Last Updated on 17/03/2026 by Ting Dalton
A trip to Seville had been on my travel wish list for years – and it did not disappoint. The architecture, the tapas scene, the sherry, the flamenco… it was the perfect city for a weekend break. If you’re planning to spend a long weekend in Seville, this 3-day itinerary should be a great starting point.
It includes all the headline sights, like the cathedral, the Alcazar Palace and the beautiful Plaza de Espana. But there’s also plenty of time for just walking around, stopping for a vino de naranja (orange wine – incredibly sweet but delicious) and popping into tapas bars for a plate of jamon iberico or espinacas con garbanzos (spinach with chickpeas) – I found these were some of my favourite things to do in Seville.
Day 1
Order churros at Bar El Comercio
If breakfast isn’t included at your hotel in Seville, do as the locals do on your first day and make a beeline for a bar serving churros con chocolate. Head for Bar El Comercio on Calle Lineros. It’s been going since the early 1900s and is something of an institution in Seville. It’s busy – and touristy – but after you’ve squeezed yourself through the narrow bar and onto a marble-topped table in the back, with a plate of crispy churros and a cup of melted chocolate in front of you, you won’t care a bit.
Discover Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador
Handily, Bar El Comercio is just a couple of minutes’ walk from your first sightseeing stop of the day: Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador. This huge church was something of a surprise for me on my visit to Seville – I’d only really gone as we’d heard that you could buy joint tickets here that included the cathedral, saving time on queuing at the cathedral itself.
The history is amazing, as the church was built on the site of a Roman basilica and Moorish mosque – it’s been a centre of spirituality and faith for Seville for centuries. There’s a really interesting exhibition in the basement of the church that details its long history, which is well worth seeing. The cathedral itself is dripping in gold baroque décor, icons and murals – quite different from the interior of the cathedral, which you’ll be heading off to next.
Climb the tower at Seville Cathedral
When you buy your combined ticket at the Iglesia del Salvador, you’ll be asked to choose a time slot for the cathedral. I found that 45 minutes was plenty of time to see the church and the exhibition, and the walk between the two took around 10 minutes, so you’d want to give yourself enough time – at least an hour – before your chosen time slot (longer if you think you’ll want to shop on the way – there are some lovely boutiques along the route, I bought some beautiful patterned fans and a couple of sets of castanets to take home for the kids).
When you reach the cathedral, check to be sure you’re joining the right queue. From the signs, I was sure I would be joining the huge line snaking around the courtyard, but after a quick check with the guard, I was waved straight through to security. You can buy an audio guide on your way in, or there are basic maps with details of what’s where inside (it’s huge – one of the biggest cathedrals in the world).
Once you’ve toured the interior and gawped at the incredible frescoes, artworks, carvings and statues, make your way to La Giralda, the bell tower. Climb up here and you’ll enjoy 360-degree views over the city.
It’s 100-odd metres high, but I found it a much easier climb than others as there are ramps, rather than stairs, to go up. The ramps are fairly wide, so there’s not that claustrophobic feeling you sometimes get in those teeny staircases, and you don’t have to worry about feet slipping off narrow steps as you’re going up/down.
There are lots of little window alcoves you can stop at on the way up – even if you don’t need the break, I’d recommend checking them out as I loved the close-up views of some of the cathedral’s Gothic architectural details.
Try tapas in Barrio Santa Cruz
Once the cathedral’s ticked off your list, it’s time for lunch – and luckily, you’re right by the Barrio Santa Cruz, where you’ll find endless tapas bars and restaurants. There are so many lovely spots to try, but one great place I found was Las Teresas, tucked down a little side street. Hams were hanging everywhere, faded Feria posters, and gorgeous Andalucian tiles decorating cosy alcoves. It was the perfect place to hole up during the rain and work my way through the tapas (and sherry) selection. I had some of the best tapas of the whole trip here.
Barrio Santa Cruz is such a nice place to aimlessly wander, so I’d recommend spending the rest of the afternoon exploring its cobbled streets and squares topped with tinkling fountains. If you’re after a few gifts to take home, look out for Orange Tree Sevilla, where you’ll find everything from orange-scented soaps and orange-infused booze to vintage-style postcards and tote bags featuring (you guessed it), oranges.
Enjoy the passion of flamenco
In the evening, book yourself a seat for a flamenco show. Having seen a couple of other flamenco shows in Spain, I’d have to say that the one I saw in Seville, at Casa de la Memoria, was by far the best. The passion, the intensity, the incredible speed at which the dancers were stamping and clapping and spinning – it was brilliant. Cameras and phones weren’t allowed during the show (the performers returned to the stage at the end of the show to allow people to take photos), which was wonderful as it meant everyone was 100% focused on the drama of the show.
Day 2Â
Appreciate the glorious Royal Alcázar
Begin your second day at the Real Alcázar, a royal palace (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) surrounded by lush, perfectly planted gardens. This is one of the best things to do in Seville, so I cannot stress this enough: book tickets in advance (or show up early). I didn’t, and ended up rocking up at lunchtime on my last day only to find that tickets had completely sold out. (Small consolation was that I had managed to snag a ticket for the light show the night before, so at least I’d seen the gardens…)
Had I made it into the palace, I would have seen incredible Mudejar architecture, serene courtyards, intricately carved arches, artwork, tapestries… suffice to say, it’s #1 on my list of things to see in Seville on my next visit.
Take in the views from a rooftop bar
You’ll likely need a good couple of hours to properly see the Alcazar and gardens, so take it easy after lunch and find yourself a spot at one of Seville’s rooftop bars. There are tons to choose from, but my personal favourite was La Terraza del EME, at the top of the EME Catedral Mercer. It sits right opposite the cathedral, so you get beautiful views of the stonework and arches (and the prices actually weren’t that bad, considering the location – €7 for a glass of wine). Order a glass of something chilled, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the views.
Watch the light show at the Metropol Parasol (Las Setas de Sevilla)
For more city views in the evening, make for the Metropol Parasol. The largest wooden structure in the world, it fills the Plaza de la Encarnación and has been nicknamed Las Setas (The Mushrooms) by locals for its quirky appearance. Buy a timed ticket (€16) and take the lift up to the winding walkway for wonderful views over Seville.
I went up for sunset, but I actually wouldn’t recommend it (and not just because it clouded over for the big moment). The walkways get super-busy with people all hanging around waiting for the Aurora light show to start, and it can be hard to even see past the throngs of people are certain points along the way. Wait until later and you’ll have a much less crowded experience – as well as being able to enjoy the city lights and the changing colours projected onto Las Setas.
There are plenty of restaurants around this area, so lots of choice for dinner once you’ve done Las Setas. You’re also close to the Alameda neighbourhood, where you’ll find stacks of restaurants and bars.
Day 3
Boat around Plaza de Espana
The final day of our 3-day Seville itinerary kicks off in the beautiful Plaza de España. Built in the late 1920s for the Ibero-American Exposition, it was designed to celebrate the culture and history of Spain. Look for the little alcoves lining the curved sides of the plaza. Each one represents a different city or province of Spain, with ornate tiles depicting local landmarks or legends. Entry is currently free, though the city council has proposed introducing a tourist fee in the future.
Four bridges criss-cross the canal that winds around the plaza (representing the four ancient kingdoms of Spain: Aragon, Castille, Leon and Navarre) – head up onto them for the requisite selfie, then head to the boat rental kiosk and hire out a rowing boat (€6) to float underneath them.
Stroll through Maria Luisa Parque
Next door to the Plaza de España is Parque de MarÃa Luisa. Give yourself an hour or so to aimlessly wander its winding paths, shaded by palms and orange trees (the smell in early springtime, when the blossom is out, is heavenly). Continue your walk out of the park and over to the riverbank, where a wide path leads you along to Puente de Isabel II, the ornate 19th-century bridge that links Seville’s historic centre with the lovely neighbourhood of Triana.
As you walk, you’ll enjoy fantastic river views, plus you’ll pass by the Torre del Oro, once part of Seville’s Moorish city walls. If you want to book a river cruise for later, this is one of the best places – there are lots of different kiosks along the route.
Graze at Mercado de Triana
Cross over the bridge and make for the Mercado de Triana. This bustling local market is the perfect place to pause for lunch – there are countless stalls serving all sorts of tasty dishes. Graze on delicious tapas, cones of Iberian ham, saffron-spiked paella… and, of course, wash it down with a glass of wine or two.
Shop for ceramics
Triana is Seville’s ceramics heartland (you’ll notice that every stall in the market has its name and number painted onto beautiful ceramic tiles) so, if you’ve not booked a cruise along the Guadalquivir River, have a browse of some of the lovely workshops in the area. Some are big, some are tiny studios where you can watch the artist at work – it’s wonderful to see how they paint such beautiful designs freehand. There’s a little museum, too, if you’re interested in learning more about the history and production of ceramics in Seville.
Dine beside the river
If you want to dine in style for your final evening in Seville, book a table on the terrace at MariaTrifulca, right on the riverside next to the Triana Bridge. Pricey, but the setting and atmosphere are fantastic (and, if you’re visiting Seville in the summer, you’ll appreciate the riverside breeze). If you fancy going back into the heart of Seville, Ting highly recommends Casa Manolo Leon in Alameda, where you’ll dine on traditional Andalucian food in a beautiful courtyard garden.
What to see in Seville in 2 days
We’ve focused on a 3-day Seville itinerary here, but if you’ve not got as much time, you can easily condense this itinerary (I actually only spent two days in the city, so it’s definitely doable!). It’s a little more full-on, but you can always choose to skip a sight or two in favour of spending more time eating, drinking and relaxing. Here’s a quick overview of how you could organise a weekend in Seville:
Seville itinerary: 2 days
Day 1
Morning: Plaza de España & MarÃa Luisa Parque
Afternoon: Walk along the river to Triana for lunch at the market and ceramics shopping
Evening: Flamenco
Day 2
Morning: Iglesia del Salvador & Cathedral
Afternoon: Real Alcázar
Evening: Metropol Parasol
If you’ve got longer…
If you’re lucky enough to have a week in Seville, there are some wonderful day trips that’d be great to do. You could take the train to Cordoba (45 minutes) to discover its World Heritage old town and grand mosque-cathedral (the Mezquita de Cordoba) or visit the sherry bodegas of Jerez de la Frontera (around an hour by train). And if you’d rather stay in the city, you could tour the Museum of Fine Arts, do a bit of shopping, take a boat trip along the river, go to the aquarium… There are countless brilliant things to do.