Two days is the right amount of time for Seville. It is enough to see the great monuments without rushing, walk the old quarters, cross the river, and still sit down for long lunches the Sevillian way. This plan groups sights by area so you walk from one to the next, and leaves the hottest hours free.
Book two things before you arrive: the Real Alcázar (€15.50, official shop) and the Cathedral (€13.00 online, cathedral shop). Everything else can be decided on the day.
Day 1: the historic heart
Time
Plan
09:30
Real Alcázar: palaces first, then the gardens (2–3 hours). See what to see.
12:15
Archive of the Indies, across the square: free, cool, 20–30 minutes (closed Mondays; its weekday hours are 9:30 – 17:00, so go before lunch).
13:00
Santa Cruz: lanes, squares and the Murillo gardens. See Santa Cruz.
14:00
Lunch in or near Santa Cruz.
16:00
Cathedral and Giralda (1.5–2 hours).
18:30
Plaza de España and María Luisa Park in the evening light.
Evening
Tapas; perhaps a flamenco show.
Why this order: the Alcázar opens earliest and its gardens are best before the heat; the Cathedral opens later (10:45 – 19:00 on weekdays) and is cool inside; Plaza de España is at its best at sunset. Day one alone is Seville in one day.
Day 2: the river, Triana and Seville's other palaces
Time
Plan
Morning
Casa de Pilatos, a 16th-century palace mixing Mudéjar, Gothic and Renaissance, quieter than the Alcázar.
Late morning
Metropol Parasol (Las Setas): the modern canopy, its rooftop walkway and the Roman remains below.
13:30
Lunch around the Alfalfa or Encarnación squares.
Afternoon
Rest through the heat.
17:30
Torre del Oro and the river walk along the Guadalquivir.
18:30
Cross the bridge to Triana: its market, ceramics workshops and riverside bars.
Evening
Dinner in Triana, and the view back across the river to the centre.
Alternative day two: Córdoba
If you have already seen much of Seville, spend day two in Córdoba instead: the Mosque-Cathedral is an easy train ride away, with a free visiting hour early in the morning. See the Córdoba day trip.
Practical tips
Heat. From June to September, keep outdoor sightseeing to the morning and evening. See visiting in summer.
Walking. The historic centre is compact; you will not need transport on day one. On day two, the tram or a short taxi helps if the heat is strong.
Mondays. Some sights close on Mondays, including the Archive of the Indies. The Alcázar is open daily; the Cathedral opens on Monday.
Sunday. The Cathedral opens only in the afternoon (14:30 – 19:00); swap the order if your day one is a Sunday.
Opening hours change. Check each monument's official site the day before.
Tours that save planning
The Viator best seller, the Alcázar and Cathedral tour (3 hours 30 minutes, 5,402 reviews, non-refundable), covers day one's big monuments with entry included.
Prices per adult, ratings and conditions come from Viator and are refreshed when the site is updated; Viator's page shows today's price. Affiliate links.
