Fuengirola to Seville Day Trip: Best Travel Tips [2023]

Are you staying in Fuengirola and planning to see the capital of Andalusia? In that case, a day trip from Fuengirola to Seville is the perfect solution!

I have been living in Fuengirola for over 3 years now and visited Seville on two extended trips, so in this article, you will find all of my insights and practical local tips that will make your day trip a huge success!

Best of all, as a local resident writes it, you are only getting the most accurate first-hand advice that will save you a lot of time and research!

If you’re ready to book this day trip, I have added the most popular option from a local travel company below – otherwise, read on to explore all the options.

MOST POPULAR DAY TRIP OPTION: Full Day Tour of Seville from Fuengirola

Fuengirola to Seville Day Trip: Best Travel Options for 2023

You can plan this day trip in terms of transport in four ways, and I will dive deeper into each of these below.

1. Day trip to Seville with a local travel company – in this case, you don’t have to worry about anything. It’s a hassle-free way to see Seville without worrying about transport or planning your own program.
2. Day trip with a rental car – a convenient option for those who are already planning to rent a car for their stay in Fuengirola. In this case, prepare for a bit of a long drive and allow enough time to spend in Seville.
3. Day trip with public transport – if you’re on a tight budget but would still love to see Seville, using public transport is fairly affordable. To make it worthwhile for a day trip, you need to check your connections properly and book your tickets as soon as possible.
4. Day trip with a taxi – if you’re looking for private transport and flexibility to plan your program in Seville, this is the easiest option, although it’s quite expensive.

MOST POPULAR DAY TRIP OPTION: Full Day Tour of Seville from Fuengirola

Option 1: Fuengirola to Seville Day Trip with Local Travel Company

The most popular option for this day trip is using a local travel company, which has lots of advantages:

• FREE cancellation up to 24 hours before the trip for a full refund gives you lots of flexibility if your plans change.
• Reserve now and pay later option – no need to pay the whole amount immediately.
• Local English-speaking guide
• Pick up and drop off location in central Fuengirola
• Check other traveller reviews before you book this trip
• Travel in a comfortable modern air-conditioned bus
• This trip runs 1x per week, so book your spot in advance so you don’t miss out.
• Free time to explore Seville on your own
• Book online in just a few steps via the link below

BOOK ONLINE: Full Day Tour of Seville from Fuengirola

How to Book Tris Day Trip

Navigate to the page linked above, and then follow the instructions:

• From the page, select the number of people attending, your preferred day trip and your language preference
• You will be navigated to a payment page.
• Your ID will be required to book the trip
• You will receive an email confirmation which will show you the starting time, pick-up location and all the details that you need to know for this trip

Is This Day Tour Already Sold Out?

The trip to Seville is very popular, so in case you already checked the recommended tour and it’s not available on the dates you would like to travel, here are a few options you could consider instead:

• Alternative Day Trip from Fuengirola to Seville with Tickets to Cathedral – this one also runs only once a week, so secure your tickets to avoid disappointment.
• If none of the organised day trip options is available when you’re staying in Fuengirola, you can also consider driving to Seville with a rental car or using public transport (check the directions below). In this case, I strongly suggest checking and booking tickets to the Cathedral and Royal Alcazar in advance, as these are the two most important monuments you want to see, and the tickets sell our really fast. Get the skip the line tickets to the Cathedral here and tickets to the Royal Alcazar here.

Option 2: Fuengirola to Seville Day Trip with Rental Car

Driving to Seville makes the most sense if you have already rented a car for your stay in Fuengirola.

If this is the best option for you, here are a few things you should be aware of:

• If you’re visiting Seville, I think it’s safe to presume you want to see the two most important monuments – the Cathedral with Giralda Tower and the Royal Alcazar. These are super popular places to visit, and tickets sell out weeks in advance, so buying your tickets as soon as possible is very important. I have added the links for both options below.
• The distance between Seville and Fuengirola is 233 km
• The journey should take about 2.5 hours, depending on the traffic and which route you are taking.
• As the drive is fairly long, I recommend leaving Fuengirola as early as possible so you have plenty of time to explore Seville on your day trip.
• The drive from Fuengirola to Seville is fairly easy, but there may be some toll roads on your way, so have some spare cash in the car if you hit the toll booth. The roads are generally in very good condition.
• The outline of the journey is on the map under this section.
• It’s worth checking parking options in Seville in advance, especially if you want to stay close to the center – in many cases, the big parking places also allow you to buy day tickets in advance, saving you the hassle on the day.
• What to see in Seville on your day trip? Skip to the section below to check my suggestions for this day trip!

BUY ONLINE: Skip the Line Tickets to the Cathedral & Giralda Tower of Seville

BUY ONLINE: Skip the Line Tickets to the Royal Alcazar

Option 3: Fuengirola to Seville Day Trip with Public Transport

Using public transport for this day trip is certainly an option, but due to the fact that you have to change in Malaga, you will need to plan well in advance.

Here are my recommendations for using public transport:

• There are direct buses from Fuengirola to Seville, but the journey takes over 3 hours so it’s not really an option if you want to do a day trip
• The best public transport option is taking a train from Malaga Maria Zambrano to Sevilla Santa Justa, so you first need to get to Malaga to take advantage of this connection option

GETTING FROM FUENGIROLA TO MALAGA

• To get to Malaga train station, you first need to get the local train C-1 cercanias (commuter train), which runs every 20 minutes from 4 stations in Fuengirola – Fuengirola main train station, Los Boliches, Torreblanca and Carvajal. You can find the timetable for this train by entering your departure and arrival station in here.
• The local train journey is 40 minutes and tickets cost around 8 euros.

MALAGA TRAIN STATION TO SEVILLE TRAIN STATION

• Once you get to Malaga Maria Zambrano, you simply walk to the main departure terminal for the long-distance trains – they do scan luggage before you enter the terminal.
• There are two types of trains to Seville – direct rain, which will get you to Seville in under 2 hours and connecting trains via Cordoba, which take longer, but the tickets are usually a bit cheaper.
• For the journey from Malaga to Seville, there are roughly 8 to 10, sometimes up to 12, connections per day.
• The first trains leave at 6.37 am and the last ones to Seville leave at 8.37 pm.
• To make this worthwhile for a day trip, I would recommend taking the early morning train from Fuengirola main station at 7.20 or 7.40, so you get to Malaga train station just after 8am, and then catch the faster 2 hour train to Sevilla Santa Justa at 9.10 am. That means you’re in Seville at 11 am, leaving you plenty of time to explore.
• On your way back, you can get any train back from Seville, as long as you can get on the local C-1 commuter train before midnight, as that’s when the trains stop running. Alternatively, you can also take a taxi from the station to Fuengirola, which would cost around 35 – 50 euros.
• Remember that its super important to book your train tickets to Seville early at the Renfe website. As you get closer to your travel date, they tend to get fully booked or the price will increase
• The standard price for a one-way ticket to Seville is just under 20 euros one way.

Well, that was fairly detailed, wasn’t it?

As you can see, the average one-way trip to Seville will be around 3 hours, so you really need to plan properly what to do with your limited time in Seville.

I have added my suggestions on spending time in Seville below.

Option 4: Fuengirola to Seville Day Trip with Taxi

The last option, which is the most expensive one, is using a taxi for this trip.

According to estimates online, this trip would cost you around 300 to 350 euros one way for a standard car with up to 4 people sharing.

Fuengirola to Seville Day Trip: Your Suggested Itinerary

If you’re planning to drive to Seville alone or use public transport, you’re probably wondering what’s the best way to spend your time there.

Here are my suggestions, based on my own two extended trips to the Andalusian capital city:

• BEFORE arriving in Seville, book the tickets to the most important monuments. Tickets to the Royal Alcazar are available here, and you can also get skip-the-line tickets for the Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower
• Try to get the first tickets possible, and make sure you check your arrival time for either a car trip or train properly to be there at least 20 minutes before your time slot. It would take you about 15 minutes from the train station to get there by a local taxi.
• MORNING: Visit the Cathedral and Giralda Tower – allow approximately 1.5 to 2 hours to see the whole cathedral and climb the Giralda Tower. The entrance has a dedicated time slot, so make sure you plan your arrival accordingly. Also, the entrance to Giralda Tower has a dedicated time slot, so don’t miss it.

• LUNCH: Once you’re done with the exploration, walk up from the Giralda tower until you hit a street lined with tapas bars to find a nice place for lunch. I really liked the Cerveceria Giralda Bar, which is built on the grounds of old Arab baths with most of the features still preserved.
• AFTERNOON: In the afternoon, walk back down the road towards the Cathedral, and you will see a huge pink wall with a big gate on your left side – that’s the Puerta de Leon, the main entrance to the Royal Alcazar of Seville. You will easily need 2 – 3 hours to see it, especially the garden.
• EARLY EVENING: If you still have time spare, feel free to explore the old town of Seville, which is full of beautiful corners and tiny squares, with tapas bars scattered around and locals chatting away until late hours in the night.

Fuengirola to Seville Day Trip: Practical Travel Tips for 2023

Here are some practical tips that will make your trip to Seville much more enjoyable:

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing – Seville is notoriously hot in the summer months but also in early spring.
• Take a water bottle with you everywhere you go.
• For conservation reasons, only a limited number of visitors are allowed in the Alcazar Palace per hour. Currently, the maximum admittance for the chosen time slot is 250. That’s why its important to get your tickets super early in advance, so you don’t miss out. I shared the links where you can buy them below.
• It’s nearly impossible to get the Royal Alcazar tickets for the day from the ticket office (Patio de Banderas), even if you travel off-season.
• There are security scans before the entrance to the Alcazar, do not bring any sharp objects, hazardous items or food inside. No large luggage allowed, not pets (even if your dog fits in a bag, it’s still considered a pet).
• There is more than one entrance to Seville Cathedral, and that’s for a reason – one for those who want to buy tickets on the spot and one for those that have bought tickets online.
• You will see a long line of people waiting to get into the cathedral alongside it – that might put you off completely from visiting, but you don’t need to worry – these people didn’t get the tickets online.
• If you buy your tickets online, you can access the cathedral from the entrance under the Giralda Tower.
• The climb to Giralda is not suited for those with serious health issues – there are inclined ramps, not stairs, that will take you to the top, and it can easily take 15 – 20 minutes of climbing up to reach the top. Also, if you have vertigo or don’t like tight spaces, you might want to skip this.
• Once you enter the line to get to Giralda Tower, you cannot leave and re-enter. The same applies to the entrance to the Cathedral.

BUY ONLINE: Skip the Line Tickets to the Cathedral & Giralda Tower of Seville

BUY ONLINE: Skip the Line Tickets to the Royal Alcazar

Fuengirola to Seville Day Trip: Frequent Questions

How far is Seville from Fuengirola?

The distance between Seville and Fuengirola is about 233 km.

Is Seville a good day trip?

Yes, it is! Depending on how you travel there and how much time you have, there is so much to discover in Seville, and you won’t get bored even after staying there for 5 days. Some of my favourite spots, besides the most popular sights like the Alcazar and Cathedral, are Palacio Duenas, Casa de Pilatos, Plaza de Espana, and the old town of Seville.

Is Seville worth visiting?

For me, it is by far the prettiest city in Southern Spain and also one that has the most to offer.

Seville will charm you with its idyllic romantic old town, impress you with UNESCO World Heritage sites (a lot of them used as movie locations) and utterly capture your heart with its culinary delights. You will love it no matter if you have only one or five days to spend here.

Can you do a day trip from Malaga to Seville?

Yes, you can! There is a direct train connection available between Malaga and Seville, which makes planning a day trip to Seville pretty easy.

How often do the trains run from Malaga to Seville?

There are around 10 train connections per day from Malaga to Seville, with an average travel time of 2 hours one way.

Can you see Seville in one day?

In one day, you can easily see two of Seville’s main highlights: the Seville Cathedral with Giralda Tower and the Royal Alcazar. If you have a bit of time left, you can spend it exploring the old town.

Other Day Trips from Seville You Might Like

Seville To Granada Day Trip: 4 Ways To Plan the Perfect Trip

Seville To Ronda Day Trip: Book Online (2023 Best Local Tips)

Book Online: Seville To Gibraltar Day Trip (2023 Local Tips)

Book Online: Day Trip From Seville To Alhambra (With Local Tips)

Most Popular Experiences in Seville

Here are some highlights you can experience while staying in Seville.

• Seville Cathedral, Royal Alcazar & Giralda Entrance with a Guided Tour – skip the line entrance for both locations, save a lot of time and enjoy an informative guided tour.
• Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower Skip Line Tickets Only – save a ton of time with these skip-the-line tickets (no tour guide)
• Entry Ticket to Royal Alcazar Only – buy online and skip the line at the gates
• Guadalquivir River City Cruise – enjoy the stunning views and historic bridges on a city cruise.
• Casa de Memoria Flamenco Show – Seville’s most celebrated Flamenco show, in an authentic setting.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.