Seville in 3 Days: tips, what to see, and much more

Do you have a long weekend available and feel like discovering a historical city? Don't hesitate any longer, Seville is the answer to your questions. The Andalusian capital offers endless things to see and do but with three days you will see the essentials. Here you will find everything you need: monuments, traditional restaurants, flamenco shows and a vibrant nightlife. Ready to go?

On the first day we will focus on the essentials of the Andalusian capital. The route is concentrated between the old town and the famous Triana neighborhood.

For a simple and mostly pedestrian route, we have placed the starting point under an icon of Seville: the Torre del Oro.

Walk under the watchtower of the Guadalquivir River

The Torre del Oro is one of the best monuments of the Andalusian capital. It was built in the last years of the Almohad dynasty and has a twin in nearby Santander Street: the Torre de la Plata. The watchtower marked the beginning of the old port and had a defensive function.

In the Muslim period there was no real bridge between Seville and Triana but some ships lined up and held stable by a chain. This barrier closed the way to enemy ships and thwarted a few boarding attempts such as, for example, that of the Castilian sailor Ramon de Bonifaz.

The Torre del Oro can be visited every day of the week from 9:30 am to 6:45 pm (Monday to Friday) and from 10:30 am to 6:45 pm (Saturday and Sunday).

Spend a few hours at the Real Alcazar

Many people who visit Seville overlook this treasure. Maybe it is due to lack of time or maybe because they have not bought tickets in advance.

Don't make the same mistake, you can't go home without visiting the Real Alcazar. It is a highly coveted attraction and it is preferable to secure a ticket before you leave.

The Alcazar is one of the oldest royal palaces still in use. When the Kings travel to the Andalusian capital they still stay in the Cuarto Alto, a splendid residence that occupies the upper part of the Mudejar Palace. Its current appearance is due to Isabel II and can be visited every day of the week.

I recommend you spend some time in this splendid monument. There is a lot to see and some rooms stand out from the others. The list below is our top five:

• Patio de la Monteria, the largest of the Alcazar. Under the floor are hidden the foundations of a building from the Muslim period. It is a monumental access point that welcomes visitors.
• Casa de Contratación
• Palace of Pedro I
• Gothic Palace, a building that symbolizes the triumph of Christianity. It was erected by the will of King Alfonso X the Wise.
• Gardens

Continues the tour of the Cathedral of Seville and the Giralda

The Cathedral of Seville is the fourth largest in the world. Only St. Peter's and the Brazilian basilica of Our Lady Aparecida surpass it in size. As you know, Seville has a seafaring past and its main church preserves the remains of the most famous navigator: Christopher Columbus.

The sailor rests in a monumental cenotaph inside the temple although it was not always so. In principle, Columbus was buried in Valladolid, although some claim that the real tomb is in Haiti. However, there is much more to see and if I had to choose just one activity, I would recommend a walk on the roof.

In addition to seeing the tomb of Christopher Columbus and being amazed by a visit to the roofs and stained glass windows of the Central Nave, you can't miss the memorable climb to the Giralda. It will be worth the effort for the spectacular views offered by this special bell tower of Seville.

Refresh yourself in the Maria Luisa Park

After a long visit , a break in the fresh air always comes in handy. Fortunately, next to the Alcazar is a historic park with fountains, benches, statues and luxuriant vegetation.

It occupies an area of more than 340,000 square meters and has a lot of charm. The current conformation is due to the French engineer Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier who had trained in the Parisian forest of Boulogne. Maria Luisa Park is open from 8:00 to 22:00 (autumn and winter) and from 8:00 to 24:00 (spring and summer).

On the way to the park, dazzle yourself and take some pictures in the wonderful Plaza de España. Nobody is indifferent to this architectural complex of large dimensions and that has been the scene of important films such as "Lawrence of Arabia", "Star Wars" or "The Dictator".

On the second day we will leave Seville for a few hours. A short distance away is a city that is definitely worth a visit.

Travel to Carmona

Carmona is a municipality of about 30,000 inhabitants a short distance from Seville. Tartessians and Phoenicians built it on top of a hill overlooking a fertile plain. Thanks to its privileged position, it became one of the most important cities in the region. Just think that during Roman times it had the privilege of minting coins.

Visiting Carmona will take you at least half a day. Despite its size it has a good number of monuments and generally the routes begin at the Puerta de Sevilla, a monumental access surrounded by a fortress known as Alcazar de Abajo. The first structure dates from the third century B.C. although it was remodeled over the years. As usual, the routes touch on the following attractions:

• Plaza de San Fernando, the heart of Roman Carmona. This is where the two main streets intersected: the Cardo Maximus and the Decumanus Maximus. The remodeling works carried out in 1924 have given it its present appearance.
• Iglesia Prioral de Santa María de la Asunción, a late Gothic temple built on the foundations of a mosque. It keeps a resemblance with the Cathedral of Seville and in its interior it keeps a magnificent main altar piece that represents scenes of the life of Jesus.
• Necropolis, an obligatory stop on every trip to Carmona. It was the first Spanish museum dedicated to archaeological sites and houses burial chambers carved into the rock. The most famous tombs are those of the elephant and Servilia. In the grounds of the cemetery is a Roman amphitheater that could accommodate 18,000 spectators.
• Hospital de la Caridad with its brick facade. Inside it houses a collection of Flemish paintings.

Taste the Andalusian gastronomy

Lunch in Carmona will give you the opportunity to taste its delicacies. The star dish is alboronía, a vegetable stew that resembles ratatouille. Squashes, eggplants, zucchini, green peppers and tomatoes are simmered with olive oil and a pinch of cumin. In town, the restaurant of reference is Abaceria Museo Restaurante (Calle de San Ildefonso 1).

Other typical recipes include papas en amarillo (a potato stew with saffron that is often cooked with chorizo, seafood or crumbled cod) and potaje de tagarninas, a common thistle that grows wild in the region's fields. For a good lunch you can opt for Molino de la Romera (Calle Sor Angela de la Cruz 8), La Yedra (Calle General Freire 6) or Lolita Fusión (Avenida Ronda Norte 48).

Take a break in Triana

After lunch in Carmona you can return to Seville and finish the day in Triana. Not far from the center, just across the Triana Bridge you have on the other side of the river the most popular neighborhood of the capital of Seville.

A good way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Triana is to book a tapas tour. There are thousands of bars and some are authentic institutions. El Bistec is one of these and is best known for its fried zucchini and cod omelettes (Calle Pelay Correa 34). Another traditional establishment is Casa Cuesta, which offers dishes with fresh, local ingredients. Try the eggplants with salmorejo and the tenderloins with whiskey, you won't regret it (Calle Castilla 1).

To finish off the day you can opt for a river walk. There are several options available, from the simplest to romantic cruises with dinner on board. Undoubtedly a different way to enjoy the city.

On the third and last day we return to Seville to see the monuments we are missing. I have inserted the excursion to Carmona in the second day to enjoy the last hours more calmly. This way you don't have to go back to your hotel or rental house right away.

Cross the threshold of the Iglesia de la Caridad (Church of Charity)

The route starts at a building that was once a hospital and a church. It was built in the 15th century to give a dignified burial to the destitute, those condemned to death and the unfortunate who lost their lives in the river. It played a crucial role during the plague epidemic and is undoubtedly one of the most important religious buildings in Seville.

Inside it houses works by Roldán, Murillo and Zurbarán, among others, and a collection of religious sculptures from the Italian city of Genoa. To delve into its history I recommend buying a ticket with audio guide. The standard price is affordable - usually around 8 € - and retirees pay only 5 €.

Admire the Piazza del Cabildo

Once out of the church, turn right and then take Calle 2 de Mayo. After passing under the Arco del Postigo del Aceite arch, you will come to the Plaza del Cabildo, an amphitheater-shaped space surrounded by elegant palaces. In the past, on this same site was the college of San Miguel, which belonged to the Cabildo of Seville.

Although it does not have the same monumental fascination of Plaza de España, it is a quiet place that is not usually crowded. If you like sweets and you feel like a treat, I recommend stopping at La Campana, a bakery that has been making delicacies since 1885. Among its specialties we can mention the tortas de polvorón, the cortadillos de cidra or the milhoja de turrón.

Enjoy the view at Las Setas

After visiting a symbol of Gothic Seville, it is time to see a contemporary icon. Put in Maps the address "Plaza de la Encarnación" and follow the signs, in about 10 minutes you will arrive at the foot of a gigantic wooden structure. This is the Setas de Sevilla, a unique work conceived by the Berlin architect Jürgen Mayer.

If you look at it from afar you will see that it is actually six mushroom-shaped parasols intertwined with each other. The elevators take you up to the roof, which is about 25 meters high, high enough to go above the surrounding buildings. As for the price, it depends on the time. If during the day you will have to pay 5 €, at night the amount rises to 10 €. If you are interested in plans after sunset I recommend you to read the post about the 10 things to do in Seville at night.

Say goodbye to Seville in the bars of Alfalfa

Before packing your suitcase and say goodbye to the city of Seville, you deserve a gastronomic treat. As you may have noticed these days, Seville and tapas go hand in hand and Alfalfa is the ideal place to sit in the sun on a terrace and order a cold beer. There are a few tourists but also locals usually go out here.

Its name derives from the homonymous herbaceous plant that was used to feed animals. Alfalfa is young and cosmopolitan and definitely worth spending your last hours here. In this neighborhood you can choose from different options for all budgets:

• Sal Gorda, a must stop for fish and seafood lovers. It has a selection of recipes based on wild red tuna and Icelandic cod (Calle Beatriz de Bobadilla 9).
• Taberna Coloniales, a neighborhood classic. Locals come here for sirloin steak (with whiskey, Roquefort, Port or Castilian style), pâté and other specialties (Plaza Cristo de Burgos 19).
• Estrella, the bar behind the Flamenco Museum. They offer family cuisine and their star tapas are based on bull's tail or carrillada, fried fish and salmorejo (Calle Estrella 3).
• Donaire, a typical Sevillian bar in the heart of Alfalfa. Order a glass of white wine and a plate of grilled baby squid or garlic shrimp (Calle Jesús de la Tres Caídas 2).

Of course it is! A long weekend is ideal to see the essentials of the Andalusian capital and a bit of its surroundings. If you decide to stay four or five days in Seville I recommend exploring even more of the nearby area. A highly sought-after excursion is the one to Cordoba, the city of the Mezquita. Other recommended destinations are Doñana, Granada or the remains of Italica.