How To Spend 24 Hours In Seville

Seville is a beautifully romantic city. The minute I stepped off of the bus and onto the streets I was happy and excited to get lost within the city streets. I had heard so many things about Seville and I couldn’t wait to visit. From what I had read, the city could easily have been done in two days which is why the city made the list. Obviously spending a day in Seville is never enough, nor will you REALLY get to see what it’s like but it will give you a good sense of the city and you’ll get to see all the major landmarks.

The architecture in Seville blends various colours and history together in the most outstanding way. The streets are almost completely cobblestone in Seville and wound every which way. Some of the streets were so small that they felt like sidewalks and I was only reminded they weren’t when a car would come barreling down and honk behind me. It truly is a city you should be getting lost in.

Every turn of the corner I almost couldn’t help but snap pictures. Seriously I couldn’t tell you how many photographs I took while I was there, it’s embarrassingly high. The people in Seville were nice enough. We stayed in an Airbnb apartment that was steps away from the Cathedral so it was a really good area to stay.

Here’s the itinerary we used to see the city (or as much as we could) in one day. You of course don’t have to start in the order below but in terms of walking distance and saving time this is probably the best route.

Maria Luisa Park

Maria Luisa park is the best place to start the day, especially if you want to start your day by going for a run. This park is known to be one of the best in Europe so it’s nothing something you should miss. Walking through the grounds you almost feel transported to another place. There are so many different types of plants and species (many of them are exotic), statues, flower beds, ponds, benches and buildings. I actually couldn’t get over how diverse the types of trees were in the garden.

The layout of the gardens can be a bit confusing because there are so many different paths you can take and wander through, but I guess that was part o the fun. If you have enough time I would definitely suggest staying a while and enjoying a picnic or just sit and watch the people pass by.

Plaza de Espana

This enormous monument was built for the 1929 World Fair in Seville. In fact, some of the most popular monuments in the world were created for World Fairs like; Eiffel Tower in 1889, The Atomium in 1958, Magic Fountain of Montjuic 1929. Set on the edge of the Maria Luisa Park, this monument is so much bigger in person than you expect it to be. It’s a bit overwhelming how much detail and how many ceramic tiles are placed here. You could probably spend a day here and still not see everything.

I encourage you though to spend some time at the Plaza de Espana. Really take a walk around and admire how much work had to have gone into making this place come together. It’s dumbfounding. In all honesty you could spend a day in this place alone. While we didn’t do anything but walk around and admire what we were seeing you could take horse carriage rides, a boat ride through the canal or walk through the many museums and towers located in and around the area.

Real Alcazar de Seville

The Alcazar is a mix of incredible wealth and beauty. At one point this used to be the residence of the Royal Family of Seville but now is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and an amazing one at that. As you walk in through the entrance gates you are greeted with a spacious and eye pleasing front courtyard. The grounds are designed from what I’ve read in a combination of Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic styles. The most notable spot in the Real Alcazar, and likely most photographed is the palace of maidens (Patio de las Doncellas). Trying to snap a picture with no one else is really difficult here but if you can manage it, it’s so worth it.

There are so many doors and hallways you can walk through you could again get lost here, very easily. In fact many times I completely lost my direction and didn’t know where I was. Every time I thought I had seen it all there was some other hallway I discovered or room that surfaced.

The entrance fee to get in is around 9 euro and totally worth it. I would probably suggest visiting earlier in the day because the lines can get a bit crazy. However, we visited mid afternoon (around siesta time for the rest of the city) and we only waited in line for a bout half an hour. Make sure you take a walk through the gardens as well.

Seville Cathedral

Churches always impress me. I’ll admit I’m not the most religious of people, nor do I pretend to be but there’s something about cathedrals and churches that are really beautiful and peaceful. The Seville Cathedral is nothing short of amazing either. The city almost seems to be built around the church. The unusually large amount of space around all four sides of the church only help to exemplify it’s importance and structural beauty. In fact the cathedral is the world’s third largest cathedral and the largest built in a Gothic style. The cathedral has also been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you are walking in, ladies please make sure your knees are covered. Whether you are religious or not I’m a big believer that you must respect the laws and customs of another culture. On one side of the cathedral you’ll find the Giralda tower. Apparently this bell tower wasn’t always so. It’s the last remaining piece of the mosque that once stood there when the city was under muslim rule. Cool huh?

La Maestranza

The La Maestranza is the royal bullring of Seville. Now I’m not going to say I support animal cruelty nor do I support bull fights in general, I find them incredibly barbaric but La Meastranza is definitely a must see on your list. It’s one of the most visited attractions in the city of Seville so if you can stomach a bullfight that by all means go for it. There are only set dates and times these shows are performed (obviously) so if you’re interested in seeing one make sure to book in advance and look ahead.

If bullfighting isn’t your thing, just do like me and take a gander to the spot to look around. The building is a circular crisp white structure so the yellow and red outlines really pop. As a lover of doors, La Maestranza has some of the most beautiful big red doors that are a great place to take pictures in front of.

Explore the neighbourhoods

Santa Cruz:

This neighbourhood is a popular tourist area that actually used to be the Jewish quarter in medieval times. It’s an area that you can get lost in, walking through the tiny streets. They aren’t luxurious nor are they intricate but it’s a colourful area that offers a lot to passer-by’s.

One of the more popular spots here is Barrio Santa Cruz. It’s a tiny bar with a large patio that almost seems to spill out onto a street (although cars can’t travel through). It’s a good place for a quick rest and a drink before moving on to explore some more. The neighbourhood is also home to one of Seville’s oldest churches. There are so many hidden alcoves, shops and restaurants you can find lost to do to waste a couple hours. If you’re short on time like I was, simply walking through is fun as well.

Alfalfa:

The Alfalfa neighbourhood is an interesting one as it blends together the cultures from it’s diverse history. The neighbourhood consists of a combination of traditional and modern restaurants. It’s also a great spot to enjoy a night out.

El Arenal:

Another district of Seville that’s worth walking through is El Arenal. The area is located in the historical region of Seville. El Arenal is located west of Santa Cruz and along the Guadalquivir river. It’s here that you’ll find the infamous bell tower: Torre del Oro. I was actually enchanted by Torre del Oro. The structure seemed like a beautiful piece of history placed in the middle of a modern world. You can climb up into the tower or like me, simply admire if from below.

One of my favourites spots in this area was the Lonja Del Barranco Market. The interior design of this market was so beautiful. It’s a modern space and filled with crisp white tiles, industrial looking light fixtures and more tapas you can dream of. It’s the perfect spot for lunch and I’m sure would be a cool way to spend an evening. It’s located just along the river with quite a bit of patio space. There truly is food for anyone.

So there you have it my quick, but not all-encompassing tour around Seville. I definitely would go back to this beautiful and romantic city anytime. Especially because, like an idiot, we didn’t book a Flamenco dancing show in advance so didn’t get to see this on our trip.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Seville, did I miss anything?

Additional Notes

ACCOMMODATION

Airbnb stays are quite easy to find in Seville so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding something within your budget. For tips about booking Airbnb check out my post here.
Booking.com is another great resource if you’re looking to book a hotel instead of an apartment.