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Seville is so far, my favourite city in Europe! This Spanish city has much to offer, from beautiful architecture, mouthwatering tapas, beautiful gardens and an abundance of charm. And of course, let’s not forget the oranges!
In this four-day itinerary, I will share with you how to make the most of your short time in the wonderful city. I will share with you the attractions that you absolutely must see, and also my advice on what you can give a miss.
This itinerary assumes that you will arrive in Seville on the morning of day 1 leave on the evening of day 4, however of course you can mix some of the timings to fit in with your own flight plans. Seville is a relatively small city, so as long as you are staying reasonably central, most attractions will be walking distance.
If you’re travelling in the summer, and you have the luxury of being in Seville for four days, I would suggest a hotel with a pool as it gets HOT, so a refreshing dip after a day of exploring really hits the spot but of course, this is down to preference!
Day 1 – A relatively chilled day as you’ll be tired from travel!
Barrio Santa Cruz
After checking into the hotel and dropping off your bags, I would suggest taking a stroll and familiarising yourself with the city. Take a walk around the colourful streets of Barrio Santa Cruz. This is the former Jewish quarter of Seville and is home to some of the most important and impressive sights, such as the Alcazar palace, the Cathedral of Seville and La Giralda (the bell tower of the cathedral). Don’t enter any of these attractions though, just take a look as you’ll want to spend a considerable amount of time there, particularly the Alcazar! The Barrio Santa Cruz area is packed full of tapas restaurants and bars so stop for a late lunch at one of the many tapas bars Seville has to offer. I found the prices at most restaurants to be very reasonably priced, but if in doubt check the menu, or Tripadvisor before entering.
If you’ve opted for a hotel with a pool, I suggest going back to the hotel for a quick dip and then freshen up ready for the evening.
Setas De Sevilla
Once its dark, take a walk to visit the Setas De Sevilla, otherwise known as ‘The Mushroom’. This is a wooden structure designed by the German architect Jurgen Mayer who won a design competition to revitalise the square, Plaza de la Encarnacion. This is the largest wooden structure in the world, standing 26 metres high. The structure is made up of six large parasols in the shape of mushrooms and boasts a walkway and viewpoint that offers spectacular views of the city. The reason I suggest visiting this attraction at night is because from 8pm it comes alive with a striking aurora lightshow.
Tickets to go up to the viewpoint are €15, or alternatively, you can take a look at this famous attraction from the ground without paying a penny.
Following this, grab dinner and a drink at a local tapas bar. One thing to note about the evening’s is that the Spanish eat their evening meal late, typically between 9pm and 11.30pm so bear this in mind when making your plans!
Day 2
El Arenal
Explore the area or El Arenal. This is one of the busiest neighbourhoods in Seville and it vibrant with activity and culture. This area is part of the old quarter and has a walkway by the Guadalquivire River. It is home to the Torre de Oro military watchtower which is definitely worth a look. El Arenal also holds the oldest surviving bullring in Spain, La Maestranza. Should you wish, you can explore the site and museum for 10 euros, or just take a look at the external architecture. You must also take a look at La Plaza del Cabildo which is a small square with a semi-circular colonnade and absolutely beautifully painted arches and a fountain surrounded by palm trees, I would definitely recommend taking a look at this peaceful spot!
Grab some lunch! Instead of providing recommendations, I suggest wandering around to see what takes your fancy! As always check the menus / or Tripadvisor before committing.
Royal Alcazar
Visit the Alcazar (royal palace). This is absolutely a must do and I will promise you now that it will be one of the main highlights of your trip. Tickets to enter are £16 and absolutely worth the price. There are some sites offering inflated prices to skip the line, however in my experience the queue was very small. You can also pay extra for a guided tour if you’d like the learn more about the history of the palace. If you don’t choose to do this, there are plaques all around the palace offering information and history so you won’t necessary miss out.
The Alcazar really is something to behold, from its beautiful mosaics, incredibly well-kept grounds, and stunning architecture. This genuinely breathtaking attraction is the oldest royal palace in use in Europe, the upper levels of the palace are still used by the royal family to this day. I would anticipate spending around two hours exploring here, however if you’d like relax in the Café / restaurant, you could spend much longer.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral (The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See) is the 4th largest cathedral in the world, the 3rd largest in Europe and the largest gothic church ever built! It’s architecture both inside and outside is incredibly impressive and there is so much to see and take in, particularly the ceilings and carvings. You can also climb the Giralda tower to see some incredible views of the city. The cathedral is also home to the ornate tomb of great explorer, Christopher Columbus. Tickets to the cathedral and tower are around €12 and many say it’s one of the best in the world.
Outside of the cathedral there are ample bars and restaurants so I’d recommend grabbing dinner in this area, and then perhaps hit a bar for a few drinks.
Day 3
Plaza de Espana
This again, will be an absolute highlight and is not to be missed. The Plaza de Espana is the most famous square in Seville, built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. This beautiful semi-circle plaza is home to 48 benches and stunning mosaics that each depict a Spanish province. There is a round canal where you can take a boat ride, and a number of picturesque bridges, not dissimilar to the Venice! I won’t say too much more other than that it is a jaw droppingly beautiful place to visit, and it’s free to enter!
El Parque De Maria Luisa
This is the most famous park in Seville, and is just adjacent to the Plaza de Espana. This peaceful oasis is home to hundreds of exotic trees, beautiful buildings, ponds, fountains and even a waterfall! At 99 acres, you can spend plenty of time roaming this paradisiacal park and each corner you turn you’ll find something new to marvel at.
Lunch!
Cocktails at Premier Garden
Premier garden cocktail bar is located in Parque Prado de San Sebastian. It’s a beautifully peaceful place to enjoy a drink or two. It has a great atmosphere, good music and the cocktails are delicious!
Flamenco Show
If you are a big flamenco fan, there are plenty of ticketed shows at theatres in Seville, however if, like me, you’d just like a taster of flamenco for the experience, you can visit a free flamenco show!
The venue, La Cabonaria offers a free flamenco show twice an evening consisting of a singer, guitarist and flamenco dancer. The only stipulation is that you must buy at least one drink at the venue however these are by no means expensive, with a glass of wine costing under €3. I found this to be a fun and authentic way to experience flamenco and would definitely recommend.
Day 4
For your final day in Seville if you have some time to kill before your flight home I would recommend visiting:
Museum of Fine Arts
The museum of fine arts is one of the most prestigious in Spain and costs only €1.50 to enter. It hosts an impressive collection of Spanish art and is housed in a beautiful 1612 building that was formerly a convent. There is also a very pretty garden inside. If you’re an art fan, this is definitely worth a visit.
Grab some final tapas
Rafael Montesinos Garden If time allows, spend some time in Rafael Montesinos Garden. This small garden is a great place to relax and is near the bus station so is a great place to hang out before catching a bus back to the airport!
