Seville is the perfect base for exploring Andalusia. Fast trains, frequent buses and good roads put Roman ruins, Moorish monuments, white towns and the Atlantic coast within easy reach. These are our favourite day trips.
Córdoba
Getting there: high-speed trains from Santa Justa take about 45 minutes.
The Mosque-Cathedral (Mezquita) is unforgettable: a forest of red-and-white arches, with a Renaissance cathedral built in its heart. Walk across the Roman bridge, get lost in the lanes of the Judería, and visit the gardens of the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. In May, the city celebrates its flower-filled patios with a famous festival. Further out, the ruins of the caliphal city of Medina Azahara are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Itálica
Getting there: buses from Plaza de Armas to Santiponce take about 20–30 minutes.
The closest trip: a Roman city founded in 206 BC and birthplace of the emperor Trajan. Walk the streets, see the mosaics, and stand in one of the largest amphitheatres of the Roman world. Go in the morning – there is little shade.
Tours and activities in Seville
Carmona
Getting there: under an hour by bus or car.
A hilltop town with Roman gates, a Roman necropolis, whitewashed lanes and a castle with sweeping views over the plain. Small, quiet and easy to combine with a long lunch.
Cádiz and Jerez
Getting there: trains from Santa Justa take about 1 hour to Jerez and about 1 hour 45 minutes to Cádiz, on the same line.
Cádiz, one of the oldest cities in Western Europe, sits almost surrounded by the Atlantic: see the Cathedral with its golden dome, climb the Torre Tavira with its camera obscura and finish at La Caleta beach. On the way, Jerez de la Frontera is the home of sherry, with bodegas to visit and the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art.
Ronda
Getting there: about 2 hours by car or bus.
Ronda stands on the edge of the El Tajo gorge, crossed by the dramatic Puente Nuevo, finished in 1793. It also has one of the oldest bullrings in Spain. A long day, but one of the most spectacular in Andalusia.
Tips for day trips
- Book trains ahead at weekends and in spring.
- Avoid midday heat in summer; start early and take water.
- Córdoba’s Mezquita has its own opening hours for worship – check before you go.
Back in Seville, the Real Alcázar and the Cathedral tell the same story of Moors and Christians. Plan the rest of your stay with Seville in 3 days, and check our Seville travel tips for stations and transport.
