Private Seville Day Tour with the Alcázar and Cathedral
The longest and grandest of our day tours: a private Mercedes to Seville, an official guide at your side for three and a half hours across the Real Alcázar and the Cathedral, then lunch in Santa Cruz and the Plaza de España.
What you'll see
- The Mudéjar palace of Pedro I in the Alcázar, with the Courtyard of the Maidens
- The gilded dome of the Hall of the Ambassadors
- The Alcázar gardens, from the Mercury pool to the vaulted baths
- Seville Cathedral, its gold altarpiece and the tomb of Christopher Columbus
- The ramps of the Giralda, climbed on foot for a view over the rooftops
- Barrio de Santa Cruz, Callejón del Agua and Plaza de Doña Elvira
- The tiled benches and canal of the Plaza de España
Seville packs more into a few hundred metres than most cities manage in a whole district. The Real Alcázar, still a royal residence, faces the Cathedral across the Plaza del Triunfo, and the whitewashed lanes of the Barrio de Santa Cruz begin right behind them. On this private Seville tour you are dropped a few steps from the Puerta de Jerez, and a guide accredited by Andalusia's regional government spends three and a half hours guiding you inside the two great monuments, the core of the day.
It is a long day, about ten and a half hours door to door, because Seville lies well over two hours from the coast. The car makes that easy: you rest on the way out, arrive ready to walk, and fall asleep on the way back if you want. Seville is flat but famously hot; from June to September we plan the guided visit for the morning and save the Plaza de España and the María Luisa Park for when the afternoon shade arrives.
In pictures
Choose where we pick you up
How the day goes
A long drive west
Your driver collects you early, and within the first hour you leave the coast behind for the open farmland of the interior. The landscape is wide and quiet: wheat, sunflowers in early summer, olive groves and white hilltop towns with church towers. Cold water is in the car and the seats recline, so it is a good moment to rest. We can stop for coffee midway if you wish, and we keep an eye on the clock so you meet your guide on time.
Into the Real Alcázar
The car drops you near the Puerta de Jerez or the Avenida de la Constitución, a short walk from the Alcázar, where the official guide meets you. The visit begins in the Patio del León and leads into the palace that Pedro I built in the 14th century with craftsmen from Toledo and Granada. The guide explains the Courtyard of the Maidens, the Hall of the Ambassadors and the Gothic rooms added later, before you head out into the gardens.
Seville Cathedral and the Giralda
Crossing the Plaza del Triunfo you reach the Cathedral, the largest Gothic church in the world by volume. The guide shows you the enormous altarpiece covered in gold leaf, the tomb of Columbus carried by four heralds and the treasures of the sacristies. Then comes the Giralda, once the minaret of the mosque that stood here: instead of stairs it has a series of ramps, wide enough for a rider on horseback, and the view from the top takes in the whole city.
Lunch in Santa Cruz or El Arenal
After the guided visit it is time to eat. Seville is the city of tapas: try spinach with chickpeas, pork cheeks in sherry, cazón en adobo (marinated fried dogfish) or a montadito of pringá, slow-cooked meats in a small bun. The bars around the Cathedral, in Santa Cruz or towards the bullring in El Arenal are all close, and we are glad to suggest one that suits your group.
Plaza de España and María Luisa Park
Your driver collects you after lunch and takes you to the Plaza de España, built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition. Its semicircle of brick and painted tiles, with an alcove for each Spanish province, is best at the end of the day when the sun is lower. The shady paths of the María Luisa Park next door are a relief in summer. If you prefer, swap this stop for Triana, across the river, for its ceramics workshops.
Home to the coast
From Seville it is a long, easy motorway run back, and most guests sleep for part of it. Your driver leaves you outside your accommodation around ten and a half hours after the morning pickup. The car is the same cool, quiet space as in the morning, with fresh water ready. If you need to stop on the way, for a coffee or simply to stretch, just ask.
Your guide
Your guide, licensed by the regional government (the Junta de Andalucía), accompanies the group for around three and a half hours, split between the two monuments. In the Real Alcázar you visit the Mudéjar palace of Pedro I, the Gothic palace and the gardens. In the Cathedral you see the main chapel, the tomb of Columbus, the sacristies and the Patio de los Naranjos, and climb the Giralda if you wish. Every day we can guide in English or Spanish; other languages, such as French, German or Italian, are possible on request when a guide is free.
Tickets
Both monuments require tickets at the official price, and the Alcázar sells timed entries that run out in spring, around Easter and in high season, so book as soon as your date is fixed. We can arrange both for you or, if you prefer to purchase them directly, just forward us the entry times. The Cathedral is a place of worship and some hours are reserved for services. The Alcázar is also a royal residence and very occasionally closes for official events; we check this when you book.
Included
- Exclusive use of a Mercedes for the day: E-Class for 1-3, V-Class for 4-7
- Professional driver, fuel, motorway tolls and city parking
- An official guide for 3 h 30 across the Alcázar and the Cathedral
- Door-to-door service from anywhere between Málaga and Marbella
- Water on board, with child seats provided free when requested
- Alcázar and Cathedral entries reserved for you at face value, on request
Not included
- Tickets for the Real Alcázar and the Cathedral, at the official price
- Lunch, drinks and snacks
- Optional visits such as a flamenco show or a river cruise
- Tips, at your discretion
Good to know
- Seville in July and August often reaches the low 40s °C; the guided visit is in the morning for good reason. Bring a hat and drink plenty.
- The Giralda climb is about 35 ramps: easy on the legs but warm in summer. Anyone can skip it and wait in the Patio de los Naranjos.
- Cover shoulders and avoid very short shorts for the Cathedral; a light scarf in your bag solves it.
- Spring is the most beautiful season, but Holy Week and the April Fair fill the city and make the old town difficult; ask us before choosing those dates.
- Most of the Alcázar and the Cathedral are accessible at ground level; the Giralda and some upper rooms are not. Tell us if you need step-free routes.
- Comfortable shoes are a must: between the two monuments and Santa Cruz you will walk several kilometres on flat paving.
Price per vehicle
| Vehicle | Price |
|---|---|
| Mercedes E-Class 1-3 passengers | €820 |
| Mercedes V-Class 4-7 passengers | €920 |
Fixed price for the whole vehicle and the whole day, the same from anywhere between Málaga and Marbella. Includes driver, fuel, tolls and parking and the official guide. Entry tickets not included.
Frequently asked questions
Isn't Seville a very long way to go in one day?
It is the longest of our tours, but it works very well by private car. You travel on motorways in comfort, the guide is waiting when you arrive, and there is still time for lunch and the Plaza de España. If you prefer a slower pace, you can add hours or consider staying a night.
Can we watch a flamenco show before returning?
Shows in Seville usually start in the evening, which would add several hours to the day. It is possible with extra hours at the hourly chauffeur rate. Tell us when booking and we will plan the return accordingly; we can also suggest where to book.
Do we have to climb the Giralda?
No. The ramps are gentle and most people manage them, but it is entirely optional. Those who stay below can sit in the Patio de los Naranjos under the orange trees while the others go up.
Is it worth going to Seville in summer?
Yes, with the right plan. We start early, do the guided visit in the cool of the morning and spend the hottest hours over a long lunch indoors. The Alcázar gardens give shade too. Just avoid long walks in the open between about 15:00 and 18:00.
Can we see Triana instead of the Plaza de España?
Of course. Triana, across the Guadalquivir, is the old potters' and sailors' quarter, with tile workshops, the market by the Isabel II bridge and riverside bars on Calle Betis. Your driver will drop you there and collect you at the end.
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