While I could have happily languished in those citrus-scented city streets for far longer, 3 days in Seville is a great length of stay for a first-timer.
For me, city breaks are all about carefully juggling hitting all the best spots, seeking out hidden gems and taking that all important time to relax.
If this resonates with you, this Seville three day itinerary should strike the perfect balance you’re looking for.
How to get around Seville
Transfers to and from Seville airport are easy as it’s super close to the city. Either hop on the EA bus for €5 one way or grab a taxi; prices are fixed between €22 and €31, depending on the time of year.
Booking a transfer via a third party will undoubtedly be more expensive, so don’t waste your money unless there’s a large party of you needing a van.
If you’re staying centrally, there’s no need to worry about public transport, trains or one of those horse-drawn carriage rides (please no!) – you can get around all the main attractions on foot. Seville is a really walkable city and it’s beautiful to do so if you’re able.
Your guide to 3 days in Seville
Day 1 in Seville
Whether you’re waking up in Seville after an evening flight or touching down in the morning, day one is all about getting to know the city. The croquetas are calling!
Either way, now you’re there it’s time to get acquainted with the city! After breakfast, head to Seville’s centre at a lazy pace – we found tons of different routes around through the winding backstreets and spotted some gorgeous architecture along the way too.
When they say Seville is known for its orange trees, it’s no joke. Virtually every street that’s wide enough is lined with fruit-laden shrubs giving off the most incredible scent and much-needed shade.
If you need a destination in mind, make it Catedral de Sevilla.
Catedral de Sevilla
Seville Cathedral isn’t just the largest Gothic church in the world – its origin in 1172 AD was actually as a mosque. It was converted into a cathedral after the conquest of Seville by Ferdinand III, before a new cathedral was commissioned on the same site.
The plans were so grand that it took over a century to build and today you can still see preserved elements from the original mosque, including the famous bell tower, La Giralda, which was previously the mosque’s minaret.
You can walk into a limited section of the cathedral for free or buy a tourist ticket for the cathedral and tower costing €13 (student and senior discounts available). If you’d like a guided tour, they’re available at selected times for €21.
Eat at Calle Mateos Gago
Just a stone’s throw from the cathedral is Seville’s most famous tapas street, Calle Mateos Gago. During your 3 days in Seville, you’ll most likely stroll along this road several times and honestly, there are enough tapas bars to fill your entire itinerary.
We stopped off for a tasty lunch in Bar Catedral Sevilla, but Bodega Santa Cruz comes highly recommended too, as does Cervecería Giralda Bar for its beautiful, cave-like interiors.
Outdoor seats are, of course, the most popular for epic people watching, but there’s also respite from the sun indoors if you’re visiting over summer.
Cruise along the Guadalquivir river
Now that you’re full from lunch, it’s time to take the sightseeing at a more relaxed pace. Several companies operate daily river cruises at varying levels of luxury: we chose an hour-long option without drinks for €20.
Honestly, you don’t see a huge amount of the ‘big’ sights from the river so if you’re on a shorter time frame, this is one you can easily skip. However, it was a relaxing way to spend the afternoon, and we got to see some spots further down the river that we wouldn’t have walked to ourselves otherwise.
Sea-legs aren’t up to it? Strolling along the river is just as nice! If you visit in spring, you might be lucky enough to see the many wisteria-covered walkways in full bloom – it’s on my bucket list to return especially for this.
Get a taste of flamenco
Seville is also famous for flamenco and even if you aren’t usually a Strictly lover, you won’t want to miss it during your city break in Seville.
If, like me, you weren’t captivated enough to splash out on a full performance, there are a couple of places you can watch instead. Firstly, Plaza de España has free busking shows regularly (we’ll come to that in a day or so!) or you can head to La Carbonería.
At La Carbonería, you’ll find more authentic, flamenco performances included when you buy food and drinks there. That makes it a great spot for an informal dinner to get the best of both worlds and it’s reasonably priced when you factor in a free show!
Day 2 in Seville
So, you’ve got your bearings – now it’s time for the big one. You’ll want to be up early for breakfast as you’re headed to, in my opinion, Seville’s most beautiful attraction.
Real Alcázar de Sevilla (Royal Alcázar)
The Royal Alcázar is one of the city’s most well known attractions. It’s absolutely worth every ounce of the hype.
Tip: Tickets to the Royal Alcázar are available online in advance and if you’re a planner like me, I’d recommend doing this to avoid the stress of potentially not getting tickets on the day. Otherwise, you can wait in line on the day but get up early, as there’s usually a lengthy queue and they do sell out.
We waited for around 30 minutes for ours on the morning we visited, secured a time slot for two hours later for €13.50 and by the time we got in at 12:30, they were completely sold out. While you’re in the queue, electronic screens keep you updated on how many tickets each time slot has left.
The time slots clearly work because while the Royal Alcázar is undeniably busy, it doesn’t feel so crowded that it takes away the enjoyment. It’s still a working palace when Spain’s royal family visit Seville and you may know it as a filming location for Dorne in Game of Thrones too!
The gorgeous architecture incorporates influences from the Arabic (expect lots of Moroccan-esque vibes!) to Renaissance art and Baroque features. Outside the palace itself, you can’t miss the sprawling gardens: I could have spent many happy hours checking out the plants, spotting peacocks and relaxing on the shaded grassy areas.
If there’s only one major attraction you pay to visit in Seville, this should be it.
Palacio de las Dueñas
Once you’re finished at the Royal Alcázar, you’ll be well ready for some lunch before moving onto your second palace of the day.
Palacio de las Dueñas was built in the late 15th century with beautiful Moorish influences similar to the Royal Alcázar, just on a smaller scale. Entry is €12 with student and senior discounts available.
If you’re in need of a break instead, the afternoon is the perfect time for a sun lounger siesta if you’ve been lucky enough to bag a hotel or apartment with a rooftop pool. Stay tuned and I’ll share where we stayed at the end of this post!
Setas de Seville
By the time evening comes, you’ll be ready for one of Seville’s more modern attractions, Setas de Sevilla, or Metropol Parasol as originally titled. The art installation was fully unveiled in 2011 and is now a must-visit sight to visit on any Seville itinerary.
If you’ve spent time at Palacio delas Dueñas, you’ll already be in the area; otherwise I’d recommend strolling down Calle Sierpes, a great little shopping street, on your way there.
At €15 for tourists, you can decide whether it’s worth paying the entry fee to walk along the top of Setas de Sevilla – for us, just seeing the structure was enough after someone advised us you only got around 15 minutes at the top.
The best time – but also busiest – time to visit is undoubtedly sunset, as you get to see the structure in daylight, plus the famous Aurora light show after dark.
Day 3 in Seville
It’s the final day of your three days in Seville and time to tick off the final must-sees before heading home.
Your trip to the Pearl of Andalusia wouldn’t be complete without visiting Plaza de España so after breakfast – I’d recommend checking out Jester, La Tapateria or Moya – stroll right down and enjoy the gorgeous views.
Plaza de España
Seville’s most famous public square is undeniably breathtaking and one to avoid visiting in midday during the summer if you’re prone to sunburn!
Below the buildings are 52 benched sections, each designed up with beautiful mosaics representing a Spanish province. Most of the buildings are used by government offices, but you can still go upstairs in a couple of places to check out the square from above too.
If you don’t want to hire a rowing boat along Plaza de España’s canal, you’ll definitely be entertained by watching others try and navigate the oars, while getting that much-coveted Instagram snap, or enjoying a free flamenco show. Don’t forget to tip the performers if you enjoyed it!
While you’re at Plaza de España, it’s a great time to stroll through the adjoining Parque de Maria Luisa, a huge shady park filled with beautiful trees and shrubs. It’s a great place to flop and enjoy an ice-cream!
Not ready to stop yet? You’re not far from the river, so head across the bridge to the other side where Calle Betis is waiting. Famous for its colourful buildings and views across the river, the restaurants lining this street are a fitting place for a long, lazy lunch.
Seville from above
For your last evening in Seville, it’s time to enjoy the sights from up high. You’ll find rooftop bars scattered across the city but the best is La Terraza del EME.
Located on top of stylish Hotel EME Catedral Mercer, non-guests can access the rooftop for a drink with incredible views of Seville cathedral directly opposite. We headed up there at sunset and were lucky to bag a table with an incredible view – it’s well worth it!
Then, choose one of the many wonderful tapas bars for the final dinner of your trip. Top recommendations include Bar Alfalfa, Espacio Eslava and Bar Dos De Mayo, but we chose Donaire House Bar and I’d highly recommend it!
With tons of outdoor seating, plus a smaller restaurant indoors, the service and food were both absolutely delicious, with some more unique tapas options on offer amongst the classics.
Where to stay in Seville
While Seville is packed full of wonderful hotels and apartments, we needed somewhere with enough room for my five adult family. We chose Apartamentos RG Suites Jardines de Murillo and it worked for our needs, although it wasn’t perfect!
The area was a big deal for us and the three bed apartment was perfectly located in a quiet road just opposite the Royal Alcázar and a short walk from Plaza de España. It also boasted a shared rooftop pool that we took advantage of each afternoon – we saw other people up there a couple of times, but usually we had it to ourselves!
Looking for another option? I always use Booking.com for the Genuis discounts!
And that’s it! I hope this itinerary for 3 days in Seville has helped you to plan your city break.
As you can hopefully tell, I absolutely loved it and would love to return one day – it’s the perfect spot for a chilled break where you can eat and wander your way around with ease.
Have a great trip!
Laura x
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