3 days in Seville

Real Alcázar

A royal palace still used by the Spanish crown, rebuilt in Mudéjar style under Pedro I in the 14th century. The route runs through the palace rooms and out into the gardens, and takes most of a morning.

4 h visitOpen 9:30 am–5:00 pmAdult ticket €15.50

Go at opening. The palace rooms are small, so crowds slow the whole route, and the gardens are at their best before the tour groups arrive.

Tickets are sold online and at the box office in the Patio de Banderas from 9:00, by card only. Buy online in advance to avoid the box office queue, especially at weekends and in spring.

Winter hours run from 1 October to 31 March, 9:30 to 17:00. From 1 April to 30 September it opens 9:30 to 19:00. The site is cleared about 45 minutes after the closing time shown. Closed on 1 and 6 January, Good Friday and 25 December.

Source: Real Alcázar de Sevilla, checked October 5, 2026

Seville Cathedral and Giralda

One of the largest cathedrals in the world, built on the site of the city's main mosque. The standard ticket covers the interior and the climb up the Giralda bell tower.

3 h visit (official site suggests 1 h 15)Open 2:30 pm–7:00 pm · last entry 6:00 pmAdult ticket €13

Do the Giralda first, because the visit starts there. Early in the day the nave is quiet and the light through the windows is better.

Tickets carry an access time. Online tickets enter by the Lagarto Gate and box office tickets by the Prince's Gate. Book ahead for weekends and spring.

From 1 September 2026: Monday to Saturday 10:45 to 19:00, Sunday 14:30 to 19:00. The box office closes at 18:00. Times can change for worship and church events.

Source: Catedral de Sevilla, checked October 5, 2026

Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)

A wooden canopy over Plaza de la Encarnación, finished in 2011. A lift takes you to a walkway on top with a view over the old town roofs.

1 h 15 visit (official site suggests 1 h)Open 9:30 am–12:00 am · last entry 11:30 pmAdult ticket €16

Go up about 30 minutes before sunset to see the city in daylight and then lit. The sunset light show runs at that hour.

Buy a time slot on the official site. You can change or cancel with a refund up to two hours before.

Open daily from 9:30. It closes at midnight in winter and at 1:00 in summer, and the last entry is 30 minutes before closing. The shorter winter time is shown.

Source: Setas de Sevilla, checked October 5, 2026

Alameda de Hércules

A long tree-lined square north of the centre, laid out in 1574. It is where locals go in the evening, not a sight to tick off.

1 h visitAlways open

Come in the late afternoon and stay on through the evening, when the terraces fill and the bars open.

Source: Visita Sevilla (Seville tourism board), checked October 5, 2026

Plaza de España

A semicircular brick and tile building made for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, with a canal along its front. Entry is free, and the square works best early or late.

1 h 30 visitOpen 8:00 am–12:00 am

Come at opening or in the last hour before closing, when the light is lower and the tour groups have gone.

Visita Sevilla lists the square as open daily from 8:00 to midnight.

Source: Visita Sevilla (Seville tourism board), checked October 5, 2026

Hospital de los Venerables

A 17th century Baroque building in Santa Cruz, once a home for elderly priests. The visit takes in a courtyard, a church and exhibition rooms.

1 h visit (official site suggests 40 min)Open 10:00 am–3:00 pm · last entry 2:00 pmAdult ticket €12

A calm indoor stop for the heat of the afternoon. Pair it with a walk through Santa Cruz.

Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 19:00, Sunday 10:00 to 15:00. The last entry is one hour before closing.

Source: Fundación Focus, checked October 5, 2026

Archivo General de Indias

The archive of the Spanish empire in the Americas, in a 16th century Renaissance building that was once the merchants' exchange. Entry to the monumental area is free.

45 min visitOpen 10:00 am–2:00 pm · last entry 1:30 pm

A free stop that fits between the cathedral and the Alcázar. It is a short visit, so it works as a filler on a tight day.

Tuesday to Saturday 9:30 to 17:00, Sunday and holidays 10:00 to 14:00, closed Mondays. The last access is 30 minutes before closing. Closed on 1 and 6 January, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and 24, 25 and 31 December.

Source: Archivo General de Indias, Ministerio de Cultura, checked October 5, 2026

Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza

One of the oldest bullrings in Spain, open for visits outside bullfighting days. The visit takes in the ring, the stands and a museum.

1 h 15 visitOpen 9:30 am–9:30 pm · last entry 9:00 pmAdult ticket €12

Check the date first. On bullfighting days the visit closes at 15:00.

Open 9:30 to 21:30 on regular days and 9:30 to 15:00 on bullfighting days. The ticket office closes 30 minutes before.

Source: Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla, checked October 5, 2026

María Luisa Park

Seville's main park, with palms, orange trees, fountains, tiled benches and shaded paths. It is the easiest place to sit down in the middle of the day.

2 h 30 visitOpen 8:00 am–10:00 pm

Walk it in the late afternoon, when the shade is long and the heat has dropped. Combine it with Plaza de España at the north end.

Visita Sevilla gives 8:00 to 22:00 in winter and 8:00 to midnight in summer. The hours shown use the shorter winter time.

Source: Visita Sevilla (Seville tourism board), checked October 5, 2026

Barrio de Santa Cruz

The former Jewish quarter, a tangle of narrow lanes, small squares and orange trees right beside the cathedral. There is no entrance and no queue.

2 h visitAlways open

Walk it before 10:00 or after 19:00, when the groups are gone. Expect to get lost, since every lane ends in a square.

Source: Visita Sevilla (Seville tourism board), checked October 5, 2026

Museo de Bellas Artes

The main art museum of Andalusia, in a former convent, with the strongest collection of Seville Baroque painting. Murillo, Zurbarán and Valdés Leal are the names to look for.

2 h visitOpen 9:00 am–3:00 pm · last entry 2:15 pmAdult ticket €1.50

A good choice for the middle of the day or a rainy afternoon. From Tuesday to Saturday it stays open until 21:00.

Closed on Mondays, except Mondays before a holiday, which follow holiday hours. In 2026 it opens until 15:00 on Monday 12 October, 2 November and 7 December. In August it opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 15:00. Closed on 1 and 6 January, 1 May and 24, 25 and 31 December.

Source: Museos de Andalucía, checked October 5, 2026

Casa de Pilatos

A palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli that mixes Mudéjar, Gothic and Renaissance styles. It has a tiled courtyard, a garden and an upper floor with its own ticket.

1 h 15 visitOpen 9:00 am–6:00 pmAdult ticket €12

Come first thing. The courtyards are small, and they are easier to enjoy before the groups arrive.

The official page showed 9:00 to 18:00 for 5 October 2026. Hours can change with the season.

Source: Fundación Casa Ducal de Medinaceli, checked October 5, 2026

Torre del Oro

A 13th century riverside watchtower that now holds a small maritime museum. It is quick to visit and sits on the best stretch of the river path.

30 min visitOpen 10:30 am–7:00 pm · last entry 6:30 pmAdult ticket €3

Visit it on the way to Triana. The riverbank beside it is a good place to sit for a few minutes.

Monday to Friday 9:30 to 19:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:30 to 19:00, with the last entry at 18:30. Closed on 1 and 6 January, Good Friday, 1 May and 24, 25 and 31 December.

Source: Armada Española, Museo Marítimo Torre del Oro, checked October 5, 2026

Triana

The district across the Guadalquivir, long home to sailors, potters and flamenco families. It is a place to walk, eat and look back at the old town from the other bank.

2 h 30 visitAlways open

Come in the late afternoon. The light on the old town across the river is best then, and the bars fill from about 20:00.

Source: Visita Sevilla (Seville tourism board), checked October 5, 2026