A One Day in Seville Itinerary You’ll Want to Steal
Last Updated on 14th January 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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With achingly beautiful streets, glorious sunny weather and fascinating local culture, Seville (or Sevilla – pronounced Se-vee-ya – to the locals!) has to be on your Spanish bucket list. This southern city is famous for Moorish history, flamenco dancing, stunning architecture, and incredible food. If you don’t have long to explore, here’s a one day in Seville itinerary to help you make the most out of the city!
Please note that, in Spanish, Seville is called Sevilla. While Seville is absolutely packed full of attractions, it’s a relatively small city, and you can see most of the highlights in just one day.
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What is Seville known for?
Sevilla has a population of around 680,000 inhabitants and is most-famous for its stunning architecture and for flamenco dancing, both of which will be explored over the course of this article.
Seville’s architectural styles, including Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance, are remarkable, with the Cathedral of Seville being the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, home to the tomb of Christopher Columbus. This Gothic ecclesiastical structure, among other buildings in town, mean that Seville is one of the best places to see Gothic architecture in Europe.
The city is famous for its tapas, a delightful way of sharing small plates of food with friends over drinks. Seville holds a multitude of annual festivals, including Semana Santa and the Feria de Abril, which feature colourful processions, music, and dance.
The city boasts exquisite gardens, such as the Alcazar of Seville, an extravagant palace complex with intricate gardens that served as a shooting location for Game of Thrones.
Finally, Seville is also the birthplace of many renowned writers, such as Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, whose poetry and romanticism have left an enduring legacy on Spanish literature.
Best time to visit Seville
The best time to visit Seville is between March and May. As well as the temperature being at its best for exploring (not too hot, nor too cold), there will be fewer crowds around and yet everything will actually be open (unlike the winter when many businesses shut up shop for the season).
Head to Seville for the last few weeks or February/ early March and you can enjoy the beautiful orange blossom. In April and May, the city also boasts a wide array of beautiful cherry blossom blooms which add pops of pink to the city.
Is one day enough time in Seville?
Seville is a pretty substantial city with plenty of attractions and even more to see. As such, you won’t be able to cover everything that there is to do in Seville over the course of 24 hours.
With that being said, if one day is all you have in Seville, then it’s better to go and get a taste for the city than forgo it altogether. The ideal amount of time to explore Seville is three or four days.
A one day in Seville suggested itinerary
Breakfast at Triana Market
Mornings start slowly in Spain, with lots of places not opening for breakfast before 10:00 am. If you’re used to breakfasting early, I’d recommend buying some food from the supermarkets the day before.
If you can wait, Triana Market (known as Mercado de Triana) is one of the best spots to enjoy a spot of lunch in the city. Whether you fancy sweet pastries, delicious fresh fruit or hot coffee, you’ll find something here!
The Triana Market opens at 9 AM from Monday to Saturday, though doesn’t open until midday on Sundays. If you want to start your day earlier, you could head to the Plaza de España first and then have a brunch stop here after! Alternatively, you could book this Triana Market Tour with Tastings if you want to get to know more about Andalusian cooking together with a local guide.
Plaza de España
Your first stop should be the Plaza de España. This beautiful structure represents both Seville’s gorgeous architecture and Spain’s distinctive culture. Dating back to 1929, it was constructed for the Ibero-American expo and has been the setting for movies like Star Wars and Lawrence of Arabia.
It’s worth spending a little time taking the plaza in, snapping photos of some of the murals and the architecture. You can also check out the Museo Archeologico de Sevilla while you’re here, where you’ll learn all about the buildings in the Andalusia region!
Royal Alcazar of Seville
If you don’t mind getting up early, then you can actually begin your entire day in Seville by heading to the Royal Alcazar in order to beat the crowds and have more of the place to yourself. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, consider booking this Alone in the Alcazar: Exclusive Early Access Tour.
Constructed back when Andalucia was part of the Moorish empire, The Royal Alcazar of Seville was built as a fortress to guard the city. It dates back to the 10th century, but it was expanded in the 14th century when the Castalian Christians were in residence of Andalucia.
It was then converted to become a royal residence. The monarchs of Spain still reside here when they come to the city! As you’d expect from a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back over 1,000 years, the Royal Alcazar is absolutely brimming with history.
Purchase your Royal Alcazar of Seville skip-the-line tickets here in advance. If you are planning on visiting multiple attractions in Seville, then you might consider purchasing this Alcazar, Cathedral, and Giralda Guided Tour Combo. After you’ve explored the inside, you can take a step out into the garden and enjoy some of Andalusia’s best plants.
Lunch at Ancora
There are so many amazing restaurants in Seville. So whether you fancy paella or tapas, visit the area around the Royal Alcazar of Seville to find the perfect lunch restaurant. Even if you’re only in Spain for a day, you’ve got to try some paella!
This rice dish usually consists of seafood or meat, although it’s possible to find vegetarian alternatives. You can purchase paella at Ancora (Av. de Cádiz, 9, 41004 Sevilla, Spain) or Realcazar (C. San Fernando, 27, 41004 Sevilla, Spain), both of which are just a short walk from the Alcazar.
Seville Cathedral
The next stop is Seville Cathedral! This ecclesiastical building was constructed after the Moors left Andalusia in the 16th century – in fact, it was built on the same site as the Great Mosque of Seville.
The cathedral was built in a Gothic style and on the inside, it boasts 80 chapels and royal tombs, including the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. At its completion, Seville Cathedral was the biggest cathedral in the world.
Today the Cathedral of Seville remains incredibly impressive – take some time to walk around and learn about all of the historical events that have taken place here! Please note that you have to pay to visit the interior of the cathedral. If you’re particularly interested in the history of the cathedral, then you can buy this Cathedral Guided Tour with Priority Access.
Las Setas de Sevilla
Las Setas de Sevilla, or the Metropol Parasol, is a curious monument and offers a modern side to the city. Designed by German architect Jürgen Mayer, the structure looks a bit like giant mushrooms (hence the name – “setas” which means “mushroom” in Spanish).
You can take a lift up to the top and, from here, enjoy a vista over the city. It’s also the largest wooden structure in the world! Once you’ve visited the viewing platform, head downstairs to see Roman ruins.
Nearby the Setas de Sevilla, find Plaza Nueva which is a gorgeous square lined with cafes and restaurants. Try a Seville orange juice – the city is famous for the citrus fruit, which is in season from the end of December through to mid February!
Flamenco Show
You can’t visit Andalucia without heading to a flamenco show! Locals think that the dance comes from Seville, but people in the city of Granada will disagree!
However, there’s no denying that Seville is one of the best places in the country to catch a flamenco show. It’s recommended that you book your tickets online before heading to the event.
As dinner in Spain is usually a late affair (at least 10 PM, and even later during the high season), then I’d recommend waiting until after the Flamenco show for going out for your evening meal.
Dinner at Calle Mateos Gago
When it’s time for dinner, be sure to head to Calle Mateos Gago. This is widely regarded to be the most famous tapas restaurant in Seville, and is not a restaurant but rather an entire street filled with mouth-watering tapas bars. Indeed, you can quite literally eat your way down the street, stopping to try dishes whenever you fancy!
Or… a tapas dinner tour
If you’d prefer to learn more about the history of Seville while indulging in some pretty tasty tapas dishes, then consider booking a tour like this one. After all, as well as telling you about the history of food in this area of Spain, your tour will include 10+ tapas at 4 local establishments and several drinks. Find out more details here.
If you have two or three days in Seville…
If you have more time to explore Seville (and I highly recommend staying longer in the Spanish city if it is at all possible), then there are a myriad of things to see and do to occupy the rest of your sojourn.
Santa Cruz district
One of the most famous and lively districts of Seville is the Santa Cruz district, which is characterised by its colourful houses and is home to Seville’s cathedral. If you have extra time between sightseeing, one of the best things to do in Seville (particularly if you love photography) is to get lost in the maze of the little streets that make up the Santa Cruz district.
Torre del Oro
Literally translated into English as the ‘Tower of Gold,’ the Torre del Oro is a dodecagonal military watchtower and dates back to the 13th-century. During the Middle Ages, the tower was used as a prison.
Today, you can climb to the top for free (though donations are always welcome), where you can enjoy views of the town of Seville stretching out below. The tower also houses a small museum primarily dedicated to naval history.
Parque de Maria Luisa
Those looking for a lush green space to relax and watch the world go by need to look no further than the Maria Luisa Park. Located alongside the Guadalquivir River, the park is the largest green space in Seville and boasts birds, ducks, and flowers.
Casa de Pilatos
A 16th-century palace that serves as the residence for the Dukes of Medinaceli, the Casa de Pilatos is often said to have been the precursor to the Andalusian palace. The entrance fee is €10 and the entire place is a beautiful blend of Italianate architecture meets Mudéjar elements.
Take a day trip to Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a tiny speck of a nation in the very south of mainland Spain that is actually a British Overseas Territory. The northern edge of Gibraltar shares its border with Spain and is situated at the very tip of the Iberian peninsula. You can organise your own excursion or alternatively book to go on a guided one like this one.
Where to stay in Seville
For You Hostel Sevilla: If you’re a backpacker, this is a wonderful place to stay! With dorm rooms in a range of sizes and private rooms available, there’s something for everyone here. Also enjoy communal spaces like a shared kitchen and patio. Check prices and availability here.
Hotel Doña María: If you want to feel like royalty, stay here! It’s literally a historic palace with a pool and rooms that are kitted out with all the luxurious features that you could imagine. Check prices and availability here.
Casa Noa Apartments: If you are visiting Seville with a group, the ultra-modern Casa Noa Apartments have everything that you’ll need. Choose from a one, two or three bedroom apartment, each enjoying plenty of mod-cons and stylish luxury! Check prices and availability here.
Your one day in Seville itinerary
Even if you’re only in Seville for a day, there are so many incredible attractions to enjoy throughout the city. This one day in Seville itinerary should have shown you how to pack in the best attractions of the city, from the stunning cathedral to the zesty oranges.
If you can spare a bit of time, it’s worth spending longer in the city – but no matter what, you’ll be coming back for more!
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