2 day Seville itinerary! Seville is a city bursting with history, flavour and incredible sights. Get lost in the cobblestone alleyways of Seville’s Barrio de Santa Cruz. Fill up your camera reel with snaps of the iconic Plaza de Espana. Indulge in tapas in one of the bustling eateries. Be moved by flamenco performances in the birthplace of the dance. You can do it all with this 2 day Seville itinerary.
The capital of Andalucia is an essential stop if you are visiting Spain and a worthwhile destination on its own. The city truly captured both our hearts and taste buds when we visited with our toddler at the start of a South Spain Road trip. I have put together this 2 day Seville itinerary to help others looking to do the same. While Seville boasts many famous sights, it has a vibrant yet relaxed feel that made us want to stay out all day (and night) to soak it up. Seville is also a relatively compact and flat city. We appreciated being able to walk between our hotel and all the places we had come to visit.
This 2 day Seville itinerary puts together top sights, tips, where to stay, and where to eat – everything you need to make the most of your time in Seville. This Seville itinerary includes 2 full days of activities, but the first day is more relaxed to give you time to settle in.
Before I dive into this 2 day Seville itinerary, I’ve included some practical information to help you plan your stay.
My website contains some affiliate links. If you choose to buy products or services through these links I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you).
2 day Seville Itinerary: Is 2 days enough in Seville?
Two days in Seville gives you enough time to see the main sights including the Real Alcazar, Plaza de Espana, and Seville Cathedral, as well as some time to enjoy Seville’s lively city life and neighbourhoods. Following this 2 day Seville itinerary will help you to make the most of your short time here. I would recommend a minimum of two full days in Seville.
You could certainly spend longer in Seville and still have plenty to see and do. Seville is also a great base for day trips. I’ve included some day trip options at the end of this blog if you’re using Seville as a base for exploring more of Andalucia.
Where should I stay in Seville?
If you only have two days in Seville I would highly recommend staying central. That way, you can spend as much time as possible enjoying the city and avoid long walks in the heat. We visited in summer and were grateful to be able to easily pop back for siestas.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hotel Fernando III with its modern rooms and ideal location. The views of the city and cathedral were amazing while cooling down in the rooftop pool. Ours was a small room with a terrace, but there are plenty of room options available including suites. If you’re visiting with a little one, they also have travel cots available on request.
Is Seville a family friendly destination?
Seville is a fantastic city to visit with kids. Our toddler enjoyed roaming through the rooms in the Real Alcazar, watching the horse-drawn carts throughout the city, and even tried to join in with the performers at Plaza de Espana. Like the rest of Spain, children are welcomed as part of public life, making it a great place to travel with kids.
The extreme heat in Seville can mean that it is more difficult to explore Seville with kids. We found early starts and long afternoon siestas allowed us to avoid the peak heat while still having plenty of time to see the sights. Many flamenco shows don’t allow young children, but you can still see public flamenco performances at Plaza de Espana.
I’ve included extra information in this blog for those visiting Seville with kids. You can also check out my guide to visiting Spain with a baby or toddler.
Do I need a car in Seville?
All of the sights in this two day Seville itinerary are within walking distance. You don’t need a car to see Seville and I wouldn’t recommend trying to drive there as a visitor. Many of roads in the centre are closed to cars, and can be difficult to navigate even with online maps.
At the same time, Seville’s busy airport and rental car options make it a great place to start a South Spain road trip. Talk to your accommodation about parking if you have a rental car you need to park while exploring Seville.
2 day Seville itinerary: Visiting Seville as part of a road trip
If visiting Seville as part of a road trip, see my post on a South Spain road trip including itineraries and tips. We found Seville was a great start point with its international airport and cheaper rental car prices than other cities in Spain. We found rentalcars.com was far cheaper than other options when we booked our rental car in Seville.
Where should I eat in Seville?
There are so many incredible tapas bars and eateries in Seville for you to indulge in Andalusian cuisine. Our favourite spot was La Antigua Abaceria in the Triana neighbourhood with its accommodating hosts, homemade food, and cosy authentic feel. La Sacristia Tapas serves delicious slow-cooked meats and tapas from midday to midnight and is minutes from both the Seville Cathedral and Real Alcazar. The opening hours were great for us as options during siesta time are often limited and not necessarily the best.
Best time to visit Seville
Seville’s warm climate means you can visit any time of year, if you don’t mind the heat! Like much of Andalucia, the ideal time to visit Seville is spring or fall: May and September are particularly popular. You get the best combination of good temperatures and daylight hours.
Can I visit Seville in summer?
I would still recommend visiting Seville in summer if that is when your vacation falls. However, be prepared for extreme heat particularly in the afternoons. Start your day early then enjoy a long afternoon siesta before heading back out in the evening. While all the destinations on this 2 day Seville itinerary are within walking distance, the heat in summer can make it more challenging to walk between locations. While the city is relatively compact and flat, it is bigger than nearby Ronda and Cordoba. The city comes alive in the evening, even when it has been sleepy during the day due to the heat.
Seville Itinerary
2 day Seville itinerary: at a glance
Day 1:
- Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower (morning)
- Barrio de Santa Cruz (afternoon)
- Setas “wooden parasol” viewpoint (sunset)
- Alameda de Hercules (evening)
- Flamenco show (evening)
Day 2:
- Real Alcazar (morning)
- Guadalquivir River Cruise (afternoon)
- Parque de Maria Luisa (afternoon)
- Plaza de Espana (afternoon/early evening)
- Triana neighbourhood (evening)
Seville Itinerary: 2 day Seville Itinerary in detail
Seville itinerary Day 1
Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower
Start your time in Seville with a visit to the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Originally built as a mosque, it was converted to a cathedral in the 13th century. Seville Cathedral is also believed to be home to the remains of Christopher Columbus, who set sail to the New World from Andalucia. While visiting Seville Cathedral, be sure to climb the Giralda Tower. Once the mosque’s minaret, it stands at 100 metres tall and provides incredible views of the city.
The cathedral opens at 10.45am Monday – Saturday, and at 2.30pm on Sunday. If you are arriving in Seville on a Sunday then start your day exploring Barrio de Santa Cruz before visiting the cathedral.
Tickets to the Cathedral and Giralda are 9 Euros and children under 14 are free.
Barrio de Santa Cruz
Barrio de Santa Cruz is a beautiful maze of narrow streets and alleys that are worth getting lost in during your 2 day Seville itinerary. Formerly the Jewish quarter of Seville, it is now the tourist centre with many restaurants and stores for you to enjoy.
You can wander around the neighbourhood at your own pace, or you can do a walking tour to learn more about the history of the neighbourhood. With a toddler in tow, we opted for the Seville city walk tour through the Rick Steve’s audio Europe app. The tour starts at the cathedral and makes several nearby stops before taking you through Barrio de Santa Cruz.
Barrio de Santa Cruz has plenty of restaurants, making it a great place to stop for lunch or a drink. Being the tourist centre of Seville, many of the restaurants cater to tourists, but the setting is so beautiful we still thought it was worth the stop.
Setas viewpoint
For your first evening in Seville, I recommend enjoying the Setas viewpoint, getting dinner nearby, and seeing a flamenco performance.
Head to the Setas viewpoint around sunset to see the city light up. Depending on the time of year and sunset, you can do this before or after the flamenco performance. Many flamenco performances are around 8pm or 9pm, but there are earlier options available through some venues.
The Setas viewpoint was originally called the “wooden parasol” for the shade it provides. It is also a viewing platform providing 360-degree views of the city. Setas viewpoint itself is a sight worth seeing. This giant, wooden grid-like structure is polarising, and stands in contrast to the surrounding buildings.
Setas viewpoint is open from 9.30am and the last entrance is at 11.30pm. While I recommend visiting around sunset, if you are heading to Setas earlier in the day, be sure to visit the Encarnacion Market underneath (open from 8.30am – 3pm Monday – Saturday).
Tickets to go up to the viewing platforms are 15 Euro for adults, and free for children under 5. The streets around Setas are also a great spot for tapas and dinner after a big first day exploring Seville. If you’re after Seville’s nightlife scene, take a 10 minute walk to Alameda de Hercules for bars, tapas and dancing.
Flamenco show
For a real Spanish cultural experience, a flamenco show is a perfect way to end your first night in Seville. There is something particularly special about watching this moving and enigmatic dance being performed in its birthplace.
Many flamenco performances begin around 8 or 9pm, but there are earlier shows available through some venues if you want an earlier night after a big day of exploring.
If travelling with little ones, check age restrictions with the show host before booking. Many flamenco venues do not allow young children to attend.
Seville itinerary day 2
Real Alcazar
Start day two in Seville with a morning visit to the Real Alcazar, the historic royal palace and palace gardens of Seville. We thoroughly enjoyed wandering through the many rooms and courtyards of the palace. The detail in the arches, columns and walls is incredible. Don’t forget to look up at the ceilings!
When visiting the Real Alcazar, make sure you book your tickets online in advance to avoid waiting in long queues. I’d also recommend booking for the opening slot (9.30am) when it is quieter and cooler.
Tickets are 13.50 Euro and children under 13 are free. If you are visiting on a Monday, there are certain times of day that you can visit the Real Alcazar for free. Visit the official website for opening hours and free times, as these vary depending on the time of year.
After exploring the Real Alcazar you’ll be ready for something to eat. The Real Alcazar is right between the Seville Cathedral and Barrio de Santa Cruz, so there are plenty of restaurants nearby. There is also a basic cafeteria inside the Real Alcazar with outdoor seating in part of the gardens complex.
Guadalquivir River Cruise
After lunch, take a short stroll down to the Guadalquivir River to see the city from a different perspective. A river cruise is a fantastic way to see more of Seville. While I enjoy exploring a city by foot, it is great to be able to put your feet up while learning more about Seville.
This 1-hour eco cruise of the Guadalquivir river is a great budget-friendly option that leaves hourly between 11am – 6pm most days.
Parque de Maria Luisa
Maria Luisa Park sits between the Guadalquivir river and Plaza de Espana and is the main green space of Seville. Originally palace gardens, they were redesigned in 1928 at the same time as Plaza de Espana.
Maria Luisa Park is a great place to take a break from city exploring and enjoy some much-needed shade from the Seville sun. If you’re on a budget, this is also a great place for a late picnic lunch before continuing on to Plaza de Espana. As the main green space in Seville, it has a more local feel than many of the tourist spots. It also sits next to Plaza de Espana: the next stop on your itinerary.
Plaza de Espana
Plaza de Espana was built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition World Fair. This “town square” is actually a semi-circle, surrounded by buildings on one side with a canal running through it.
There is something truly unique about Plaza de Espana. The effort and detail in its design is unparalleled. You could spend hours admiring the tiled alcoves alone. These represent different provinces in Spain.
We spent a few hours soaking up the lively atmosphere and enjoying the architecture of Plaza de Espana. When we visited in the late afternoon, the Plaza was bustling with buskers and flamenco performers. This is a great way to see flamenco if you are unable to attend a private show. You can also rent a row boat and paddle through the canal that goes through the plaza.
Triana neighbourhood
From Plaza de Espana, stroll back through Park de Maria Luisa and back across the river to the vibrant Triana neighbourhood. Once the gypsy neighbourhood, this colourful neighbourhood is a great spot for authentic Andalusian cuisine or to simply stroll through the pretty streets and along the riverside.
We enjoyed a delicious dinner at the cosy La Antigua Abaceria just one block back from the river, before enjoying buskers and people watching on the banks of the river. There’s also a rooftop bar right by the river if you’re after a beverage to end your two days exploring Seville.
This concludes your 2 day Seville itinerary. As you can see, there’s plenty to see, do and taste in two days in Seville. From exploring its famous sights and neighbourhoods, to indulging in delicious Andalusian cuisine, to experiencing the local culture and city life. I hope you enjoy your travels to Seville as much as we did!
If you’ve got more time in Seville, I’ve included some suggestions for a cycle tour and a bunch of day trip options below.
More time in Seville? Consider a cycle tour
I would have loved to do a cycle tour of Seville if we had more time during our stay. Seville is flat, making for some easy cycling and allowing you to see more of the city than you can on foot.
Many of the tours are 2.5 – 3 hours, and there are plenty of options available through Get Your Guide. We were looking at doing a morning cycle tour with See By Bike Sevilla, because of its high ratings and child seat options. They also do a 3-hour sunset cycle tour, making it a great option to avoid the heat if your visiting Seville in summer.
Day trips from Seville
Seville is also a great base if you are looking to do some day trips to explore more of Andalucia. I’ve included several easy day trip spots from Seville below.
Córdoba
Train between Seville and Córdoba: 50 minutes. Seville to Córdoba drive time: 90 minutes.
With easy train options from Seville, Córdoba is a great day trip option from Seville particularly if you don’t have a car. Take in the mesmerising architecture of the Mosque-Cathedral, walk along the Roman Bridge made famous by Game of Thrones, and do a patio garden tour of typical Andalusian courtyards.
Córdoba is also a great day trip option as all the main sights are relatively close together. You can find more information in my post: one day in Córdoba.
Jerez de la Frontera and Cadiz
Seville to Cadiz drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
If you have a car and want to visit somewhere completely different on a day trip from Seville, then I would recommend a visit to the ancient port city of Cadiz via a sherry tasting in Jerez de la Frontera. A round trip from Seville to both Jerez de la Frontera and Cadiz includes about three hours of driving time.
Head to the home of sherry (Jerez, in Spanish) for a tasting and tour at one of the many bodegas. We enjoyed Bodegas Lustau, but there are plenty of other options around the city.
Continue on to Cadiz for some sun at one of the many beaches that literally surround Cadiz, or escape the sun in the leafy waterfront Parque Genoves. Walk out to San Sebastian Castle, built on an island connected to the mainland by a stone pathway. Enjoy seafood at the market or one of the many eateries in the vibrant old town.
Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas
Seville to Ronda drive time: 1 hour 50 minutes.
If you don’t have time to stay the night, it is still possible to do a day trip to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas if you have a car.
Ronda is set high on a rock plateau and divided by the dramatic El Tajo gorge. The spectacular Puente Nuevo (new bridge) joins the two sides and provides incredible views out to the countryside. I would highly recommend a visit to Ronda and my one day in Ronda post will help you to make the most of your visit.
Just 20 minutes from Ronda, Setenil de las Bodegas is known for its buildings built directly into the rock cliff which overhangs the main street. The short distance between the two towns means you easily visit both, but they are each worthwhile destinations on their own.
Olvera
Seville to Olvera drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
Olvera is a mountaintop pueblo blanco that provides a quieter alternative to Setenil de las Bodegas and Ronda. Walk up the steep streets to the Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación church and Castillo de Olvera. You will be rewarded with incredible views out to the surrounding olive groves and countryside.
Looks like an amazing place!
Absolutely love Seville! A great read x
Thanks so much!