The One Day in Seville Guide: Things To Do, Landmarks, Restaurants

A beautiful mixture of architecture, of cultures, of cuisines, and of landscapes. Seville is utterly romantic, desperately historical, and essentially Spanish all at the same time. Cobbled streets lead you down alleys. Palm trees line pavements, giving off a tropicana sort of feeling. Jugs of sangria fly out the café doors. Gypsies wander around selling trinkets. Horses trot by. And the city is ALIVE with visitors! 

Seville is very special to me. During a three-month backpacking, shenanigan-filled adventure to Europe with my best friend, it was the first Spanish city I visited. And it was a love affair at first sight. With lots in store, I spent two days here (and one night). Luckily, because our Airbnb that we booked was a single bed on the top of a roof (be careful, photos can be deceiving). Anyway, it makes for great laugh-a-minute travel memories. 

I can never sing Seville’s praises enough. Of all the Spanish destinations, it remains one of my favorites. If you’re wondering whether to visit or not, the answer is a huge YES! I’ve compiled a one day in Seville guide of everything you need to know, do, and experience to squeeze the most out of your time here. 

How to get around

Bicycle 

The city is dead flat, so cycling is easy. Many travelers opt for this transport mode. It’s also cost-efficient to hire out a bike, with endless rental shops around Seville. 

Tram 

Interconnecting many famous landmarks, the tram is very tourist-friendly for one day in Seville. Tickets are cheap for one-way rides; they run from 6 am to 11 pm, and arrive at tram stops every six to seven minutes. 

Metro 

Most of Seville’s metro runs underground. It’s quite small, with 22 stops along the line, but it is a convenient way to travel the city during one day in Seville, especially for longer stretches. 

E-scooter

E-scooters have become so popular! It speeds up time compared to walking or biking, and these nifty two-wheelers are easy to use (but make sure you know how to balance). 

Taxi

Use the local taxis or Uber operates in Seville, too. 

On foot

If you love exploring on foot, check out loads by walking during your one day in Seville. If you’re on a budget, it’s the best option, as it’s obviously free!

Where to stay

Love staying among the locals, especially when there’s a creative buzz? Triana is where it’s at. Hotel Boutique Triana House is a designer’s dream! Or if you enjoy an entire space to yourselves, Magno Apartments Castilla in Triana is sleek and stylish. Santa Cruz is a tourist-friendly area in the heart of the historic center, and most visitors stay here. Check into Hotel Casa del Limonero or Hostal San Vicente II.

Ten minutes from Barrio Santa Cruz is trendy Alfalfa, where old-meets-new, and there are many landmarks to discover. Book a stay at LETOH LETOH Sevilla.

Morning 

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? With much planned for this one day in Seville adventure, fuel up, get energized, and feel ready to tackle it all. After all, you only live once — so make the most of it! 

If your accommodation includes brekkie, enjoy it there (and save some moola). Otherwise, Seville boasts some epic spots for breakfast hour. Here are some of my faves: 

• Earthy, hearty, and healthy is how I’d describe Mokambo.
• Billy Brunch’s hollandaise is the brightest shade of yellow; the spot for eggs bennie.  
• For pastries, bagels, and pancakes, head to FILO.
• Big on knowing where ingredients are sourced? Biomio is all about what we put into our bodies. 
• MOYA Brunch is my favorite. Expect pastel pink everything, matcha, and vegan options. 
• I’m a big fan of Ringo Banana’s food: think brioche toast topped with ricotta, orange peel, plums, mint, and honey. 

Discovering Seville’s striking architecture is next on the cards. And the best way for this is by scoping the city’s iconic landmarks. 

Quick history lesson: (Apparently) founded by Hercules (yup, the Greek god), it’s experienced many rulers. These include the Romans, Vikings, Arab Dynasties, and the Catholics. The century-spanning results are an amalgamation of architectural styles and buildings. 

Back to the sightseeing. For this morning’s expedition, you should have enough time to explore two to three landmarks now during your one day in Seville. Without question, the Alcázar Real de Sevilla is a non-negotiable (guided tours are available), as well as Maria Luisa Park. Next door to one another, this makes it super convenient to check out both within a short timeframe. 

For your third architectural wonder, you have a few options. If your favorite buildings to marvel over are churches, there’s the breathtaking Catedral de Sevilla (one of the world’s largest Gothic style cathedrals) or the 17th century Iglesia de San Luis de los Franceses (for all things Baroque). Or, if you’d rather see more of Seville’s impressive villas and palaces blending Moorish and Renaissance design, consider the Palacio de las Dueñas or Casa de Pilatos. 

Two other “wow” spots are the semi-circular Plaza del Cabildo (a similar shape square to Siena’s Piazza del Campo). Nicknamed “the mushrooms,” Setas de Sevilla is an example of the city’s more modern/newer architectural wonders. 

Mid Morning

After concentrating on the design, history, and culture of Seville’s landmarks, coffee o’clock beckons. I’m a coffee addict, and even more so when traveling. This Spanish city has plenty of specialty coffee stops! 

I’ve narrowed it down to these top seven for one day in Seville. LATE (Italiano vibes); MUY (Brazilian); Selva (100% halal); Parcería Café (for global beans); Virgen Coffee (for strong coffee drinkers); Hispalis (delish Nicaraguan beans); and Syra Coffee (amazing cold brew).   

Ready to get in a round of shopping? Whenever there’s a market involved, I always prefer morning shopping sessions. Because doesn’t the best stuff always sell out the fastest? And for markets (especially flea markets), most time, items are one-of-a-kind. 

Here on a Thursday? Visit Seville’s oldest market: Calle Feria flea market. Set up within the iconic plaza every Sunday, the Cabildo Square Flea Market is great for antiques. Foodies: Mercado de Triana is one of the best fresh produce/food markets. Closed off to any vehicles, Calle Sierpes is the city’s busiest pedestrian shopping street, lined with stores of all kinds.

Afternoon

After all the morning action, lunch calls. I have a super appetite, and when I’m hungry, I can get hangry. Dinner in Spain is also usually quite late, so don’t miss out on lunch; otherwise, you might join me in the Hangry Club. For lunch on this one day in Seville itinerary, it’s all about tapas. Comprising small plates fantastic for sharing, if you’re not super hungry, this is always a great option. 

1. La Brunilda: A firm favorite among many visitors, try the duck confit, tuna sashimi, patata bravas, and sirloin steak.   
2. Bar Alfalfa: Dubbed as the best tapas bar in Seville, it’s always busy! 
3. Bar El Comercio: Save room for churros post-lunch; this spot is famous for them. 
4. El Rinconcillo: Well-priced and good portion size. Book downstairs seating for tapas. 
5. Mercado del Barranco: Grab a bunch of gourmet tapas from different stalls. 
6. Bodeguita Romero: The most authentic Spanish tapas, like sardines on tostadas and salmorejo!

P.S. An alternative is to book a river cruise including lunch onboard. 

Make sure to save room for dessert during one day in Seville, and by dessert, I mean gelato. Yes, the Italians invented gelato, but from all the European countries under my travel belt, my next best destination for gelato outside of Italia, is definitely Spain! Gelateria MITO is insane!!! And their ice cream uses Italian recipes, so it’s as good as it gets. Not a gelato person? Did you know Spain is famous for its Basque cheesecake? La tarta de la madre de Cris sells the best in Seville!

Late Afternoon

Before the day winds down and you take a break before dinner to refresh, I recommend hiring a bicycle and exploring the streets. It’s so much fun! Pull over for a Sangria, pit stop at gypsy street vendors, and venture through Seville’s iconic neighborhoods. 

Here with your beloved? Hunt down the “Alley of the Kiss” (Calle del Beso/Calle Reinoso) and smooch your lover down here. There’s a whole legend about it, worth reading before. Look for the red-stained wall, too. It’s located in the Barrio Santa Cruz neighborhood, which in itself is magical to explore. Or, creatives, Triana is famous for its Spanish ceramics. 

Warning: This Spanish city has plenty cobbled streets. Take caution when cycling. Whilst crossing a tram line, my wheel got stuck and I wiped out hardcore. Talk about a giggle, but in hindsight, dangerous. 

Not really one for bike rides? Head to a museum instead. Fabulous options include the Palace of the Countess of Lebrija; the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville; Galería Haurie; the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo (CAAC); the Flamenco Dance Museum; and the Centro Ceramica Triana.

Evening

Fun fact: Flamenco originates from Southern Spain. There’s no better place to witness the spectacle. Most of the flamenco shows take place in the evening, and you have the option to book tickets with dinner included. Pre-book tickets in advance if you’d prefer. 

The best flamenco shows to experience for one day in Seville include Teatro Flamenco Triana, Tablao Flamenco Los Gallos, and Tablao Flamenco Las Setas. 

Not interested in flamenco-ing it up? Here are top dinner restaurant options. 

• Whether you’re in the mood for tapas, bigger plates, or fusion eats, Marabunda Sevilla does it all (including excellent wines and cocktails). 
• Foodie fanatics, fine-dining-centered Abantal owns one Michelin star — and it shows. 
• Señor Cangrejo is playful, imaginative, and dishes out divine Spanish cuisine. 
• The interiors of Restaurante El Pintón are so beautiful. Love it!

If you’ve still got energy left for one day in Seville, Flor De Sal Wine Bar is a stunning wine bar. Or, check out my list of the best bars in Seville.  

Can you believe it’s all coming to an end? (Insert tear drop emoji.) Do you have more than just one day in Seville planned? I suggest considering a day trip to Cordoba (1.5 hours from Seville). Use this extensive Cordoba guide to plan this excursion. Also, this Spanish city is renowned for its cuisine. Here are 9 authentic-as-it-gets restaurants in Cordoba, where time-old traditions are honored in every way. 

Where are you heading after Seville? Barcelona? Madrid? Majorca? Granada? If you’re not sure, here’s a helpful guide, covering the top things to do, see, eat, and where to stay at must-visit places around Spain. 

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