Planning a trip to Spain and wondering how many days in Seville will make for the perfect trip? Discover how many days you need!
If this is your first trip to Spain, including Seville on your itinerary is not only a wise decision but a must in my opinion. This city is a great way to get your feet wet in the Spanish culture without feeling overwhelmed.
Seville is entirely walkable as the city center is compact, there are spectacular sights to visit, and the tapas scene is scrumptious. It’s more manageable than bigger tourist cities like Madrid and Barcelona and it offers a more authentic vibe where you feel like you’ve traveled back in time.
How many days in Seville are enough?
The answer depends on a handful of factors:
- What type of traveler are?
- What style of trip are you looking for?
- What is your overall budget?
Coming to a decision on the length of your stay depends on how much you want to fit into each day.
Are you happy to be constantly on the go, with every minute filled with activities? Then two days would be enough to see most of its highlights and give you a chance to fall in love with the city!
However, if a relaxed pace is more your style, then plan for a three or four-night break. This will give you a chance to see everything you want to, with some extra time to spend at your favorite spots.
Bare minimum time in Seville
With only one day to visit Seville, you’ll have to make choices because there is not time for everything!
If you’re joining an organized day tour all the planning will most likely be done for you. If you prefer to do it on your own, you must plan in advance because you’ll be fitting a lot in a very short timeline. Buying tickets the day of is just not an option as you’ll risk precious hours waiting in line and having to forgo other sights.
If you’re short on time and just want to see the highlights of Seville and say you’ve been there, done that, then two days will be sufficient. This time will allow you enough time to feel like you saw all the musts and then move on to the next stop. But… those two days will be very busy.
Discover the best of Seville
Spend three days for the perfect mix of sightseeing and slowing down to really enjoy the culture.
I believe it’s a perfect amount of time to see everything.
By giving yourself three days in Seville there is no need to rush any one thing. Some things you will stay at for hours and other things not so long.
To make the most of your time I recommend booking a guided tour or skip the line tickets in advance for the major attractions. That way, you’ll also have plenty of time to wander through local barrios (neighborhoods) delving into local living.
Alternatively, you can enjoy guided or solo walks, a bike tours or even an authentic Spanish cooking class!
Explore off the beaten track
If you’ve learned to love the art and pleasure of slow travel, four to five days in Seville will feel as time well spent. Pick two attractions a day, and then save the rest of your time for shopping the boutiques, enjoying multiple coffee stops, leisurely meals, walks along the river, and time to relax at Parque de María Luisa.
You’ll have enough time to explore every neighborhood, corner, and street of Seville and even wander into some lesser-known areas.
Here are just a few ideas…
- Skip taking in the views from the Giralda for Las Setas, a waffle cone-like viewing deck that boasts being the largest wooden structure in the world.
- Switch a visit to the Plaza de Toros and go for a football stadium tour. Whether or not you’re into the bullfights, you can visit the building and its small museum, though if you’re looking for real passion, get to know how fans support either Sevilla Fútbol Club or Real Betis Balompié.
- Get lost around Triana’s narrow alleys and forget about the Barrio de Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is lovely and has a few great taverns and historic sites surrounded by souvenir shops and (too many) overpriced eateries, but if you’re looking for a more authentic Sevilla, cross the bridge to Triana.
- Head to La Macarena district, a little-visited corner of Seville, for a glimpse of an older Spain. This is a working class barrio, located on the northern edge of the city’s historical center that has a very definite air and life of its own.
Day trips from Seville
Alternatively, you can spend part of your time in Seville using the city as a great base for some of the best day getaways in Spain. From the narrow cobblestone alleys of Carmona, to the impressive Mosque in Córdoba or the best preserved sherry wineries in Jerez, all these small towns and much more awaits for you.
The best thing about the Seville day trips is that all of them can be visited within a relatively short journey from the city. All these trips can be done on public transportation so there is no need to worry about renting a car and parking around.