A Family-friendly Guide for Spending Two Days in Seville

Are you ready for a journey to the mesmerizing city of Seville, Spain? If you only have two days in Seville, this guide will take you through the must-see sights, delicious eats, and immersive activities that make Seville a perfect destination for a family adventure.

Yup, you can experience all of that with just 48 hours in Sevilla!

Known for its vibrant culture, rich history, awe-inspiring architecture, and sunny vibes practically all year long, Seville offers an unforgettable experience for travelers of all ages.

While you could spend an infinite number of days exploring this southern Spanish city, this guide is based on having a full two days in Seville. So plan accordingly and get ready to explore!

Quick Info for Your Trip to Seville

• Dinner starts around 8 pm in Spain. Keep that in mind if you like to eat early or if you’re traveling to Seville with kids. Since we were in Spain and Portugal for two weeks we embraced the culture and a new routine. We’d enjoy an afternoon siesta (see below), snack around our normal dinnertime, and then eat a Spanish dinner. And honestly: try to do this if at all possible. Towns come alive after 8 pm in a way that’s hard to describe. The best way to explain is it is like a light switch: once the sun goes down the city wakes up! The entire vibe changes and there’s an incredible energy in the evenings. However, if you’re only in the area for a short time and in Spain with kids, this could totally throw off your schedule.

• Siesta time! Expect places to shut down in the afternoon for siestas—a block of time, about two-three hours, devoted to rest. Since Seville is a bigger city you may not notice it as much, but there are definitely a few places that enjoy a “rest” break during the day. My advice: embrace it. You’ll likely stay up later, so a mid-day rest isn’t the worst thing especially if it’s hot outside.

• Even though Spanish is the native tongue, you’ll have no problem with English in Seville. Many places offered English menus, too.

• We’re usually big HoHo (hop-on/hop-off tour bus) fans, but I highly recommend skipping the ride in Seville for your weekend trip. This one was boring; it took you through parts of Seville that were definitely off-the-beaten-path (and not in a good way). Instead, take a great walking tour or rent bikes and see the city that way.

Is Two Days Enough Time in Seville?

Spending the equivalent of a weekend in Seville is absolutely enough to whet your wanderlust appetite and to see the highlights of the city.

But fair warning: it’ll leave you wanting to come back for more.

We visited Seville once in the spring during our two-week Spain and Portugal road trip, and then again in the middle of July. Both times we visited with all three kids and thoroughly enjoyed the equivalent of a weekend in Seville—even if it was short.

My thought is: if you only have two days in Sevilla, exploring all you can in a short time is 100 percent better than never visiting.

Just make sure not to cram too much into your day, especially if you’re in Seville with kids. Seville is a very walkable city, but it’ll take some time to get from place to place.

Also, depending on when you visit Sevilla (see below), it could be very hot, and that heat can drain your energy pretty quickly.

If a two-day trip or just a weekend to Seville is all you can manage, then go for it. There’s still plenty to do and see in 48 hours in Sevilla to give you a taste of the city.

Planning on being in Seville over a weekend? I suggest arriving sometime on a Friday and leaving early Monday or late Sunday so you can get the most out of your 48 hours in Seville. And if you happen to have more time to spare, there are extra day-trip ideas at the end of this post.

When to Visit Seville

Ideally, the best time to visit Seville is in the spring or fall. It’ll still be warm, but definitely more manageable than the summer months. The average year-round temperature is a delightful 19°C (66°F).

On the flip side, our visit in the summer (middle of July), while scorching hot, was still manageable.

We stayed in the shade, drank a lot of water, embraced the Spanish life, and very much enjoyed a siesta each day. Getting out of the heat at the hottest part of the day was a welcome reprieve. Of course, there was also a lot of ice cream involved for the kids.

Two Days in Seville

There’s a lot you can do in Seville in two days, and you may be tempted to pack your schedule tight, but this guide still has all the highlights so you’ll get to experience the best of everything.

Day One in Seville

Get ready to hit the Spanish pavement early; you’ll be getting all your steps in today.

Morning

Hit the ground running walking after having a hearty Spanish breakfast (or just grab some famous churros and coffee) and make your way over to Plaza de Espana.

It’ll be practically empty if you visit in the morning, which is a rare and beautiful sight to see; the entire area will be full of tourists by mid-morning/late afternoon.

This breathtaking square may look familiar if you like Star Wars. It was featured in Attack of the Clones when Anakin and Padmé arrive at Naboo. If you’re not a Star Wars fan then let your eyes dance around the intricate tilework, charming bridges, and a central fountain.

The entire plaza took more than 15 years to create, and the hard work paid off. Not only is it stunning, but there are more than 52 unique sections within Plaza de España. Each section contains benches and typical Andalusian tiles depicting each of the 52 Spanish provinces.

Pro tip: If you’re in Seville with kids, ask them to count each section and see who gets closest to 52!

My absolute favorite part of visiting Plaza de Espana is the street performers. If you’re lucky enough to be there at the right time (whenever they feel like setting up), you can catch some impromptu—and free!—flamenco dancing that will blow your mind.

We’ve seen them there at all hours of the day, so cross your fingers you can experience such a cultural wonder.

Since you’re already at the Plaza de Espana, plan on going on a (free) walking tour with a local guide.

Reservations are highly recommended (find a tour here) and donations are accepted at the end (we usually leave €10 per adult). Look for one that starts in the plaza; it’ll take you all around Seville.

We love walking tours when we’re only in a place for a short time (like a quick 48 hours in Seville, hint hint) or when we first arrive at a new location. It helps us get the lay of the land and understand the culture and area.

Pro tip: If you have time later in the day, there are little boats that circle around the Plaza de España canals. Get tickets at the little green hut with the “Venta Oficial Tickets” sig; they open at noon.

Afternoon

After your tour, stop for some lunch. Your tour guide will most likely have recommendations near where the tour ends. Tapas—little portions of food—and sangria are always a good idea.

Once you’ve filled up on lunch, stroll around Seville. One of our favorite things to do is walk around old town areas and pop into shops.

As the afternoon goes on, embrace the Spanish way of life and head back to your accommodations for a little siesta. If you need a pick-me-up along the way, pop in for some ice cream.

Evening

A trip to Seville isn’t complete without experiencing an authentic flamenco show. This was, without a doubt, a highlight of our weekend in Seville.

Listen and watch as the flamenco artists share their culture through dance with immense passion and emotion. Their expressions practically jump off the stage and will leave you just as breathless and enthralled.

These shows usually start later, around 7 pm and/or 9ish pm, and they can include dinner and/or a drink. Since the Spanish culture eats dinner later, consider doing the show and then having dinner after.

Pro Tip: If you’re going to a Flamenco show in Seville with kids, consider grabbing a quick dinner before the show so they don’t get hangry. Also, if your child has sensory issues, I recommend asking to not sit near the front. It can be extremely loud with all the foot stomping.

After the show ends—if you’re still in the mood for more Spanish culture—find some dinner.

Day Two in Seville

Welcome to your second day in Seville! You saw a snapshot of the city yesterday in a walking tour, so now it’s time to see even more.

Morning

After you’ve had breakfast make your way over to the historical center to explore the Royal Alcázar of Seville, a stunning palace with gorgeous architecture and tilework that will blow your mind around every corner.

But the real gem of the Royal Alcázar, at least according to my kids, was the vast garden outside. First of all, it’s huge and seems to go on forever. Second, look for the maze to get lost in, and find the (real) peacocks roaming the area.

We spent around two hours at the Royal Alcázar and probably could have stayed there longer, but we were all ready for lunch.

Pro tips: Get tickets ahead of time, because it gets very busy, and show up early. And hire a guide. We didn’t have a tour guide during this trip to Seville, and I wish we explored the Royal Alcázar with a tour. I like knowing what I’m looking at, and I feel like we didn’t get the full experience since we didn’t have a guide.

Afternoon

Have lunch in Seville’s historical center; there’s no shortage of restaurants, so find one that looks good! Grab some tapas—something light so it doesn’t make you too sleepy—you still have several hours of exploring left to do.

After lunch, it’s time for the Seville Cathedral, aka Catedral de Santa Maria de la Sede.

My kids externally groaned for this part, because, yes, seeing yet another church was on our agenda. But this one was pretty phenomenal, and they’ve actually brought it up a few times since our trip (that’s how you know it was a memorable place).

The Cathedral and the grounds are a mix of Muslim and Christian architecture (so basically it’s beautiful). And not only is it the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, but the gigantic gold altar is truly breathtaking.

Not to mention, Christopher Columbus’s tomb is inside the cathedral.

Now here’s the fun part (that we learned from our walking tour): not all of Christopher Columbus is buried there. Nope. Only part of him is in the gigantic tomb. Rumor has it that some of his bones are actually also in the Dominican Republic, too.

Whether or not all of Columbus is in Seville or just part of him (I know, so strange), the Seville Cathedral was definitely a fascinating stop.

As with most things, it’s best to book your tickets ahead of time.

Pro tip: If you visit between 2 and 3 pm Monday through Friday you can get free entry to both the cathedral and the tower (Giralda). There are only 100 available per day and they must be reserved in advance here (scroll down once you’re on the page).

While you’re planning your visit, make sure you save room in your schedule to climb La Giralda, the bell tower (included in ticket prices).

The bell tower is made up of ramps, not stairs. And also, just a word of warning: if you’re at the top of the tower at the top of the hour…the bells are LOUD!

After you climbed the tower you have a decision to make: go take a nap or power on and see another site.

If you’re not quite ready for a siesta and ready to keep going, walk a short distance to the Torre del Oro and climb the tower for some great views of the city. Or if you’re in the mood for something a little more chill and relaxed, consider a boat ride, or be a little more adventurous and kayak down the Guadalquivir River.

Evening

It may be evening, but it’s not dinnertime yet. Grab a pick-me-up snack and get ready to close out your two days in Seville with a fun evening.

Make your way over to Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla. It’s a mouthful to say (seriously, try saying it in Spanish three times fast), but it’s pretty cool and very “Seville,” so I suggest checking it out.

PRO TIP: You can get tickets in person, but if it’s hot outside it’s really nice to have them ahead of time. Get your tickets here.

While you can still see a bullfight in Sevilla, this excursion is just to see the museum and the bullring. My kids were fascinated by the museum and asked us a lot of questions about all the things (having a guide would have been delightful for this particular stop). They especially liked looking at the matadors’ costumes and capes.

The best part is that it’s open until 9:30 pm, so you have plenty of time to check it out.

Now it’s time for one last treat: a food tour or a cooking class.

I can’t think of a better way to say, “adios” to such a vibrant city than to stuff yourself silly on scrumptious Spanish food.

For a top-rated tapas crawl, click here.
For a top-rated Spanish cooking class (including Sangria!), click here.

Pro Tip: If you’re doing a food tour or cooking class in Seville with kids, double-check that they can participate because of their age. Several have a minimum age needed.

If we had More Time in Seville

Spending more time in one place is always a dream, but not always reality. However, if you find yourself with more time in Seville, here are some more things to see and do:

1. Visit Metropol Parasol
2. Explore the Triana neighborhood
3. Have a picnic at Maria Luisa Park
4. Check out the Seville Aquarium (buy your tickets in advance HERE!)
5. Enjoy exploring the Museum of Fine Arts

For even more things to see and do in Sevilla, see this post:

Where to Stay in Seville

We stayed here, about a 10-minute walk from the old town. The space was wonderful for a family of five. It was a two-level apartment, and the exposed brick added a ton of charm. The kitchen was a little limited, but we didn’t use it very much (when in Spain, enjoy the tapas). However, if we went again I’d try to stay closer to the old town — it was just so adorable.

Here are a couple of places I had on my radar, but they were sold out for our dates. This place looks a little more in the central old town (and can accommodate large families), and this place looks amazing families can stay there, too, but it’s possibly a splurge.

But there are SO many spots to stay in Seville. Start your search here:

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