2 days in Seville

Day by day

1. Day 1: Real Alcázar and Barrio Santa Cruz lanes

   Real Alcázar, Barrio Santa Cruz lanes, Hospital de los Venerables and Seville Cathedral and the Giralda, then Flamenco in a tablao in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Real Alcázar

      Its upper floors are still used by the Spanish royal family, and it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Cathedral.

   2. Late morning

      Barrio Santa Cruz lanes

      Its layout keeps the lanes shaded in summer, and the Murillo Gardens on its edge offer a green break.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Salmorejo

      Almost every tapas bar from spring to autumn; ask for it without jamón for a vegetarian version.

   4. Afternoon

      Hospital de los Venerables

      It houses the Centro Velázquez, which displays paintings by Velázquez and Murillo in a small, quiet gallery.

   5. Late afternoon

      Seville Cathedral and the Giralda

      Inside are a vast gilded altarpiece and the monumental tomb of Christopher Columbus. Instead of stairs, the Giralda is climbed by 35 ramps wide enough for a horseman, leading to views over the old town.

   6. Evening

      Flamenco in a tablao

      Choose a small venue where you sit close to the stage; dinner shows in large halls tend to be less authentic.

2. Day 2: Plaza de España and Parque de María Luisa

   Plaza de España, Parque de María Luisa, Metropol Parasol (Las Setas) and Triana and the Mercado de Triana, then Alameda de Hércules in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Plaza de España

      A canal crossed by four tiled bridges curves in front of it, and along the walls are tiled alcoves representing Spanish provinces, each with a map and historical scene. You can rent a rowing boat on the canal.

   2. Late morning

      Parque de María Luisa

      The Plaza de América at its southern end holds the Archaeological Museum and Museum of Popular Arts, and the doves in the square are popular with children.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Spinach with chickpeas

      Traditional bars in Santa Cruz, El Arenal and around the Alfalfa.

   4. Afternoon

      Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)

      A paid rooftop walkway winds over the top with views of the old town, and the Antiquarium in the basement shows Roman and Moorish remains found during construction.

   5. Late afternoon

      Triana and the Mercado de Triana

      Calle Alfarería and Calle Antillano Campos still have tile workshops, and the Centro Cerámica Triana museum occupies an old pottery with kilns.

   6. Evening

      Alameda de Hércules

      Come in the evening for a drink on a terrace; children play on the promenade until late in summer.

Before you go

• Real Alcázar: Timed tickets sell out days ahead in spring and autumn; buy on the official site in advance.
• Seville Cathedral and the Giralda: Buying a timed ticket online avoids the long queue at the entrance in high season.
• Flamenco in a tablao: Small venues sell out on weekends; reserve a day or two ahead.

If it rains

• Swap in Casa de Pilatos (El Centro): Visit after the Alcázar to compare the two palaces; it is far less crowded.
• Swap in Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla (El Centro): Visit on a hot afternoon; the cloisters and galleries are cool and rarely crowded.
• Swap in Archivo General de Indias (El Centro): Step inside for a few minutes between the Cathedral and Alcázar to see the vaulted upper gallery and historic maps.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–20 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.6 hours in December to 14.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. The Cathedral, Alcázar, Santa Cruz, Plaza de España and Triana are all within about 25 minutes' walk of each other on flat streets.

More or fewer days

• One day in Seville
• 3 days in Seville
• 4 days in Seville
• 5 days in Seville
• 7 days in Seville

Questions travellers ask