Seville is about 160 km from the Caminito del Rey, roughly 1h 45min - 2h by car via the A-92. It's farther than from Málaga or Granada, but perfectly doable as a day trip if you organize yourself. And if you've lived in Seville for a while and never been to the Caminito, this article is for you.
The numbers of the trip
Distance: ~160 km (Seville city to the Caminito's south access) Driving time: 1h 45min - 2h without traffic Route: Seville → A-92 toward Antequera → A-357 toward Ardales
During peak demand periods (Friday afternoon, Sunday nights), leaving Seville can add an extra 20-30 minutes. Worth keeping in mind if you have an early morning ticket.
How to organize the day
Early morning entry option (8am-9am)
You'll need to leave Seville around 5:30-6am. It's a lot of waking up early, but it has advantages: you finish the route around 12-1pm and have the whole afternoon free in the area or to head back relaxed.
If waking up that early puts you off, consider staying overnight in El Chorro or Ardales the night before. One night near the access removes the early start and turns the plan into a more relaxed weekend.
Mid-morning entry option (10am-11am)
Leave Seville at 7:30-8am. More reasonable. You finish the route at 2-3pm, eat in Ardales, and arrive back in Seville between 7-8pm. A long day but very well spent.
This is the most recommended slot for those coming from Seville — it balances the early start with a full day without excessive rush on the way back.
Afternoon entry option
Afternoon entry slots (3pm-4pm) work in theory, but from Seville they mean leaving at midday, arriving at the start of the route at 2-3pm, and finishing around 6-7pm. The return to Seville is another 2 hours. You get home at 9-10pm with a very long day behind you.
Possible but not particularly recommended for a round trip from Seville.
What makes coming from Seville different (vs. from Málaga)
The main difference is time on the road. From Málaga it's 55 km and one hour. From Seville it's 160 km and two hours. That changes the calculation of whether it's worth eating in the area or heading back quickly.
My recommendation: if you're coming from Seville, don't make the trip just for the Caminito and head straight back. Add a stop:
- Lunch in Ardales (the set menu at the town's restaurants is good and cheap)
- The Chorro reservoir (15 minutes after finishing the route)
- A brief visit to Álora (20 km detour, a town with an Arab castle and views of the Guadalhorce Valley)
That way the day has more content and the 2-hour return trip is better justified.
Transport from Seville without a car
The public transport combination from Seville is complex:
- Seville → Málaga by bus (Alsa, about 2h 30min) or AVE high-speed train (45min)
- Málaga → El Chorro on the Cercanías C-2 commuter line (about 60min, limited schedules)
In total, between 3 and 4 hours of travel each way. For a day trip, that's too much transport time and too much dependence on schedules. If you don't have a car, the most sensible option is an organized tour departing from Seville or from Málaga (arriving earlier by AVE).
Tours from Seville
There are operators that organize excursions to the Caminito del Rey departing from Seville. The bus usually stops at several points in the city and the price is around €60-75 all included.
The obvious advantage: you don't drive two hours there and two hours back. After 4 hours of hiking, the fatigue of driving is noticeable. If the excursion is for a whole family or group of friends, the tourist bus can be more comfortable and cheaper overall than several cars.
Checklist before leaving from Seville
- Ticket booked and confirmed (print it or have the QR code accessible without internet)
- Closed footwear ready (the most common reason for being turned away at the entrance)
- Enough water for 4 hours (minimum 1.5L per person)
- Full gas tank — there's no gas station near the access
- Weather checked for the Ardales area
- Departure time calculated to arrive 20 minutes before your entry slot
When to go from Seville: season vs. availability
From Seville, the trip is most worthwhile when it pays off well. That points to:
- Spring (March-May): scenery at its best, but you need to book well in advance on weekends
- Autumn (September-October): perfect temperatures, fewer people, and easier availability. The most practical option for those coming from far away
- Winter: immediate availability but a real risk of closure due to rain. For those who can be flexible with the date
The Caminito del Rey is one of those excursions a lot of people from Seville have "on the list" and then put off for years. With the ticket booked and the early departure planned, the day comes together on its own.
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