Andalusia from Seville in 5 Days
5 Days: Seville and Andalusia
Five days from Seville adds Jerez, sherry bodegas and the Royal Andalusian School’s horse shows, to the Cordoba, Cadiz, Granada and Ronda spine, and it’s the easiest add-on on this whole itinerary, barely an hour each way. Only need four? Drop back to the 4-day version . Want the pueblos blancos loop too? Jump to 6 days , or read the full Seville, Spain guide .
Book these before you go
- Alhambra Nasrid Palaces tickets : the moment your dates are fixed, this timed slot sells out weeks to months ahead in peak season
- A guided Ronda day trip if you’d rather not drive or time a bus connection
- A rental car if you want to drive to both Ronda and Jerez instead of mixing bus and train
- A hotel near Santa Justa station for five early departures in five days
Day 1: Cordoba and the Mezquita
An early AVE covers the roughly 140km from Santa Justa in 40 to 45 minutes, fares from around €10 to €25, check current times on Renfe . Time your visit to the Mezquita-Catedral for the free Monday-to-Saturday window, 8:30 to 9:30am, arrive by 8:15, no groups in that slot. Walk the old Jewish quarter and Roman Bridge before an afternoon train home.
Day 2: Cadiz’s old town and seafront
A direct train covers the roughly 99km in 1h25 to 1h40, frequent departures, no advance booking needed. Spend the day on the old town’s streets and the seafront promenade, with beach time if the weather holds, and a fried-fish lunch before your return train.
Day 3: Granada and the Alhambra
Direct trains cover the roughly 250km in 2h35 to 3 hours, fares in the €14 to €27 range. Build the day around your Nasrid Palaces slot time, about €21 general entry, closer to €22.27 with the booking fee. Fit in the Generalife gardens and an Albaicin viewpoint before your return train.
Day 4: Ronda, the gorge and the bullring
No useful direct train exists, the rail route via Antequera runs 3h50, so take a direct Damas bus, about 2h15, or drive, around 1h40, covering roughly 100 to 130km. El Tajo, the 120-meter gorge under the Puente Nuevo bridge, and the Real Maestranza, Spain’s oldest bullring at roughly €9 to €12 with the museum, are the day’s two anchors.
Day 5: Jerez de la Frontera, sherry or horses
About 90km and roughly an hour by train or bus. Jerez runs on sherry bodega tours and tastings, most bookable same-day, and the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art’s horse shows, traditionally Tuesday and Thursday, worth confirming the current schedule before you plan around it. Pick one as your anchor, the horses or a serious bodega visit, rather than trying to cram both into a single day, the day breaks down fast if every element gets equal weight. Head back to Seville in the evening for a last dinner before packing.
Should you pick the sherry bodegas or the horse show in Jerez?
Pick whichever you actually care about, don’t try to split the day evenly between them. The horse show runs on a fixed traditional schedule, typically Tuesday and Thursday, so check that first since it may decide your day. A serious bodega tour and tasting, on the other hand, can usually be booked same-day and runs at a more relaxed pace than squeezing in both attractions.
Is 5 days the right length for Andalusia from Seville?
It’s the sweet spot for most first-time visitors. You get every train-based trip, Cordoba, Cadiz, Granada, plus the two that need a bus, car or bit more planning, Ronda and Jerez, without the long stretch of driving the pueblos blancos loop demands. That loop, and Italica’s easy half-day, are what separate this from the 6 and 7-day versions.
| Day | Distance / train time | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seville to Cordoba, 140km / 40-45 min AVE | Mezquita free window, old Jewish quarter, Roman Bridge |
| 2 | Seville to Cadiz, 99km / 1h25-1h40 direct train | Old town, seafront promenade, beach time |
| 3 | Seville to Granada, 250km / 2h35-3h train | Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces, Generalife, Albaicin |
| 4 | Seville to Ronda, 100-130km / 2h15 bus or 1h40 drive | El Tajo gorge, Puente Nuevo, Real Maestranza bullring |
| 5 | Seville to Jerez, 90km / ~1h train or bus | Sherry bodega tour or the Royal Andalusian horse show |
Confirm the Jerez horse show’s exact 2026 schedule before you build Day 5 around it, the traditional Tuesday-Thursday pattern shifts occasionally and a wasted trip out is an hour each way lost.