How to Spend the Perfect Day in Sevilla, Spain

Only have a day to spend in Seville and wondering if it’s worth the trip? You’re in the right place!💃 Seville (or Sevilla in Spanish), the capital of Andalusia, is an irresistible city full of beauty, culture, and sunshine. While I recommend spending at least 2 days here, spending one day in Seville is better than not visiting at all.

With 3 day trips to Seville under my belt, I believe I’ve come up with the perfect day itinerary. With this one day itinerary, you will see some of Seville’s most iconic sites, and have room for some local favorites and lesser-known attractions. This itinerary is written in order, taking you smoothly from one location to the next.

Ready to discover how to spend the perfect day in Seville? Keep reading!😍👇

Disclaimer: This post has affiliate links that can help me earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. If you click through and buy with these links, thank you in advance for the extra support.💖😊

The Ultimate 24 Hours in Seville Itinerary

Don’t have a car? Book your bus, or train, with my favorite, Omio!👇

Fuel Up with Breakfast

I don’t know about you, but a perfect day always starts with a delicious breakfast! Plus, with the incredible day you have ahead, it’s important to fuel up.

There are plenty of great places around Sevilla to grab breakfast, so let yourself pick whatever speaks to you. If you’re celiac, vegetarian/vegan, or simply love a healthier brunch – Brunch Milk Away is a great spot! Here you will find lots of incredible foods that can suit different dietary restrictions – from açaí bowls to tostadas, to fresh juices, and pancakes, the world is your oyster.

Their coffee wasn’t my favorite – but everything else was delicious! I got their Goat Cheese and Avocado toast, with a side of scrambled eggs, and Vitamin C juice.

Visit the Real Alcazar at 9:30 AM

Besides Plaza de España, there is no stronger start to a day in Sevilla, than with a Real Alcazar visit.

The Royal Alcazar to Seville is what La Alhambra is to Granada. Built in the 9th century, and with the Royal Family staying here when in Sevilla, this palace holds the title of “oldest active royal palace in Europe”.

Differently from La Alhambra, the Real Alcazar is a functioning Royal Palace, is much smaller, and has a beautiful blend of different architectural styles. The main highlight of the Real Alcazar is the El Palacio Mudéjar, or Palacio del Rey Don Pedro, a small palace full of Mudejar rooms and courtyards. In a way, it’s a small taste of La Alhambra.

Some other highlights of Real Alcazar are the Gardens, Patio de las Doncellas, Dormitorio de los Reyes Moros, Salón de los Embajadores, and the Baños de María Padilla.

As a fun fact, the Alcázar “played” the role of the Water Gardens of House of Dorne, in Game of Thrones. If you’re wondering… no, meeting Pedro Pascal is sadly not included in the tickets.😂😭

As Seville’s main attraction, you need to book at least 2-3 weeks in advance. Book your tickets today, before they sell out!👇

Visit, or Admire, the Cathedral & La Giralda

The Seville Cathedral and La Giralda are another of Sevilla’s most important and iconic monuments.

The Cathedral is the largest Gothic church in the world and one of the largest churches in the world. This cathedral is the resting place of famous historic figures, including Columbus.

La Giralda, which sits right next to the Cathedral, was originally a Minaret – an Islamic tower used to call people for prayer. This breathtaking tower belonged to the Great Mosque, before it was destroyed and the Cathedral was built on top. The Muslims wanted to destroy the Minaret so the Christians couldn’t use their religious monument, but King Alfonso X, made threats to ensure the Minaret would remain in tact.

The Minaret we see today has some Christian additions – including the Giraldillo, a religious bronze statue, and the bell tower.

Something really neat about the Giralda is that the inside doesn’t have many stairs, if any, it has ramps that lead to the top of the tower. This was done so that the Moors could go to the top on horse back. When you reach the top, you’ll get to see beautiful panoramic views over Sevilla.😍

The average visit of the Giralda and Cathedral is about 75 minutes. Being a shorter visit, it is certainly doable to visit both the Real Alcazar and Seville Cathedral / Giralda, on this day trip!

Personal Tip. If you love historical landmarks, you’ll want to visit both Real Alcázar, the Cathedral & Giralda. If you do, this Priority-Access guided tour is perfect for maximizing the time in your day. But if you’d rather soak in the city and explore hidden gems, I recommend prioritizing Real Alcázar and admiring the Cathedral from Plaza del Triunfo. Whichever option you pick, make sure to book your tickets today, before they sell out!😍👇

Walk around the Squares and One Hidden Gem

The iconic trio, Seville Cathedral, La Giralda, and Real Alcazar all sit right next to each other in the same square, Plaza del Triunfo.

Let yourself wander around Plaza del Triunfo and the neighboring squares within Sevilla’s most historic neighborhood, Santa Cruz. Just a few steps away from Plaza del Triunfo is the beautiful Plaza de Doña Elvira, where you’ll find orange trees, white-washed buildings, tiled benches, a fountain, and a serene ambiance.

One of my favorites, probably the most “hidden” square, is Plaza del Cabildo.

Lunch

Now that your eyes have done plenty of feasting on beautiful sights, it’s time for your tastebuds to do the same!🍽️

Being celiac, I haven’t had the chance to explore too many restaurants in Seville, but one I always go back to is Belmonte Bar. This tavern-style restaurant sits on Calle Mateo Gagos, a tight street full of restaurants that leads to the Giralda Tower and Cathedral.

While this is certainly a more touristy area, the food here has always been incredible – especially their Gazpacho and Grilled Octopus. Their Rabo de Toro, a classic Andalusian entree, was also delicious and rich in flavor!😍

Taberna Belmonte is a great spot for both regular-dieted people and, in my experience, celiacs – where you can try all sorts of traditional Andalusian dishes and tapas.

😋 Celiac or Gluten Intolerant? Here are the 8 Best Gluten Free Restaurants in Seville!

Want a Hidden Gem? Visit Casa de Pilatos

If you are craving more breathtaking courtyards and architecture, and have the time, I highly recommend this hidden gem.✨

Casa de Pilatos is a 15th century palace where you’ll find a stunning blend of architectures, including Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance. Here you will also find some of the best preserved tiles in Seville, lovely gardens, and beautiful courtyards.

Being a hidden gem, this is a great spot to soak in Seville’s beauty with a more tranquil atmosphere.

As a fun fact, Casa de Pilatos was a filming location for several movies and television series – including the 5th Season of The Crown, and the movie Knight and Day.

Sounds like your perfect hidden gem?🤩 Book your tickets here!👇

Walk through Jardines de Murillo

As you head Sevilla’s biggest icon, make sure to walk through the beautiful Jardines de Murillo. This garden is dedicated to Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, one of Sevilla’s most important 17th-century, Spanish Baroque painters.

When walking through this garden’s path, you will find colorful tile benches, cobblestone path, fountains, and lots of beautiful flowers.

Visit the Plaza de España

(Internally screaming) Welcome to Plaza de España!!😍

Not to sound dramatic, but this has to be one of the most beautiful and magical squares one could ever visit. At least, it is for me.

This square is so much more than an architectural masterpiece. It is where you can find Flamenco performances, people on row boats, others cooling down by standing in front of the fountain, and locals and tourists alike strolling around.

Built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, this square has some architectural features that celebrate Spain. For example, as you walk through this semi-circular plaza, you will find 50 benches full of tile art works – each one representing a different province of Spain. They are in Alphabetical order!

In addition to the benches, there are 4 beautiful, tiled bridges that represent the 4 old Kingdoms of Spain.

As you walk around here, make sure you let yourself slow down and really take in the beauty and magical vibes surrounding you. You’ll want to take endless pictures, so it’s important to have a mental note to, at some point, put the phone down and just take it all in with your eyes.😊

Note. On my last visit, I saw a family of tourists take a picture with a guitar in front of Plaza de España. The man who was taking the picture, and is the guitar owner, was playing flamenco music in the square. It seems he offered the family a picture with his guitar, which they unfortunately fell for and then he got not-so-friendly, expecting them to pay him. Sevilla is very safe but always be aware of scams like this one.

Walk around Maria Luisa Park

Located just in front of Plaza de España, Maria Luisa Park is the largest and most famous park of Seville, and also the “Green Lung” of the city.

This park is the perfect midday, or afternoon adventure, as it acts like an oasis during Seville’s hot days.

As you stroll around the park you will find yourself surrounded by endless greenery, statues, the beautiful pond, Estanque de los Lotos. You will see all sorts of birds, from different ducks to swans, and even hear parrots singing around you.

Stroll along Rio Guadalquivir + Torre del Oro

Once you’ve walked through the Maria Luisa Park, you will reach the bank of Rio Guadalquivir, Guadalquivir River. Standing parallel to Calle Betis, one of Seville’s most picturesque and colorful streets, walking along this river is one of the best things to do.

Besides the picturesque street, this is a great spot to surround you with the best vibes, as people go on their runs, others are dancing at nearby bars, and others are either biking or paddle-boarding.

After a short walk, you’ll spot one of Seville’s most iconic landmarks: the Torre del Oro.

Setas de Sevilla

If you aren’t scared of heights, head to the Setas de Sevilla!

Originally named the Metropol Parasol, the Setas of Sevilla is the largest wooden structure in the world and an iconic landmark of Sevilla. This is a must visit both in the day time and night time, but at night time is when you should get tickets and head to the top.

The Setas has a whole path, allowing you to walk most of this wooden structure and be surrounded by a mesmerizing light show at night time. It’s a fairly short visit, but a fun and unique experience. Personally, it felt like I was on Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road – but a much more fun, and safer option!😂

If you’re going back to your home base city at the end of the day, you’ll have some time restrictions – unless you’re driving. If that’s the case, the Setas is still worth visiting and is about a 30-40 minute visit. The other option, would be to end the day with the Guadalquivir River at Sunset and maybe grabbing a tapa or two.

Spending the Night in Sevilla?

If you’re spending the night, then you have time for more exploring and experiences!

Besides the incredible Setas de Sevilla, I recommend attending Sevilla’s most authentic and traditional Flamenco show. This is a great way to enjoy an unforgettable performance while simultaneously diving deeper into Seville’s culture.

This is a local favorite and sells out quick – make sure to book your tickets, before they sell out!💃👇

Where to Stay in Sevilla

Given you’re only spending a day in Seville, it’s best if you stay somewhere as central as possible.

For my one day experience, back in February I personally stayed in Arco de la Seda – a Boutique Hotel that sits just a few steps away from the Seville Cathedral, La Giralda, and Real Alcazar. It was also right next to a Bounce spot where you can store your suitcases and belongings, and a short drive from the bus station. The stay itself wasn’t anything crazy, just a tiny room with the essentials I needed for one night and fair prices (in February).

Looking at April and May prices, it’s clear that this hotel’s prices fluctuate like crazy and because it wasn’t anything special – I’d recommend this stay at Arco de la Seda only if you’re on a tight budget and traveling in shoulder season.

Some stays I personally love for multi-day stays and that are central are Hotel Sevilla Center, Melia Sevilla, and Hotel Giralda Center. Hotel Sevilla Center is a short walk farther from Hotel Giralda Center and Melia Sevilla, and all are very close to Plaza de España.

One Day in Sevilla FAQs

Is Seville worth a day trip?

While I strongly recommend visiting for at least 2 days, it’s much better to experience Seville for one day than not experience it at all. With a day in Seville you’ll be able to visit some of its most iconic attractions, admire others from outside, and soak in the magic of this city.

To have a spectacular day trip, my biggest tip is to not focus solely on sightseeing. The issue with only sightseeing is that you’ll miss the bigger picture and true essence of the city, as you’re running around from pin to pin. Solution? Pick 2-3 spots to prioritize, but then let yourself wander around the city and focus on being present.

Is Seville a walkable city?

Seville could not be a more walkable city! It’s a city where you can truly walk and bike wherever you want to. It is also a very flat city – making it extra walkable.

Seville also has really good public transportation – should you need it!

Is Seville or Granada better?

I’ll write a post that dives deeper into the differences between these two phenomenal cities, but to give a quick answer – Seville and Granada are too different!

Seville is better if you’re looking for the warmest and sunniest weather, a big city full of things to do and see. Granada is much smaller and has fewer “big” attractions, BUT it is the home to the one and only, La Alhambra. Granada is perfect if you are looking for a smaller city, the best tapas culture, dreamy views and gardens, and medieval streets.

Both cities should be visited, and Seville is the one that needs more days due to how much bigger it is. If you can, I strongly recommend visiting both!

As a Granada local, I personally prefer Granada (❤️) but the answer to “which is better” will change from person to person.

Want more help with your travels? Check out my other Posts!

Here are additional posts that will help you out with your upcoming Seville and Andalusia travels!👇

• 2 Days in Sevilla, Spain Itinerary
• 16 Best Things to Do in Seville
• Answering 12 Seville Burning Questions
• Alhambra vs Real Alcazar
• 8 Best Gluten Free Restaurants in Sevilla, Spain
• The Ultimate 7 Day Andalucia Itinerary
• The Best of Andalusian Food
• 21 Best Places to Visit in Spain in 2025

📌 Pin it for your Future Spain Travels!

I have to ask…

What are you most excited to see or do during your one day in Sevilla? Did this itinerary make you feel more at ease? Let me know in the comments!😊

If you found this article helpful and enjoyed it, share this with friends and family!