4 Days in Seville: A Well-Planned Slow Itinerary

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Last updated on October 5th, 2024 at 01:03 pm

If you think that 4 days in Seville is too much when most travellers spend just one or, maybe, two days in the sunny capital of Andalusia, think again.

With so many amazing things to do in Seville and taking into account the city’s wonderful weather and unique authentic vibes, it would be a shame to spend anything less than 4 days in Seville. Not to mention that the slower you travel, the more immersive for you and beneficial for locals your experience becomes.

In this article, you’ll find the best 4-day Seville itinerary, alongside all the practical information you need to plan the perfect escape to this sunny destination in southern Spain.

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Where Is Seville?

Situated in southwestern Spain near the Portuguese border, Seville is the capital and largest city of the Andalusia region. The city stretches along the eastern bank of the Guadalquivir River. Its compact Old Town is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Royal Alcazar of Seville, the Cathedral of Seville and the Archivo de Indias.

Is Seville Worth Visiting?

With many layers of rich history echoing across the centuries-old walls of its historic centre, a fantastic climate, a remarkably lively dining and nightlife scene and an unequalled character, Seville is worth adding to your Spain itinerary.

Sustainable Travel Tips For Seville

However, for all the above reasons, Seville is one of the most popular destinations in Spain. Its compact size is disproportionate to the high numbers of annual visitors it receives, a clear indication that Seville faces the risk of being altered by the effects of mass tourism.

Therefore, to enjoy the best this beautiful city has to offer while caring for the well-being of the local population and the protection of the city’s environment and animals, here’s a short list of easy sustainable travel tips to keep in mind during your next trip to Seville.

1. Visit Seville in The Low Season

In the peak season, Seville is flooded with people, resembling a city that can hardly breathe under the burden of mass tourism. To support the local economy when it needs you the most, but also to get to know Seville better and benefit from a more immersive experience, consider visiting Seville in the low season, between November and April.

We have first-hand experience of visiting Spain in the off-season, including Seville and Palma de Mallorca in winter, and we can’t recommend the low season enough.

2. Choose a Hotel Over an Airbnb For Your Stay

Seville is one of several Spanish cities suffering from the consequences of the Airbnb effect on the lives of locals. Therefore, to not contribute to the city’s housing crisis, we recommend staying in a hotel rather than a short-term rental during your Seville trip.

3. Don’t Support Animal-Related Activities

Standing against animal abuse is one of the pillars of sustainable travel. In Seville, you can show your love for animals by not opting for horse-and-carriage tours of the city, which, sadly, seem to be quite popular.

Moreover, Seville and the entire region of Andalusia still hold bullfighting events. To be honest, we find it hard to believe that this blood sport is still legal. Not only that but it’s considered an indisputable part of Spanish culture. However, as travellers, we have the power to show that bullfighting is no longer acceptable by not attending these cruel shows.

Watch Our YouTube Video About The Best Places To Visit in Seville

Travel Resources To Help You Plan Your Trip To Seville

4 Days in Seville: The Best Slow Seville Itinerary

You’ve probably heard that one or two days are enough to check out the best attractions in Seville. Although this might be true, it means you’ll have to rush from one place of interest to the next, missing out on the city’s unparalleled ambience and slow pace. As advocates of slow travel but with a profound understanding of time limitations, we’d recommend spending nothing less than 4 days in Seville.

Seeing Seville in 4 days allows you enough time to delve into the essence of Seville and take your time savouring everything that makes it the wonderful city that it is.

Day 1: Main Seville Sightseeing

Early Access To The Alcazar

Start your first day in Seville with an early-morning visit to one of the most popular historic landmarks in Seville. Initially built in the 11th century by the Moors, the Royal Alcázar of Seville is a fine example of Mudejar architecture. Once you step inside the royal palace, the colourful tiled walls, ornate plasters and enchanting patios will amaze you. The upper floor is still used by the Spanish Royal Family.

After exploring the palace, take a relaxing stroll through the palace’s beautiful gardens. While there, you can see lovely peacocks, get lost in the royal maze and walk along Galeria de Grutesco for breathtaking views of the Real Alcazar.

The Alcazar is undoubtedly worth a visit. But here’s something we learnt the hard way. We’ve visited the Alcazar of Seville on our own a couple of times and it was always unbearably crowded.

The best way to skip the crowds in this usually packed UNESCO World Heritage Site is to join this fantastic guided tour. The latter offers access in the early morning, allowing you to visit the Alcazar one hour before it opens to the general public.

Jewish Quarter

After you visit the Alcazar on this exclusive early-morning tour, it’s time to lazily explore the adjacent Old Jewish Quarter while everyone else is still queuing to enter Seville’s top attractions.

Barrio de Santa Cruz is the city’s Old Town and home to some of the best places to visit in Seville. Start your walk from the breathtaking Patio de Banderas, get lost in the quaint narrow streets and discover well-hidden squares, such as Plaza de Dona Elvira, Plaza de La Alianza and Plaza de Santa Cruz.

The picturesque neighbourhood is dotted with several restaurants and tapas bars for a delicious lunch over a glass of fresh Vino Tinto. One of our favourite tapas bars is the buzzing Santa Cruz Tapas Bar which includes several tasty vegetarian tapas on its menu.

Hospital de Los Venerables

If you have time for just one of the Jewish Quarter attractions, opt for Hospital de Los Venerables. The 17th-century Baroque building used to offer accommodation and healthcare services to priests, the poor and the elderly. The hospital is built around a beautiful central courtyard. Yet, the indisputable highlight is the magnificent on-site chapel, which is adorned with remarkable frescoes.

What’s more, Hospital de Los Venerables houses the Velazquez Art Centre where you can admire some of the greatest artworks of the famous Spanish painter. Buy your tickets online with an audio guide and free cancellation.

Setas de Sevilla

As this is supposed to be a slow Seville itinerary and you already had a busy first half of the day, spend your evening in the most relaxing way at Las Setas de Sevilla – The Mushrooms of Seville. As you’ll see, the monumental construction does resemble a forest of mushrooms.

Built in 2011 on the site of the city’s first food market, part of which is still open on the ground floor, Metropol Parasol – as the structure was initially called – is one of the largest wooden constructions in the world.

You can explore Las Setas de Sevilla by strolling along its terrace walkways, enjoying stunning panoramic views of Seville from the viewing platforms as you go. The best time to visit Setas de Sevilla is during sunset. After it gets dark, stay for the unique Aurora, a light show that will surely amaze you.

Day 2: Seville’s Best – Giralda & Flamenco

Seville Cathedral & Giralda Tower

Start your second day on this Seville 4-day itinerary at what must be the most famous attraction in Seville. Constructed in the 16th century on the site where a mosque once stood, Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. The Cathedral of Seville is an architectural masterpiece, its prominent Gothic style also featuring Moorish elements.

Before you enter the Cathedral, walk around the splendid Patio de Los Naranjos. Inside the Cathedral, some of the top things to marvel at are the Tomb of Christopher Columbus, the Retablo Mayor in the Main Chapel and the Choir.

However, the indisputable highlight is the adjoining Giralda, the mosque’s only surviving minaret. Now turned into a bell tower, the iconic tower is ideal for stunning views of Seville from its viewing terrace.

Don’t get discouraged before climbing to the top as the ascent is easier than it looks. That’s because there are smooth ramps instead of steps, designed to enable people on horseback to climb to the top of the tower back in the day. It takes around 20 minutes to get to the top, including photo stops.

Choose a morning time slot and buy your tickets online. You might still stumble upon a long line but, thankfully, queues move quickly. After spending the whole morning in the busy Seville Cathedral, slow down with a light lunch and get some rest as the evening is going to be promising.

Tapas & Flamenco Tour

One of the best things to do in Seville is to learn about local food and culture by sampling traditional tapas and attending authentic flamenco performances. Some of the finest traditional tapas bars are in the heart of Seville’s Old Town. There, you can pair mouthwatering tapas with a glass of quality wine. Finish off this superb evening with a flamenco show, the renowned traditional music of the Andalusia region.

Better still, you can combine the two and effortlessly avoid tourist traps by joining this exceptional guided tour with a local guide. The tour includes a tapas bar crawl in the Santa Cruz quarter and a pre-booked spot to enjoy an authentic flamenco show.

During our most recent trip to Seville, we joined this specific tour and we can’t recommend it enough for a fascinating evening in the company of a passionate guide and a small group of fellow food and local culture enthusiasts. Of course, this tour can be adapted to accommodate vegetarians.

Day 3: Lesser-Known Seville

Casa de Pilatos

Start your third of 4 days in Seville at a lesser-known attraction in the Old Town. Inhabited to this day, Casa de Pilatos is a 16th-century Andalusian palace renowned for its remarkable blend of Italian Renaissance and Mudejar styles. The extraordinary central courtyard with its fountain will lead you to two charming well-kept gardens and several lavish rooms covered by the most beautiful colourful tiles you’ve ever seen.

Book your tickets with an audio guide and enjoy your visit to Casa de Pilatos, one of Seville’s hidden gems.

Iglesia del Salvador

After visiting Casa de Pilatos, head to the city centre. Within ten minutes, you’ll arrive at Plaza del Salvador, a square dominated by the homonymous church. Step inside and take a few minutes to admire the lavish interior of Iglesia del Salvador, the second most important church after the Cathedral.

Churros Break

You probably had a good breakfast at your hotel but this doesn’t mean you can’t dip some scrumptious churros into a cup of thick chocolate, this quintessentially Spanish habit we could easily adapt to.

A great place to try Churros con Chocolate is the historic Bar El Comercio, a few steps from Iglesia del Salvador. Keep in mind that this place is quite busy and you may have to wait. However, if you’re visiting Seville in the off-season, the wait is seldom long but always worth it.

Hospital de La Caridad

With a full stomach and an inevitable smile on your face, walk around the city centre and head to the Cathedral. A short walk from there, you can visit yet another well-kept secret, hidden in plain sight in the heart of Seville. Founded in the 17th century, Hospital de La Caridad is a Baroque charity hospital still open for the weak and the elderly.

Step inside the hospital and walk through the peaceful inner courtyard to enter the on-site chapel. The ornate chapel is the most interesting part of Hospital de La Caridad as it features opulent sculptures and remarkable paintings.

Torre del Oro

A few minutes’ walk from Hospital de la Caridad, Torre del Oro is your next stop. Soaring over the Guadalquivir riverbank, the 13th-century watchtower was built there to control the area. In the Middle Ages, it was used as a prison. Its name, Tower of Gold, comes from the tiles of gold that used to cover the tower’s exterior.

Nowadays, the emblematic tower houses the Naval Museum and offers stunning views of the river and the city from its rooftop terrace.

Guadalquivir River Cruise

End your third day in Seville with a wonderful cruise on the calm waters of the Guadalquivir River. During this one-hour sightseeing cruise, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of several of Seville’s main attractions from the comfort of an eco-boat. The best time for the cruise is around sunset. However, make sure you book your ticket in advance as this is the most popular time.

Day 4: Tastes of Seville & a Cinematic Ending

Triana Market & Cooking Class

On your final day, it’s time to cross the emblematic Triana Bridge and explore the other side of the river. Before wandering around the neighbourhood, join this morning cooking class, which includes a walking tour of Triana Market and the preparation of three local dishes and one dessert.

The cooking class is vegetarian-friendly, teaching you how to cook salmorejo, spinach with chickpeas and vegetable paella.

Once you’ve explored the flavours of local cuisine, leisurely stroll around the neighbourhood of Triana to discover its history and authentic atmosphere. Triana used to be a separate city in the past, but, now, it’s one of Seville’s neighbourhoods.

Known for its tile and pottery industry, Triana was Seville’s working-class centre. It was also the birthplace of flamenco. Therefore, if you have more than 4 days in Seville, it’s worth catching a second flamenco show, this time in Triana.

Parque de Maria Luisa

Spend your last evening in Seville with a relaxing stroll through the city. Walk past the Old Tobacco Factory, now Seville’s University, and the Murillo Gardens, until you reach the lovely Maria Luisa Park. Parque de María Luisa used to belong to the royal family until the end of the 19th century when it was donated to the public.

Plaza de España

One of the most iconic landmarks is where you’ll be spending the last moments of your 4-day Seville itinerary. Part of the Maria Luisa Park, Plaza de España was constructed for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. The square’s semi-circular shape and western orientation symbolise the strong relationships Spain was aiming at with Portugal and its former colonies in America.

With canals, fountains, ponds and bridges, this masterpiece of architecture is one of the best places to visit in Seville. No wonder it has served as the filming location for several films and TV series, such as the classic Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars and, more recently, Netflix’s Kaos.

Although you can’t explore the interior of the historic buildings, wander around the square, and, if you’re lucky, you might even catch an impromptu flamenco show there. Find the tiled benches representing Spain’s regions, take a boat ride or even explore the park by bicycle. Whatever you do, stick around until it gets dark to witness the gorgeous square dimly lit to perfection.

Where To Stay in Seville

With the majority of the city’s highlights located in the city centre, the best place to stay in Seville is the heart of the city. Old Town and Barrio Santa Cruz are two great options for your accommodation in Seville.

One of the hotels we’ve stayed at in Seville is H10 Hotel Casa de La Plata, a member of the Spanish H10 hotel brand. This 4-star hotel boasts a prime location in the city centre and offers spacious modern rooms for a comfortable stay in Seville.

Best Time To Visit Seville

Apart from its stunning architecture and vibrant life, Seville is also famous for its hot summers – or should we say infamous? Suffice it to say Seville is often dubbed The Frying Pan of Europe. Although we’ve never been to Seville in the summer, coming from Athens in Greece, we know how unbearable summer in a southern European city can be.

High temperatures of nearly 40°C (104°F) along with hordes of tourists are a dissuasive combination for visiting Seville in the summer. If you’re planning your Spain trip in the summer, we’d recommend visiting Nerja, a seaside town in Costa del Sol, instead.

We’ve been to Seville twice. The first time was in April, which is a great time to visit this beautiful city, with nice warm weather just before the high season starts. However, we enjoyed Seville the most on our second time there. That was in December, on our way to enjoy a warm winter road trip in Gran Canaria.

The weather in Seville in December was still warm with a lot of sunshine. There were also a few cloudy days and a bit of rain. There were still crowds but not as big as to make us feel uncomfortable while walking around. What’s more, we loved strolling along Avenida de La Constitucion browsing the Christmas figurines adorning the numerous stalls.

How To Get To Seville

By Air

Seville has an international airport with plenty of domestic and international flights. It’s not connected to all European cities but you can fly to Seville from most capitals. Read our guide on how to book a flight for beginners and find the best deals for your flights to Seville.

Seville airport is a 20-minute drive from the city centre and there’s a frequent bus connection. You can pay for the bus ticket on board with your bank card.

However, the bus is a great option only if you’re travelling light as it doesn’t make any stops in the heart of the Old Town. If your hotel is somewhere in the maze of the historic centre’s narrow alleys, you’ll probably have to walk to reach it. Check out the bus route here to see if your hotel is near a bus stop.

The most hassle-free way to get from the airport to downtown Seville is to book a private transfer with an English-speaking local driver who’ll take you right to your hotel, regardless of the location.

By Train

Spain boasts a vast rail network with regional and high-speed trains run by Renfe, the Spanish state network, or several other private companies.

Seville is among the most popular cities for train travel. It’s well connected to major cities, like Madrid and Barcelona, and the nearby Andalusian cities of Cordoba, Cadiz and Granada. The train is ideal if you want to combine Seville with a few days in Madrid or visit Barcelona on the same trip.

Moreover, if you plan to explore Portugal after your trip to Seville, there is also a train connection to Faro and Lisbon.

The central train station in Seville is the Santa Justa Station which is a 30-minute walk from the city centre. There are also buses from the train station that take you near the Old Town. For train routes and timetables to and from Seville, click here.

By Bus

Similar to the railway, the bus network is also convenient to get to Seville from nearby cities. The Plaza de Armas Bus Station is within walking distance from Seville’s city centre. In some cases, the bus might be slower than the train but it certainly takes you anywhere you want in southern Spain. For bus routes and timetables to and from Seville, click here.

How To Get Around Seville

Seville is a small flat city, very easy to explore on foot. Besides summer, the year-round warm weather in Seville is ideal for a pleasant walk under the sunshine. The only reason to use public transport would be on a rainy day or an unbearably hot day. If you need to use public transport, there is an extensive network that combines metro lines, trams and buses.

With so many charms packed in this compact city, it’s no wonder Seville is often called the Pearl of Andalusia. Spending 4 days in Seville allows you to get to know the city in depth and join the city’s own slow pace, as you lazily take in all of Seville’s beauty under the bright Andalusian sun.

WORDS & IMAGES: Katerina
EDITING: Maria