Seville 3-Day Itinerary

Each day below keeps to one area and puts the walking in the morning and evening, with a long lunch and a rest in between. That pattern matters from May to September, when afternoons are fierce, and it suits Seville's late eating hours all year. Before you travel, book timed tickets for both the Alcázar and the Cathedral on their official sites, plus a flamenco show for day two.

Day 1: Cathedral, Alcázar and Santa Cruz

• Morning: Take the first Real Alcázar slot of the day and give the palaces and gardens at least two hours; our Alcázar guide suggests a route. Then cross Plaza del Triunfo to the Cathedral and climb the Giralda, whose ramps (not stairs) make the ascent easier than it looks.
• Afternoon: Lunch a couple of streets away from the monuments, then wander Santa Cruz slowly: Callejón del Agua along the old Alcázar wall, Plaza de Doña Elvira, Plaza de Santa Cruz. Rest through the hottest hours.
• Evening: Walk through El Arenal to the Torre del Oro and along the river, with tapas around the Maestranza bullring.

Day 2: María Luisa Park, Plaza de España and Triana

• Morning: Reach Plaza de España early, before the heat and the crowds, and walk the full curve of tiled benches, one for each Spanish province. Continue into the shade of María Luisa Park.
• Afternoon: Lunch, a rest, then cross the Puente de Triana late in the day for the market, the ceramics shops and Calle San Jacinto, following our Triana guide.
• Evening: Watch the light fade over the old town from Calle Betis, then see a show; our flamenco guide explains how to choose one.

Day 3: Las Setas, markets and the Alameda

• Morning: Start at Las Setas, the huge wooden canopy over Plaza de la Encarnación, with Roman remains in its basement. Walk north through quiet lanes to the Mercado de Feria.
• Afternoon: Lunch at the market or nearby, then pick one thing: the Museo de Bellas Artes, a return to a favourite corner, or ceramics shopping. Leave room for a siesta.
• Evening: Go back up to the Las Setas walkway at sunset, then end on the Alameda de Hércules, moving between two or three bars and ordering a little at each.

Given a fourth day, take the train to Córdoba, and the Roman ruins of Itálica are closer still.