How to make the most of 1 day in Seville
Let’s have a look at how to create the very best 1 day in Seville itinerary. With so little time you’re not going to have the chance to really get to know the city but you are going to have time to see the best places and the main attractions. Handily, for people with only a short time to explore, Seville is a fairly small city and most of the tourist attractions are located in the historic center.
Is 1 day enough time to see Seville?
As I said, 1 day isn’t much time to see Seville but it is enough to see the best things the city has to offer.
Ideally, you’d spend longer in Seville, one of Spain’s most beautiful cities, immersing yourself in its rich history, admiring the stunning architecture, and taking a day trip or two to explore more of the region.
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🔆 Seville’s climate and siesta culture should both be taken into account when planning a trip. It is always worth checking the opening hours for the places you want to visit as there is little conformity between attractions or between seasons. Many places will close during the afternoon and then reopen in the evening.
The highlights – what not to miss with 1 day in Seville
1 day itinerary for Seville
☕️ Breakfast
If you only have 1 day to explore Seville, begin with a traditional breakfast of coffee, toast and ham before exploring. You could start in the mercado de Triana for breakfast but my personal opinion is that this adds unnecessary walking / taxi time to your day. Spanish breakfasts are never wildly varied between places and it’s hard to get coffee and toast super wrong so wherever you pick is likely to be just fine.
Plaza de España
📍Begin your sightseeing on Seville’s famous Plaza de España, a gorgeous plaza flanked by a beautiful building (the Naval Museum is here by the way). If you’re lucky you’ll see a free flamenco show as you stroll around, which is great if you don’t have time for an evening performance during your 1 day in Seville.
💃🏻 Read up on the various flamenco options in Seville – I have met people who have opted to spend 1 day in Seville and they choose to spend the evening on the tapas & flamenco tour that I highly recommend.
Maria Luisa Park & Guadalquivir River
From the Plaza de España, walk through the Maria Luisa Park to the Guadalquivir River. Walk along the river until you meet the Torre del Oro (give it a wave as you don’t have time to go up it with just 1 day in Sevilla). Turn right down Calle Santander and meander along the road (watch out for the trams) until you see the Cathedral of Seville, the largest gothic cathedral in the world.
➕ Take a quick detour to check out the awesome Plaza del Cabildo – the title photo for this article.
⚠️ It’s generally a good idea to book your tickets to Seville’s main sites in advance as they are popular and regularly sell out. If you show up on the day you risk either missing out completely or wasting time standing in a long line in the hot sun.
Choose either the Alcazar or the Cathedral
📌 One option is to choose one of these two astounding buildings to visit before lunch and one after lunch. If you’re unlikely to manage both, I vote for the Alcazar. It’s possible to book a guided tour for both but with a limited amount of time, if you want to see both, I suggest going solo.
The Royal Alcázar of Seville, the cathedral and the Archivo de Indias together complete the Seville UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral and the alcazar are the top attractions but the archives are also fabulous if you have time.
What to see in Seville’s Alcazar
📌 The beautiful Alcazar of Seville was originally built by the Moorish rulers of Spain but was adapted and modified by the Catholic Monarchs when they conquered Seville (1248). Today it is considered one of the best examples of Mudéjar (blended Moorish and Christian) architecture in the world.
- Patio de las Doncellas – The Maidens’ Courtyard. This is the main shebang in the Alcazar. Here you’ll find the main courtyard with the reflecting pool, sunken gardens and gorgeous arches. It’ll also likely be full of other people
- Patio de Leviés – fewer people find their way to this patio where there is a less grandiose pool than on the Patio de las Doncellas. I loved it here
- Patio de las Muñecas – Dolls Courtyard. A private courtyard in the palace
- Salon de Embajadores (Ambassadors’ Hall or the Throne Room) – this is the biggest and most impressive room in the whole palace. Don’t forget to look up and see the half-orange dome, referred to as the Mudejar version of the Sistine Chapel.
- Salon de los Tapices – Tapestry Room
- Baños de Doña Maria de Padilla – a striking underground crypt filled with water
- The beautiful gardens, my favourite part of the entire place
Seville insider tip
If you have the opportunity I highly recommend booking the Exclusive Alcazar early access tour from Walks. I did it in July 2024 and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done in Sevilla. Rather than share the gorgeous Alcazar with thousands of other people, I shared it with just the 15 people on my tour.
What to see in Seville’s Cathedral
This is the largest gothic cathedral in the entire world. Much like Córdoba’s famous Mezquita, this cathedral began life as a mosque. It was converted into a cathedral after the Christians took Seville. The cathedral we see today was completed in 1506.
Be sure to check out the side rooms in the cathedral as there are many famous artworks to be spotted including works by Goya and Murrillo.
- Be sure to find Christopher Columbus’ tomb
- Find the Patio de los Naranjos, a garden filled with orange trees. This is particularly special in May when the orange trees are in bloom as the smell is magnificent
- Climb the bell tower, La Giralda, which rises over 100m. From the top of the tower the views across the city are fabulous. And of course, the bell tower was previously the minaret to the mosque. The bell tower, by the way, is not ascended with steps but rather a ramp (it’s still not a walk in the park if you struggle with your knees)
Lunch
Lunch is the main meal of the day in Spain and it’s generally eaten between 2 – 4 pm. Why not pick from the numerous tapas bars in the Jewish Quarter (Barrio Santa Cruz), which is right on your doorstep when you’re done with your morning activity.
MexicoCassie recommendation: walk through the gorgeous Plaza de Cabildo to Bodeguita Antonio Romero for a delicious and well priced tapas lunch.
Focus on: Tapas Bars
If you want to eat like the locals, order a tapa or two for the table, a copa de vino tinto and take your time, relish life in the sun and relax. If you enjoy the food, order more. If you don’t, simply move on to the next tapas restaurant that takes your fancy.
And know that should you wish to order a whole meal of tapas all at once, that’s fine too. You’ll also often see three sizes for plates – tapa (small), 1/2 racion and racion – so you can still order yourself your own meal should you wish to do so.
🍅 To learn about vegetarian tapas options, read on here.
Cathedral or Alcazar or…something else entirely
📌 Realistically, I would plan on visiting either the cathedral or the alcazar if you only have 1 day in Seville unless you’re super determined to exhaust yourself. I have tested this. In July 2024 I deliberately visited the Alcazar, the cathedral and the India archives in one day. It’s possible but it’s also quite the sensory overwhelm.
If you’re not going to try to visit the second big monument, why not slowly meander over to Las Setas through the narrow and winding streets of the old Jewish quarter, enjoying the shops of Seville as you do. There’s plenty to see and buy if you’re interested in souvenirs and ice creams.
➕ The Palacio de las Dueñas is just a little further past Las Setas and is one of my personal favourite places in Seville.
Las Setas (Metropol Parasol)
📌 Enjoy a late afternoon tapa and drink here before ascending to the viewing platform on the top of Europe’s largest wooden structure. My recommendation is always to go after dark as I love the way the structure is lit up. I recommend getting a ticket and going (remember to pick a time slot that works for you when you pre-book).
Top Tip: If you’re interested in the history and archaeology of the city, use any extra time to visit the Roman ruins (the Antequarium) underneath the plaza.
Other evening options
➡️ Flamenco – book a tapas & flamenco tour (7 – 11 pm) to round out your evening with excellent food, traditional dancing and an extremely knowledgeable guide to help you figure it all out.
➡️ Take a fun tapas tour around Triana to learn more about the tapas scene in Seville – a great way to get to know the city’s culture and attitudes to dining.
Where to stay in Seville
Even if you are only staying 1 day in Seville it doesn’t mean you don’t need accommodation in the city. My two absolute favourite hotels in Seville are Hotel Alfonso XIII and Hotel Las Casas de la Judería.
➡️ If these classic and elegant hotels aren’t your style, find something on my interactive map of hotels in Seville.
Why might someone only have 1 day in Seville?
✈️ Maybe you have flights in and out of Seville airport but your actual vacation is elsewhere.
🚗 Are you heading straight off to Málaga, Córdoba, Cádiz or Granada?
🚍 Are you coming on a day trip from somewhere like Malaga Lisbon, Faro or even Gibraltar or Madrid?
When is the best time of year to visit Seville?
🌸 Spring – The climate is delightful at this time of year. The orange trees and the jacaranda trees are in blossom and in my opinion, this is the most perfect time to be in Seville due to the beauty that is these trees. If you enjoy processions and parties then spring is also a good time to visit as you’ll be able to experience the Semana Santa (holy week) parades. Seville’s Feria is also held in spring every year. In 2024 it is set for 14 – 20 April.
☀️ Summer – Truthfully, calling Seville hot is an understatement. During the summer it can feel as if you’re melting if you’re on the streets between 10 am – 10 pm. If you do come in summer, be prepared to take it slower and use my guide to exploring Seville in the summer to help make the most of your time. Many locals leave in summer, and for good reason.
🍁 Autumn – As the days cool down Seville starts to get lively again and you can have a great time exploring this beautiful city. In 2024, Seville’s ‘Noche en Blanco’ will return with free evening activities spread across the city.
🧤 Winter – Winters in Seville are surprisingly damp and cold although if you’re out walking and exploring all day then this really won’t matter too much, Generally, there is very little rain and plenty of sunshine even in the winter.
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