2 Days in Seville: Best Itinerary for First Time Visitors

Seville is a beautiful city in Andalusia, Spain. Two days in Seville is the perfect amount of time to visit its top attractions but also have time to throw in a few off the beaten path places, explore the historic city center, and dine at several tapas restaurants.

In this guide, we cover how to visit Seville’s top sights, where to stay, where to eat, and much more. Let us take the guesswork out of planning your dream trip to Seville.

About this Seville Itinerary

All of the times in the daily schedules are rough estimates, just to give you an idea about timing throughout the day. Your times may differ, based on queues and how much time you decide to spend at each place. I did my best to anticipate waiting times and visiting times, but on very busy days (or very quiet days) these times can differ.

You will have to do some work in advance by booking a few entrance tickets and restaurant reservations, but this will save you hours of time once in Seville. We’ll let you know how to do this, too.

I do my best to keep the hours of operation and pricing up to date for each attraction, however, these can change at any time. I recommend getting updated hours and pricing for your dates of travel. The link to the official website is provided for each site.

We have tons more information about Seville (and Spain) which you can see in our Spain Travel Guide.

How Many Days Do You Need in Seville?

We recommend spending at least 2 days in Seville (good thing you are looking at this Seville itinerary!). This gives you enough time to see its must-see sights, explore its vibrant food scene, and visit a few historic homes, churches, and neighborhoods.

However, if you only have one day in Seville, you have just enough time to see the highlights and explore the city center. To do this, it will be a busy day, but with proper planning it can be done. We cover exactly how to do this in our One Day in Seville itinerary.

Best Things to Do with 2 Days in Seville

Below is a list of the top places to visit if you have 2 days in Seville. You can see a more detailed list in our Seville Bucket List.

• Plaza de España
• The Royal Alcazar of Seville & the Gardens
• The Seville Cathedral
• Explore the historic city center
• Dine on tapas
• Torre del Oro
• Visit a historic palace (for example, Palacio de las Dueñas)
• See a Flamenco show
• Visit a rooftop bar

Plaza de España

2 Days in Seville Itinerary

There are three main sights to see in Seville: Plaza de España, the Seville Cathedral, and the Royal Alcazar.

Plaza de España is free to visit and open 24 hours, and for us, one of our favorite experiences in Seville. On this itinerary, you will start here, to see it in the morning, with the option to return at the end of day 2, perfect for those who also want to take sunset photos (Plaza de España is gorgeous at sunset).

Both the Seville Cathedral and the Royal Alcazar have an entrance fee. In advance, purchase your tickets for a timed entry slot. For this itinerary, we split these into two different days, to avoid having one gigantic, overwhelming day of sightseeing in Seville.

On both days of this Seville itinerary, you’ll do most of your sightseeing in the morning, with a more leisurely afternoon, where you can go tapas hopping, take a food tour, enjoy the view from a rooftop bar, or photograph Plaza de España at sunset.

Here is a brief overview of each day:

Seville Itinerary Day 1:

• Plaza de España
• The Seville Cathedral
• Torre del Oro
• Collegiate Church of the Divine Savior
• Flamenco show

Seville Itinerary Day 2:

• The Royal Alcazar
• Barrio Santa Cruz
• Visit a historic house
• Setas de Sevilla
• Rooftop bars
• Optional visit to Plaza de España at sunset

Seville Itinerary Day 1

Plaza de España, Seville Cathedral & City Center

Today starts at Plaza de España, a must-see sight, especially to first-timers to Seville. The day continues with a visit to the Seville Cathedral, lunch at a tapas restaurant, and a stroll along the Guadalquivir River to Torre del Oro. In the late afternoon, go shopping, visit a rooftop bar or two, or take a tapas food tour. The day ends with dinner and an optional Flamenco show.

9:30 am: Plaza de España and Plaza de América
10:30 am: Walk to the Seville Cathedral
11:00 am: The Seville Cathedral
12:30 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Torre del Oro & Guadalquivir River
3:30 pm: City center, rooftop bars, tapas food tour
Evening: Dinner and optional Flamenco show

9:30 am: Plaza de España and Plaza de América

Plaza de América (Optional)

Your introduction to Seville starts at the amazing Plaza de España and the nearby Plaza de América. Both are located in or right next to Maria Luisa Park.

Plaza de América | 2 Days in Seville Itinerary

Plaza de América is located at the southern end of the park. This photogenic plaza is lined with three buildings, the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs, the Archaeological Museum, and the Royal Pavilion, all built in different architectural styles.

Visiting Plaza de América is optional, since it is located a far distance from the city center. But if you want to fill your camera’s memory card with lots of beautiful photos of Seville, this is a great place to start.

From Plaza de América, it is a 10-minute walk to Plaza de España.

Plaza de España

Plaza de España is Seville’s most iconic sight. A semicircular complex of buildings, built with a blend of Spanish Baroque Revival, Art Deco, Spanish Renaissance Revival, and Neo-Mudéjar styles, surrounds the centerpiece, the Vicente Traver Fountain.

The thing that really makes this square special are the 52 benches that line the square (the number of these benches ranges from 48 to 52 depending on the source). Each bench is covered with a colorful mosaic of tiles that depicts a different Spanish province.

On a visit here, you can cross the bridges over the moat (these bridges are very popular photography spots), stroll along the square to see the benches and tilework, and climb the steps to the first level for slightly elevated views over the square. You can also rent rowboats and drift along the moat.

Plaza de España is free to visit and open all day.

10:30 am: Walk to the Seville Cathedral

From Plaza de España, it takes about 22 minutes to walk the 1.6 km/1 mile to the entrance of the Royal Alcazar (Puerta del Leon aka the Lion’s Gate). If you leave Plaza de España at 10:30 am, you have plenty of time to do the walk and get in line.

11:00 am: The Seville Cathedral & La Giralda

Why visit the Seville Cathedral?

Not only is it the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, but it is also the final resting place for Christopher Columbus, and you have the opportunity to view the city of Seville from the top of its bell tower.

Seville Cathedral | 2 Days in Seville Itinerary

The Seville Cathedral opens at 11 am Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, it opens at 2:30 pm. If you will be in Seville on a Sunday, follow day 2 of this itinerary on Sunday, to keep today’s timing as it is written in this itinerary.

The Seville Cathedral started off as a mosque, which was completed in 1198. It was later converted into a Christian cathedral and then enlarged to show off Seville’s wealth. It also has the longest nave in Spain.

Tomb of Christopher Columbus

The tomb of Christopher Columbus is located inside of the cathedral, on the main floor. A portion of his remains are located in the tomb (some of his remains may also be in Cuba and other Caribbean islands).

One of the best experiences at the Seville Cathedral is walking up the series of ramps to the top of La Giralda, the bell tower. There are approximately 40 ramps which spiral up the inside of the tower.

From the top of La Giralda, you get the highest view over Seville. However, a mesh covering makes photography difficult, even with a smartphone. For the best photos, stop at the windows along the ramps as you walk up and down the tower (these windows do not have the mesh covering, at least not during our visit in 2024).

Seville Cathdral courtyard and La Giralda

The view from La Giralda | 2 Days in Seville Itinerary

12:30 pm: Lunch

For lunch, our #1 recommendation is Vuela Tapas & Cocktails, which is located very close to the cathedral. We had lunch here and had a fantastic experience (this is one of our favorite restaurants in Seville). I recommend making a reservation in advance.

Another option is Abaceria del Postigo. This tapas bar is located on the same street as Vuela Tapas. We did not dine here but it came highly recommended to us by a local in Seville before our trip to Spain. It is also conveniently located a short walk from the cathedral.

2:00 pm: Torre del Oro

From the restaurants next to the Cathedral, it is a 10-minute walk to Torre del Oro.

This tower sits on the east bank of the Guadalquivir River. Torre del Oro dates back to the early 13th century. Additions were made to the tower in the 14th century and the 18th century, increasing its height. It gets its name because it was once covered in gold-colored tiles.

There are two parts to a visit here. The interior of the tower houses a maritime museum, with exhibits on several floors.

Most people visit the tower for the view, which is nice, but not nearly as good as the view from the Setas de Sevilla or La Giralda. From ground level, you’ll climb 92 steps to the main terrace, where the views are somewhat obstructed by the outer stones of the tower. Climb 12 more steps to a slightly higher terrace and for unobstructed views of the Seville Cathedral and historic city center.

The visit is free although donations (in cash) are greatly appreciated.

The view from Torre del Oro | 2 Days in Seville Itinerary

3:30 pm: City Center of Seville

City Center and the Church of the Divine Savior

Now that it is getting later into the day, the main sightseeing is finished. For the remainder of the day, spend your time exploring the city center of Seville, mainly around the shopping streets of Calle Sierpes and Calle Tetuan.

One more important place you have the option to visit is the Collegiate Church of the Divine Savior (the Church of El Salvador). It is located in the city center and with its Baroque architecture, many visitors find this church to be more beautiful than the Seville Cathedral. The ticket to the Seville Cathedral includes the Church of El Salvador, so it is free to visit today.

Collegiate Church of the Divine Savior

Rooftop Bars in Seville

As it gets later in the day, unwinding with a cocktail, mocktail, or glass of wine at a rooftop bar is also one of our favorite things to do in Seville.

Our favorite is La Terrazza del Hotel Inglaterra, with panoramic views of Seville.

The view from La Terrazza | 2 Days in Seville Itinerary

The Pura Vida at Hotel Los Seises is also very nice. The terrace opens at 4 pm and starting at 7 pm tapas are served. Check hours on the official website.

Pura Vida at Hotel Los Seises | 2 Days in Seville Itinerary

Finally, La Terrazza del EME is just a few steps from the Seville Cathedral and you get a great view of La Giralda. The overall setting and drinks aren’t as good as the two already mentioned, but this makes for a great spot to get a drink in the evening and gaze out at the cathedral.

La Terrazza del EME

Take a Food Tour

If you want to sample tapas at more than one restaurant and learn more about Seville’s vibrant flavors, one of the best ways to do it is on food tour.

This tapas crawl is one of the highest rated food tours in Seville.

More options include a Sangria tasting with rooftop views of Seville, a paella cooking experience, and a sherry wine tasting with views of Seville.

Evening: Dinner & Optional Flamenco Show

In the evening, you can end your time in Seville at dinner with the option to see a flamenco show. If your trip to Spain includes visits to other cities in Andalusia, such as Córdoba or Granada, you also have the option to see a flamenco show in these cities, so keep that in mind when choosing what to do tonight (we chose to see a flamenco show in Córdoba).

For dinner, you can dine at Vuela Tapas & Cocktails or SedeMexico, mentioned earlier for lunch.

We also recommend La Brunilda (we had a wonderful lunch here, dining on creative tapas), El Rinconcillo (the oldest tapas restaurant in Seville), and Fatouch (a Lebanese restaurant…the hummus is amazing).

If you would like to watch a flamenco show, this performance at Casa de la Memoria gets very good reviews, as do the live performances at the Flamenco Museum.

Seville Itinerary Day 2

Royal Alcazar, Barrio de Santa Cruz & Setas de Sevilla

Today’s visit starts off at the Royal Alcazar, another important historical landmark in Seville that is not to be missed. Midday, explore the Barrio de Santa Cruz, have another memorable lunch, visit one of Seville’s historic palaces, and enjoy the view from Setas de Sevilla. The day ends with some leisurely time, dinner, and the option to revisit Plaza de España for sunset photos.

Seville Itinerary Day 2:

9:30 am: Royal Alcazar of Seville
11:30 am: Barrio de Santa Cruz
12:00 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Visit One of Seville’s Historic Palaces
3:30 pm: Setas de Sevilla (Metropol Parasol)
4:30 pm: Free time
Evening: Dinner & Plaza de España at Sunset

9:30 am: Royal Alcazar of Seville

The Royal Alcazar (aka the Real Alcázar) is one of the oldest royal palaces in use in Europe.

The first buildings of this complex date back to the Middle Ages. It was later enlarged, and Mudejar, Gothic, Islamic, and Baroque architectural elements were added to the palace.

This palace has been featured in movies and TV series. Game of Thrones fans will recognize the gardens and some of the palace rooms as the Kingdom of Dorne (in particular, the gardens and the Hall of Ambassadors).

On a visit here, you will see the Hall of Ambassadors (its dome ceiling, intricate tilework, and arches make this one of the most awe-inspiring rooms of the palace; it is located inside the Pedro I Palace), Patio de Banderas, and Patio de Doncellas.

Another highlight are the gardens. We loved the view from the long outdoor corridor with views over the gardens.

The Lion Gate, the entrance into the Royal Alcazar

The gardens of the Royal Alcazar | 2 Days in Seville Itinerary

A visit here lasts anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours, depending on how fast you move and how much of the gardens you choose to explore. On this itinerary, you have a full 2 hours, so there is no need to rush through this experience.

11:30 am: Barrio de Santa Cruz

Barrio de Santa Cruz is a historic neighborhood in Seville. This is where you will find the Jewish Quarter, a maze of very narrow, picturesque streets. It is located just outside of the walls of the Royal Alcazar and extends east, towards Plaza de Santa Cruz.

We found exploring the streets just outside of the Alcazar, namely Calle Juderia, Calle Vida, and Calle Susona very enjoyable and a nice, quick stroll. There are a few tapas restaurants in the area as well as Hospital los Venerables, an art museum.

Another notable spot in this area is Rosina’s Balcony. Legend has it that this balcony inspired the opera The Barber of Seville.

Rosina’s Balcony

12:30 pm: Lunch

We had our best meal in Seville at SedeMéxico. Dine on haute Mexican cuisine, with different flavors of guacamole, soups, ceviche, tacos, mole, and more. I recommend the Nopal Salad (avocado, cheese, and nopal) and the trio of salbutes. The margaritas are pretty good too, but go easy on these as you still have a lot of sightseeing to do (or save this restaurant for dinner). SedeMéxico is conveniently located in Barrio de Santa Cruz.

2:00 pm: Visit One of Seville’s Historic Palaces

There are several historic palaces to visit in Seville. With just 2 days in Seville, it is only worth it to visit one, in our opinion, unless you really like this kind of thing. These palaces are gorgeous and each offer a slightly different experience.

Palacio de las Dueñas was constructed in the 15th century, with a blend of Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance influences. We really enjoyed visiting this palace, even more than the Royal Alcazar, since Palacio de las Dueñas gets far fewer visitors. Visit the official website for hours of operation, ticket prices, and to purchase your tickets in advance.

Palacio de las Duenas | 2 Days in Seville Itinerary

Casa de Pilatos was built with a beautiful blend of Italian Renaissance and Spanish Gothic styles.

The Palace of the Countess of Lebrija is famous for its impressive array of Roman mosaics.

3:30 pm: Setas de Sevilla (Metropol Parasol)

The design of this massive wooden structure was inspired by the vaults of the Seville Cathedral. Since it looks more like mushrooms than a vaulted cathedral, it got the nickname “setas,” which means “mushrooms.”

You can either gaze up at the structure from street level or walk the series of walkways that wind around the top of the setas. To enter, there is a basement level below the Setas de Seville where you can purchase your tickets. An elevator whisks you to the top and here you can walk the elevated walkways. The view is very nice and a visit here lasts about 30 minutes.

Get hours and pricing on the official website.

4:30 pm: Free Time in Seville

Once again, the sightseeing is over for the day, and you have some free time. Similar to day 1, take your pick between rooftop bars, shopping in the city center, or a food tour/cooking class.

Seville city center

Evening: Dinner & Plaza de España at Sunset

This evening, have dinner. Refer to the evening of day 1 for restaurant recommendations.

You also have the option to return to Plaza de España at sunset. We loved being here in the evening, with the colorful skies and fewer crowds. For those into photography, this is not to be missed.

Again, it is a bit of a walk to get here (about 20 minutes) but you can use the metro or take Uber/Bolt to do less walking. To plan your visit, get sunset times here. I recommend arriving 30 to 45 minutes before sunset.

Sunset at Plaza de España | 2 Days in Seville Itinerary

If You Have More than 2 Days in Seville

If you have more than 2 days, you can spend this additional time in the city or use it to day trip to nearby places.

In Seville, visit one or two historic palaces, visit the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville, and visit the Basilica de la Macarena, to see La Virgen de la Esperanza Macarena, one of the most famous processional figures of Seville.

Popular day trip destinations from Seville include Córdoba (about 45-minutes travel time by train), Ronda (about 3 hours one-way by car, so you will spend a lot of time on the road), or walk the Caminito del Rey (one of Spain’s most thrilling walks).

Córdoba, Spain

Best Time to Visit Seville

In the summer, Seville is one of the hottest cities in Europe. Sunshine is abundant, as it is one of the sunniest cities in Europe, and the city gets most of its rainfall in the winter months. Here is an overview of the weather in Seville:

WINTER: Compared with other cities in Europe, the weather in Seville is relatively mild. The average high temperature is 17°C (62°F) with the average low getting down to 6°C (43°F). Winter is the wettest time to visit Seville.

SPRING: Seville rapidly warms up in the spring. In April, expect high temperatures at about 24°C (75°F) and these climb to 33°C (91°F) by June. As summer approaches, rainfall chances diminish.

SUMMER: In the summer, Seville is HOT! The average daily high is 36°C (97°F) but it isn’t at all uncommon for the high temperature to spike up to 40° to 45°C (104 to 115°F). Rainfall is almost nonexistent.

FALL: Fall brings a return to cooler temperatures but also rainfall. September is still rather warm (32°C/89°F) but by November, the temperatures are much cooler (20°C/69°F).

FESTIVALS IN SEVILLE: There are two major festivals to be aware of as you plan your trip to Seville. Semana Santa is the holy week before Easter and it is one of the busiest times of the year to visit Seville. The April Fair spans one week, takes place two weeks after Semana Santa, and marks the start of the bullfighting season. If you prefer to visit Seville with lower crowds, avoid these weeks. If you like the idea of experiencing more of Seville’s culture, then these could be very interesting weeks to plan your trip.

VERDICT: Our visit was in late April (not during a festival week), a gorgeous time to visit Seville. During our three days in Seville, we had sunny skies and very pleasant temperatures, about 24°C/75°F to 26°C/80°F during the day. This is a wonderful time to visit Seville. If you want warm weather, late March into early May and mid-October into November are very nice times to visit Seville, but be aware that you could have a little bit of rain during this time.

How to Get Around Seville

Even though Seville is one of the largest cities in Spain, for visitors, the must-see landmarks, museums, and historical buildings are all located in the relatively small, compact city center. This makes it easy to walk to almost everything in Seville.

To connect places that are farther apart, use the metro, use the tram, or use a ride share app like Uber or Bolt. Plaza de España, which is definitely a must-see in Seville, is one of these outliers. It’s about a 20-minute walk from the city center, so for those who don’t want to do that much walking, the metro is a great option.

Where to Stay in Seville

We stayed at the Radisson Collection Hotel in Magdalena Plaza. It is a 5-star hotel with an outdoor pool and two onsite restaurants (that we never dined in). We picked this hotel because it is located just outside of the city center and located near a parking garage (Tim and I traveled by car through Andalusia). Rooms are modern, spacious, and we had an excellent experience here. It was a long walk to Plaza de España (about a 30-minute walk), so that’s a downside of staying here, but in the evening at the end of this itinerary, you won’t have to walk far to get back to your hotel.

Radisson Collection Hotel

For mid-range travelers, we recommend Puerta Catedral Suites (check out the view of the Seville Cathedral…it’s amazing!), Joya del Casco Boutique Hotel (great location with rooftop views of Seville), and Casa Alhaja (excellent location plus a pool with rooftop views of Seville).

If you are traveling on a budget, we recommend La Banda Rooftop Hostel and Toc Hostel. Both get fantastic review scores and are located in the city center.

A few more notable properties include Hotel Casa Palacio Don Ramón (a 5-star hotel located inside a historic house), Apartamento Living By Cathedral (a great pick for families who want a central location in Seville), and Torre Homenaje Historical Suites (beautifully decorated rooms located next to the Royal Alcazar and Cathedral).

Best Tours of Seville

If you want to visit the Cathedral and Royal Alcazar with an experienced guide, this 2.5 hour is perfect and includes your tickets to both locations. This is a similar tour to consider as well.

Take a small group walking tour through the Jewish Quarter. This walking tour focuses on influential women in Seville’s history and offers a different spin than your typical historical walking tour.

For foodies and those who want to sample tapas at more than one restaurant in Seville, this 3-hour tapas crawl gets rave reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Seville?

Spring and fall are the best times to visit Seville, when the weather is warm. Seville is one of the hottest places to visit in Europe in the summer, so unless you don’t mind scorching temperatures, it’s best to visit this city in the spring and fall. Even winter can be quite nice, with cool temperatures and low crowds.

Our visit was in late April. The average daily high temperature was 24°C/75°F with mostly clear skies during our three days in Seville.

Can you do Seville in one day?

With one day in Seville, visit the Seville Cathedral, enjoy the view from the top of Giralda Tower, tour the amazing Royal Alcazar and gardens, photograph the colorful tiled benches and bridges at Plaza de España, explore Seville’s historic city center, dine in one or two tapas restaurants, and end the day at a flamenco show. We cover exactly how to do this in our One Day in Seville itinerary.

Is Seville worth it?

With its colorful buildings, scenic streets, tree lined squares, and sunny skies, Seville is often labeled as one of the best most beautiful cities in Europe. It’s also a favorite city of many travelers to Spain. Seville is well worth a day or two, even on the busiest of itineraries in Spain.

If you have any questions about how to plan a trip to Seville or how to spend 2 days in Seville, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Spain

SEVILLE: Take a look at our article Best Things to do in Seville for 20 great experiences to have in the city and our One Day in Seville Itinerary for the best way to see the highlights in 24 hours.

CÓRDOBA: Here are the top 10 things to do on a visit to Córdoba, Spain.

GRANADA: Plan your trip to Granada with our article How to Visit Granada, which covers the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay. Our Guide to the Alhambra covers everything you need to know to plan your visit to the Alhambra.

RONDA: In our One Day in Ronda Itinerary, we cover the best things to do in Ronda, with a detailed walking tour of the city.

MADRID: Visit the must-see sights plus a few hidden gems in our article Best Things to Do in Madrid. We also have a detailed itinerary on How to Spend One Day in Madrid.

BARCELONA: Start with our guide to the best things to do in Barcelona. Plan your visit with our 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary, our guide on Where to Stay in Barcelona, and get recommendations on where to eat in Barcelona.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.