Can Seville be appreciated in one day?
 

I always read how people use Seville as a base for day trips to Cordoba or Ronda.

If our time is somewhat limited, can we make Seville a day trip from Ronda?

I know that it is supposed to be a wonderful city to visit on a 2 or 3 day leisurely pace, but if our time is somewhat limited, can we do Seville justice if we really just want to visit the main sites and we are prepared to arrive early and depart late in the same day?

Thanks for any response.

Sure, one day is better than no Seville IMO.
If you are driving, put your car in a parking lot - you don't need a car in the centre. Bus is better and takes around 2.5 hours.
Concentrate on the cathedral and climb up the Giralda (2 hours), and if open, see Alcazar next door (closed Mondays). They are the two biggies and not to be missed. Then you can take in other churches (remember most of them are closed for siesta for 3-4 hours) and monasteries. Have tapas in a bar before returning to Ronda.

nevertooold, I feel you are planning to stretch too much your visit to Spain.

Of course Seville cannot be appreciate in one day.

I would hope you prioritize the cities and places you really wish to visit in Spain.

As Alec suggests you can limit your visit in Seville to the Cathedral then you can again limit your visits to all the other places you are planning " to run in an out "of the main highlight in each place, if this is what you want that is fine may be you are looking for to have a general glimpse of Spain and that is fine but you cannot equate it to the appreciation of a full city or town for that matter.

nevertooold,
Again, I agree very much with what Graziella has told you. Please remember that Ronda is a two hour drive from Seville. Plus factor in the time you'll need to negotiate your way to the historic area and find a parking garage, which can be stress inducing, a major pain, if you're not familiar with the layout of the city.

Yes, one day is better than nothing at all, but Seville is one of Spain's crown jewels (much more worthy of a lengthier visit than Marbella, where I believe you plan to spend several nights to relax?). I really wouldn't give Seville such short shrift. I would plan to see less on this trip (fewer cities) but see them in greater depth, which will ultimately prove both more relaxing and rewarding with fonder, more vivid
memories. Just my thoughts...

A contrary opinion with all due respect to the experts...

We found Seville, beyond the major attractions like Alcazar (which was wonderful), not really our favorite spot in Andalusia. In fact we actually cut our 4 day stay short by 2 days and did a stop at the beach in Marbella en route to Rhonda. I could have skipped the beach - although it was quite nice - but I was traveling with teenagers...the old town in Marbella was surprisingly charming if small and we saw a nice Flamenco show there.

We really enjoyed Granada and Alhambra - we saw it both at night and during the day and were glad we did. I really wished we had seen Cordoba.

The area around Rhonda is quite pretty and especially the gorge that runs through Rhonda is very scenic and worth gazing at for at least a few hours. There is hiking in the area that looked wonderful although I save my hiking for when I'm solo. The city itself can be seen in one afternoon IMHO and much of the shops are just repeats of the block before - not unique or unusual but very touristy. We actually stayed in a villa outside the city in the middle of olive fields. Very pretty and relaxing.

Why didn't we like Seville? I don't know exactly. My 17-year-old daughter said it was "spring breakish" and I think that about summed it up. Lots of groups of drunk people everywhere. Trash all over the plazas. Tapas was rather a seedy affair with the last diners spilled drink and fries underfoot. Our hotel was supposed to be very elegant, and it was, but just from the outside. Inside we were indifferently served, pool was dirty, room was very dated....A/C didn't work and it was HOT. After the second day my husband had had enough.

I know I'm in the minority - most people love Seville. Just not our cup of tea. Not even the teenagers were too thrilled.

gruezi

Hi gruezi,
Just out of curiosity, would you mind naming that Seville hotel? I suspect it's the one I'm now getting really conflicting opinions on, one seems to be quite hit or miss depending on the room one is assigned. Thanks!

Frankly I would stay in Seville (has days worth of things to do) and just visit Ronda for the day.

Dear Maribel,

The Alfonso XIII.

It wasn't just the room. The whole place was second rate IMO. We were there last April. We had 2 rooms and they were upgraded.

BTW, I very much enjoyed your site on Spain. I think you were away off Fodor's when I was planning my trip.

I feel badly about not enjoying Seville as much as we expected to, but for us, there were other places that we just enjoyed so much more.

gruezi

Hi guezi I do not know what Maribel will say about your hotel , but I do regret that you have been in Seville and did not enjoy your stay.
I can understand you were disappointed with the Alfonso XIII, you had no reason to assume it was not the ideal place to be. On the contrary it has many stars and an interesting history , I believe it was built in 1928 for the great exposition held in 1929. The King commissioned it
to be one of Europe 's most luxurious hotel.
For my point of view, and I never stayed there only visited it for a drink, I found it a little off the real charm of Seville, to way inside that huge park. I found it too dark, I could not feel any real pleasure being there.I could not connect with anything really.
Sevilla is so much alive and that hotels seemed to me
kind of passe.
Knowing now that the service was indifferent , rooms very dated etc. reinforces that it is not the place to be.
Next time if you ever go back give it a try there is a lot to do and see and enjoy in Sevilla. Location is everything and while in theory you probably thought it was ok, for me, and I am no expert, it was on the wrong side of the Cathedral to much inside the park.

gruezi, to be more precise I have now looked at the map of Seville.
We cannot say strickly that the hotel is located inside the park but towards the park or at the edge of the park. So I wish to correct myself.
BTW the University is nearby and may be that is why your daughter said there was some "Spring breakish" atmosphere. ( Young people in Spain lately go to plazas to drink )
What I meant was, I believe it is a better idea to stay on the side of the Cathedral where the Arenal is located than towards the Park.

Hi gruezi,
Thanks for your detailed feedback about the Alfonso XIII. I really appreciate your sharing your candid feelings about the hotel (some of which I've heard from others).

Thanks again.

Seville is one of my favorite places in Western Europe. We had a wonderful time for three nights in a small apartment in 2007 and, like NY traveller, I would also advise staying in Seville and doing a side trip to Ronda. I wasn't crazy about Ronda as it was so crowded and seemed like just a bunch of tourist shops to me.

No, it can't. There's your answer...
:-)

No, Seville can not be appreciated in one day, BUT, you would certainly enjoy a day in Seville. If your intent out of this trip is to relax, then take care of that and if all you can give Seville is a day, then go and enjoy your day in Seville.

Do keep in mind though, that there are TONS of things to see and enjoy in Seville beyond the touristy bars and streets, the Alcazar, La Giralda, or even the Cathedral. As a matter of fact, do not even bother with Seville late May thru Sept-- good travel planning prevents misplaced expectations.

Hi nevertooold,
I believe in your original plan, which has now gone through several re calibrations, you had allocated the second week of Sept. to a 2 day Seville stay, correct?

I found half a day enough..... went to the Cathedral (3rd largest in the world...gothic) and to the palace across the square (a bit deceiving from the outside), Barrio Santa Cruz is the area. If you can, the Torre del Oro, the Tower of Gold is close by on the Guadalquivir River is very interesting too. Then move on....

We are into our 3rd year of an open ended world tour, having seen 29 countries so far ( most in Europe) and Seville is one of our favorite cities.

No, a day is not long enough for any city and certainly not Seville. BUT if that is all you have, then enjoy what you can in that time.

Much will depend on when you go and how well you plan. I know it was a much bigger madhouse at Semana Santa than it was on a visit in March.

We loved the bullring, view and paradore in Rhonda, but that is better done as a daytrip, rather than Seville.

Don't miss the wonderful flamenco and tapa experience there ( http://www.soultravelers3.com/2007/0...co-in-sev.html) and I recommend staying in the Santa Cruz area. We loved Armadeus.

At least see the Alcazar & Cathedral too. Maybe take a carriage ride around to get a feel for some of the beauty.

Don't over book yourselves, take time to savor. Less is more.

Hi, nevertooold -

I enjoyed Ronda and found a day there sufficient. I loved Sevilla and found 2.5 days too short. But it all depends on what you want to see and do!


Hope that helps!

Don't try to see both the cathedral and the Alcazar all on one day. You will burn out or not enjoy them. Its just too much! Do pay for the audio tour in the cathedral. Do explore barrio Santa Cruz until you are lost at night (you won't get that lost). One night, try stopping at every tapas bar where you see a Cruzcampo sign and getting a cerveza with some fresh olives. You won't get far... Get away from the touristy areas. Walk through the University on a class day. Stop and get some fresh coffee and sit outside, relax. Take in a Flamenco show. Do not do Sevilla in a day...