hit by a blast of 42 ° hot air.
Inside the Maria Luisa Park, on the occasion of the Ibero-American exhibition of 1929 it was built Plaza of Spain.
2 - Plaza of Spain
By LucVi /
Plaza of Spain it is much more than a square. It is a place that for its beauty seems almost unreal and the atmosphere it gives is one of profound tranquility.
Being inside the Maria Luisa Park, it is subject to the same hours as the Park but also in this case the access is free.
Plaza de España fu costruita da Anibal Gonzalez and the intention was that this place should be the focus of the exhibition event.
The architecture represents the classic local style with Moorish influences but linked to the Renaissance.
Plaza de España occupies an area of ​​about 50.000 square meters, is semicircular in shape, buildings with arcades, and at the two ends of the semicircle there are two towers that have become one of the symbols of Seville.
The central square is "split" in two by a majestic fountain, and the arcades are all decorated with the typical azulejos.
Along the arcades, therefore along the perimeter of the semicircle, there is also a canal where it is possible to rent a rowboat or motor boat to see the monument from a different perspective.
This last day will be especially dedicated to the river which will be a bit like a guide.
The Plaza and the Park generally close between 22pm and 24am depending on the season.
From Plaza de España with a walk of about 15 minutes you reach the San Telmo bridge and immediately after the Torre del Oro.
3 - Tower of the Gold of Seville
La Tower of the Gold of Seville is another iconic monument of Seville, currently housing the Naval museum.
The Seville Gold Tower is located right on the Guadalquivir River and served as a watchtower to control access to the city that could come from the river.
The tower is an important legacy of the Muslim period and has a 12-sided floor plan. The name is due to the golden glow that the river reflects.
The hours of the Torre dell'Oro: from Monday to Friday from 09.30 to 18.45. Saturday and Sunday open at 10.30.
4 - Mini cruise on the Guadalquivir
From the Torre dell'Oro the mini cruises on the Guadalquivir river that allow you to see Seville from a different point of view and to see some areas that were completely skipped in the 3-day tour.
In particular, during the cruise that runs along the Triana district you will be able to admire the caves of the Cartuja which are the place where Christopher Columbus planned and studied his voyage to the Americas.
Below are 2 different types of cruises on the Guadalquivir , one which is the standard one (the first) and the second which instead of the normal boat is in the yacht 8 but the itinerary is the same):
- ⇒ Guadalquivir mini cruise, ticket only
- ⇒ Mini yacht cruise (more expensive)
5 - Triana neighborhood
Il Triana neighborhood I have already mentioned it several times, on the second day across the Triana bridge you were able to visit the homonymous market.
Triana is an iconic and symbolic neighborhood of Seville: it is the neighborhood of the gypsies, the neighborhood where Flamenco was born. The original Andalusian ceramics originate in this district.
What is now considered a neighborhood that enjoys a certain popularity but has not always been so.
Once this was the most unfortunate neighborhood, it was the neighborhood of poverty and crime. It was a sort of ghetto where the gypsies, who by definition were nomads, were destined.
The connection with the rest of the city was not exactly easy and living in Triana was a bit like living in a city parallel to Seville, but isolated.
In this context of poverty, isolation and even a bit degraded Flamenco was born which represented the way to show one's value at the expense of economic conditions.
Triana today lives two lives, the daytime one with flowers, colors, pottery shops and the nighttime one animated by authentic tapas bars and cervecerias where it is often possible to attend Flamenco shows.
Do not deprive yourself of the opportunity to dine in one of the many places right next to the river: it will be an exhilarating experience for the palate and exciting for the soul.
3 - What to see in Seville for FREE
By organizing your tour well you may have the opportunity to visit some places in Seville completely free.
In addition to free guided tour in English already mentioned, there are in fact a series of attractions that normally require an entrance ticket that are completely FREE on Mondays:
Seville Cathedral: Free admission on Mondays
Giralda: of course, free admission on Mondays
Alcazar: free admission on Mondays in the last hour in which it is possible to enter. Considering the beauty and extent of what can be seen in this building, an hour is very short and in any case the entrance must be booked online in any case.
Plaza de Toros: free admission on Mondays
Torre dell'Oro: free admission on Mondays
4 - Seville in 4 or 5 days: what to see in the surroundings
If you have the possibility to stay in Seville for several days you can consider the possibility of doing some day excursions however making a base in the capital of Andalusia.
I suggest some really unmissable tours:
1 - Doñana Park
Il Doñana Park it contains within itself the mouth of the Guadalquivir, so it is where the great river meets the ocean.
The Park is an incredible ecosystem where 4 different natural environments with completely different characteristics coexist.
Environments that in addition to having different characteristics are populated by wild and rare fauna such as the elusive Iberian Fox that I have not really been able to see.
Visiting the Park independently is absolutely forbidden and is carried out with 4 Ă— 4 vehicles and binoculars to try to "capture" any type of animal.
The visit to the park, precisely because it is carried out with the 4 Ă— 4 is really fun.
Near the Doñana Park there is also the town of El Rocio
There are several ways to get to the park:
- THEbus: the duration of the trip is about 3.30
- Il taxi: it lasts about 2 hours but is much more expensive
- In auto: the duration of the trip is about two hours but it is convenient only when you have already rented the car for a further tour
Otherwise there are organized tours "All inclusive" that pick you up and bring you back to your accommodation also taking care of the whole tour inside the park.
Some of these that I recommend are:
- ⇒ Tour organized in English to the Doñana Park of Civitatis (a warranty)
- ⇒ 4 × 4 tour to the Park (for the true adventurous!)
2 - El Rocio
By Carlos Koblischek
A few kilometers from the entrance to the Park there is Dew.
El Rocio is a magical town, its streets are made of sand and people ride on horseback or in horse-drawn carriages rather than by car.
Everyone wears Andalusian camperos (riding boots typical of Andalusian knights and which are produced on site) and the whole country is filled with a colonial atmosphere.
This colonial air also derives a little from the town's cathedral which really looks like a colonial "mission" of those seen in old westerns.
In reality, there is much more to El Rocio because the country is the destination of a kind of pilgrimage called Romeria, which attracts pilgrims from all over Spain in June.
How to save money in Seville
Besides the free stuff I told you about before there are other ways to save something when visit Seville.
For example, if you plan to visit so many places of interest, you might want to pay the SEVILLA CITY PASS which includes, in addition to the entrance to various sites such as the Cathedral and Alcazar, the HOP ON - HOP OFF tourist bus and a 20% discount on many other attractions.
If you visit Seville in 3 daysmoreover, it might be convenient the PUBLIC TRANSPORT CHARTER with which you have all unlimited public transport, transport from the airport to the center (one way) and various discounts.
Having said that, Seville, if you visit it out of season, is not expensive. On BOOKING.COMWith a choice of over 3000 options, you can find great hotels at a truly affordable cost. In my post on where to stay in Seville, find some good cheap options.
As for in eat and drink, alcohol could have a cost that, at the end of the holiday, affects your available budget. For this reason, if you want to save money and if you really can't do without a drink, I recommend that you go to more peripheral and not very touristy places, or buy alcohol at the supermarket.
As Pomegranate, Seville's tapas scene is a must. Tapas are generally quite cheap, but in some places you won't be given much more than a few olives which will open your stomach even more than it already is.
Bullfighter (Calle Argote de Molina, 21) serves some free tapas with your lunchtime drink.
Compulsive savers tend to eat at Los Coloniales Tavern (Calle Cristo de Brugos, 19) for hearty dishes at a rather cheap cost.
Las Columnas Winery (Calle de Rodrigo Caro, 1) is another budget option with lots of charm, just out of the shadow of the atmospheric Giralda.
Getting around in Seville
Seville is a city that can be visited on foot, so I highly recommend walking slowly so that you can discover all the hidden gems in the street corners. As you read from the itinerary, the time it takes to walk all the suggested attractions is around 20-30 minutes maximum, and often much less.
Alternatively, you can rent a bike because the city is flat and cycle paths are everywhere. If you prefer to travel by car, I don't recommend renting a car because the city is not suitable and parking is always difficult to find.
La 5 / 5 ( 6 votes )
