Last updated on November 24th, 2019 at 07:58 pm
Seville is the capital of Andalusia, a southern portion of Spain. Famous for tapas, flamenco, and beautiful Spanish architecture, Seville is not a city to miss. One day in Seville is just enough time to see the main sights and get a taste for this Andalusian treasure. Plan the perfect Seville Itinerary with this guide.
You could spend 2 or 3 days in Seville, however, Seville wasn’t my favorite stop in Andalusia because it was more metropolitan compared to Granada and Cordoba. If you are visiting multiple places in Andalusia, I would opt to spend more time in one of the other cities instead.
The Best Time to Visit Seville
We visited Seville in September and it was still extremely hot. The best time to visit Seville is during the Spring.
Spring is also when several festive events take place in Seville. Holy Week, or Semana Santa de Sevilla, is celebrated the week leading up to Easter. Feria de Abril is two weeks later and involves drinking, dancing, and eating tapas.
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How to get to Seville
We stopped in Seville on our two week road trip through Spain. This is a great way to visit Seville, but if you prefer to fly, there is an airport in Seville.
Another common way to get to Seville is to take a train or drive from Madrid, where there is a larger, international airport. It is a three hour train ride and a five hour drive from Madrid, but often this can be combined with a stop in Cordoba or a larger trip around Andalusia.
Where to Stay
We stayed in an AirBnB which was minimal in terms of style but comfortable and affordable. It included a parking spot, which was nice, but the parking spot was much further from the AirBnB than we expected. Our host was very nice, however, and met us at the parking garage in order to help us get to the apartment. The best part was the gorgeous view from the shared upstairs terrace. It was also centrally located which made walking an easy mode of transportation.
One Day in Seville
El Divino Salvador
Start the day with breakfast near El Salvador Church at one of the cafes. We chose to have croissants and coffee at La Antigua Bodeguita. Sit on the patio so you can gaze at the coral colored Catholic church. The Church of El Salvador opens at 11 am Monday through Saturday (July and August the church opens at 10 am) and at 3 pm on Sundays.
Purchase the Joint ticket for 9 euros each, which will get you access to El Salvador, the Seville Cathedral, and the Giralda (the bell tower of the Seville Cathedral). We got the student discount for only 4 euros each using our Student IDs. Make sure to go to El Salvador first and get your ticket, because the ticket line at the Seville Cathedral will be much longer. Note that this ticket does not include the audio guide.
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Catedral de Sevilla
Since you have already bought your ticket for the Seville Cathedral, go to the front of the line and look for the sign that says “Accesso de discapacitados, tickets ya adquiridos” or access for disabled and tickets already acquired. See hours of the Cathedral here.
When we visited, the Cathedral was very busy. The inside was pretty, but the view of the Cathedral from the bell tower was my favorite part. To get to the top of the bell tower, you must walk up ramps. The tower includes ramps instead of stairs so that horses were able to go up to the bell tower. The bell tower was very crowded as well and it was difficult to walk up the ramps with a line of people. There are windows where you can rest and admire the beautiful views of the city.
Once you have seen the tower, check out the Patio de los Naranjos, or patio of orange trees. I love the view of the cathedral and bell tower through the orange trees.
Barrio Santa Cruz
Very near there is Barrio Santa Cruz, a pretty neighborhood that’s good for wandering, or the Royal Alcazar of Seville, where some game of thrones scenes were filmed. If you have more time, explore these areas. Grab a quick lunch at one of the many tapas bars around this area.
Maria Luisa Park
Next stop, Maria Luisa Park! It was a very hot day in Seville and the park was the perfect place to find some shade a sit for a minute. Admire the structures that were added the the park in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exposition and World’s Fair.
Plaza de España
Walk through the park to Plaza de España, a spectacular site that was also added for the World’s Fair. This is a great place for pictures and you could spend a lot of time here. Make sure you check out the intricate tiles and the pavilions that depict Spain’s provinces.
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Torch Coffee Roasters
Missing home a bit, we visited Torch Coffee Roasters, which was not a typical Spanish café. It reminded me of some of the coffee shops in Denver that I love. I ordered a smoothie, which was amazing on a 100 degree day.
Torre del Ore
The Torre del Ore, or Tower of Gold, sits right on the Guadalquivir River. It is only 3 euros for adults and 1.5 euros for students to visit. This price includes going to the top of the tower and the museum inside. The tower is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 6:45 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 6:45 pm.
I preferred the views from Torre del Oro over those from the bell tower of the Seville Cathedral, if you don’t wish to do both. You can even see the Cathedral from the Torre del Oro.
The Torre del Ore has had many functions. It was used as a prison in the Middle Ages as well as a navy defense system that cut off access to enemy ships. It as been restored several times since it was constructed in the 13th century.
Metropol Parasol
Walk to the Metropol Parasol, also known as Las Setas De Sevilla, the mushrooms of Seville, which is a about 23 minutes away. It is the largest wooden structure in the world and one of the more modern structures in Seville, completed in 2011. The underground level is home to a display of Roman and Moorish remains that were discovered while demolishing the previous structure. The ground floor contains a market and the mushroom top is home to two levels for viewing Seville as well as a restaurant.
Unfortunately, when we visited it was randomly closed or we were unable to find the entrance. It seems to be back open as of now, so we will have to go back. The structure is incredible even from below.
The Metropol Parasol is open 9:30 am – 11:00 pm Sunday through Thursday and 9:30 am – 11:30 pm Friday and Saturday. The entrance is on the underground level near the Antiquarium. The ticket is only 3 euros and includes one drink.
Rest before Dinner
If you are staying at the recommended AirBnB, this is a great time to catch sunset from the terrace. Dinner is late in Spain, usually starting around 8 pm, and often restaurants won’t be open until that time.
Dinner in Seville
For Luke’s birthday I took him out for a swanky multi-course meal at Taberna del Alabardero. They focus on creating authentic Spanish food that is locally sourced and the service is fantastic. This restaurant was almost a bit too fancy for us but the food was great and the experience was one to remember.
For tapas, La Azotea is supposed to be one of the best. There are so many great restaurants in Seville, it is hard to go wrong.
La Terraza de EME
For drinks after dinner I highly recommend going to this rooftop bar. The views of the Cathedral and the Giralda are incredible. The drinks were pretty good as well! I didn’t enjoy the margarita, but I did like the Strawberry Mojito even though it was a little too sweet. Luke ordered the Tex Mex, which he enjoyed.
Well, that wraps up one day in Seville! Obviously, you could spend much more time exploring Seville, but one day was plenty to get a taste of this Andalusian city.
Other Things to do in Seville
- ExploreTriana and visit the Mercado de Triana
- See a Flamenco show
- Visit Casa de Pilatos, the residence of the Dukes of Medinaceli
Day Trips Near Seville
From Seville, much of Andalusia is available to you! Take a day trip to Cordoba, which is only 45 minutes away by train.
Visit Jerez de la Frontera or the Sherry Triangle, which is about an hour away by car. We visited Tio Pepe and did a tour of their facility and a tasting. I had never tried Sherry before and really enjoyed the experience.
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How would you spend one day in Seville? What was your itinerary for Seville?
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