Taking day trips from Seville means you get to experience even more of the autonomous community of Andalusia.
Andalusia is known for its handsome cities harboring some of the most unique architecture in Spain.
Enjoying a pleasant climate year-round, you can look forward to swimming on the beaches of Andalusia during summer and jacket-free promenade walks even in winter. Not forgetting delicious food including seafood, cured ham, and traditional tapas.
As the capital of Andalusia, there are plenty of sights and activities in Seville to fill weeks’ worth of vacation.
However, if you are fortunate to spend more than a couple of days in the city, it makes sense to include one or two Seville day trips in your travel plans.
Day Trips from Seville
If you’re not planning on renting a car, don’t panic. This guide includes day trips from Seville without a car that you can easily manage via public transport or with a tour.
Generally speaking, you can check bus and train schedules and book tickets on Omio. For trains, you can also consult the Renfe website. Alternatively, visit Alsa for bus routes.
For each of these day trips from Seville, we have included a top-rated guided tour.
1. Pueblos Blancos (White Towns)
The White Villages of Andalusia (Pueblos Blancos) are a string of whitewashed towns and villages in the province of Cádiz.
These buildings were painted white to deter the strong southern sunshine from heating up the interiors.
As the White Towns dot the greenery of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, they really jump out from the landscape. In addition, they’re located high in the valleys, with incredible viewpoints that are just as spectacular from the road.
Examples of some of the prettiest towns include Olvera, Zahara de la Sierra, and Ubrique. But most unique of all, Setenil de las Bodegas is built among gigantic rock boulders.
As the White Villages aren’t particularly well-connected via public transport, this is one of the Seville day trips you’ll need a rental car for. However, bear in mind that the roads in this area are a challenging drive with lots of twists and turns.
Therefore it might be preferable to book a tour from Seville, so you have free reign to gaze out of the window. This Pueblos Blancos and Ronda full-day trip is inclusive of round-trip travel and guide service.
Ronda is one of the most beautiful day trips from Seville that you won’t want to miss.
2. Ronda
If you already checked out that tour linked above, you might have spotted that it includes a stop at Ronda.
Ronda is a historic city built atop a deep gorge in the Málaga province. Technically, this is also one of the White Villages of Andalucia, but it also has a ton of other landmarks. These include the Arab Baths, the Moorish Mondragón Palace, and the Casa San Juan Bosco complex.
You’ll also want to spend time admiring the various viewpoints of and from the three bridges of Ronda.
As there is so much history to wrap your head around, it makes sense to enlist a guide for your Seville to Ronda day trip. The Pueblos Blancos and Ronda tour is a fantastic option if you want to tackle both places in one day.
Otherwise, you can look at this Ronda full-day trip which is a comprehensive tour of the city plus a visit to an olive oil factory. You’ll get free time to explore on your own and find somewhere to eat lunch.
If you want to plan an independent Ronda from Seville day trip, you can take bus L-525 (operated by Avanza). Departing from Prado de San Sebastian, these take 2.5 hours each way.
There are so many fun shows to check out in and around Seville and all of Andalusia.
3. Doñana National Park
The Doñana National Park is one of the best day trips from Seville for wildlife and nature immersion.
This coastal reserve consists of marshy wetlands, pine forests, sandy beaches, and green pastures. It provides habitat to around 300 species of birds, including flamingoes, imperial eagles, and a huge colony of storks. Additionally, deer, wild boar, and Iberian lynx dwell in the woodlands.
As Doñana is tricky to get to without a 4WD, you’ll need to book a tour to visit. This full-day Doñana National Park 4WD tour maximizes your understanding of the ecosystem and spotting the residents.
Besides exploring the park and the largest dune system in the country, you’ll also visit the small village of El Rocío. This outing factors in time to take a dip, so remember to pack your swimwear and a towel!
The Pueblos Blancos around Andalusia are well worth exploring. Each offers something a little bit different.
4. Carmona
Carmona is one of the closest Seville day trips if you’re short on time. Due to its elevated location, this small town affords incredible views toward Sierra Morena. This is also a wonderful place for history, with Roman, medieval, and Moorish landmarks.
Right in the heart of Carmona, you can see the ruins of an ancient amphitheater as well as a Roman necropolis. Marking the entrance to the Old Town, the Alcázar de la Puerta de Sevilla reflects the various eras that the city has lived through. Carefully maintained, there are towers and walkways that you can explore for panoramic views.
If you have a rental car, you can drive to Carmona in around 30 minutes. Meanwhile, public buses from Estación de Autobuses in Plaza de Armas only take 40 minutes.
If you’d prefer to reap the knowledge of a local guide, this Carmona and Necropolis tour is available on a group or private basis.
Once in town, you’ll walk through the town while uncovering the influence of Carthaginians and Romans, Muslims and Christians.
If you have time, Marbella is very close to Malaga and another great option for a day trip from Seville.
5. Málaga
Another stunning Andalusian city, Málaga sits alongside Seville as one of the warmest places in Spain in winter. Furthermore, this coastal resort has the one thing that Seville falls short on: beaches!
During your one day in Málaga, you should prioritize clambering up to the Alcazaba. This Moorish citadel, and its neighbor the Castillo de Gibralfaro are the key attractions. We recommend tackling the walk early before the sun gets too strong.
While in the birthplace of one of Spain’s most influential artists, you can also visit the Picasso Museum. Naturally, tucking into seafood should be high on your agenda. Swing by the Mercado Central de Atarazanas where you can order tapas and pick up some souvenirs to take home.
In truth, Málaga deserves at least a few nights of your Spanish itinerary. However, as it is possible to visit as a day trip from Seville – seize the opportunity to visit if you get chance.
Direct trains link Sevilla Santa Justa with Málaga-María Zambrano in as little as 2 hours. However, certain journeys can take much longer so have a look at Omio and pay close attention when booking.
The precarious walkway of the Caminito del Rey.
6. Caminito del Rey
The Caminito del Rey walkway is one of the best day trips from Seville for adrenaline junkies.
Once considered one of the world’s most dangerous hikes, the path winds its way through the Los Gaitanes and El Chorro gorges. It has undergone a major revamp and is now completely safe, but you’ll still need a good head for heights.
In total, the 4.5-mile (7 km) hike takes around 2-3 hours to complete, with time to take photos and tackle the suspension bridge.
As with Ronda, the road to Caminito del Rey isn’t for the fainthearted and is best done with a driver knowledgeable about the area. With no bus service, there are plenty of tours running between the city and the entrance to the attraction.
This Caminito del Rey full-day hike excursion from Seville includes round transfers, a guide, and admission to the walkway. Food isn’t included so we recommend you pack your own lunch to save money and take lots of water as the hike is pretty exposed.
If you’re also planning on visiting Málaga on your Spanish travels, note that this city is a little closer. Therefore Caminito del Rey is also one of the easiest day trips from Málaga.
There are plenty of safety precautions that are taken when you walk the Caminito del Rey, including a hard hat!
7. Granada
Breathtaking Grenada is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. Again, this is somewhere to try and spend a few nights at least. But if that’s not possible, you can just about swing a Seville to Granada day trip.
Granada is the location for the iconic Alhambra, the fortified palace that provided the seat of the Nasrid Kingdom. The complex covers residential towers, splendid courtyards, and the Generalife gardens.
Trains to Granada from Seville take 2.5 hours, but there are only a handful a day. As always, consult times and pre-book tickets with Omio or Renfe.
On the other hand, this Seville to Granada day trip has you covered for round transport and admission to the Alhambra and Generalife. You’ll also benefit from a guided wander around the Albaicín neighborhood.
Exploring the smaller towns of Andalusia should be part of any longer trip to Seville.
8. Cádiz
Cádiz is one of the easiest day trips from Seville without a car. As with Málaga, the huge selling point is that the city gives you a seaside experience!
In fact, Cádiz is a port city occupying a unique location on a peninsula. Two castles – San Sebastian and Santa Catalina – watch over the center and would have protected the settlement from sea attack. Other key sights include the bell tower at the cathedral and a camera obscura atop the Torre Tavira.
If you fancy a beachy afternoon, Playa de Santa María del Mar is centrally located. Just be aware that the waves can get pretty rough at times.
Trains take a little under 2 hours and run hourly in the morning before being more spaced out during the day. If you take this option, you’ll definitely need to consult the timetables first.
On the other hand, you can take advantage of this Cádiz and Jerez de la Frontera day trip. The perk here is that you visit the sherry-making city of Jerez where you’ll visit a bodega before spending the rest of the day in Cádiz.
The Royal Alcázar of Seville is worth a day of your time, but it is dwarfed by the grandeur of the Alhambra in Granada.
9. Córdoba
A Seville to Córdoba day trip is a must purely to see the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba.
The house of worship stands in testament to the years the city was passed between Muslim and Christian rule. The majestic prayer hall is a vision in jasper, onyx, marble, granite, and porphyry, excavated from a Roman temple that originally stood in the same spot. Although founded by the Moors, the “mezquita” was established as a Roman Catholic church after Córdoba reverted to Christian rule.
Other principal sights include the Roman bridge, the Alcazar, and the Jewish quarter.
In an ideal world, you’d spend a few nights in Córdoba. However, direct trains take 45 minutes which makes this one of the most straightforward day trips from Seville without a car.
It’s also possible to visit Córdoba in conjunction with Carmona as a full-day tour.
Otherwise, you can dedicate an entire day to the larger city with a Seville to Córdoba day trip. This one is available as a shared or private excursion and includes admission to the mosque and synagogue.
The stunning hills and white houses in Ronda, Spain.
10. Aracena and Rio Tinto
Wrapping up our selection with another of the best day trips from Seville for natural scenery, this village and biosphere combo is great for families.
As public transport to these parts is patchy, this is one of the options where you’re best to rent a car or join an organized tour.
This full-day Aracena and Rio Tinto Mines tour starts by heading north of Seville to Dehesas de Sierra Morena. As the largest biosphere reserve in Spain, this is your chance to spot bulls and Iberian pigs in the wild.
Meanwhile, the area around the Rio Tinto is in otherworldly hues of red and orange, often likened to Mars.
Its appearance is attributed to the acidic chemical makeup of the water. Scientists have a base here as they believe it might actually have clues that’ll help them identify Martian life. During the tour, you’ll see this landscape for yourself and hear the latest on the studies.
The itinerary concludes with a stop at Aracena, a quaint village just on the cusp of Sierra Morena.
It’s here that you’ll explore Gruta de las Maravillas, a cave system of subterranean lakes, stalactites, and stalagmites. Consider that the walking tour lasts around 45 minutes and it’s quite nippy so you’ll need a light jacket as well as non-slip footwear.