Seville Three Day Itinerary: Tapas and Flamenco in Andalusia
Séville is a must on any Spanish itinerary and is the perfect destination for a 3-night European city break.
The city of Seville is alive with history and culture, and as you wander the cobbled streets, you can feel the passion beneath your feet. The home to tapas, flamenco, fiestas, and iconic landmarks, it is sure to impress any visitor with its charm.
Seville is the capital and heritage centre of Andalusia in Southern Spain, which means there are so many unique and epic things to see and do there. From hidden gems like Palacio de las Dueñas and the Church of El Salvador to the must-see tourist spots of Real Alcázar, The Metropol Parasol, and Plaza de España, Seville will have you covered no matter what you like to do on a Spanish city break!
In this 3-night Seville itinerary, I highlight the best things to do in Seville in three days to inspire you to plan a trip to this beautiful Andalusian city.
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Where to stay in Seville
I stayed at the lovely four-star Hotel Becquer and would highly recommend it. The rooftop pool and fabulous views across the city add to its charm and make it a good value for money.
If you want to spend a lot of money, the best hotel in Seville is Hotel Alfonso Xlll. It is a luxury property known throughout Spain, close to Maria Luisa Park.
There are many places to stay in Seville that suit all budgets.
Seville Itinerary For Three Days
Day One - Afternoon
I flew directly from London Gatwick with EasyJet to Seville airport and landed in the early afternoon. This allowed me time to freshen up at my hotel and head straight out to see the sights.
Walk (or kayak) along the Guadalquivir River
Running through the heart of Seville, this waterway is a place to walk, cycle, and get to know the city.
When we arrived in Seville, it was our first stop, and we decided to cross the Puente Isabel II bridge (also called Puente de Triana) to the other side of the river.
The bridge separates the area of Arenal, home to the Plaza de Toros (Bull Ring), and the area of Triana, known for its flamenco and tapas bars, and home to the decorative Seville azulejo tiles seen on buildings around the city.
Crossing the bridge, you will find the famous Triana Food Market on the remains of the Castle of San Jorge. The market is a place to enjoy fresh local cuisine within a bustling environment.
Once across the bridge, take a left and walk past the riverside restaurants and bars. Visitors can enjoy tapas and beer in the outdoor seating area while taking in views of the river.
We continued walking towards the Puente de San Telmo Bridge, which offered fantastic views up and down the river. We noticed how many kayakers were on the water, a favourite Seville waterport.
You could join a kayak tour if you fancy having a go yourself.
I am pretty hopeless at manoeuvring a kayak. I managed to go around in circles in the South China Sea, but that's another story. Or maybe a gentle cruise along the Guadalquivir River is more your style.
Climb Torre Del Oro
On the other side of the river, you will pass the Torre del Oro, the "Tower of Gold." It was once a prison, then a watchtower, and later a chapel. It is open to tourists who want a better view of the river.
Restaurants line the streets and lead you to the Teatro De La Maestranza (Opera House) and the Plaza de Toros (Bull Ring).
Visit the Church of El Salvador
The second-largest church in Seville is the Church of El Salvador.
It was built between 1674 and 1712 on the remains of a former mosque, which had been converted into a Catholic church in 1340.
Its unmissable pink facade stands monumentally proud overlooking the Plaza del Salvador, and its magnificent doors invite you to look inside.
What greets you inside is breathtaking.
Baroque carvings and gilding surround you, forming an elaborate backdrop for the sculptures and paintings that fill the enormous space.
Several religious brotherhoods are connected to this church.
During the Holy Week in Seville, 30 or more men carry large floats, called pasos, depicting Jesus and the Virgin Mary on their backs for 6 to 12 hours as a form of penance for their sins.
Being part of the back-breaking procession is considered an honour, and the position is often handed down through generations of the same family.
Day One - Evening
Book a Tapas Tour
I must admit I am not particularly adventurous when it comes to food, so I thought a tapas tour would be a fantastic introduction to Seville's authentic cuisine and a fun thing to do at night.
Carlos, a local Sevillian, was our guide and took us to three original tapas bars to try their specialities.
He was very knowledgeable and quick to tell us that Seville is famous for tapas, which originated here.
I should tell you that tapas are sold in just about every restaurant in Seville and are one of the most popular foods in Spain. It is tough to know where to eat, so a food tour is an excellent way to find the best tapas in Seville.
Mouthwatering Menus
We sampled braised pork cheeks, spinach with chickpeas, fried fish, cold potatoes, tuna and a dish called ” pringa ”, a sandwich of different meats. It seems that these are firm favourites on most menus.
The tapas were washed down with various beers and wine from Jerez, the town known worldwide for its sherry production.
My favourite was a dark, sweet orange wine, a regional speciality. There are 40,000 orange trees in Seville, so it is no surprise that the fruit is used in winemaking.
We had a lot of fun on our tour and may have come away just a little tipsy and full to bursting with tapas. You can book online for a similar tour of the best tapas in Seville.
Day Two - Morning
Tour Seville Cathedral and Bell Tower
One of the most important landmarks in Seville is the cathedral adjacent to the famous Real Alcazar de Sevilla.
It is the third-largest Gothic church in the world, located in the heart of Barrio Santa Cruz.
A mosque stood on the site in the 12th century, and by the 17th century, additions of Gothic and Baroque architecture had completely changed its appearance and altered its religious standing in Seville.
Buy tickets online to skip the queues before you arrive; otherwise, you will wait a while to enter.
The Giralda bell tower is accessible by stairs and ramps. You will see incredible views over Seville if you climb to the top.
The Tomb of Christopher Columbus
Seville Cathedral was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, and within its walls is the resting place of Christopher Columbus, the renowned explorer.
Other cities claimed to have his remains, but DNA testing proved that the bones inside Seville Cathedral were indeed those of Columbus.
Alcazar Real Seville
The Alcázar Real is located next to the Cathedral and should be on your Seville bucket list.
The mega-organised person inside my head must have been having a day off when she decided to try her luck and turn up without pre-booked Alcazar Seville tickets. They are like gold dust and have to be pre-booked well in advance.
The result of not having pre-booked entry tickets was a disaster. We took our place in the queue that weaved its way from the Alcazar of Seville's entrance, around the corner and to its exit, and after the first hour, we were getting fed up.
Out of the crowd, a seller appeared and offered tickets that would allow us immediate access. As a bonus, she would also give a narrated tour of the interior. She disappeared into the crowd, but like a skilled ninja, with hubby in tow, I stealthily followed her to purchase my tickets.
One problem, unbeknownst to us, was that she had only a limited supply and had just sold the last two!
Not only had we lost our coveted position in the queue, but we would have to rejoin it and wait another 3 hours to reach the ticket desk!
The moral of the alcázar palace ticket story is don't waste valuable time queuing in the scorching Spanish heat when you can buy tickets online for Alcazar Seville before you arrive and waltz straight through the doors and into the Alcazar Real!
Day Two - Afternoon
The Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)
After being disappointed that I did not get tickets to the Real Alcazar, I decided to switch tactics from visiting one of Seville's oldest landmarks to one of the newest.
The contemporary form of the Metropol Parasol, constructed in 2005 in Seville's central area, claims to be the world’s largest wooden structure. It costs millions of euros, but the sky-high walkways give undulating views over Seville and the hills.
The structure is also called Las Setas (meaning “mushrooms” in Spanish) because of the six “mushroom” shapes that support it. They cast shade on the area below, allowing a respite from the blistering midday sun.
On the ground floor, you will find a market alongside coffee shops. On the lower ground is the ticket office and the archaeological remains of the previous buildings that stood here.
The walk will only take a few minutes, but you have to admire the artistry that has gone into this incredible structure, and the views are pretty cool.
Barrio de Santa Cruz
Finish your afternoon with a stroll around Seville's old historic Jewish quarter, a place Jews were banished to after Ferdinand III conquered Seville.
You will find a maze of cobblestoned alleyways, charming courtyards and colourful houses here. If you want to discover the secrets of this part of the city, you can book a guided walking tour of Barrio de Santa Cruz.
Day Two - Evening
Relax in Ancient Spa Baths
After a full day of sightseeing, we were ready for an evening of relaxation. We headed to Aire Ancient Baths, a hidden gem away from the hustle and bustle of Seville's centre.
Along a narrow, unassuming street and behind a large wooden door, Aire Ancient Baths claim that once within its walls, “time does not exist,” and I tend to agree with them.
Candles line the courtyard of this 15th-century palace, and you immediately feel at ease within this exclusive sanctuary. The ambience transports you back to a time when “taking to the waters” was a natural pastime.
Once I had donned my swimsuit and complementary slip-proof water shoes, we descended the candlelit stairs. In the evening, we would try out six experience pools.
Tepid, warm, and cold pools relaxed and invigorated us, and the “thousand streams bath” worked on our circulatory system.
Time Melts Away in Aire Baths
The Laconium, “steam bath’ and the Flotarium, “salt bath”, let us drift away with our thoughts. The salt bath was fabulous.
My body floated around doing its own thing while the soothing Arabic underwater music took me to a faraway land, a time and place when the ritual of a spa bath was part of an ancient civilisation.
At the end of our 90-minute experience, we realised we had been in Aire for nearly three hours. We had been left to relax and enjoy the facilities for well past our 90-minute time slot. I then remembered their motto, “time does not exist”; on this occasion, it certainly had not.
Aire was the perfect way to unwind after a day of Seville sightseeing, and it was one of my favourite experiences.
Day Three - Morning
Real Alcazar - One of the most important things to see in Seville
I had to see the Alcazar on my trip to Seville, so Plan B kicked in.
Up bright and early, we had been told that tickets are held back for daily admissions. We headed into town and joined the walk-up queue for 8.30 am, ready for the ticket sale at 9.30 am.
We were amazed that we were not even near the start of the queue, but our plan worked. After ninety minutes of queuing, we were inside the oldest functioning royal palace in Europe; mission complete!
Through the centuries, the Real Alcazar has served as the seat of power for the conquering civilisations that settled in the Iberian Peninsula.
From the Christian King Pedro I of Castile in 1364, who built the Alcazar (castle), to the current Spanish royal family, who keep apartments on the first floor.
The Islamic architecture of the Real Alcazar, with its stunning use of colourful tiling and intricately carved details, made it clear why it was a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It reminded me of the same decor I had seen in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Imposing interior rooms, courtyards, and stunning gardens made it a dream to wander around, and I wish I could have been there to smell the air when the orange blossom trees come into bloom.
We spent 3 hours in the Alcazar, enjoying the beautiful surroundings, although the formal flower gardens looked quite sparse and, in some areas, were just mud patches.
I can only imagine the hot summer in Seville had left the plants gasping for shade and water. Temperatures can rise to 45 degrees!
No trip to Seville would be complete without a visit here, so make sure you put it on your list of things to do.
Day Three - Afternoon
Wander through Maria Luisa Park
After lunch, we walked to Parque Maria Luisa. It is a large green space with hundreds of trees lining its shady avenues. As you wander around, you will find Moorish fountains and pools home to swans and other birdlife.
Visit Seville's Museums
Several of Seville's finest museums are within the park, including the beautiful Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions and the Archaeological Museum of Seville.
Historic buildings are all located near the entrances to Seville’s impressive museums. We stopped at the small cafe near them for a drink and watched the park visitors go about their daily activities.
The park is a lovely place to walk around before heading to its centrepiece, Plaza de España, designed by the architect Aníbal González, who is responsible for many of Seville's architectural beauties. If walking isn’t for you, then bikes and four-seated buggies can be rented for you to explore on wheels.
The bike hire station is located just before you reach Plaza de España.
Watch the world go by at Plaza de España
The lovely Plaza de España at the end of the Parque de María was built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. It mixes Moorish and Spanish architecture with intricately detailed tiling on every surface.
Horse-drawn carriage rides start and finish here and will take you around the park. You can also take a rowing boat around the small lake beneath the bridges in Plaza de España.
If you arrive at the right time, you may also see local musicians playing flamenco.
Discover Palacio de las Dueñas
I have included Palacio la Duenas as one of the unique things to do in Seville, as it was one of our favourite places to visit.
Home to the current 19th Duke of Alba, eldest son of the Duquesa de Alba, the palace, which is small in stature but timelessly beguiling, is a joy to discover.
Located on a quiet side street in the Macarena district, the Palacio de las Duenas is like the younger sibling of the grand Real Alcazar.
Constructed in the late 15th century with Gothic and Arabic influences, it was once the home of the Duquesa de Alba, who passed away in 2014.
She was one of Spain’s most famous aristocrats and one of Seville’s best-loved personalities, happiest wandering through her gardens at this property, despite having palaces and castles throughout Spain.
The ground floor and gardens of the house opened to the public in 2016, and it is now a place to find peace and tranquillity in beautiful surroundings.
The Palacio de las Duenas is a quieter option for discovering the architecture of this area without the hordes of visitors that the Alcazar attracts.
Day Three - Evening
Watch an authentic flamenco show
To finish off our fantastic Seville city break, we booked to watch a flamenco show.
Flamenco is the beating pulse at the city's heart, and as you wander through the streets, you will hear the word “Ole” coming from all around.
Flamenco is the dance of Andalusia, and influences from Arabic, Christian, and Jewish traditions give us the flamenco we see today. I can recommend a show at the Museum of Flamenco, the only museum of its kind in the world, so I guess it has to be perfect when performed there!
The 60-minute show was full of passion, and the speed of the dancer’s feet was unbelievable. Musicians tapped feet, clapped hands, and sang the intoxicating flamenco lyrics that set the scene for the dancers.
No photography or videoing is allowed during performances, so while you may leave without proof of the dancers' fantastic skills, you are guaranteed to enjoy the show without any interruptions. It is a memorable experience and one of the great things to do in Seville.
My honest opinion of Seville, Spain
What month did I travel?
October
How was the weather?
It was hot and sunny.
Would I recommend the hotel?
Yes. Becquer Hotel is ideally located, just a 10-minute walk from the river and a 20-minute walk from the historic city centre. It has a rooftop pool with views of Seville Cathedral.
Would I recommend three days in Seville?
Seville is full of history and charm, with enough activities to keep visitors busy. I loved the Moorish architecture, tapas, bars, and Andalusian culture, and would recommend a trip here for anyone looking for a weekend break in Spain.
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Angela Price: is an accomplished travel writer bringing extensive expertise and passion to the world of travel.
With over 40 years of globetrotting adventures under her belt and with a keen eye for unique experiences, she has established herself as an authoritative voice in travel, offering invaluable insights for fellow adventurers seeking to uncover the delights of worldwide destinations.
Her motto is “live life wandering not wondering”. Read more about Angie.
Great information. Better than a guidebook! Going in October!
Cheers!
I am glad you found it informative and have a fantastic time in Seville in October!!
Seville sounds quite wonderful! I love the idea of finding the "real Spain" away from the Costas. Hoping to be able to travel soon so I can discover this beautiful city.
Sevilla is just amazingly beautiful - and very majestic. However, I would never again visit in Summer. We were there twice and were sooo hot. Finally, we migrated into the Corte Ingles department store - only for the air condition. The other time, we migrated to a movie theater. While at the Corte Ingles, we didn't even buy anything, at the cinema we at least did watch the movie 😉
Seville sure is a popular tourist city! There seems to be a lot of do and see here especially historical locations and architecture. Spanish food is delicious! Your pictures are stunning! 🙂
This brought back some memories & I would love to go back to Seville. I visited with my husband at the start of a road trip around Andalusia. We were staying at a hotel next door to the Cathedral. After just picking the car up we did several fraught circuits around the city as I tried to read the map & he struggled in the traffic. Eventually we decided to give up & put that car in a car park before getting a taxi. Then we realised it was all pedestrianised & there was no parking anyway! We left the car there for 2 days, as we payed for parking & car hire & didn't use the car at all. It was the best idea as I loved wandering the pedestrian streets & exploring the tapas. Great post - plenty of reasons to return!
It's great that you can look back on these types of memories and laugh about them now. I expect you have many stories like this to tell. Perhaps a return to Seville will enable you to relive the time you were there with your husband and also make some new memories for yourself x
This looks incredible! I've always heard Seville is a great place to visit, but now I can see why. I love the architecture here - you can really see the various influences in the design. It looks like there is so much to do here and the food and drinks sound delicious! I would love to try that wine too! Yum! I've added this to our "future travels" list!
I am glad I have been able to highlight its qualities to you. I hope that you get there one day
Love Seville. Flamenco and tapas and I'm in heaven. Didn't know about Christopher Colombus tomb, completly missed that. It's one of our cities we have considered moving to.
It certainly is a vibrant city and I could imagine there would never be a dull moment if you lived there.
This post brought back great memories. It brought back memories of some great spots we visited. And made me hunger for some tapas. Since we can’t eat at the normal Spanish time, tapas was dinner most nights. I am sorry we missed the dark sweet orange wine. I am sorry we never got to walk the Metropol Parasol. This looks like fun!
Glad it evoked some happy memories, it is a wonderfully vibrant city to visit.
Love Love Love Seville! We stayed in the old town area and had a memorable three day adventure exploring the city. On one of the days we rented a bike and cycled around the park and visited the Plaza de Espana. There were some amazing musicians and dancers entertaining the crowds there. Cycling in the city is fabulous because it's so flat. I'd love to go back and stay for a very very long time!
You and me both! I was really taken by Seville and it has become even more special as it was the last place I visited before Covid struck.
It's been so long that I haven't been to Sevilla that I haven't even visited the Metropol Parasol yet. Nevertheless, I have wonderful memories of the Cathedral and the fantastic side alleys. However, we went there on day trips from the coast in Summer, so I remember it as one of the hottest places I've ever been. We actually strolled around the Corte Ingles just to enjoy a cool moment in an airconditioned department store 😀
I must admit it was very hot when we visited in October so I can only imagine what it must be like in Summer!
Great information. Thank you very much. Heading there in April. Cheers!
I fell in love with Spain this year and can't wait to go back and spend an extended period of time there. We went to a flamenco show in the Triana neighbourhood at T de Triana, so if you go back, back sure you go and check it out. Authentic. Passionate, and exuberant.
We walked around Triana but didn’t like it very much. We kept thinking we must be in the wrong part of it because other blogs rated it highly. We watched a show at the Museum of Flamenco. It was amazing.
Thank you for such a great guide! Definitely going to use it and follow in your footsteps when I get to Seville.
That’s great news. I’m so glad it helped you 😃
We were in Sevilla in April this year and right at Easter. Our hotel backed onto the Cathedral so there were many parades going on while there. Our itinerary had to be changed but thats ok due to the expected crowds. I will do a post on it later on. Im so far behind on my posts 🙂 Its such a beautiful place we were only there 2 nights.
We have been invited back to celebrate Feria at Easter after Holy Week and have been told how incredibly busy it gets but I bet it’s an incredible experience.
Oh! it was lovely to see all these locations in Seville again! I was there for a day a few years ago and it was fantastic, although we went the first week of June and it was far too warm. Thank you for sharing!
It is such a beautiful city, with so much history. We went in October and it was a perfect temperature. I have heard it gets quite unbearable in the summer months.
Fantastic read. Thank you.
I am really glad you enjoyed it. Seville is a great place to visit for a short break.