7 Best Day Trips from Seville, Spain: Hand-Picked Destinations from a Local Expat

Last Updated on: 19th March 2023, 02:13 pm

Are you planning a trip to Southern Spain and looking for a day trip from Seville?

If you find yourself visiting the beautiful Andalusian capital of Seville, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to historic sights, museums, parks, and gorgeous historic streets to take a stroll and enjoy an authentic Spanish atmosphere.

For those of you who are planning an extended stay in the city (at least 4-5 days), I highly recommend booking a day trip from Seville as there is so much to see just within an hour away.

In just one trip, you can tick off all the other cities of the Andalusian triangle (Cordoba & Granada), or visit one of the lesser known more authentic places still largely untouched by mass tourism. 

In this article, I have selected some of the most popular day trips from Seville, with highlights for each destination included. 

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Good to know: this guide to the best Seville day trips was created by Lucia Pöllä and edited by Stephanie Craig (me, the girl in the sidebar).

Lucia is a travel expert who has lived in southern Spain for the past three years.

Her goal for her website Viva La Vita is to help you “find local tips for hidden gems, travel itineraries, and restaurant and hotel reviews from Andalusia and beyond.”

Stephanie (History Fangirl) has edited the guide and added her own travel tips as an American who has traveled extensively in Spain and podcasts about European travel.

What to Consider When Choosing Your Day Trips from Seville

Before you decide on a destination for your day trip from Seville, it’s good to get an idea about how much time you want to spend traveling and how much there is to see in the destination. 

Some destinations are only accessible by car, while others you can quite comfortably explore by train or bus.

Travel companies also offer organized tours to many of these destinations with a pick-up from Seville, saving you the hassle of renting a car. I have added an outline of the options below, followed by detailed information on each destination. 

If you do decide to rent a car for independent travel, you should reserve your auto rental early.

Shortest journey day trip options: Jerez de la Frontera (1 hour), Roman City of Italica (30 mins), Ecija (1 hour)

Destinations for those who don’t want to rent a car: Cadiz, Malaga, Granada, Cordoba, Jerez de la Frontera (you can reach all of these by train)

Cities with the most landmarks: Malaga, Granada, Cordoba

The Best Day Trips from Seville, Spain

Here we go!

Cadiz

Why visit Cadiz

Cadiz offers you a chance to enjoy a day at the seaside and visit one of the oldest inhabited cities in Europe.

Not just that, but you get a chance to spend a day by the Atlantic Ocean, enjoy a day at the famous white beaches of Cadiz, dine on fresh seafood, and finish the day by watching a beautiful sunset.

With an easy reach from Seville, Cadiz is a really easy day trip option!

How to travel to Cadiz

Cadiz has a regular fast train connection available from the main train station in Seville (Santa Justa), you can get to Cadiz in around 1.5 hours, with tickets costing under 15 euros one way.

Alternatively, you can drive to Cadiz in around 1 hour and 15 minutes with a rental car.

Many local tour operators in Seville also offer an option to visit Cadiz with a minibus, although that’s more expensive than arranging your own transport.

What to See in Cadiz

These are the top sites in Cadiz:

Cadiz Museum | Castillo de Santa Catalina | Cadiz Cathedral | La Caleta | Torre Tavira | Castle of San Sebastian | Gran Teatro Falla | Parque Genovés

Malaga

Why visit Malaga

Malaga is often thought of as the transit city and the home of the international airport, but it has so much more to offer!

If you fancy spending a day discovering historic monuments, with the option of spending some time on the beaches of Costa del Sol, then Malaga is the perfect one-day trip destination.

The old town of Malaga is a maze of beautiful old streets with stunning historic buildings, and you can spend the full day just exploring the tapas bars in this part of the city.

Venture up the hill to Gibralfaro Castle to enjoy the best views of Malaga, or hop on a catamaran cruise from Muelle Uno to experience the city from the sea.

How to travel to Malaga

The fastest way to get to Malaga from Seville is either by rental car (in just 2 hours via A-92), or by taking the regular train connection from Santa Justa train station.

Train tickets are starting from 20 euros per person, and the journey takes 2.5 hours one way. 

What to See in Malaga

These are the top sites in Malaga:

Castillo Gibralfaro | Roman Amphitheater | Soho district | Picasso Museum | Botanical Gardens la Conception | Picacsso’s Birth Home | The Alcazaba of Malaga | Muelle Uno | Malaga Cathedral | Malaga old town

Granada

Why visit Granada

Granada might be a bit further away for a day trip, but it has such important monuments that would be a shame to miss on your trip to Southern Spain.

As one of the few remaining cities in Andalusia, it still lives with the tradition of free tapas with every meal, and it has possibly the most beautiful old town I’ve seen. 

If you’re planning to see the Alhambra in Granada during your trip, I highly recommend trying to get the tickets as soon as possible, as they tend to sell out fast. 

How to travel to Granada

If you decide to drive, the journey takes about 2.5 hours via the A-92. There is also a regular train connection which takes 2.5 hours and the tickets start around 20 euros one way. 

What to See in Granada

These are the top sites in Granada:

Granada Cathedral | Sacromonte District | Albaicin District | Alhambra Palaces | Generalife Gardens | Carmen de los Mártires | Science Museum

Cordoba

Why visit Cordoba

Cordoba is the only city in the world with four UNESCO World Heritage sites, which alone should be a good reason to visit!

It’s conveniently located close enough to Seville, making it a very easy and affordable destination for a one-day visit.

The main star of the visit will be the world-famous Mezquita of Cordoba, an architectural marvel that dates back to 784 – 786.

The visit to this landmark will easily take you a couple of hours, leaving plenty of time to explore the beautiful gardens of the Alcazar located close by. 

How to travel to Cordoba

You can drive to Cordoba from Seville in just 1.5 hours via the A-4, or take a train from the main train station. The tickets cost 10 euros one way and the journey takes only 45 minutes. 

What to See in Cordoba

These are the top sites in Cordoba:

The Mosque Cathedral of Cordoba | The Roman Bridge | Palacio Vianna | Alcazar of Christian Monarchs | The old town | The Roman Temple

Jerez de la Frontera

Why visit Jerez de la Frontera

Jerez is mostly known for its sherry production and is home to many small bodegas which are well worth visiting.

It’s not as crowded and touched by tourism as some of the other destinations on this list, and retains much of the charm of a traditional Andalusian Pueblo Blanco (white town). 

How to travel to Jerez de la Frontera

Jerez is within very easy reach from Seville, just one hour drive in the direction of Cadiz.

If you prefer taking a train, there is a regular connection from the main train station, which will get you there in just 1 hour and 15 minutes, with tickets starting at 9 euros per person.

What to See in Jerez de la Frontera

These are the top sites in Jerez de la Frontera:

Alcazar of Jerez de la Frontera | Tio Pepe Bodegas | Bodegas Tradición | Cathedral | Horse Shows | Plaza de la Asunción

Roman City of Italica

Why visit Italica

The ruins of this old Roman city are located just 7km outside of Seville, making it the closest and most convenient day trip destination. 

The archeological site dates back to 206 AC and within its grounds, you can explore the Roman Amphitheatre, Theater, Hot Spring, Temple of Trajan, and Domus.

The tickets for private visits cost 20 euros per person, and visits are open between 9 am to 8 pm and closed on Mondays.

How to travel to Italica

These are the top sites in Italica:

Italica is in a remote location outside of Seville, so you will reach it easiest with a rental car (approx 24 minutes) or by getting a taxi.

A lot of local tour operators also offer day trips to Italica with a minibus, which might be a more convenient option for some. 

Ecija

Why visit Ecija

Ecija is known as the cradle of purebred Andalusian horses and home to over 20 Baroque churches. Within easy reach from Seville, it’s a popular day trip destination that will take you to one of the less crowded corners of Andalusia.

How to travel to Ecija

Is an easy drive on the A-4 from Seville, which would take about an hour. There are also bus services available, with a journey duration of up to 1.5 hours and tickets cost 8 euros per person one way.

What to See in Ecija

These are the top sites in Ecija:

Palace Of Benameji | Palacio de los Marqueses de Peñaflor | Palacio de Valdehermoso | Iglesia de los Descalzos | Iglesia de San Juan Bautista | Parroquia Mayor De Santa Cruz | Palacio de Peñaflor

I hope you found lots of ideas and inspiration for your day trip from Seville! 

Pin this Guide to the Best Seville Day Trips for Your Andalusian Adventures!