What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Sevilla, Spain.
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons
Sevilla is a compact, walkable city in southern Spain built around Moorish palaces, narrow lanes and tiled courtyards. You can cross most of the historic centre on foot, moving between the Cathedral, the Real Alcázar and the Santa Cruz quarter in a single day. Summers are brutally hot, so the best months to visit are February, April, October and November, when temperatures are mild enough for long days of walking and sitting out at terraces.
Two to three days cover the main sights: the Cathedral, Alcázar, Plaza de España and Barrio Santa Cruz. Add a day for Triana and Parque de María Luisa if you want a slower pace.
Santa Cruz
A royal palace that is still in use, with Mudéjar halls, carved stucco, tiled courtyards and large walled gardens. It is the sight most visitors rank first in Sevilla, so book a timed ticket ahead.
Santa Cruz
One of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, built on the site of a mosque. It holds the tomb of Christopher Columbus. You can climb the Giralda bell tower, a former minaret, by ramps instead of stairs for views over the old town.
Parque de María Luisa
A large semicircular square with a brick-and-tile building, a canal you can row on, and tiled alcoves for each Spanish province. It is free to walk around and looks best in the softer light of early morning or late afternoon.
Santa Cruz
The old Jewish quarter next to the Alcázar. It is a maze of narrow lanes, small squares with orange trees, and whitewashed houses with flower-filled patios. Get lost on foot and stop at a tapas bar.
Parque de María Luisa
Sevilla's main park, with shaded paths, ponds, fountains and tiled benches. It is a good place to cool down on hot afternoons and connects directly to Plaza de España.
Encarnación
A huge modern wooden structure shaped like giant mushrooms over Plaza de la Encarnación. A walkway on top gives wide views of the city, and Roman remains are on show in the museum underneath. Many people go up at sunset.
Triana
The neighbourhood across the Guadalquivir river, long known for its ceramics workshops, sailors and flamenco. Walk over the Isabel II bridge, visit the Triana market and the tile shops, and eat along Calle Betis by the river.
San Bartolomé
A noble family palace mixing Mudéjar, Gothic and Renaissance styles. It has some of the finest tilework in the city and quiet gardens, and it is usually much less crowded than the Alcázar.
El Arenal
One of the oldest and most famous bullrings in Spain, painted white and ochre beside the river. A guided tour shows the arena, the chapel and a museum on the history of bullfighting.
El Arenal
A medieval watchtower on the riverbank that once helped guard the port. It holds a small naval museum, and the top has views along the Guadalquivir. River cruises leave from nearby.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16°C / 6°C | 5 days (39 mm) | 7.7 h/day | 7.9/10 |
| Best month: February | 18°C / 8°C | 5 days (31 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 9.1/10 |
| March | 21°C / 10°C | 10 days (80 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 8.1/10 |
| Best month: April | 23°C / 12°C | 7 days (52 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 8.6/10 |
| May | 29°C / 16°C | 4 days (28 mm) | 12.3 h/day | 7.9/10 |
| June | 33°C / 19°C | 1 day (10 mm) | 13.4 h/day | 5.0/10 |
| July | 37°C / 22°C | 0 days (1 mm) | 13.4 h/day | 3.5/10 |
| August | 37°C / 22°C | 0 days (3 mm) | 12.7 h/day | 3.4/10 |
| September | 32°C / 19°C | 3 days (24 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 6.6/10 |
| Best month: October | 27°C / 16°C | 7 days (87 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 8.3/10 |
| Best month: November | 20°C / 11°C | 7 days (59 mm) | 8.1 h/day | 8.6/10 |
| December | 17°C / 8°C | 6 days (60 mm) | 7.6 h/day | 8.3/10 |
Mild days around 16°C, cool nights near 6°C and about 5 rain days. A score of 7.9 makes it a best month for sightseeing without heat.
The top score of the year at 9.1. Highs reach 18°C, with only about 5 rain days and 9 hours of sun a day.
Still a best month, scoring 8.1, with highs near 21°C. It has the most rain days of the year, about 10, so pack a jacket.
Warm highs of 23°C and about 7 rain days. A score of 8.6 makes it one of the best months to go.
Highs climb to 28.5°C, with about 4 rain days and 12 hours of sun. It scores 7.9 and is still a best month, but afternoons get hot.
Only an ok month, scoring 5. Highs reach 32.5°C and it rarely rains, about 1 day. Plan sightseeing for mornings and evenings.
Avoid. Highs average 37°C, nights stay near 22°C and it almost never rains. The score drops to 3.5, and walking around the city is hard work.
Avoid. Highs of 36.9°C and warm nights around 22°C make it the lowest-scoring month at 3.4. Heat, not rain, is the problem.
A good month, scoring 6.6. Highs are still 31.5°C, cooler than August but hot. Expect about 3 rain days.
Back to best, scoring 8.3, with highs near 27°C. Expect about 7 rain days and the most rainfall of the year, 87 mm.
Scores 8.6, joint second-best with April. Highs of 20°C suit walking, though about 7 rain days mean some wet afternoons.
A best month, scoring 8.3. Highs of 17°C, lows near 8°C and about 6 rain days. It has the least sun of the year, 7.6 hours a day.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Spain →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, sightseeing
The old Jewish quarter is a maze of narrow lanes and small squares right beside the Cathedral and the Real Alcázar. You can walk to the main sights in minutes. The drawback is crowds of tour groups by day, and the tight streets make arriving by taxi with luggage awkward.
Good for first-timers, food lovers
Between the Cathedral and the Guadalquivir river, this area has the bullring, riverside walks and many traditional tapas bars. It is central but feels a little less packed than Santa Cruz. Bars stay busy late, so some streets are noisy at night.
Good for local feel, flamenco, food
Across the river, Triana has its own identity, with a food market, ceramics workshops and flamenco bars. It feels more like a living neighbourhood than a tourist zone. The main sights are a walk across the bridge, which adds time to every trip.
Good for nightlife, younger travellers
This long tree-lined square in the north of the old town is full of bars, cafés and terraces popular with locals. It is relaxed by day and lively at night. Late-night noise can be a problem if your room faces the square.
Good for budget, repeat visitors
In the north of the old town, around the Basílica de la Macarena and a surviving stretch of the old city walls, this area is residential and less touristy. Daily life feels local, with neighbourhood markets and churches. It is a longer walk to the Cathedral area, and some streets feel quiet after dark.
Good for families, business travellers
A modern district east of the centre, with wide streets, shopping centres and the Sevilla FC stadium. It is calmer and more practical, with good metro and bus links. It lacks old-town charm, and you will need transport or a longer walk to reach the historic sights.
Typical journey times and fares from the airport and other cities.
Places within 2½ hours by train, bus, ferry or car.
train · 27.3–77.1 EUR
Renfe AVE, Atocha to Sevilla Santa Justa. Around 27.30 EUR if booked about a month ahead; same-day average 77.10 EUR. OUIGO and iryo also run this line.
train · 8.42 USD
About 28 trains a day (Renfe AVE and Avant, plus OUIGO and iryo), average 42 minutes. Trainline's US site lists fares from USD 8.42; Avant tickets are the cheapest and rarely sell out. Good as a day trip either way.
Spinach and chickpeas stewed with garlic, cumin and paprika, often thickened with fried bread. It is one of the most common tapas in Sevilla's bars, and many locals eat it during Lent.
A small bread roll filled with the slow-cooked meats, chorizo and fat left over from a puchero stew. Locals order it as a tapa in traditional bars, often with a cold beer.
Pork cheeks braised slowly in wine or sherry until very soft. You will find it on most tapas menus in the city, served as a small or larger portion.
Small fish and seafood coated in flour and deep-fried in olive oil. Sevillanos buy it in paper cones from freidurías, especially in the Triana area, and eat it standing or at a bar.
A cold soup of blended tomato, pepper, cucumber, garlic, olive oil and vinegar. Locals drink it at home and in bars during the hot summer months, often from a glass.
Slices of bread soaked in milk or wine, fried, then coated in honey or sugar. They are the classic sweet of Holy Week, when bakeries and homes across Sevilla make them.
Best: Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Best: May, Jun, Nov, Dec
Best: Apr, May, Jun, Oct
No, August scores just 3.4 out of 10, the lowest of the year. Highs hit 36.9°C with only 0.4 rain days, so the heat is intense and dry. If you go, plan around siesta hours and expect little relief until evening.
The best months are February, April, October and November, all scoring 8.1 or higher. Highs sit between 18.4°C and 26.6°C with manageable rain, and February alone scores 9.1, the highest of the year. These months avoid the summer heat while still offering plenty of sun hours.
Two to three days cover the main sights. The Royal Alcázar and the Cathedral each take 2–3 hours, while Plaza de España, Barrio Santa Cruz, Casa de Pilatos and Triana need 1–2 hours or half a day. Add a day if you want unhurried time in Parque de María Luisa and El Arenal.
Yes, July is the hottest month, with highs averaging 37°C and lows near 21.8°C. Rain almost disappears, with only 0.1 rain days and 1mm of rain. The month scores 3.5, reflecting conditions better suited to travellers who specifically want peak Andalusian summer heat.
Rain is moderate in winter, not heavy. December brings 60mm over 5.9 rain days and January brings 39mm over 5.1 rain days, while March actually sees more rain, 80mm over 9.6 days. Sun hours stay lower too, around 7.6–7.7 in December and January.
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