If you’re short on time to spend in Seville, fear not. It’s still possible to get a feel for the rich culture, history, and architecture of this famous city with our 2-day Seville itinerary for 2023. We’ve put together this guide on spending 48 hours in Seville so that you can maximize your time and still have a fantastic trip, even if you’re on a time crunch.
Seville is the capital of the Andalusia region of Spain and a wonderful destination to explore if you’re interested in food and culture! Most famous for beautiful architecture, flamenco dance, and delicious food, Seville is often overlooked in favor of Barcelona or Madrid. But you’re missing out on plenty of fun and beauty if you don’t make time to explore this gem.
Seville Itinerary – Day 1
Morning
Flamenco Dance Museum
Today is all about passion and culture, so what better way to start your 2-day Seville itinerary than with a visit to the Flamenco Dance Museum?
Flamenco is known as the national dance of Spain, but it actually originated in the Andalusia region where Seville is located. You’ll be enjoying a live flamenco show later in the evening, but this morning is all about learning the history of this famous dance at one of the best Seville museums.
Housed inside an 18th-century building that was constructed atop the remains of a Roman temple, the Flamenco Dance Museum is filled with exciting and interactive exhibits. Founded by Cristina Hoyos, one of the most renowned flamenco dancers of all time. There are many stunning clothes and props to admire, along with videos for you to study the intricate footwork. You could even sign up for a flamenco dance lesson here if you’re feeling adventurous!
🌟Insider Tip: Have brunch at Filo, either before or after your visit to the museum. Filo is a cozy café/bakery that’s popular with locals and located just a few streets away from the Flamenco Dance Museum. It’s actually on the way to your second destination, so it’s ideal for an extensive brunch to keep you going until dinner time. Choose from delicious pastries, great coffee, and vegan options in a hip yet homey location.
Afternoon
Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería
After brunch, continue to the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería (often shortened to Real Maestranza Arena) for a guided tour of one of the most famous bullfighting arenas in Spain. If you’re not interested in seeing bullfighting (a controversial sport) don’t worry! This tour focuses on the history and culture of the arena – it doesn’t take place during any actual bullfights.
Real Maestranza is the second-oldest bullring in Spain, dating from the 1700s. The main entrance is very striking built in the traditional Baroque style whilst the bullring itself evokes images of Roman colosseums and gladiators. On your guided tour you’ll be able to admire the architecture as you learn about the cultural significance of bullfighting in Spain and ask your guide any questions you may have about bullfighting.
🌟Insider Tip: Walk from the Plaza across the Puente de Triana bridge to get to your next stop. This is a lovely area with plenty of photo opportunities along the banks of the river. The nearby Heladería Cafetería Los Valencianos is an excellent choice for delicious ice cream as well, with many mouthwatering flavors to choose from.
Evening
Flamenco show with tapas
After learning about the history of flamenco this morning, now it’s time to experience a live show!
This exciting evening excursion includes tickets to see a live flamenco performance as well as a ‘bar crawl’ to a number of tapas bars to try local cuisine. Your outing takes place in the colorful Triana neighborhood, which is known for having produced quite a few famous bullfighters and flamenco dancers.
Triana is an authentic residential area of Seville, that’s packed with excellent tapas bars and is also home to a number of places to see live flamenco performances.
This guided tour is one of the best ways to experience a more local side of Seville, both in terms of food and entertainment. You’ll be guided around old-town Roman corners and busy riverside plazas before tasting some of the best local dishes in quaint establishments.
Enjoy local tapas
Tapas are served throughout Spain, but it’s no exaggeration to say that the tapas culture in Seville is one of the best in the country.
Some of the yummiest tapas dishes to try while in Seville include: salmorejo, a cold tomato soup that is completely different to gazpacho; Cazon de Adobo, a marinated fish with adobo seasoning that’s deep-fried, and spinach with garbanzo beans. Of course, your guide is sure to also point you to the best local delicacies!
🌟Insider Tip: The Triana neighborhood (where this all takes place) is filled with excellent tapas bars (and bars with drinks) if you want to keep the party going till late! Check out Bar Santa Ana where it’s Holy Week every day of the year. Puratasca, a dive-bar-meets-gastropub, and La Antigua Abacería for gourmet wine, cheese, and delicious desserts.
Seville Itinerary – Day 2
Morning
Casa de Salinas
The second day of this Seville itinerary focuses on history and incredible architecture, starting with a visit to the beautiful Casa de Salinas, a 16th-century palace located in the city’s Old Town. The 16th century is known as Seville’s Golden Age when the city received riches from the Americas and became known for its splendor.
Casa de Salinas is a perfect example of the opulence people in Seville enjoyed, it’s a private residence that is still lived in, even though it’s also open for the public to admire. Since it’s still lived in you can only visit as part of a guided tour, but you’re well rewarded once you get a glimpse of the palace’s elegant blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Mudéjar styles.
While the Casa de Salinas doesn’t look particularly impressive from the outside, once you pass the simple facade you can explore beautiful interior courtyards, stunning mosaics, and pretty stained glass windows. The courtyards are filled with greenery and statues, with elegant columns that create arches framing the inner outdoor space.
🌟Insider Tip: Have brunch at Biomio Brunch Ecológico on the way to your next stop. This fabulous brunch restaurant focuses on eco, local, and seasonal ingredients with scrumptious offerings of bagels, fruit bowls, waffles, fresh juices, and more. There are plenty of vegan or vegetarian options and the café itself is very cute, on a pretty street that’s located about halfway between the Casa de Salinas and the Alcázar.
Afternoon
Royal Alcázar of Seville
You can’t visit Seville and not see the Royal Alcázar – it’s the most famous and beautiful attraction after all! It’s also the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe, with the upper storeys occupied by the royal family when they are in town. The rest of us can certainly feel like royalty while exploring the marvel of Moorish art, Gothic architecture, and Renaissance aesthetics. That’s not even mentioning the lush gardens filled with fountains and pools.
The Alcázar dates back to the 10th century but has undergone significant rebuilding in the centuries since. In fact, this site contains a number of palaces surrounded by magnificent gardens and a wall. A visit here will show you the marriage of Moorish and Christian architecture, which also tells the story of this magnificent palace’s history.
There are a number of different ticket options to choose from when visiting the Royal Alcázar of Seville, so you can decide if you’d like to visit independently or learn all the history from a knowledgeable guide. See if you can figure out which parts of this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site were used as filming locations for Game of Thrones, Kingdom of Heaven, and Lawrence of Arabia!
🌟Insider Tip: If you have time, you can also join a guided tour of both the Alcázar and Seville Cathedral. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic church in the world and is more than 900 years old. If you do decide to visit both, you can even climb La Giralda, a 100-meter-high bell tower that offers fantastic views over Seville.
Evening
Guadalquivir Yacht Cruise
For your final evening in Seville, sit back, relax, and enjoy the views on a cruise of the River Guadalquivir. You’ll be able to see any sights you missed from the water, as you enjoy local snacks and drinks on a leisurely sail through the city. This cruise takes place on a comfortable air-conditioned yacht, which will be very welcome after a day spent exploring outside in the heat!
This cruise experience is particularly romantic for couples, especially since it takes place around sunset. There’s an extra aerial 3D experience included in this as well, so you can ‘see’ Seville from the sky before heading out to see it from the water. Want to change up your itinerary a little? No problem, you can also enjoy a six-course lunch or dinner cruise as well.
The Guadalquivir River flows through the western side of Seville, where you’ll get to see sights such as the Torre del Oro, ancient monasteries, and beautiful riverside homes as you cruise past.
The Torre del Oro, in particular, is an iconic sight of Seville, first constructed in the 13th century to control shipping on the river. Once part of the Moorish city walls, today this “Tower of Gold” is one of the most recognizable buildings in Seville.
🌟Insider Tip: Have dinner at the Hard Rock Café if you’re still hungry after your cruise. Offering all-American favorites such as burgers, onion rings, and brownies, this particular Hard Rock Café displays rock memorabilia, including classic guitars owned by Tom Petty and Eric Clapton, in a Spanish-style building.
What’s The Best Time to Visit Seville?
One of the best things about visiting Seville is the weather. This is one of the warmest parts of Spain after all! However, it does get very hot in the middle of summer, so the best time to explore Seville is usually during spring, between March and May.
Temperatures are starting to rise in Seville during spring, but they’re not yet too warm. The high tourist season is also in summer, so if you visit Seville during spring then you’ll be able to take advantage of lower accommodation prices along with fewer crowds. Make sure you bring some layers as it will still be a bit chilly in the evenings, but you should be able to bask in the warmth in the middle of the daytime!
How to Get Around Seville
We’ve made sure that this Seville itinerary for 2 days includes attractions that are reasonably close together so you won’t be spending half your day getting to each place. If you’re only going to spend 48 hours in Seville, then you don’t want to waste any precious sightseeing time on travel. Luckily, most of our picks are in or near the Old Town area of Seville, which is easily walkable.
There are also trams to catch if you want to save time but we recommend purchasing The Seville Pass since it includes discounts on the main attractions and access to the Hop-on Hop-off bus. This bus is an excellent way to get oriented, see the main sites, and travel between each spot you’ll visit during this 2 days in Seville itinerary.
What Are the Best Areas to Stay in Seville?
While you’re visiting Seville you’ll most likely want to stay pretty central to the Old Town neighborhood so that you don’t need to spend too much time traveling and more time enjoying. These are the best areas of Seville to stay in when you’re only visiting for a short period.
📍Barrio Santa Cruz
Barrio Santa Cruz is the most picturesque part of the city, right by the Cathedral and Alcázar, with many gorgeous cobbled streets. While this neighborhood is ideal for experiencing the atmosphere of Seville (including lots of great cafés and restaurants on leafy streets) it can also be a bit more expensive as it’s so popular.
📍Centro
Of course, if you want to be central to all the best Seville has to offer, then you’ll want to stay in Centro! Staying in Centro means you’ll be within walking distance from all of the main attractions, plus the area is filled with shops, cafés, restaurants, and bars to explore, all right on your doorstep.
📍El Arenal
Located on the banks of the river near the arena (hence the name) El Arenal is an excellent location for foodies and those who enjoy being surrounded by history. El Arenal used to be the city’s main port area and is now home to tons of great restaurants, excellent tapas bars, and cute cafes. Accommodation options here tend to be a bit more upscale although there are still some budget options too.
📍Macarena
If you’re traveling on a shoestring then Macarena is definitely one of the best budget areas to stay in Seville. Located north of the city center, there are many excellent budget accommodation choices here, along with independent shops, a local market, charming houses, tapas bars, churches, and small plazas to relax. While you’re a little further from the center, you can still reach the main sites in next to no time.
📍Triana
For the most ‘local’ feel while staying in Seville, head to Triana. This is a lively neighborhood filled with traditional ceramic shops, bars, and tapas restaurants as well as some beautiful old churches. If you stay in Triana then you’ll still be within a short walk from the main sights in Seville, but also surrounded by local spots for seeing flamenco performances and experiencing local life.
Seville hotel deals
There is a wide variety of cool things to see and do in Seville if you’ve got more than two days to explore. Check out the Top Ten Things to See and Do in Seville for more fun ideas and this guide to the best museums in Spain if you want some more culture!
