A grand capital and Andalusia's most atmospheric city, joined by a 2.5-hour train. Hotels, sights, tapas and practical tips from a September trip.
By Steve · September 21, 2026 · 11 min read
Madrid and Seville make one of the best short trips in Spain: a grand, late-night capital and an Andalusian city of tiled courtyards, orange-scented lanes and Moorish palaces, joined by a train ride of around two and a half hours. This guide covers where I stayed in each city, what is worth your time, where to eat, and the practical details that make the two-city route easy.
These are my personal picks from a trip in mid-September 2026. I stayed at both hotels featured here and every photo in this guide was taken by me. The text has been AI polished for clarity, but the experiences are my own.
The two cities feel almost like different countries, and the high-speed train makes doing both painless.
The AVE high-speed train is the obvious choice. Services typically run from Madrid Atocha to Sevilla Santa Justa in around two and a half hours, and both stations are well connected to the city centre by metro, tram or a short taxi ride.
I took the low-cost operator Ouigo from Madrid Atocha to Seville and paid €48 for a first-class return. The train was fast, efficient and comfortable, and great value. Book in advance, especially for weekends and around Easter, when the cheapest fares sell out first.
From Madrid airport, the bus into the city is a great option at €5 each way. It leaves from right outside the terminal, so there is no need for an expensive taxi.
Flying is rarely worth it once you add airport time. Madrid's airport is MAD and Seville's is SVQ, so you can also fly into one city and out of the other.
Southern Spain gets properly hot, so timing matters:
• Spring (March to May): The sweet spot. Warm, bright days, blossom and comfortable sightseeing weather. Note that Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the April Feria in Seville bring big crowds and higher prices.
• Autumn (late September to November): Still warm, with far fewer people than spring. This is when I visited, and the evenings were ideal for rooftop drinks.
• Summer (June to August): Seville regularly passes 40°C (104°F) and Madrid is hot too. Plan sightseeing for early morning and evening, and book air-conditioned rooms.
• Winter (December to February): Mild in Seville, colder and crisper in Madrid. Good for museums and low prices.
One hotel in each city, both central enough to explore on foot:
Madrid · Design Hotel with Rooftop Terrace — A stylish base right on Gran Vía, Madrid's main boulevard. Rooms have warm wood floors, exposed-brick feature walls and backlit headboards, and the vine-covered rooftop terrace is the real draw: sunset over the Madrid skyline with a drink in hand is hard to beat.
Seville · Boutique Hotel — A modern, design-led hotel in the centre of Seville. The entrance sits discreetly among the high-street shops, opening into a calm, dark-toned interior, which makes for a quiet retreat from the heat and crowds outside. Central enough to reach the cathedral, Alcázar and Setas on foot.
Madrid rewards wandering. A few anchors for your days:
1. Gran Vía at golden hour: The city's showpiece boulevard, lined with ornate early-20th-century buildings. Look up as well as ahead.
2. The Golden Triangle of art: The Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza sit close together. Pick one or two rather than trying all three in a day, and book timed tickets online.
3. Retiro Park: The city's green lung, good for a slow morning walk before the day heats up.
4. Royal Palace and Plaza de Oriente: Grand, photogenic and easy to combine with a walk through the old town.
5. A rooftop at sunset: Madrid's skyline glows at dusk. If your hotel has a terrace, this is the time to use it.
Seville is compact and best on foot. Don't miss:
1. Real Alcázar: A royal palace still in use today, famous for its Mudéjar architecture, horseshoe arches, tiled halls and gardens. Book timed tickets online in advance, as walk-up queues can be long. The cathedral and the Alcázar are both part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
2. Metropol Parasol (Las Setas): The huge timber mushroom-shaped structure over Plaza de la Encarnación. Walk the rooftop path for panoramic views over the rooftops and towers of the old town, especially good in the golden light of early morning or evening.
3. Seville Cathedral and the Giralda: One of the largest cathedrals in the world, with a bell tower that began life as a minaret.
4. The old town on foot: Whitewashed plazas, gilded churches, small street-art murals and historic shopfronts turn up around every corner. Wander without a plan.
5. Barrio de Santa Cruz and the river: Tight lanes and orange trees in the old Jewish quarter, then a stroll along the Guadalquivir at dusk.
Spanish eating rhythms take a little getting used to: lunch is typically 2–4pm, dinner rarely starts before 9pm, and many kitchens close between meals. Two Seville spots I enjoyed:
A few things that make the two-city trip smoother.
Four to six days works well: two or three nights in each city plus a travel day. A long weekend is possible if you pick a few highlights and book tickets ahead, but a full week lets you slow down.
The AVE high-speed train takes roughly two and a half hours, depending on the service. Book early for the best fares and check the station you depart from, as Madrid has more than one.
Yes, I strongly recommend it. Timed tickets bought online save you from long queues, particularly in spring and autumn. Check opening hours and any visitor limits on the official website before you go.
July and August are very hot, often above 40°C. If you must go then, do your sightseeing early and in the evening, stay hydrated and choose air-conditioned accommodation. Spring and autumn are far more comfortable.
No. Both city centres are walkable, Madrid has an excellent metro and the train connects the cities. A car is only worth it if you plan to explore rural Andalusia.
Lunch is usually between 2pm and 4pm and dinner from around 9pm. Restaurants that open earlier tend to cater to tourists. In between, tapas bars are a good way to bridge the gap.
Best time to visit: March–May & late September–November
Budget per day: Roughly €100–220 (mid-range, two people sharing a room)
Currency: Euro (€)
Airport codes: MAD (Madrid), SVQ (Seville)
Madrid to Seville: High-speed train, roughly 2.5 hours (I paid €48 first-class return with Ouigo)
Airport to city: Bus from outside the terminal, €5 each way
Time zone: CET, one hour ahead of the UK
Languages: Spanish, English in tourist areas
Entry: UK and US visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa; check current EU entry rules before you travel
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