Should I go to Seville or Málaga?

Seville is all about authentic Andalusian heritage. The old town brims with romantic palaces and iconic landmarks. There’s really no other place like it and might well be my favorite city in Spain. Malaga is a modern coastal city known for its art, beaches, and food scene. It’s the place to go if you’re there for a great time.

Short answer

• If you only have a weekend or want a laid-back beach break, choose Málaga.
• For 3 to 4 days, go to Seville.
• If you’re staying longer, explore both cities. Just give Seville the bigger share of your time.

Long answer

It really depends on what kind of trip you’re looking for. Málaga and Seville offer very different experiences but can complement each other well on a 10-day Andalusian itinerary.

• Go to Seville for beautiful monuments, history, traditional Andalusian culture, festivals, spring fair, and shopping.
• Go to Málaga for the sea, art museums, food, nightlife, relaxation, and easy access to the Costa del Sol.

Seville vs Málaga – Summary

Seville

• The largest city in Southern Spain
• The perfect base to discover the rest of the region.
• The one city that trully captures the spirit of Andalusia.
• There are many exceptional high-end hotels.
• It’s just 2 1/2 hours by train from Madrid.
• There are many direct flights from all over Europe.
• There are many different things to see and do for everyone: palaces, flamenco shows, watersports on the Guadalquivir, and food tours.
• You’ll find many tours, day trips, and activities.
• If you want to spend more time in the same city.
• There are numerous child-friendly attractions, and most major sights are within a 15-minute walk of each other, making it easy to get around on foot.
• An excellent destination any time of the year.
• Hundreds of excellent tapas restaurants in Seville.

Málaga

• The gateway to the Costa del Sol
• A modern city on the Mediterranean Sea, more laid-back than Madrid.
• Affordable hotels and seaside stays are easy to find.
• 2 1/2 hours by train from Madrid.
• There are many direct flights from across Europe, more frequent than those to Seville!
• A wide range of museums and galleries.
• Amazing beaches and nature-oriented day trips.
• The city is easy to navigate and very family-friendly.
• If you want to spend more time enjoy Spain, rather than sightseeing Spain
• A great destination year-round.
• Grilled sardines right on the beach and 3 Michelin star restaurants.

Seville vs Málaga

• Málaga is lively and has its own appeal, but Seville really stands out with its majestic monuments, winding old-world streets, sultry evenings, and beautiful atmosphere. Still, if you want a vacation that truly takes you to another place, Seville is probably the best pick.
• If you’re planning something romantic (like a honeymoon or a couple’s trip) Seville is the top choice. The whole city just feels made for romance.
• Málaga really stands out for three things: its beaches, modern art museums, and great food. It gives you a lively taste of today’s Spain. Seville is full of history and amazing buildings, but it doesn’t match that scene exactly.
• Seville offers all kinds of things to do: tapas tasting, tile-making workshops, wine tours, and even day trips to the Costa de la Luz or one of Andalusia’s white villages. Málaga, on the other hand, is more about the coast, beaches, and laid-back views. If you’re after well-known sights and fun nearby trips, Seville probably has a bit more to offer. But that doesn’t mean Málaga falls short. It’s the best base for the Caminito del Rey, one of the exciting hikes in Spain, and it’s closer to some famous (though very different) beach towns like Nerja and Marbella.
• Both Seville and Malaga have airports. You can fly straight to either one from Madrid and many places in northern and western Europe.
• Malaga has direct flights from New York and Montreal, but Seville doesn’t have any direct flights from North America. If you’re coming from outside Europe, you’ll probably need to change planes somewhere in Europe before heading down to southern Spain.
• Winter brings a slower rhythm to both destinations. Malaga stays warm thanks to the mountains nearby and enjoys the mildest winter temperatures among Spain’s bigger cities. It’s no wonder it welcomes a large community of seasonal visitors. Seville also see its share of visitors in the winter who can enjoy the beauty of its winterly-blooming orange blossoms.
• You can get to either Seville or Malaga from Madrid in about 2.5 hours by high-speed train. If you’re coming from Barcelona, the train to Seville takes around 5 hours and getting to Malaga takes a bit longer than that.

The weather in Seville and Málaga

Seville gets extremely hot in the summer, with temperatures often going over 40℃. Málaga is also hot, but since it’s on the coast, it stays a bit cooler, usually around 30℃. Both cities have mild winters, which makes them great places to visit in the off-season. Spring and early autumn are the best times to go, with nice weather and smaller crowds. Still, it’s hard to say no to a summer trip to Málaga.

Seville is the capital of Andalusia and bigger than Málaga, so there’s a lot more to see and do all year round: museums, festivals, and its beautiful landmarks are not season-restricted. That said, summer is seriously hot. If you’re going then, make sure your hotel has air conditioning or even better, a pool. Seville’s busiest travel months are from March to June, and then again in September and October.

Obviously, Málaga is most popular in the warmer months because of its beaches and perfect seaside location. But be ready for big crowds in the summer anywhere along the Costa del Sol. If you visit outside summer, it’s a bit more peaceful and believe it or not, you’ll still see people sunbathing in winter (though getting into the water is another story unless you’re really brave). November is usually the rainiest month, but even then, the showers don’t last long.

Visiting Both Seville and Málaga

Seville and Malaga are so different that visiting both is a great idea: it makes perfect sense to combine them, especially if it’s your first time in southern Spain. Seville offers historic charm and iconic tapas culture, while Málaga stands out for its ever-exciting art scene, with over 40 museums and galleries to explore.

The two cities are only 157 km apart and about 2.5 hours away by train. The most popular way to travel between Seville and Malaga is by high-speed train, which runs frequently in both directions, especially in summer. Most train journeys include a stop in Córdoba, the grand former capital. Though it’s not always top of mind for travelers, Córdoba is one of Andalusia’s most important historic cities and makes a great stop or day trip along the way.

Day Trip to Seville or Málaga

To really get a feel for both places, it’s best to stay a few nights in each. Rushing through in a single afternoon just doesn’t do them justice.

Sure, you can technically squeeze Seville into a day trip from Málaga and cover the major landmarks in under 8 hours, but that kind of rushed trip isn’t for everyone. Seville reveals its charm far more when you give it time and spending a night there makes a big difference. That said, if you’re tight on time or just passing through on the way to, say, Portugal, a shorter visit can still work.

The same goes the other way around. You can visit Málaga on a day trip from Seville, and honestly, that might be a little easier than doing it the other way around.

Day Trips from Seville or Málaga

I wouldn’t necessarily choose where to stay just based on day trips, but it’s still something to think about if you want to see more of the region and have a trip that feels a bit more well-rounded. From Seville, some of the best day trips are to Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, and Córdoba. If you’re staying in Malaga, you’ve got easy access to places like Marbella, the Caminito del Rey in El Chorro, Nerja, and even Gibraltar.

Granada and Ronda are great options too! And they’re pretty easy to reach no matter which city you’re based in.