If you’re fortunate to have 3 days in Seville, Spain, to fill – you’re in luck. The Andalusian capital has an exciting supply of architectural jewels, gorgeous parks, and excellent restaurants.
Located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, Seville is one of the best cities to visit in Spain to learn about the country’s Moorish history.
This itinerary for Seville in 3 days focuses on the city’s historical attractions and is perfect for first-time visitors.
How many days in Seville?
If you’re still in the early planning days for your Spanish itinerary, you are probably wondering how many days in Seville are needed to see the main sights.
For a first-time visitor, you can see the highlights of Seville in 3 days. This also means you don’t have to rush to get around everywhere.
With 2 days in Seville, you can still explore a decent chunk of the city although you would need to skip some of the places in this Seville 3 days itinerary.
With more than 3 days in Seville, you could add on a couple of day trips to nearby cities.
3 Days in Seville Itinerary
This 3-day itinerary for Seville is curated to help you explore the city on foot. However, feel free to flip the points of interest around if that suits your schedule better.
We recommend that you read this 3-day Seville itinerary in tandem with our sister-site’s guide to things to do in Seville. This post has other handy tips including where to stay in Seville.
Plus, you’ll find extra suggestions not necessarily mentioned in this article.
Day 1 of 3 days in Seville in Seville – Morning
Start the first of your 3 days in Seville by finding your feet in the historical center. Essentially, this is the Barrio de Santa Cruz – the old Jewish Quarter.
These days the neighborhood is a lively spot teeming with tapas bars. But before we get onto lunch, check out some of these sights.
Plaza del Triunfo
Plaza del Triunfo (Triumph Plaza) pretty much marks the center of Seville.
The plaza is surrounded by historic buildings that you’ll want to appreciate in the morning light before the area fills up with other tourists. However, you might want to return here in the evening at some point to encounter a different atmosphere.
Note the Puerta del León on the south side: the entrance to the Royal Alcázar. But that’s coming later in your schedule!
Seville Cathedral
The star of Plaza del Triunfo is Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de la Sede). This cathedral is part of what makes Seville one of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
This site was originally used for Seville’s principal mosque, completed in 1198. Fifty years later, King Ferdinand III wrenched Seville from the ruling Moorish Almohad family and established the building as a Catholic church.
Today, the minaret of what was once the mosque is the main clue to what the building was formerly used for. This is now known as the Giralda bell tower, and you can visit the summit for views over the city.
Other surviving elements are the Patio de Naranjas and the Puerta del Perdon.
While you’re inside, you’ll see an ornate silver altar of which all of the silver came from Mexico. You’ll also find the tomb of Christopher Columbus, although the jury’s out on whether or not his remains are really here.
To avoid long lines, it’s best to pre-book a ticket to tour the cathedral. This Seville Cathedral and Giralda: Skip-the-Line Ticket gives you the option to upgrade to an audio tour.
Anticipate spending 1-2 hours depending on how much of the cathedral you want to see.
Plaza del Cabildo
Leaving the cathedral, swing by the Plaza del Cabildo. This is a small, curved public patio with slender colonnades painted with fleur de lis-style murals holding up two balconies.
It’s a lovely spot to take photos and to appreciate a different style of architecture in the city.
If your 3 days in Seville fall over a weekend, you can come here on a Sunday and pick up souvenirs at the flea market. On other days, it’s usually relatively quiet – especially earlier in the day.
Day 1 in Seville – Afternoon/Evening
Before continuing with your sightseeing, take a break and enjoy a tapas meal in Santa Cruz.
Restaurante El Pasaje Tapas is an atmospheric eatery with high ceilings, exposed brickwork, and warm wooden tones.
The award-winning menu is focused on modern tapas, with a spread of seafood, meat, and vegetarian options. If you get there ahead of the lunch rush, try and get a seat on the patio.
Casa de Pilatos
Walking off the lunch, a 10-minute stroll will bring you to Casa de Pilatos.
This 15th-century property was the home of the Enríquez de Ribera family, who filled their chambers and drawing rooms with a private collection of classical sculptures.
Among these, you’ll see 24 busts of Roman emperors and deities from Ancient Greece. The inner courtyard is styled in the typical Andalusian way, with a fountain in the center and ornate tile under the covered walkway.
Although Casa de Pilatos tends to attract less traffic than the major sights, it’s still worth pre-booking your admission ticket.
Setas de Sevilla
After getting to grips with the historic side of Seville, you can wrap up your first afternoon with something entirely different.
Setas de Sevilla is a contemporary structure that covers the produce market, Mercado de la Encarnación, and an archaeological site.
You can buy a ticket to visit the observation deck at the top of the monument. As it’s open until around midnight throughout the year, you can coincide your visit with the sunset for the best experience.
However, even without witnessing the golden hour, the views are spectacular.
Bear in mind that the food market closes around 3 pm, so if you want to visit to pick up any ham or cheese – you’ll need to arrive earlier in the day. Otherwise, pop back in the morning and you can prepare a fresh hamper for a picnic lunch.
Setas de Sevilla is a 10-minute walk from Casa de Pilatos.
Mercado Lonja del Barranco
While Mercado de la Encarnación wraps up in the afternoon, Mercado Lonja del Barranco stays open until late.
Once a fish market, this is now a popular dining and drinking hang-out. The original market hall is lined with vendors selling seafood platters, ceviche, pizza, sushi, charcuterie, and much more.
Beer, wine, and cocktails are also on sale so you can easily spend a couple of hours here toasting the start of your Seville 3 day adventure.
Afterward, you can follow the riverside path south to Puente de San Telmo and head to your hotel from there.
Day 2 of 3 days in Seville – Morning
Due to the shape that your second day in Seville will take, you will want to start by picking up some sandwich food from the market closest to your hotel.
If you are staying close to the Mercado de la Encarnación, this is a great place to load up. On the other hand, you could check out Mercado de Abasto Las Palmeritas or Mercado de Triana – or ask your hotel to make a local recommendation.
Real Alcázar de Sevilla
As one of the most famous tourist attractions in Spain, the Real Alcázar is a given on any 3-day Seville itinerary.
Referring to Seville’s Moorish history, the word “Alcázar” originates from the Arabic word for castle: al-qaṣr. As with Seville Cathedral, the palace was built on top of a former Moorish building – one that was also used as a royal residence.
The Alcázar was constructed for King Peter of Castile during the 14th century and has remained in continuous use ever since.
Representative of Mudéjar architecture, the design plucks elements of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance styles.
Equally breathtaking, the lush complex gardens are appointed with mazes, fountains, and sculptures.
The Royal Alcázar is open to the public when the royal family is out of town. You’ll benefit from pre-booking a ticket, especially during the summer season.
To make the most of your visit, go with this Alcázar Guided Tour with Priority Entrance so you can learn the full extent of the palace’s history.
There is so much to learn about who lived in this palace, what each room was used for, how the intricate tile work was made (and where in Seville!), I can’t recommend enough to go with a tour guide.
Realistically, your visit to the Alcázar will take up most of the entire morning. This is why, when deciding how many days in Seville you need, it’s worth allowing ample time not to have to hurry through some of these incredible sites.
Palacio de San Telmo
As you leave the Royal Alcázar, head in the direction of the river so that you can pass by the Palacio de San Telmo.
This 17th-century palace has served as a private residence, university, orphanage, hospital, and railway headquarters.
These days, it is the seat of the Andalusian government. Although it’s closed to the general public, you can pass by while following the P.º de las Delicias and see the facade for yourself. Photography is welcome.
Day 2 in Seville – Afternoon/Evening
Once you arrive, you’ll see why we’ve suggested packing a picnic for this leg of your 3 days in Seville itinerary!
Parque de María Luisa
P.º de las Delicias will bring you to one of the finest parks in Seville. The riverside Parque de María Luisa is home to museums, monuments, gardens, and plazas.
The Plaza de España is one of the star attractions in the city, so make a beeline there if you’re exploring at a pace. Constructed for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, the semi-circular pavilion showcases a fusion of Renaissance, Baroque, and Moorish architectural orders.
It’s particularly fantastic at this time of day when the sun is setting over the brick facade, lighting it up in the best possible way.
Each of the tiled alcoves stands for a Spanish province and it’s possible to rent a rowing boat and paddle across the pool in the center.
Towards the southern end of the park, Plaza de América was also commissioned for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. While this pavilion also uses water, the overall style is completely different.
Close by, you’ll find the Archeological Museum of Seville (Museo Arqueológico de Sevilla) and the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions (Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares de Sevilla). Opt to include either of these in your 3-day itinerary, Seville.
Flamenco show
Seeing as flamenco originated in the Andalusia region, there’s no better time to catch a performance and learn about the expressive folkloric art form. Dance, music, song, and costume come together to create an emotional experience.
One option is the Flamenco Dance Museum. If you visit the museum, you can tour the exhibition to understand more about the origins of the art before watching a production.
Another option is the Teatro Flamenco Sevilla, which hosts a nightly show at 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm. You can purchase standard tickets or upgrade your booking to include a drink or tapas.
Day 3 of 3 days in Seville – Morning
Rounding off this itinerary for Seville in 3 days, you’ll get a final dose of art before exploring the left bank of the river.
Seville Museum of Fine Arts
With €1 entry, the Seville Museum of Fine Arts is one of the best things to do on a budget in Seville.
The palace itself is striking; in the Baroque style, it’s more akin to the buildings of other Spanish cities rather than the Moorish architecture you’ll have grown accustomed to by now!
The galleries display pieces by Spanish artists from Seville and beyond, dating from the Middle Ages through to the 20th century. You’ll find works by Velázquez, Zurbarán, Pacheco, and Murillo.
Take a Boat or Bike Tour
Depending on the time of year, one will be more pleasant than the other.
If you are visiting during the peak heat in Seville between May and early September, I recommend taking a boat tour.
The tour company I recommend is called Guadaluxe. You can either go on a group boat tour or a private boat. But all of their boats are electric and offer a drink as well as a free audio guide in your language so that you can learn all about the sights you are seeing along the way.
If it’s not 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), then you may prefer to go on a fun bike tour around Seville.
I had a great time with See By Bike. They have wonderful bilingual guides who can take you on different types of tours around the city including a historical tour, a tour that takes you to a local market for food, and a sunset tour along the river.
Day 3 in Seville – Afternoon/Evening
Leaving the museum, you can cross over to Puente Cristo de la Expiración (Puente del Cachorro) to reach your final port of call.
This is a particularly nice way to walk if you are visiting Seville in the summer months when temperatures can reach over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The bridge offers nice shade as you walk across.
Triana
The Triana neighborhood is located on the west bank of the Guadalquivir River. Back in the day, this was the heart of the ceramics industry in Seville (as well as shipbuilding).
Now, only a handful of workshops and kilns survive but the legacy continues in the form of countless stores where you can pick up azulejos.
You can dive into the history and techniques behind pottery production at the Centro Cerámica Triana.
Although, the Espacio BarroAzul offers a more hands-on experience as you can have a go at painting your own tile to take home.
There are tons of tapas bars and restaurants in Triana, making this the perfect place to end your 3 days in Seville on a high.
Furthermore, in case you didn’t already catch a performance, the Teatro Flamenco Triana is another spot where you can see the dance.
While you’re here, be sure to make a booking at Alfareria 21 inside Casa Montalván, an old ceramic factory. The focus here is local ingredients and Andalusia specialties and the food and service are exceptional.