Seville Itinerary for a Perfect 2 Days

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Seville is one of those cities where no matter how long you have budgeted for it, you’re going to regret not having more time. Something about the atmosphere of this city is magical. Seville is alive and it’s working, but it’s also full of a laid-back feeling of old-school charm and history.

For me, Seville is a must on any Spain itinerary as it is easily one of my favourite cities in Europe. There are so many things to do on a Seville two day itinerary, you can experience a little bit of everything that Seville has to offer. This includes gorgeous Moorish and Gothic architecture as well as tapas and maybe even see some flamenco dancing. It was difficult to decide what to pack into this two-day Seville itinerary. The city has such a relaxing vibe to it, it would be enjoyable to spend much longer than just two days in this southern Spanish city.

If it’s your first visiting Europe, you may want to check out these tips for traveling to Europe for the first time.

How Many Days in Seville?

I planned on two full days and 3 nights in Seville. I do think two full days in Seville is the minimum to see the main sights and get a feel for the city. For me, if I only had a day in Seville, it would be way too rushed and I wouldn’t get to experience much of the culture or food. There are plenty of things to do in Seville so even with a weekend in the city, you will only be skimming the surface of Seville.

If you want to do this itinerary in one day and just see the highlights, I would prioritize seeing the Giralda and Plaza de Espana. If you end up having more time in your day you could add in the Real Alcazar. This would still give you enough time to enjoy tapas and wander the city a bit.

If you are lucky enough to have more than 2 days in Seville, you will have time to explore the neighbourhoods of Seville and enjoy more tapas

Day Trips from Seville

Seville is a great place to base yourself for day trips in Andalusia, especially if you aren’t using a car to travel around. If you have more than two days in Seville, it’s worth exploring some of the beautiful Andalusia region.

There are unique hikes that can be done as day trips, including the historical Caminito del Rey as well as amazing architecture like the Mezquita if you visit Cordoba.

One of my favourite experiences in Spain was seeing Ronda and the other pueblos blancos, this tour takes you to all the top spots.

Where to Stay in Seville

I found that it was quite affordable to stay in a central location in Seville compared to other European cities. Try to be within walking distance to the Cathedral so you don’t have to worry about public transit. Staying in the Triana neighbourhood would also be reasonable as it is a short walk and has many tapas bars and restaurants to choose from.

Splurge on a Boutique Hotel

Las Casas de El Arenal is a 4-star hotel located right in the center of Seville. With breakfast included and gorgeous rooms to stay in, this would be the place to splurge on. It has a lovely rooftop you can lounge on as well as a central courtyard.

Boutique Hotel Palacio Pinello is just 200m from Seville’s Cathedral. It’s also a 4-star hotel set in a 16th- century palace. Rooms here decorated with gorgeous woodwork, high ceilings, and terra cotta floors. One of the best things about this place is on-site parking so you don’t have to worry about finding a parking lot. With rooftop views of the Giralda, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Seville Apartments

I stayed at Apartment La Casa de San Lorenzo and highly recommend it. Quiet location close to grocery stores and just a short walk to the main sights. This huge apartment made for a really comfortable stay at a reasonable price. I loved that it had a washing machine in the kitchen to use.

Another centrally located apartment is Apartamento Siglo XVI. The apartment is located in a beautiful historic building with gorgeous tiling and details and includes a balcony.

Affordable Hotels and Guesthouses

Located very close to the Cathedral, Hotel Patio de las Cruces, is affordable and has a 24 hr desk so you can check in anytime. Close to everything and with a charming courtyard, it looks like a nice place to stay.

Le Petite Paris is a guesthouse that is centrally located in the historic part of Seville, not far from all of the main sights. A great affordable option, this place has private bathrooms and air conditioning.

Where to Eat in Seville

You are spoiled for choice in Seville. There are tons of places to try tapas and other delicious Spanish food while you are visiting Seville. Here’s a list of the places I enjoyed and talk about in more detail in the itinerary below. All of these places have vegetarian options.

Almiranta Tapas Bar – Close to the cathedral so it’s definitely popular for tourists but it serves up yummy tapas including deep-fried asparagus.
Bar el Comercio– Cute Spanish bar famous for its Vermouth and churros.
Amorino Gelato– Chain that serves up delicious gelato shaped like a rose.
Bodego dos de Mayo– Tapas bar recommended by a local and frequented by locals. Great place to have a tapas dinner and sangria.

Seville Itinerary for Two Days

Seville is a great city to start your visit to Spain’s Andalusia region to explore other nearby cities like Granada and Cordoba. It’s also close enough by train or plane that you can add on a visit to Madrid. The capital city has a lot to offer, including great nightlife, with plenty of things to do at night in Madrid.

Day 1: Arrive to Seville

Driving and Parking in Seville

I arrived late to Seville after driving from Ronda through some white villages in Cadiz province for the day. The traffic in Seville is no joke. I was there at 8 pm and it was chaotic and confusing trying to navigate some of the larger streets and roundabouts. It was nice to get into the smaller but no less confusing tiny roads. This is definitely a place where you are going to want to use Google Maps or have an up-to-date GPS.

If parking isn’t included, it’s also good to plan out the parking garage you will use in advance. I was too tired to do much more than walk around the neighbourhood and grab some groceries to make up a quick pasta dinner on this day. Make sure to budget for parking as it can add up very quickly, costing up to 30 euros a day to park in lots.

Day 2: Explore the Gorgeous Buildings in Seville

I left some flexibility in my two days in Seville schedule in case of bad weather. It was pouring rain when I woke up so it made for a good day to explore Seville’s historic buildings. Even in the rain, there were lots of people out on the streets and the city had a vibrancy about it.

I don’t know why but I didn’t expect parrots in Seville. The rain let up enough that I could hear them squawking about and it somehow added to the atmosphere of the city.

Real Alcázar of Seville- The Royal Palace

I made a mistake when I visited the Real Alcazar because I didn’t book my ticket in advance. This meant I had to wait in line for an hour while I watched better-prepared tourists go in quickly with their pre-booked tickets. I usually would be all over skipping lines but I wasn’t sure if I would want to go to the Real Alcazar and the Alhambra in Granada. At the last minute I decided that I would enjoy seeing both, and I’m glad I did.

If you are headed to the Real Alcazar, book your ticket in advance here. Note that they have free admission on Mondays. I just bought the regular ticket and skipped out on the Cuarto Real Alto (the High Real Room). If you prefer guided tours, this tour of the Alcazar has priority entrance.

The Real Alcazar is a large palace with a gorgeous Moorish style of columns, vaulted ceilings, and brilliantly scrolled arches. It was my first time seeing the Moorish style of architecture. It was enjoyable to wander around the palace and see all the different courtyards within the building.

While I was there, there was a free exhibit on the importance of tile to Seville. I admit, there is a limit to how interesting I can find tile. Unfortunately, because it was windy and raining, the courtyards and gardens were closed to exploring. The glimpses I caught of the gardens looked like it was very beautiful though.

Enjoy a Tapas Lunch near Seville’s Cathedral

After a morning spent waiting in line and exploring the Real Alcazar, I was starving. Luckily there are lots of restaurants near to the Alcazar and Cathedral.

The nearby Almiranta Tapas Bar is a good place for a tapas lunch. There is a good amount of vegetarian tapas on the menu as well as all the usual offerings. I had a really yummy deep-fried asparagus with chive mayo dip here, I highly recommend it. It was also a good place to try goat cheese which came with different jams and crackers. If you like goat cheese, it’s a good dish. If you’re like me and you just realized that goat cheese is not your thing, not so much.

Seville Cathedral

In the morning, the lineup for the Cathedral was long, it looked like it would easily take an hour. Luckily, after lunch, there was no lineup at all. You can also book online to skip the lines if you know what your schedule is going to be like. You do have to pay to get into the cathedral and the bell tower known as the Giralda.

Seville’s Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. There is no way to prepare you for just how large this place is. The ceiling is 42 m high at its maximum height with massive marble columns that rise up to meet it. This place is going to make you feel small. There’s a lot to wander around here, with smaller chapels off of the main cathedral. It’s easy to spend an hour or longer wandering around this building.

Christopher Columbus is buried in this cathedral and there is a very ornate tomb here. There actually is some debate about whether all of Columbus’ remains are in Seville or if some of the remains are in the Dominican Republic.

The Giralda

After exploring the cathedral, don’t miss the chance to go to the Giralda. The name “giralda” comes from the huge 4 m tall weather vane that sits on top of the tower. The Giralda was built as a minaret for The Great Mosque of Seville that originally occupied this site. It’s one of the best examples of Moorish architecture that remain in Spain today. For me, it is definitely on the must-do list for when you visit Seville.

Unlike many bell towers, this one was built with ramps going all the way to the top. There are multiple windows you can look out of on the way up for views over the city and cathedral. The rooftop of the cathedral has plenty of gargoyles to spot. At the top, it gets a bit crowded with everyone wanting to stand in the windows for photos but the view is gorgeous.

Upon descending from the Giralda, you enter into the courtyard known as Patio de los Naranjos. This gorgeous courtyard full of orange trees is one of the elements that was preserved from the mosque’s layout. It’s a fantastic location to get photos with both the Giralda and cathedral in the background.

Try Some Churros and Wander Seville’s Streets

You can get churros lots of places in Seville. Try Bar el Comercio for a really cute Spanish bar to grab some churros. I also tried some vermouth because time was short and it was on my Spanish food wish list. I will admit that I did not enjoy the churros but it was worth trying and many people love them.

Seville has beautiful streets to wander around so make sure you give yourself some time in your schedule for enjoying aimlessly wandering today and tomorrow. I love how colourful the buildings are and the architectural style of the city.

Day 3: Explore Seville’s Parks

I woke up to absolutely gorgeous weather on my second day in Seville. It meant it was the perfect day to visit Seville’s Plaza de Espana. While gelato may not be the traditional way to start the day, I grabbed one on the walk to the park because I couldn’t resist. Amorino Gelato knows what they are doing when it comes to gelato. Easily the best chocolate gelato I have ever had.

Have a Leisurely Stroll to Triana

I didn’t have much time to explore Seville’s neighbourhoods but I did want to see Triana. It’s located across the river from sights like the cathedral and Real Alcazar. At one time it was known as Seville’s gypsy neighbourhood, now, it’s full of restaurants and bars. If you visit, a stroll along the Calle Betis along the waterfront will give you many options for lunch and views of Seville. You can also find the Triana Market here if you are looking for some fresh fruit or tapas.

After having lunch here, walk along the waterfront on the Seville side of the river towards the Parque de Maria Luisa and Plaza de Espana. Along the walk, you will pass the Torre del Oro, a defensive tower built-in 1220. It is a bit of a long walk but it is enjoyable to walk along the river. If you aren’t up for the walk, you can skip Triana and get a carriage ride from the square outside of the Seville Cathedral.

Plaza de Espana and Maria Luisa Park

Maria Luisa Park is a huge park and there are many trails to wander through here. With multiple extravagant fountains, this park has a lot to discover. You can also find the aquarium and archaeology museum at the far end of the park. The main reason tourists visit here is the Plaza de Espana.

The Plaza de Espana is a large semi-circle square that was originally built for the 1929 World Fair. Now, it acts as offices for government offices. I spent a long time here. With all of the tile elements outside to look at, including bridges, there is a lot to take in. The Provincial Alcoves are tiled images that represent each of the 8 provinces of Spain and depict what is unique about them. It’s basically a photographer’s dream. If you find yourself feeling like the Plaza de Espana looks familiar, it was used in Star Wars Episode 2 to stand in as a city on Naboo.

Later on in the day, there were buskers, including flamenco dancers and a person making huge bubbles in front of the fountain. If you want, you can rent a rowboat and go around the canal that forms a half circle around the plaza.

Grab a Tapas Dinner

After a long day exploring Seville, I wanted a yummy dinner. I hadn’t had much luck finding a place for tapas that I would say locals would also frequent. However, Bodego dos de Mayo was recommended by a local and they had delicious tapas. I had yummy sangria here as well as a Spanish omelette and spinach and chickpeas. This tapas bar is located outside of the main tourist area but is decently close to the Metropol Parasol. Try to get dinner a bit early so you have time to catch the sunset at the Parasol.

Catch the Sunset from the Top of the Metropol Parasol

The Metropol Parasol is one of those things that you are either going to love or hate. Its modern design might feel a little bit out of place with the rest of the city, but it certainly is unique. It claims to be the largest wooden structure in the world. Its other common name is Setas de Seville or Mushrooms of Seville. I find it to look a lot more like a waffle than a parasol or a mushroom.

I recommend checking what time the sunset is and then trying to get to the Metropol Parasol about 45 minutes before that. It is a popular location to watch the sunset from so there was quite a lineup to get in and go up the elevator. You get a great view of the city from the top of the parasol. It also looks really interesting when they turn on the coloured lights at nighttime.

If you have extra time before going up to the top of the Parasol, the ground level does have a museum that shows off Roman and Moorish archaeological finds from when the structure was built. Included in your ticket is a free postcard that you can pick up from the gift shop on your way out. You can find the opening times for the Parasol here.

Seville in Two Days Itinerary

Overall, two days in Seville is enough to see the main sights including the Real Alcazar, Plaza de Espana, and Cathedral and Giralda. There are plenty of things to do in Seville to keep you occupied for at least 48 hours. I loved my time in Seville and could easily see myself returning and spending longer in the city. Despite being a large city, Seville has a very relaxed vibe to it and is the perfect place if you are looking for a European break.

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