Seville was our first stop on our 2-week Andalusia road trip in March 2024. We spent two full days here (three nights). While this was enough to see the main sights, we absolutely loved Seville and wished we had longer.
We’d recommend four or five nights if you really want to be able to explore past the highlights. We will include a list of extra things to do at the end of the post that we didn’t get to see/do due to our short stay. There are several day trips that are possible from Seville, especially if you’re using it as a base and won’t be exploring Andalusia further. We will include these options at the end of our post.
There is a map of all our suggestions at the end of this post. If you want to check out where we ate during our 2 days, our gluten free in Andalusia guide is here.
In this guide you will find:
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When is the best time to visit Seville?
We travelled to Seville in the middle of March and had great weather. It was quite cool at night, but beautiful and sunny during the day with temperatures of about 22 degrees Celsius. We have friends who have travelled there in September and October with similarly wonderful weather. Most travel websites will say to visit in May, June, or September for great weather. These months are considered high tourist season.
If you want to avoid as many touristy crowds as possible, February to March and October to November are recommended. However, there is a higher chance of rain and cooler nights, so make sure to dress accordingly.
The summer (July and August) can be hot (think 38 degrees Celsius). Seville is hot and dry, which means many will leave the city to head for the coastline, making the city rather empty. If you come prepared for the heat, the summer isn’t a terrible time to visit as it is considered low season.
In the winter, you can expect milder temperatures that usual (10 to 16 degrees Celsius). Seville still doesn’t get many rainy days during the winter. Winter is also considered low season, except for major holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s.
Where to stay?
We stayed at Hotel Fernando III, which we enjoyed and would overall recommend. It has a wonderful rooftop bar and rooftop pool, is walkable to main attractions, and has large, newly renovated rooms. One warning is that some rooms are noisy with windows open due to the street below. Our hotel was just outside the Barrio Santa Cruz neighbourhood.
We have family that stayed at the H10 Casa de la Plata and highly recommended it. This hotel is in the Centro neighbourhood.
Explore Seville hotel availability below:
For a guide on different neighbourhoods in Seville and which types of travellers they are suited for, check out this site.
Neighbourhoods to Explore
1. El Centro
Considered the “heart of Seville”, Centro is also considered Seville’s “old town”. Also known as “Casco Antiguo”, this is the historic center with tons of boutique hotels, cool shops, and bustling restaurants. Some argue that the cathedral is included in El Centro, while others say the cathedral is part of the Santa Cruz neighbourhood (which we cover next).
2. Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is still in the historic portion of the city and was once the Jewish Quarter. It is home to Seville’s famous Real Alcazar, and some say also the cathedral. Santa Cruz is a colourful neighbourhood filled with tapa bars, colourful tiles, and streets lined with orange trees.
3. El Arenal
El Arenal follows the river on the east side and includes the Torre del Oro. Also considered part of the old town, El Arenal is a great neighbourhood for beautiful upscale hotels and restaurants. It was very busy when we walked through, which contributed to the liveliness of the area.
4. Alfalfa
A bit further removed from the old town and historic areas; Alfalfa is where you want to go to experience Seville like a local. There are tons of tapa bars that will be full of locals and are unlikely to have English on their menus. We only walked through the edge of this neighbourhood but would love to explore further during a future visit.
5. Triana
A more local area, Triana is on the opposite side of the river to many of the tourist sites you’ll likely spend time at. It is often recommended in accommodation guides as being the best neighbourhood to stay in for “local vibes”. We only walked through the very edge of the neighbourhood that borders the river but would love to explore more if we visit again in the future.
Things to Do in Seville
1. Plaza de Espana
Absolutely stunning plaza with colourful tiles and a fountain. You can watch flamenco dancers here as well. We went twice – once during the day and once at night when it was all lit up. We thought it was stunning at night and there was no one there, so we highly recommend the additional visit if you have the time. You can watch flamenco dancers here too!
2. Royal Alcazar of Seville
Stunning palace with many intricate details and a massive garden. We spent about 4 hours here. Some people have had bad luck with having the gardens be closed, which would probably reduce your time to 2 hours. Even if you have tickets in advance, you will still need to line up to get in. We would suggest you arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time.
Buy tickets ahead of time and arrive about 30 minutes before your entry time to line up. We bought tickets the day before and were fine (off-season though). You can also combine the Alcazar with the Seville Cathedral into one large tour.
3. Catedral de Sevilla
We really enjoyed the cathedral and think it’s a must while in Seville. Go up the La Giralda tower for fantastic views of the city. The tower is a bit of a trek up, but we saw people of all ages and sizes doing the climb. We found the audio guide a little overwhelming and preferred just reading the plaques throughout the venue.
Buy tickets ahead of time – you’ll be given a specific entry time. You can also combine the Alcazar with the Seville Cathedral into one large tour.
4. Setas de Sevilla
Known as the “mushrooms of Seville”, these are in the heart of the city. Go at night to see it lit up with changing colours. We imagine sunset would also be phenomenal if you’re doing the rooftop walk!
There is a museum, and you can get tickets to walk on the roof.
5. Torre del Oro
Historic tower along the waterfront. Many walking tours start here. Use as a starting point to walk along the river.
6. Puente de Triana
One of the main bridges across the river. Beautiful spot to watch the sunset.
For a more detailed breakdown of these and additional options, see our full list of things to do in Seville.
Extra Things to Do
Here are other things you can do that we didn’t get a chance to. Click on the item to explore tickets and booking options.
- Parque de Maria Luisa (free)
- Casa de Pilatos
- Casa de Salinas
- Take a food tour
- Palace of the Countess of Lebrija
- Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballeria de Sevilla (the bull ring)
- Flamenco Dance Museum
- Palacio de las Duenas
- See a Flamenco show
MAP of Things to Do in Seville
HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the Wanderlog logo in the bottom right corner to open the full-size map up in a new tab. There, you can choose to just look at one type of activity at a time or see all the activities on the map at once (click the 3 squares in the top right to choose). You can also export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.
Day Trips from Seville
We did not take any day trips from Seville, as we were exploring Andalusia for 2 weeks by car. We visited Cordoba and Cadiz, but not the other places on this list.
- Cordoba, for the Mosque-Cathedral and patios (1.5hrs drive or 42min train)
- Cadiz, to experience one of Europe’s oldest cities (1hr 20min drive or 1hr 45min train)
- Jerez de la Frontera, for sherry and Andalusian horses (1hr 10min drive or 1hr train)
- Carmona, for a palace and history (30min drive or 40min train)
- El Caminito del Rey, for a hike along gorges and boardwalks (2hrs drive or longer)
- Italica, for archaeological Roman Empire excavations (30min drive or 50min train)
If you’re hesitant to navigate a day trip on your own, there are lots of highly rated ones from sites like Get Your Guide and Trip Advisor.
Travel Tools We Use
We rely on these tools when planning our trips:
- Get Your Guide – skip-the-line or timed entry tickets to attractions such as the Alcazar, Setas de Sevilla, and the Cathedral of Seville
- Airalo eSIM – get Spanish data instantly on arrival, without roaming charges
- Stay22 – compare hotels across Seville at a glance
- Wanderlog – keep track of your trip details, organize your itinerary, and map out your stops
