Colorful, passionate Seville will steal your heart from the moment you first set foot on its cobblestone streets.
The Andalusian capital’s jaw-dropping architecture, beautifully manicured avenues and warm, friendly locals will help make the city one of your new favorites! Before you go, however, there are a few helpful things to keep in mind. Remember these things to know before traveling to Seville and your trip will go off without a hitch!
1. Time of year can have an impact on your visit
Seville is absolutely glorious in the springtime—think comfortably warm temperatures, sun-drenched plazas filled with locals enjoying a drink, and flowers filling the city with color. It’s also a festive time of year, with both Holy Week and the iconic April Fair taking place in the spring months. However, this means it’s quite a popular time to visit. Be prepared for crowds and higher accommodation prices.
In the summer, temperatures skyrocket and many small businesses in the city close up shop, especially in August, as they take vacations. Fall and winter are generally milder months with less touristy crowds, making them a pleasant option for visiting.
2. Don’t plan on running errands in the afternoon
One of the most important things to know before traveling to Seville is that the siesta tradition still lives on. This doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone goes and takes a nap in the middle of the day—though it can be a refreshing way to beat the heat in the scorching summer months. Generally, it means that many businesses close from around 2 to 5 p.m. This allows employees to go home, rest, and enjoy a leisurely lunch with family before coming back for the afternoon.
The city doesn’t go completely silent during siesta. Bars and restaurants will stay open for locals to eat lunch, and most larger supermarkets and brand-name stores don’t close, either. However, most smaller shops still continue this tradition, so plan your errands accordingly.
3. Stick to local mealtimes
You’ll be hard-pressed to find any sevillanos eating lunch at noon. If you see any locals at a bar during that time, they’re likely still finishing their morning coffee! Lunch isn’t usually on the table until 2 p.m. at the earliest. Likewise, nobody sits down for dinner until around 9 or 10 p.m.
The local eating schedule is one of the key things to know before traveling to Seville. While many restaurants open earlier, they tend to be tourist traps (though not all of them are!) Try your best to adapt and you’ll feel practically sevillano in no time.
4. Book your Alcázar tickets online
It costs one euro more, but reserving your tickets for Seville’s famous Alcázar online in advance can save you tons of time. If you wait until you arrive to buy tickets, you’ll more than likely end up waiting in a line that stretches along two sides of the enormous building and can take hours. The palace has always been a popular tourist attraction, but its appearance in a recent season of Game of Thrones has increased visitors massively. Buying online allows you to skip the line and walk right in!
5. Seville is generally a very safe city, but stay alert
Violent crime is all but nonexistent in the Andalusian capital, and most areas of the city are perfectly safe at all hours of the day. However, petty crime such as pickpocketing does happen, especially in crowded touristy areas. In the area surrounding the cathedral, be wary of women who offer you a sprig of rosemary and offer to read your palm—they’ll ask for money as soon as they’re done. (A polite but firm “no, gracias” will usually get them to back off.)
6. Don’t forget about the neighborhood across the river!
Triana is one of Seville’s most beautiful and quintessential neighborhoods. You won’t find many tourist attractions here—what gives Triana its charm is the ease with which you can simply immerse yourself in local life. Enjoy stunning views of the city from Calle Betis along the river, stop at the market and join the locals as they shop, and enjoy tapas and a beer at one of the neighborhood’s many characteristic bars and restaurants. Living like a local has never been easier or more enjoyable!
Great article, great information. I dream of the day when I can visit.
We’ll be here waiting for you, John!
Lovely article! Thank you…unfortunately I didn’t come across your article before I visited. My friend’s handbag was snatched from beside her as we sat resting in the plaza area. Bank cards, driving license, cash – vanished in a second. We didn’t let it ruin our trip but just totally unexpected
So sorry to hear that, Rosie
Thank you for an insightful report. My husbsnd and I are visiting for six nights in October. We read recently in the Seville Forum on TripAdvisor, that it is a cultural act for older folks to come up and stare at foreigners giving them an uneasy feeling. Do you know of such a thing?
Hi Teresa! While staring isn’t considered particularly rude here in Spain (especially among the older generations), it’s not anything to worry about and usually comes from a place of interest more than anything else. Many Spaniards are very excited to meet people visiting their country from abroad, so if anything be ready for them to ask a lot of excited questions about your culture and be eager to show you the best of Spain! Enjoy Seville!
As someone who has lived here for over a decade, I can say that this article is spot on. I found myself nodding along as I was reading. Really useful stuff for visitors.
Glad you enjoyed it, Terry! Thanks for reading!
Hi,
I was just wondering if you could help me. Before I book to visit beautiful Seville with my boyfriend I would just like to make sure that the middle of July is a time to visit. We love to sit out and watch the world go by with good food and drinks. I’m worried that in July many of the restaurants will be closed? Is this right or will we be okay? I’ve visited Spain many of times and I am aware that they close around 2pm till 5pm. But I would be gutted to find that there is nowhere to eat and drink on the evenings and that’s something we love to do. I would be so grateful for your response. Thank you!
Hi Hayley,
Very good question! While it’s true that many restaurants do close for a few weeks in the summer, this is more common in August. You may find a few spots closed in July, but you’ll still have plenty of options. If you need some help narrowing it down, we’ve just published a piece rounding up our favorite restaurants in Seville that rarely, if ever, close: https://devoursevillefoodtours.com/seville-restaurants-open-holidays/
Other than that, July is quite hot in Seville during the daytime, but the evenings are still lively as the locals will come out and start enjoying the milder temperatures once the sun goes down.
We hope this helps—have a lovely trip!
Hi! Is el dia de Los muertos celebrated there?
Hi Jo, Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday, so it’s not celebrated here in Spain. We do celebrate All Saint’s Day around the same time, which is also a way for people to honor their deceased loved ones, but it is a different holiday with its own traditions! We hope this helps 🙂