4 days in Seville

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Real Alcázar

      Allow 2–3 hours (mid-priced). Book the first entry slot of the day and save the gardens for the end, when the palace rooms get crowded.

   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

      Allow 1 hour (low cost). Visit in the middle of the day when Santa Cruz is crowded; it is an oasis of calm.

   5. 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: Seville Cathedral and the Giralda and Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)

   Seville Cathedral and the Giralda, Metropol Parasol (Las Setas) and Casa de Pilatos, then Alameda de Hércules in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)

      Allow 1 hour (low cost). Go up around sunset, then eat at the tapas bars around nearby Plaza del Salvador and Calle Regina.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Spinach with chickpeas

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

   4. Afternoon

      Casa de Pilatos

      It is quieter than the Alcázar and still partly lived in.

   5. Evening

      Alameda de Hércules

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

3. Day 3: Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla and Archivo General de Indias

   Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla, Archivo General de Indias and Plaza de España, then Alameda de Hércules in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla

      Allow 1.5 hours (low cost). Visit on a hot afternoon; the cloisters and galleries are cool and rarely crowded.

   2. Late morning

      Archivo General de Indias

      It is part of the UNESCO site with its neighbours, and entry to the exhibition rooms is free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pork cheeks

      Tapas bars across the centre and Triana; a reliable order everywhere.

   4. Afternoon

      Plaza de España

      Allow 1 hour (free). Come in the early morning or the hour before sunset, when the light warms the brick and the crowds and heat ease.

   5. Evening

      Alameda de Hércules

      Alternative and LGBTQ+-friendly bars, live music and terraces along a long promenade.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Córdoba

   About 45 minutes by high-speed train each way. Getting there: AVE or Avant train from Santa Justa.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Córdoba

      About 45 minutes by high-speed train (AVE or Avant train from Santa Justa); about 140 km.

   2. Day

      Córdoba

      Córdoba's Mezquita-Catedral, a vast mosque with forests of striped arches and a cathedral built inside it, is one of Spain's great monuments. Add the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, the Jewish quarter and, in May, the flower-filled patios.

   3. Evening

      Back in Seville

      Dinner: try Montadito de pringá.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Real Alcázar, Seville Cathedral and the Giralda and Flamenco in a tablao before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 nights, Barrio Santa Cruz keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, El Arenal ($$$) suits families, first-timers and food lovers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–17 hours of visiting over 4 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.

More or fewer days

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

Questions travellers ask