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Wondering what it’s like to visit Seville in winter? Chilly but still warmer than the UK, with the appeal of off-season quietness and winter sale bargains… this time of year is ideal for a city break in southern Spain!
After my recent winter city break in the Andalusian capital, I’m pretty well convinced that the off-season of November through February is the best time to go. If nothing else, because the colder weather is ideal if you want to spend all your time drinking wine and eating tapas!
I’ve expanded on the reasons why winter is such an awesome time to visit Seville in the second section of this post. Right after I talk about the weather (I am British after all!) and what it’s like to visit Seville in the colder months.
I’ve written this to help you plan your own trip, so hopefully, this covers everything you need to know. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments – or get in touch on social media.
Seville Winter Weather
Seville has a Mediterranean climate, so it has very hot summers and fairly mild winters. November has daytime highs of 20°C, while from December to February the average daytime temperatures sit around 16-18°C (60-64°F)*.
Compare that with the average of 6-10°C in the UK and you can see the appeal of a winter city break in Seville!
The winter months in Seville also see less rainfall than Autumn and Spring, especially January and February.
I was in Seville at the very end of November, during what locals told me was the city’s first cold snap of the year! Mornings were crisp and cold (gloves and coat weather), but during the day I was pretty warm and usually found myself walking around in just a jumper and jeans. Evenings were cold, but not so cold that I couldn’t sit outside a restaurant – with the aid of a heat lamp and a big glass of local wine!
*Source: Met Office
Why Winter is a Good Time to Visit Seville
When it comes to choosing when to visit Seville, it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want sunshine, swimming pools, and day trips to the coast, winter probably isn’t the best time to head to Seville (or Spain in general).
But Seville is a stunning city break destination and there are a lot of perks to travelling out of season! So here’s why I think winter is the ideal time to travel to Seville…
It’s warmer than England!
See the Seville winter weather section above. More sunshine, more hours of daylight, less rain, and higher temperatures than the UK make the city a pretty appealing city break destination in winter.
Cooler Weather is Good for Sightseeing
The cooler climates in winter – and lower humidity – can be much more pleasant for exploring Seville on foot. You can visit the major attractions and join walking tours without breaking a sweat!
Cooler Weather = Better for Eating!
Seville is, above all, a foodie destination. Any time of year is good for eating tapas, as the dishes are usually pretty light. But some of Seville’s signature dishes are a little heavier – like a massive plate of slow-cooked bull’s tail, for example. I don’t know about you guys, but I always find cooler weather is better for eating!
There are Fewer Tourists
Spring and summer are peak season in Seville, especially for tourists visiting from the UK. In winter, Seville is much less busy.
When I was researching my trip, all the sites warned about how you need to book “skip the line” tickets for the major tourist attractions like the Real Alcazar and the Cathedral several days in advance.
On my trip at the end of November, I bought all my tickets on the door and had no problems. I was also able to book a food tour and a flamenco show the day before I arrived. If you’re visiting on a weekend things might be slightly busier, so you may want to book skip-the-line tickets for a few things, but you probably won’t need to.
As well as having to queue less, you’ll also be sharing the top attractions with fewer people. It’s always a more pleasant experience, and much better for photos!
Flights are Cheaper
Travelling out of season tends to be more affordable than during peak times, anyway. But you also have some incredible offers around Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November, as well as the January sales. My Ryanair flight to Seville in November was just under £20 return (without luggage) – an absolute BARGAIN!
Things to do in Seville in Winter
All the normal things to do in Seville still apply in winter. Everything is open, and the major tourist attractions are actually a fair bit quieter at this time of year. Here’s a quick rundown of the best things to see and do during the colder weather…
Main Sights in Seville, Regardless of Weather
- Seville Cathedral
- Plaza de Espana
- Real Alcázar of Seville
- Torre del Oro
- Metropol Parasol
RECOMMENDED TOUR: Alcazar, Cathedral and Giralda Guided Tour (from £45.88pp) or the 24 Hour Hop on Hop Off Bus (from £18.69pp – ideal if the weather is bad)
Climb one of the Viewpoints
There are several great spots to get a fabulous view of Seville. I climbed the Metropol Parasol, aka Las Setas, as well as the Cathedral Tower. You can also climb the Torre del Oro for some fab river views.
Las Setas costs 5€ compared to 10€ for the Cathedral Tower, so if you’re on a budget that’s a great choice – and you get a fab view of the Cathedral from the top. But personally, I preferred the views from the top of the Cathedral Tower.
Top Tip: Whichever viewpoint you settle on, remember it’ll probably be chilly and a little windy at the top in winter (especially Las Setas, which is quite exposed).
Watch a Flamenco Show
Seville is the city of Flamenco, so you really shouldn’t visit without catching a show. A bonus is that the shows take place indoors, so it’s ideal for a cold winter evening!
There are dozens – maybe even hundreds – of flamenco shows in Seville so it’s hard to choose. I asked for recommendations before my trip, and settled on the Casa de La Memoria after numerous people told me how great it was.
I wasn’t disappointed. The ticket cost me just over £18 for an incredible one-hour show at an intimate venue. I thought I might get bored watching a dance show for a whole hour – but I was spellbound. Could NOT stop watching the dancer’s feet – they move faster than I thought humans could! Check the latest prices here or browse these other fab shows below…
Aire de Sevilla Baths
When you’re visiting Seville in winter one of the BEST things to do is pay a visit to the AIRE Ancient Baths. There’s no better way to warm up after a day of sightseeing than by lazing in the various thermal pools of this luxurious, ancient-style bathhouse.
You can book to visit just the thermal suite, or you can book a package which includes a massage. There are several packages on the AIRE website, but when I looked I noticed that the Bath + 45 min Massage package was a little cheaper on Viator, so double-check their prices here before you book.
Eat EVERYTHING!
.One of the best things to do in Seville (and in Spain in general) is to eat. And food can be enjoyed whatever the weather!
A lot of people think of Spanish food as being the same all over the country. It’s just tapas and paella, right? Wrong! The cuisine actually varies a surprising amount from region to region. There are lots of specialities specific to Seville and Andalusia, so be sure to get adventurous and try a few.
I’ve written a separate post about what to eat in Seville, but here’s a top five to get you started…
- Jamon ibérico
- Espinacas con garbanzos – spinach with chickpeas
- Salmorejo – a cold soup similar to gazpacho
- Solomillo al whisky – pork with whisky sauce
- Pringás – the city’s signature sandwich
Take a Food Tour
Speaking of eating… food tours are always my favourite way to get to know a new city. Part of my whole “deeper travel” ethos is to discover the local cuisine, and there’s no better way to do this than on a tour with an expert local guide.
There were loads of food tours in Seville to choose from. I booked this 3 hour evening Tapas Crawl through Get Your Guide (from £55.42pp), because it had loads of really high reviews. I LOVED IT! The tour was great, our guide Angela was amazing, and I ate and drank a LOT. Definitely recommend it.
Top tip – if it’s an evening tour, wrap up in layers. The temperatures outside will be colder but you’ll be going in and out of lots of bars and restaurants, which will be warm.
Tour the Museums
If the weather takes a turn for the worse and you want to venture indoors for a bit, Seville has several museums and historic houses which you could add to your winter city break itinerary…
- Real Alcázar de Sevilla (Royal Alcázar of Seville)
- La Casa de Pilatos (Pilate’s House)
- Palacio de las Dueñas (Palace of Dreams)
- Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts)
- Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo (Andalucian Museum of Contemporary Art)
- Museo de Baile Flamenco (Flamenco Museum of Seville)
- Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares (Museum of Arts and Traditions of Seville)
- Museo Arqueológico de Sevilla (Archaelogical Museum of Seville)
- Castillo San Jorge (Inquisition Museum)
Take a Cooking Class
This is another fabulous indoor activity – and one that involves my favourite thing to do in Seville: eating! Taking a cooking class is a great way to learn a little more about the local cuisine, meet some new people, and have a delicious meal, too.
Visit the Markets
No matter what time of year you visit, you really shouldn’t miss a trip to one or two of Seville’s markets. Many of them are covered/indoors, so they’re ideal if it’s a little chilly outside. Great places to try some local food, get a cheap meal, and immerse yourself in the local life of Seville.
- Mercado de Feria – a very local-feeling market in the fascinating Feria district.
- Mercado de Triana – my personal favourite, just over the bridge on the other side of the river.
- The Mercado de la Encarnación – underneath the famous Las Setas in the Plaza de la Encarnación.
Seville at Christmas
Another great reason to visit Seville during winter is the festive season. Christmas is a magical time to visit Seville – with lots of fun things to do all over the city.
There are stunning Christmas lights throughout Seville, usually switched on around the first week of December. You’ll also find several Christmas markets around the city:
- Feria de Artesanía Creativa – stalls selling traditional Andalusian handcrafted goods by local artisans.
- Feria del Belén – super traditional in Spain, this is an entire market dedicated to figurines for the belén (nativity).
- Feira del Libro Antiguo – a market for books (particularly rare and antique ones) which runs from mid November until early December.
- Exposición y Venta de Dulces – an incredibly popular market in December where you can buy homemade sweets from the local convents.
Throughout the Christmas season in Seville, you can also find parades, nativity scenes, concerts, and many other fun events that give an interesting insight into how the Spaniards celebrate the holidays.
Where to Stay in Seville in Winter
If you’re visiting Seville in winter, my advice would be to book a hotel nearer the city centre, to avoid having to walk as much. I was staying in a hotel up in the Feria district, about a 20-minute walk from the city centre. I didn’t mind it too much, but you may find it easier to stay somewhere closer.
Hotels will most likely have Aircon units that can be used to heat the rooms, but if you’re booking a budget place double-check the recent reviews and make sure no one has mentioned being cold!
I was on a budget, so I stayed at the Jardin de la Alameda Hostal Boutique, which was just right for my needs. Clean, quiet, and a great price – so no complaints from me. Hostals and Pensiones are like guest houses, so these are a great budget option.
What to Wear in Seville in November – January
Because the weather can be so unpredictable, it’s hard to know what to pack for a winter trip to Seville. Especially if you’re travelling with hand luggage only, like I was!
Layers are key, because it can be pretty warm when the sun is at its highest, but cooler through the morning and evening. Plus, the narrower streets in the historic centre can stay pretty shady and cool during the day.
Wear a few light layers and you can take them off or on as the weather changes or when you go indoors and outdoors. Here’s what I wore on my 3-day trip to Seville:
- Jeans
- 2x Long-sleeved tops
- 2x Jumpers
- Leggings / Thick tights
- 1x dress
- Thick cardigan
- Warm waterproof coat
- Ankle boots
- Trainers
- Gloves
- Hat
- Scarf
More in and Around Seville
Got a question about visiting Seville during winter? Scroll down to leave me a comment and I’ll try to help!
I hope you found this guide useful – and have an amazing time exploring Seville. Below you can find links to a few of my other posts about Spain, in case you have more time to explore…
15+ Things to do in Murcia Spain
Does it rain much in December? Do I need a raincoat and umbrella most days?
It can rain a fair bit – I think December is meant to be the wettest month of the year. But it very much depends, so I would take an umbrella and raincoat to be prepared :)
Hi, I love this blog! I’m thinking of booking a trip to Seville in January. When I went to Barcelona in Jan one year it seemed a lot of the city had closed down after king’s day (6 Jan). Do you know if that’s similar in Seville? Thanks!
I was there a little later in January, so I didn’t see this first hand. But I believe they have a parade on the 5th and then the 6th is a public holiday, so it may be that quite a few businesses are closed on the 6th. That said, I’ve found that in most cities at least some businesses remain open on public holidays, especially ones that cater to international tourists. Hope that helps!
Hi me and my wife are going to Seville for four days and was wondering if there are any antique / flea markets in the area. We are there this December.
Many thanks regards Ron
Yes, I believe there are several. These are the ones I know of:
Calle Feria on Thursdays – it’s just called “The Thursday Market” and it’s the oldest flea market in the city.
Alameda Market on Sundays, on the Alameda de Hercules
There might be others, so I recommend asking a local – maybe at tourist info or at your hotel. The word for flea market in Spanish is “mercado de pulgas” :)