There are stacks of things to do in Seville.
Its main sites and attractions are all conveniently located in the lovely historic centre lending themselves perfectly to exploration over a weekend or a two day break.
Here’s what I recommend if you have two days or a weekend in Seville:
Day One in Seville
Particularly if you’re visiting at a busy time of year, I’d suggest you get off to a flying start and the city’s most famous and popular monument the Alcazar or Royal Palace before the crowds arrive. It opens at 9.30 and I recommend you get there a little earlier if you can.
You’ll need a good two to three hours here exploring the amazingly ornate rooms – like the gorgeously intricate Patio de las Doncellas and the opulent domed Salon de Embajadores. At the end of the visit there’s a pleasant little cafe in the gardens which makes a nice place for a coffee and a snack in the sunshine too.
After your visit to the Alcazar it will be getting on for lunch time.
Take a leisurely stroll around the cathedral and head for Casa Morales for a spot of lunch. It’s an atmospheric old bar which does good tapas. Another great place for lunch that’s also nearby is Las Columnas. Both get busy so try and arrive early!
After lunch take in the city’s very fine Fine Arts Museum – Museo de Bellas Artes. It’s cool and shady so ideal if the temperatures are rising. There’s all manner of interesting artwork here in particular canvases by the Sevillian triumvirate of great 17th century painters Murillo, Zurbaran and Valdes Leal.
Take a short stroll by the river after this and stop by the Torre del Oro – another of the city’s most famous landmarks for a quick look around the interesting museum here and views up and down the river from the top.
Or else hop aboard a traditional carriage for a horse and carriage ride. You find them on the main square by the cathedral. Along the way you’ll see the spectacular Plaza de Espana which looks amazing in golden sunshine.
There are lots of great options for dining in Seville. I always go for tapas as it’s so very Sevillian.
Stand out places to try include La Bulla, La Azotea and Enrique Becerra. All these places are super popular and it might be an idea to try and reserve. Otherwise arrive at 8pm. No one local eats before 9!
> Read more: My favourite hotels in Seville
Day Two in Seville
To understand flamenco is to understand the soul of this city.
The Flamenco Museum opens at 10am so make your way here to view the costumes, listen to the music and learn about this Andalucian art form.
If you liked what you saw and heard, book tickets to come back this evening and see a live performance. If tickets are sold out try booking at nearby Casa de le Memoria.
From the museum wander across and down to Plaza Alfalfa and on to Plaza de le Encarncion to see the city’s amazing monument to modern art - the vast Metropol Parasol.
It’s called Las Setas (the mushrooms) by locals and you can see why. It’s a huge wooden slatted structure on stalks some 50 feet high. You can take a lift up and walk around the top for fantastic views.
Time next for some lunch. At the time of writing cafes on top of Metropol were all closed, but if there are some open you might want to grab something to eat whilst you enjoy that view.
Otherwise great places within a 5 to 10 minute walk include Bar Europa and the famous old bar where tapas are supposed to have been created – El Rinconcillo.
In the afternoon take in the city’s most recognisable landmark the Cathedral. Be sure to take a walk up to the top of the belltower – the Giralda – for more vast views across the city.
If you’ve booked yourself flamenco tickets you’ll spend the evening being enthralled by the passion and power of the song and dance.
You’ll be wanting to eat though too of course. Right nearby to the Flamenco museum are two of my favourite local tapas joints Bar Alfalfa and Bar Estrella.
If you fancy a proper dinner this evening rather than tapas try Seville’s highly acclaimed cookery school Taberna del Alabardero or else try my favourite Italian restaurant in Seville Porta Rossa.
Other fine dining options which you’d need to get a taxi to include Michelin starred Abantal and excellent Salvador Rojo.
Reservations essential for all these restaurants. They are rightly very popular!