There are some magnificent Seville excursions available which can be arranged by means of public transport or by pre-booking a tour before travelling. Below we’ve listed the most popular ones with information on how to get there on buses and trains and also we’ve provided links for online booking. The most popular full day excursions from Seville are to Granada where you can visit the Alhambra Palace, to Cordoba to see the Mezquita and to Jerez de la Frontera for a performance at the at the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art.
Jerez de la Frontera
Distance = 90km
Attending a performance by the dancing horses of the Royal Andalusian School Of Equestrian Art in Jerez de la Frontera is one of the highlights of a visit to Andalucia. To get there by public transport take the Andalucia Express train from Santa Justa or San Bernardo railway station in Seville then get a taxi to the Equestrian School. You should check performance dates and book tickets well in advance from the School Of Equestrian Art website as this is a popular weekly events which is regularly sold out.
After the show it’s a nice idea to walk along to the Sandeman Sherry Bodega which is just a few metres from the Equestrian School. There’s a sherry tour in English at 1.30pm.
To make life a lot easier it’s probably worthwhile taking one of the day excursions to Jerez from Seville which generally include the horse show (with tickets) and a visit to a sherry bodega. These tours depart from Seville for the one hour journey to Jerez de la Frontera where on arrival you’ll visit the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art to watch the performance of Jerez’s famous dancing horses. After the show you take the coach further south to Puerto de Santa Maria where you can have lunch before taking a boat across to the city of Cadiz. After a short look around you’ll rejoin the coach for the return to Seville.
Cordoba – Visit the Mezquita
Distance = 140km
The historical district of Cordoba is centred on the city’s Great Mosque (Mezquita) and is one of the highlights of any trip to Andalucia. High speed AVE trains connect Seville’s Santa Justa railway station with Cordoba in about 40 minutes although you’ll find the AVANT service cheaper and only a little slower. Check latest timetables and prices in English at the RENFE website. Buses leave for Cordoba from the Prado de San Sebastian bus station in Seville. They offer the cheapest option but take around two hours to get there. Bus timetables are on the Movelia website.
To avoid having to rely on public transport you might consider pre-booking an organised day excursion from Seville to Cordoba. You depart from Seville for the 1½ hour drive to Cordoba. On arrival you will probably park next to the Guadalquivir river and gardens of the Alcazar before strolling over to the Mezquita which is now a cathedral built within the original Great Mosque of Cordoba. When you leave the Mezquita you head into the tiny whitewashed streets of the Jewish Quarter and visit the ancient Synagogue. You’ll then be free to discover more of the charm of the city and have lunch before you meet again for the return journey to Seville.
Granada – Visit the Alhambra Palace
Distance = 250km
Home to the Alhambra Palace, Spain’s most visited tourist attraction, Granada is known as the jewel of Moorish Spain. Buses travel from the Prado de San Sebastian bus station in Seville to Granada taking three hours. On arrival in Granada the bus station is some distance from the historic centre so you’ll probably need to take a taxi. Bus timetables are on the Movelia website. Train services from the Santa Justa or San Bernardo railway stations in Seville offer a more convenient option also taking around three hours. Check latest timetables and prices in English at the RENFE website.
Considering the day return travel times between Seville and Granada (2½ hours each way) it really would be a shame to spend such a limited time in this city. Therefore, we’d suggest that you stay in Granada for a few nights or if time is limited you should take an escorted tour from Seville to Granada which includes a visit to the Alhambra Palace and the city’s other main attractions allowing you to avoid wasting unnecessary time on public transport. If travelling independently be sure to book your Alhambra Palace tickets well in advance as they sell out frequently.
Other Suggested Excursions
Cadiz and Puerto de Santa Maria by Train
Thanks to the excellent train service you can head out of Seville from the Santa Justa or San Bernardo railway stations for day trips to Cadiz or Puerto de Santa Maria. The journey takes about an hour, check latest timetables and prices in English at the RENFE website. On arrival the Playa Atlantico beach in Cadiz is a great spot to head for and the ancient city itself is fascinating. For a fresh seafood lunch take the catamaran from the port across to Puerto de Santa Maria.
Visit Roman Itálica by Bus
Itálica was the first Roman town in Spain which is located at Santiponce just 8km northwest of Seville. Public buses leave from the bus station at Plaza de Armas every 30 minutes and the journey takes about 20 minutes. The bus stops right outside the Roman town which was the birthplace of Hadrian and Trajan. Time it right and you could have lunch at one of the nice restaurants on the street approaching Santiponce or else tie in a visit to the impressive Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo which is also located here.
Visit Carmona by Car
The beautiful town of Carmona is best visited on the way to or from Cordoba if travelling in your own car. It’s a lovely white village located on a hillside some 30km from Seville just off the main road to Cordoba. It is home to some lovely churches and has a marvellous unspoilt atmosphere. Time permiting it is a great choice for an overnight stay at the excellent Carmona Parador or one of the other charming hotels in town.
Private Excursions from Seville
There’s a fantastic selection of private excursions available from Seville which include private transport, the services of an English speaking driver and official tour guides. The most popular trip is to Jerez de la Frontera where you can watch a performance of the world famous dancing horses and take a tour of one of the sherry wineries. A visit to the great Moorish cities of Cordoba and Granada are also popular but do bear in mind that the journey to Granada is 250km away so you’ll spend a lot of the day in the car. Here’s a brief summary of some of the private excursions that might interest you. Please have a look through them then complete the enquiry form at the end of the page. Our tour planner will then be able to get back in touch with you suggesting an itinerary specifically for your party.
- Jerez de la Frontera – Dancing Horses and Sherry Tour: Your Private English-Speaking chauffeur will drive you to Jerez de la Frontera from Seville. On arrival you will attend the show of the dancing horses at the Royal Andalusian School Of Equestrian Art (the dancing horses show is at midday on Thursdays). After the show you’ll walk into the historical centre of Jerez where you can enjoy lunch with local sherry wines before visiting the Gonzales Byass winery, producers of the world famous Tio Pepe sherry. You then meet your chauffeur again who will return you to your Seville hotel.
- Jerez de la Frontera – Discover the World of Sherry: On the way to Jerez from Seville you will stop at a vineyard to learn about the many factors which influence grape production in this region. You then proceed to Jerez and visit one of the local bodegas (wineries) where you will be given a tour detailing all elements of the sherry-making process including a tutored tasting of the different styles of local wines and Jerez brandies. You then visit a smaller family-run bodega where you can taste some exceptionally fine wines. For lunch you will visit one of Jerez’s best restaurants sampling some excellent local dishes with fine sherry wines.
- Cordoba – Mezquita and Old Quarter Walking Tour: This full day excursion from Seville to the historic city of Cordoba centres on a visit to the Great Mosque, one of the great treasures of Islamic art in Spain. Your English speaking chauffeur will collect you at your hotel and drive you to Cordoba where an official guide will meet you and take you on a tour of the Mezquita, the Jewish Quarter and the other major attractions of this World Heritage city.
- Ronda – Wine Tasting and White Villages: High above the Costa del Sol lies the beautiful and historical town of Ronda which is one of the most visited towns in Andalucia. On this full day excursion from Seville your English speaking driver will take you to Ronda via the ‘Pueblos Blancos’ (White Villages). On arrival you will visit three local wineries where you can taste some fine red wines being produced in this area. Then after lunch in a local restaurant and a walking tour of the historical centre your driver will return you to Seville.
- Granada – Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens: On this private full day excursion (approximately 12 hours) your English speaking chauffeur will collect you at your hotel reception in Seville and drive you to Granada. On arrival you will be introduced to your official English speaking tour guide who will take you on a 2½ tour of the Alhambra Palace including the Nazaries Palaces, Charles V Palace and the gardens of the Generalife. After a late lunch your driver will return you to your Seville.
- Sanlúcar de Barrameda – Sherry and Seafood Delights: Sanlúcar de Barrameda is Spain’s 2nd most important sherry town after Jerez and is known for the quality of its seafood. It lies at the mouth of the Guadalquivir estuary looking across to Doñana National Park and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. Sea breezes give a slightly salty flavour to the excellent manzanilla sherry wines which are produced here. After visiting a vineyard you will continue on to a bodega where you can take part in a tutored tasting of the local wines. For lunch you proceed to one of the excellent seafood restaurants at Bajo de Guía along the bank of the estuary where you can try langostines, shellfish, fine fried fish, sea food and rice stews, all washed down with the finest manzanilla.
- Sierra de Aracena – Discover The Finest of Spanish Hams: The Sierra de Aracena lies to the north-west of Seville near the Portuguese border. Spain’s finest hams are produced here from the Iberian pig and this excursion includes a visit to one of the best ham producers in the village of Jabugo where an expert will explain the ham production process. You will be invited to taste the Jabugo ham along with a glass of fine Jerez sherry. After the visit you will proceed to the town of Aracena where you will be able to enjoy the finest local produce including fresh cheese, ham, mushrooms, pork from the Iberian pig, wild asparagus and artichokes (according to season) at the finest restaurant in the area.
- Sierra de Grazalema – Discover the World of Olives: Your English Speaking Driver/Guide will collect you in the lobby of your hotel in Seville and will drive you to Zahara de la Sierra which is one of the most beautiful of the ‘Pueblos Blancos’. Here in the Sierra de Grazalema you will visit an olive oil mill which dates back to 1755 and you will learn about the traditional oil-making process. You’ll then have the opportunity to take part in an olive oil tasting. From the mill you’ll continue on to the stunning village of Grazalema where you will have lunch at a fine restaurant whose specialities include roast lamb and wild boar. After a stroll around the village you then head back to Seville.
- Visit a Traditional Andalucian Cortijo Ranch with Bulls and Horses: On this half day excursion from Seville your English speaking chauffeur will collect you in your hotel lobby and drive you to a traditional cortijo at Gerena called El Esparragal. At this modern farm your qualified guide will introduce you to Purebred Spanish horses, Retinto bulls, milk cows and Mediterranean forest as well as showing you around the mill, the Roman baths and a carriage museum.
