Seville in 3 days: day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 1 of 8 free; 7 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 3 days, 9:30 to 17:50 each day
- Start and finish
- Plaza de España → Mezquita of Córdoba
- On foot
- ≈ 25 min in total
- Transport
- 1 ride, ≈ 36 min
- Lunch
- around 10:45
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn; in summer Córdoba is one of Spain's hottest cities.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Seville09:30–17:50 · 5 places · 8 h 20 min
Plaza de España
· 1 h 15 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 16 min on foot
Alcázar of Seville
· 2 h 30 min · Paid
- 3 min on foot
Archive of the Indies
· 45 min · Free
- 3 min on foot
Giralda
· 40 min · With cathedral ticket
- 3 min on foot
Seville Cathedral
· 1 h 45 min · Paid
Day 2 · Seville09:30–14:36 · 2 places · 5 h 10 min
Metropol Parasol
· 1 h · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 36 min · transport or taxi
Italica
· 2 h 30 min · Paid; free for EU citizens
Day 3 · Seville09:30–15:30 · 1 place · 6 h
Mezquita of Córdoba
· 6 h · Paid
What the route costs
1 of 8 are free; 7 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Plaza de España | 54 | 1 h 15 min | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Alcázar of Seville | 50 | 2 h 30 min | Paid |
| 3 | Archive of the Indies | 44 | 45 min | Free |
| 4 | Giralda | 45 | 40 min | With cathedral ticket |
| 5 | Seville Cathedral | 53 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
| 6 | Metropol Parasol | 44 | 1 h | Paid |
| 7 | Italica | 31 | 2 h 30 min | Paid; free for EU citizens |
| 8 | Mezquita of Córdoba | 36 | 6 h | Paid |
| Total | 16 h 30 min | 1 of 8 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Plaza de España. A 1928 semicircular palace with a canal, rowing boats and ceramic province alcoves. Free, open 24 hours.
- 2
Alcázar of Seville. A Mudéjar royal palace: the Maidens' Courtyard, the Hall of the Ambassadors and big gardens with peacocks. Timed ticket, book ahead.
- 3
Archive of the Indies. A Renaissance merchants' exchange with galleries of old cabinets and sea chart exhibitions. Usually free, closed Mondays.
- 4
Giralda. A former minaret turned cathedral bell tower, climbed by gentle ramps with all Seville below. On the cathedral ticket.
- 5
Seville Cathedral. The world's largest Gothic cathedral: a gilded altarpiece, five naves and the Orange Tree Courtyard. Timed ticket, book online.
Day 2
- 6
Metropol Parasol. Wooden 'mushrooms' over Plaza de la Encarnación: a rooftop walkway, a market and Roman ruins underground. The rooftop is paid.
- 7
Italica. A ruined Roman city 9 km from the centre: a huge amphitheatre and mosaics. Bus from Plaza de Armas, closed Mondays.
Day 3
- 8
Mezquita of Córdoba. Córdoba's former Great Mosque, a forest of red and white arches with a cathedral inside. 45 minutes by AVE, book online.
Who this route is for
- A first trip to Andalusia
- Architecture lovers
- Seeing two historic capitals
- Granada and the Alhambra need their own trip
- Beaches are on the coast
Spring and autumn; in summer Córdoba is one of Spain's hottest cities.
How the three days work
Day one is Seville's old centre: the cathedral, Giralda, Archive of the Indies, Alcázar and Plaza de España. Day two is Italica in the morning and Metropol Parasol in the evening.
Day three is Córdoba. Take an early train from Santa Justa to reach the Mezquita at opening time. Afterwards, wander the whitewashed lanes of the Jewish quarter, have salmorejo for lunch and watch the sunset from the Roman bridge before an evening train back.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
Where to eat
In Seville, tapas in Santa Cruz, around the market under Metropol Parasol and in Triana. In Córdoba, try salmorejo, the thick cold tomato soup that comes from here. Taverns around the Mezquita also serve fried aubergine with honey and local wines.
Spain lunches from 2pm and dines after 9pm, so in Córdoba have lunch between the Mezquita and your walk, and dinner back in Seville.
Tips for three days
Book the Córdoba train ahead, as morning services fill up in high season. Buy the Mezquita ticket online too; the bell tower climb is sold separately in timed slots.
In summer Córdoba and Seville are Spain's hottest cities. Walk in the morning and evening and spend midday in cathedrals, palaces and museums. Cover shoulders and knees in churches.
If you have more time
With time to spare, explore Triana's ceramic workshops in Seville, or visit the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs, with its gardens and ponds, in Córdoba.
How to do it right
- Book the Córdoba train ahead.
- Mezquita at opening time.
- Sunset on the Roman bridge.
- Churches require covered shoulders and knees and no beachwear; walking around town in swimwear is not allowed.
- Spain uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Book the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the Gaudí houses ahead on their official sites, which list entry times and closing days.
Questions
What can you see in Seville in 3 days?
The cathedral, Alcázar, Plaza de España, Italica, Metropol Parasol and the Mezquita in Córdoba.
How do I get from Seville to Córdoba?
By AVE or Avant high-speed train in 45 minutes.
Can you visit Córdoba as a day trip?
Yes, it's one of the easiest trips from Seville.
What is there to see in Córdoba?
The Mezquita, the Roman bridge, the Jewish quarter and the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs.
How do I pay in Spain?
Spain uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Book the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the Gaudí houses ahead on their official sites, which list entry times and closing days.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- UNESCO: Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville (no. 383); Historic Centre of Córdoba (no. 313)
