I wasn’t sure how many days in Seville I would end up spending, even though I booked four nights in a hotel in the city. Seville was my base in Andalusia—well, one of them—and I didn’t want to focus only on its city center.
On the other hand, Seville enchanted me almost from the moment I stepped off the bus and walked into its Casco Antiguo old town. The charm continued even during inhospitable times, like when I stepped out one day during the most blazing part of the afternoon, when the sheer white-hotness of the air educated me in an instant about why the concept of siesta exists, my decision not to observe it notwithstanding.
Seville, to be frank, is what Madrid wishes it was, and what every city in Spain should be. This fact makes the city both extremely easy and impossibly difficult to write about.
Where to Stay in Seville
I’ll get back to the topic of how many days in Seville in just a second, but for now, let’s talk about where you should sleep. One of my favorite things about Seville is just how many amazing hotels are there. In particular, there’s a high concentration of small boutique hotels, such as the H10 Corregidor (where I stayed on my most recent trip) and Hotel Fernando III, a choice that’s a bit more upscale.
No matter which property you choose, I would recommend to stay somewhere in the Casco Antiguo, aka the Old Town. Additionally, while there are many Airbnb properties in Seville, I personally feel this is a city that demands a hotel. First of all, because there are so many of them priced so competitively and secondly, because Seville is such an unabashed tourist city.
What to Do in Seville
Get lost in el Casco Antiguo
On a square-kilometer basis, Seville’s Casco Antiguo (old town) is probably the most satisfying place in Spain for me, certainly as a photographer. And I’m not just talking about must-see attractions like the Catedral de Sevilla and Alcazar de Sevilla, although they’re both more than worth the price of the admission (particularly the alcazar, which for my money is even better than the most famous one in Granada). I recommend devoting at least a full day to explore Seville’s beating heart..
Relax in the shade of Las Setas
No matter how long to stay in Seville you decide, you’ll definitely make at least one stop at Las Setas. The question is how often you come back, and whether you pay to go up on top. For me, the structure is more impressive from ground level; the view from the tower of the cathedral is more sweeping. Either way, this monument (which constitutes the world’s largest wooden structure and whose name means “The Mushrooms” in Spanish) is definitely worth some attention while you’re in Seville.
Dig into the unique history of Plaza de España
Spend an evening in Triana
Speaking of tile,Trianais another district you should explore, regardless of how many days in Seville you have. Located across theGuadalquivir Riverfrom the Old Town, Triana is famous for being where many of the tiles you find throughout el Casco Antiguo were made, although you needn’t tour a tile shop to be charmed. To be frank, I’m a fan of simply getting lost, and also of dining waterside at many of the restaurants set up right along the river.
Explore the rest of Andalusia
Other FAQ About Visiting Seville, Spain
Is Seville worth visiting?
Seville, for my money, in Spain’s most satisfying tourist city—it’s absolutely worth visiting. If you tire of its charming Casco Antiguo old town (unlikely), you can take day trips to literally a dozen cities in Spain’s Andalusia region, including Cordoba, Cadiz and Jerez de la Frontera.
Is 2 days in Seville enough?
Two days is enough to explore Seville’s immediate city center, including its Old Town and some of the districts immediately around it. However, if you aspire to explore Andalusia beyond Seville and haven’t committed to sleeping elsewhere in the region, you’ll need more than 2 days in Seville.
Is 3 days enough in Seville?
With 3 days in Seville, you can spend a full day in the Casco Antiguo old town, another day going off Seville’s beaten path and then spend your third day on a day trip. Generally, I’d say Cordoba is the best day trip option from Seville, although if you didn’t previously visit Granada it might be the best choice (although it is a very long “day trip” from Seville, with a journey time of three hours each way).
The Bottom Line
When it comes to visiting Seville, how many days you devote is key to your enjoyment of the place. Indeed, Seville will be not just a destination, but one of your bases in Andalusia, Spain’s most rewarding region for exploration and discovery. Combining this with Seville’s own strengths, I’d say that 4-5 days is the minimum amount of time you should consider staying here, assuming your trip to Spain lasts at least a couple weeks.
Robert Schrader is a travel writer and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications such as “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” along the way. His blog, Leave Your Daily Hell, provides a mix of travel advice, destination guides and personal essays covering the more esoteric aspects of life as a traveler.
