5 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

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

   2. Late morning

      Barrio Santa Cruz lanes

      Explore after dinner, when day-trippers have gone and the lanes are lit by lanterns. (1–2 hours, free).

   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

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

   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

      Climb the Giralda early in the visit, then rest in the Patio de los Naranjos, the orange-tree courtyard of the former mosque. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)

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

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Spinach with chickpeas

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

   4. Afternoon

      Casa de Pilatos

      Visit after the Alcázar to compare the two palaces; it is far less crowded. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   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: Plaza de España and Parque de María Luisa

   Plaza de España, Parque de María Luisa and Triana and the Mercado de Triana, then Alameda de Hércules in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Plaza de España

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

   2. Late morning

      Parque de María Luisa

      Use the park as a cool, shady route between Plaza de España and the river on hot afternoons. (1–2 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pork cheeks

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

   4. Afternoon

      Triana and the Mercado de Triana

      Have a mid-morning snack at a market stall, then walk Calle Betis for the view back across the river to the Torre del Oro. (Half a day, free).

   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. Best for culture, first-timers and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Seville

      Dinner: try Montadito de pringá.

5. Day 5: Torre del Oro and Plaza de toros de la Maestranza

   Torre del Oro, Plaza de toros de la Maestranza and Guadalquivir river cruise, then Calle Betis, Triana in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Torre del Oro

      Combine it with a walk along the river promenade towards the Triana bridge at sunset. (30–45 minutes, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Plaza de toros de la Maestranza

      Tours run in several languages throughout the day; it is a short stop on a riverside walk. (45 minutes, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Montadito de pringá

      Old-fashioned taverns in the centre and El Arenal.

   4. Afternoon

      Guadalquivir river cruise

      Take a sunset sailing in summer, when the breeze on the water is a relief from the heat. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Calle Betis, Triana

      Riverside bars and flamenco-pop venues with views across to the old town.

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 5 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 17–23 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 4 days in Seville
• 7 days in Seville

Questions travellers ask