The city of Seville can boast a remarkable honor in Spain: it is the city with the largest and best preserved historic center in the country. And that is noticeable when walking through it and its endless streets full of history, its emblematic buildings, such as La Giralda or the Real Alcazar, and the legendary Santa Cruz neighborhood. The twentieth century has also made hatching in the Andalusian capital and has left important monuments such as the impressive Plaza de España, built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, and the entire monumental complex created expressly for the Universal Exposition of 1992, which is concentrated in the Isla de la Cartuja.
Three days is the recommended stay in this city to enjoy essential areas and neighborhoods such as Triana, Arenal or Macarena; the most outstanding art and imagery of its churches, such as the Basílica del Salvador, the Basílica de la Macarena, San Luis de los Franceses or Santa María la Blanca; and monuments that complete an unrepeatable historical heritage, such as the Casa de Pilatos, the Palacio de las Dueñas or the Real Maestranza.
Its wide variety of green areas and a favorable climate to enjoy outdoor life make Seville an ideal destination for tourism at any time of the year. A few meters from the center, the Maria Luisa Park stands as one of the main green lungs that, along with the banks of the Guadalquivir River, offer numerous alternatives to enjoy walks or bike rides and relax from the tourist activity.
Of course, Seville has all the charm of flamenco, a musical genre revered throughout the world, which has one of its cradles in Triana neighbourhood, with a great life during the day and at night, and that completes a number of unique riches that are concentrated in a city to visit all year round. A visit to one of its many flamenco “tablaos” is an inimitable spectacle to round off a visit to Seville.
Andalusian gastronomy is an ever-present aspect of the city, with countless tapas bars and restaurants to enjoy exquisite dishes such as gazpacho, salmorejo, fried fish, “papas aliñás” (seasoned potatoes), roe, the “serranito” (pork loin, cured ham and green bell pepper sandwich, usually accompanied with fried potatoes and “mojo picón”) or the “montaditos de pringá” (small sandwiches of pulled meat and chorizo). Always accompanied with a cold beer or a glass of manzanilla, a typical wine from the neighboring province of Cadiz, produced with grapes from the area of Jerez.
Best time to travel
Temperatures in Seville, as in most inland areas of Andalusia, can be somewhat extreme in summer, with wet winters due to the location of the Guadalquivir River, but warmer than in other inland regions. Conditions are attenuated in autumn and spring, the most attractive seasons to visit the city.
March – June
The best time to visit Seville, with the parks in full bloom, the street life with full terraces and lots of movement. And with the star event of the year: the famous Feria de Abril. A perfect time to spend a vacation with lots of stimulation and ideal weather.
Weather
Although it is not a city where it rains too much, it is also true that spring is the rainiest season in Seville. Temperatures reach an average of 18 °C in March and increase as April and May progress. The minimum temperatures in spring in Seville are 13 °C and the maximum temperatures, close to summer, reach 20 °C.
Events & Parties
At the beginning of spring, the streets of Seville breathe fervor and folklore during Holy Week, the brotherhoods walk the streets of the center and the Nazarenes wear their unmistakable tunics to accompany the religious sculptures of their respective brotherhoods. The orchestral marches complete what is surely one of the oldest and most impressive religious traditions in Spanish culture.
The Feria de Abril is Seville’s other great spring festival, the event that all Sevillians look forward to throughout the year and that attracts tourists from all over the world. The city is filled with typical red, green and white booths and good food, drink and lots of flamenco and fun. It is always advisable to have a local friend, as most of the booths are private and require the presence of a partner for the group to have access to them. The date to visit the Fair depends on Easter: it is always held two weeks after Easter Sunday.
Price evolution
Spring in Seville is considered the high season for tourism and prices increase considerably. The weather is perfect for walking and strolling all day long around the city and that, added to the two big events that attract tourism, generates not only the increase in prices, but the overbooking If you plan to travel in spring, it is advisable to book well in advance (it would not be an exaggeration to recommend more than 4 months in advance).
June – September
If spring is the perfect time to take advantage of the whole day in Seville, in summer the time to spend outdoors is somewhat less because temperatures can be very high between 13:00 and 18:00 hours, forcing to use sunscreen and hat and carry a bottle of water to go down the street.
Weather
Summer in Seville can have mild days, with temperatures between 25 °C and 30 °C, but the usual will be to find higher temperatures, even very hard days, with values that exceed 40 °C and force to reserve the walks to the early morning hours or in the afternoon after 18:00 (or from 13:00 to 18:00 hours, taking the above mentioned precautions). The thermal sensation increases in summer with the humidity coming from the Guadalquivir River and the rains are completely absent.
Events & Parties
The best part of Seville’s summer is the evenings on the terraces of the bars, when life in the streets reaches its peak. Among the most important events of the summer are the Romería del Rocío and several regattas held on the river, near the Triana bridge.
Price evolution
As the demand for tourism, which prefers beach areas in Andalusia during the summer, decreases, prices are also reduced and there is greater availability in different types of accommodation.
September – December
The month of September in Seville usually maintains high temperatures, but as October approaches and we reach November, autumn makes itself felt and the degrees begin to drop, making the city cooler and more pleasant to walk and tour throughout the day.
Weather
The average autumn temperature in Seville is 15 °C, with highs between 20 °C and 25 °C and lows of 10 °C, a considerable increase in rainfall and shorter days, as it starts to get dark around 19:00 hours.
Events & Parties
In autumn, the famous Bienal de Flamenco is held in Seville, bringing together the most important names of the genre. It is also a very cultural month in the city, with the Noche en Blanco, events in different places and free admission to the Cathedral and the Giralda. And in November comes the International Contemporary Dance Festival and the Seville European Film Festival.
Price evolution
After spring, autumn is the best time to visit Seville, but prices drop considerably and, in many cases, much more than in summer. So, if you feel like traveling in mild weather and are looking for good deals on hotels and flights (and have the availability to do so), autumn is a good month for a vacation in Seville.
December – March
The contrast between the cool and pleasant days and the freezing nights is felt in Seville in winter, the only season in which the heat gives a certain truce, to force us to travel with a coat.
Weather
The lowest temperatures of the year in Seville are recorded in January and February, with minimum temperatures of 5 °C and maximum temperatures of 15 °C. In March, temperatures start to rise and in the last days of winter, the beginning of spring can already be felt.
Events & Parties
Seville’s winter is dominated by Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations, with many street markets that fill the streets of different neighborhoods with colors, aromas and flavors. On December 24, the Misa del Gallo (Midnight Mass) is celebrated in all the churches of the city and on January 5, the Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos (Cavalcade of the Three Wise Men) takes place. January is the month of flamenco fashion and there are many catwalks where you can see typical costumes.
Price evolution
Winter is the season less requested by tourists visiting Seville, so it is not necessary to book hotels and flights well in advance to get good prices, as there are many offers available.
What to see and do
How to get from the airport
Seville-San Pablo airport is only 10 km from the city center and transfer options are very easy and inexpensive. While there is no subway or train, buses are convenient and fast, and you also have several options for getting around by car.
As an additional recommendation, you may want to consider arriving in the city by high-speed train, or AVE, from the Spanish capital. The connection with Madrid is really fast and you can reach Santa Justa station, very close to the city center, in two and a half hours, with prices ranging between 45 € and 75 €, depending on the schedule and demand at the time of year.
Where to stay
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