One day in Seville: the perfect itinerary

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The plan at a glance

Book before you go: the Real Alcázar, the cathedral and a flamenco show.

The day, step by step

9:30: Real Alcázar. We’d start at opening time before the groups arrive. Palaces first, gardens last. Don’t miss the Patio de las Doncellas, with its sunken garden and pool, then finish in the gardens, where there is shade. Allow 2 to 2.5 hours. See the Alcázar guide.

12:00: Santa Cruz. Leave by the Patio de Banderas and wander through the lanes: the Callejón del Agua, Plaza de Santa Cruz, Plaza de Doña Elvira. An hour is plenty if you are short of time. See Santa Cruz.

13:30: Lunch. Tapas on Calle Mateos Gago or around Santa Cruz. Bodega Santa Cruz (Las Columnas) is standing room only and always packed, and Casa Román is a traditional bar from the 1930s. A tapa costs about €3–5 in traditional bars. See where to eat in Seville.

15:00: Cathedral and Giralda. We’d climb the Giralda first, then see Columbus’s tomb and the golden altarpiece, and finish in the Patio de los Naranjos, the orange-tree courtyard of the old mosque. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours, and cover your shoulders and knees. See the cathedral guide.

17:00: Plaza de España. Walk through the Jardines de Murillo and past the old tobacco factory. We think the late-afternoon light on the plaza is beautiful. See Plaza de España.

19:30: Flamenco. An intimate show in Santa Cruz or the Centro. Most shows last about an hour and cost about €25–40. We’d book ahead, above all at weekends. See flamenco shows in Seville.

21:00: Dinner and the Setas. Tapas around Plaza de la Alfalfa and Calle Pérez Galdós, then the Setas lit up at night. You can see them from the square for free. The rooftop walkway costs from €16.

What it costs

Add meals (a full tapas dinner costs about €20–35 per person with drinks), and €16 if you go up the Setas. To work out a whole trip, see our trip cost calculator.

What to book, and when

1. The Alcázar first. The first slot of the day is the one to get, and we’d book early in spring. See Alcázar tickets.
2. The cathedral: it isn’t essential, but booking online saves the ticket queue. See cathedral tickets.
3. A flamenco show: seats in the first rows go first.

Would you rather have a guide? The Alcázar and cathedral tour covers both in one morning.

Where to stay

If you can, we recommend staying one night: Seville is at its best in the evening. See where to stay in Seville.

Variations

• Arriving by train or on a cruise: leave bags at your hotel or a left-luggage service and start with the cathedral if you miss the first Alcázar slot.
• In summer: we’d swap the order, with Plaza de España first thing in the morning and the monuments at midday when it’s too hot to be outside.
• On a Sunday: the cathedral opens only from 14:30, so this plan still works. If you want the free Sunday slot from 17:00, go to Plaza de España first.
• If it rains: the Alcázar and the cathedral are the best places to be. Swap Plaza de España for the Casa de Pilatos, which is mostly indoors.
• At Semana Santa or the Feria: processions block the centre at Semana Santa, and the cathedral closes on some days. The Feria needs an afternoon of its own, so we’d drop the flamenco show.
• With kids: replace the cathedral with the Alcázar gardens’ maze and a rowing boat at Plaza de España. See Seville with kids.
• More time? See the 2-day itinerary, or check how many days you need.

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