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The plan at a glance
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Real Alcázar, Santa Cruz | Cathedral and Giralda | Tapas in Santa Cruz, rooftop drink |
| Day 2 | Plaza de España, Parque de María Luisa | Triana and its market | Flamenco show |
| Day 3 | Casa de Pilatos or Palacio de las Dueñas, Setas | Museo de Bellas Artes, shopping | River cruise at sunset, Alameda |
Book before you go: the Alcázar (first slot on day 1), the cathedral, a flamenco show on day 2 and the river cruise on day 3.
Day 1: the Alcázar and the cathedral
9:30: Real Alcázar. The first slot is the quietest. We’d see the palaces first and the gardens last, with time for the Patio de las Doncellas and the Mercury pond. Allow 2 to 3 hours. See the Alcázar guide.
12:00: Santa Cruz. The Callejón del Agua, Plaza de Santa Cruz and Plaza de Doña Elvira. See Santa Cruz.
14:00: Lunch in Santa Cruz or on Calle Mateos Gago, facing the Giralda. Las Teresas is a classic bar with hams hanging from the ceiling.
16:00: Cathedral and Giralda. The late afternoon is usually a good time. Climb the Giralda, then see Columbus’s tomb and the altarpiece, and allow 1.5 to 2 hours. Keep your ticket: it also covers the Iglesia del Salvador, which you can see on day 3. See the cathedral guide.
20:30: Rooftop drink facing the Giralda, then dinner in Santa Cruz. The rooftop at EME Catedral Mercer looks straight at the Giralda.
Day 2: Plaza de España, Triana and flamenco
9:30: Plaza de España and the Parque de María Luisa. Photos, the province alcoves, a boat on the canal. See Plaza de España.
12:00: Torre del Oro and the river walk to the Isabel II bridge, passing the Maestranza bullring on the way.
13:30: Triana. Lunch at the Mercado de Triana, the ceramics shops on Calle Alfarería and San Jorge, the Castillo de San Jorge, then a drink on Calle Betis. See Triana.
Evening: flamenco. See a show, which usually lasts about an hour and costs about €25–40, then have dinner. On a weekend, stay in Triana for a late drink in a flamenco bar. See flamenco shows.
Day 3: palaces, art and the river
10:00: A palace. Casa de Pilatos (tiles, patios and gardens) or the Palacio de las Dueñas (home of the Dukes of Alba). The Casa de Pilatos costs about €12 and the Palacio de las Dueñas about €15. If you have time, we suggest doing both: they are 15 minutes apart.
12:00: Setas de Sevilla. The rooftop walkway is quieter at midday, and the Antiquarium below shows Roman Seville. See Setas de Sevilla.
13:30: Lunch in the Alfalfa or around the Setas. Coffee in Plaza del Salvador is a good stop, and your cathedral ticket gets you into the Iglesia del Salvador. North of the Setas, El Rinconcillo claims to be the oldest bar in Seville, from 1670.
16:00: Museo de Bellas Artes for Murillo and Zurbarán, or shopping on Calle Sierpes, Tetuán and Cuna.
19:00: River cruise at sunset. A one-hour river cruise costs about €18, and a sunset cruise about €25–40. See boat tours in Seville.
21:00: Alameda de Hércules for dinner and drinks with the locals.
What it costs
| Item | Price per person (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Real Alcázar | €15.50 |
| Cathedral and Giralda | €13 |
| Flamenco show | €25–40 |
| Casa de Pilatos | €12 |
| Setas de Sevilla | from €16 |
| River cruise | €18–40 |
| Plaza de España, Santa Cruz and Triana | Free |
| Sights, show and cruise | about €100–137 |
Add meals, and about €15 for the Palacio de las Dueñas if you see both palaces. A full tapas dinner costs about €20–35 per person with drinks.
What to book, and when
- The Alcázar first. Book the first slot on day 1 as soon as you know your dates. See Alcázar tickets.
- Flamenco on day 2. Small venues and weekends sell out first. See flamenco shows in Seville.
- The sunset cruise on day 3. See boat tours in Seville.
- The cathedral and the Setas. Booking online saves the queue. See cathedral tickets and Setas de Sevilla.
If you need to change the order
- Arriving late on day 1: swap days 1 and 3, and keep the Alcázar for a morning.
- On a Sunday: the cathedral opens only from 14:30, so this plan still works. According to local guides, the Mercado de Triana’s stalls close on Sundays and its bars keep shorter hours, so we’d keep Triana for another day.
- On a Monday: the Alcázar and the cathedral are open, but some museums close, so check the Museo de Bellas Artes and the Antiquarium before you go.
Where to stay
We’d choose Santa Cruz, the Centro or the Arenal, so you can walk everywhere and rest in the afternoon. In summer, we recommend a hotel with a pool. See where to stay in Seville.
Variations
- Swap day 3 for a day trip to Córdoba (45 minutes by high-speed train) or Cádiz. See day trips from Seville.
- In summer: we’d sightsee before 12:00 and after 19:00, and swap outdoor visits in the afternoon for museums or a siesta.
- During Semana Santa: processions block the centre. Plan to cross the city on foot along the edges, and expect the cathedral to close to visitors on some days.
- With kids: add the Isla Mágica theme park (spring to autumn) or the Casa de la Ciencia science museum. See Seville with kids.
- Short on time? See the 2-day itinerary. Still deciding? See how many days in Seville.
Work out your own total with our Andalusia trip cost calculator.
FAQ
Is 3 days in Seville too much?
No. We think three days is the ideal length for a first visit: enough for all the highlights without rushing, with time for long lunches and late evenings.
What is the best order to visit Seville’s sights?
We’d start with the Alcázar at opening time on day 1, when you are fresh and it is quiet, then the cathedral in the afternoon. We’d keep Plaza de España for a morning or late afternoon, when the light is best.
Should I spend 3 days in Seville or add a day trip?
For a first visit, we recommend three days in the city. If you have four days, add Córdoba.
How much do 3 days in Seville cost?
The sights, a flamenco show and a river cruise come to about €100–137 per person, plus food and your hotel. See our trip cost calculator.
Where should I stay for 3 days in Seville?
We’d choose Santa Cruz, the Centro or the Arenal, to walk everywhere. See hotels in the city centre and where to stay in Seville.
What can I do on a day trip from Seville?
Córdoba is the easiest, at about 45 minutes by high-speed train. Cádiz and Ronda are good too. See day trips from Seville.