One day 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

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

   2. Late morning

      Barrio Santa Cruz lanes

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

   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. Allow 1 hour.

   5. Late afternoon

      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. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

   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.

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 7–10 hours of visiting over one day, 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

• 2 days in Seville
• 3 days in Seville
• 4 days in Seville
• 5 days in Seville
• 7 days in Seville

Questions travellers ask