Seville Things to See: Sights, Weather and When to Go

Seville is a large Andalusian city of almost 690,000 people, set inland with no beach of its own. You come here for monuments, museums and streets, so it suits a long weekend or a week of walking. For anyone weighing up things to see and do in Seville, Spain, the Cathedral comes first. It was formerly a mosque and is now a Catholic cathedral. Next door is the Reales Alcázares, the royal palace, and the pair make a full first day.

Beyond those two, the top sights in Seville cluster within a mile or two of the centre. There is the Plaza de toros de la Maestranza and the Palacio de San Telmo. The Archbishop's Palace stands near the Cathedral, and the Archeological Museum and the Casa de Murillo add more. The 15th-century Palacio de las Dueñas and the Basílica de la Macarena round out the old city, and the Isabel II Bridge leads you across the river.

Most visitors stay in Sevilla itself, which holds by far the most sights. If you want stuff to do in Seville beyond the cathedral quarter, look across the river to Camas, about 4 miles out. This is where you will find the Isla Mágica theme park, a good half-day with children. The former Monasterio de la Cartuja de Santa María de las Cuevas is here too.

Santiponce, about 5 miles from the centre, is the place for history. The ancient city of Italica and its Roman amphitheatre make a natural morning trip from Seville. Both Camas and Santiponce have tours and activities you can book from this page.

The best time to visit Seville is April, May or October. In April the temp in Seville peaks around 23°C, May climbs to about 29°C, and October sits near 27°C. That is warm enough for long days outdoors without the exhaustion of high summer. October is one of the wetter months, though, with around seven rainy days, so pack a light layer.

July and August are a different matter. Daytime highs reach 37°C and there is barely any rain. Sightseeing then means early starts and long lunches indoors. Winter is mild by British standards, with January highs of about 16°C and lows of 6°C. March is changeable, with around ten rainy days. From January to March and in November and December the city is quieter, which suits a culture-focused break.

Seville airport (SVQ) has direct flights from the UK. It sits just 7 minutes by road from the city, 11 minutes from Camas and 12 minutes from Santiponce, so transfers are about as short as they get. Jerez airport (XRY) also has direct UK flights. It is a longer option, at around 63 minutes' drive to Seville, but it can be useful if dates or departure airports suit you better.

If you plan to roam further around Andalusia, car hire from either airport gives you freedom. In the city itself, though, walking covers most of the main sights.

A package holiday bundles your flight, hotel and airport transfer into one booking. With Seville airport so close, the transfer is a quick drive rather than half a day on a coach. When comparing deals, check the board basis. City-break hotels are often sold room only or with breakfast, since many travellers prefer to eat out. Prices tend to rise in UK school holidays, so travelling outside them usually gives more choice.

On this page you can compare package deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach. You can also check hotel prices, see tours and tickets for the sights, and compare car hire, all in one place.