Seville, Spain: What to pack, what to wear, and when to go [2022]

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Traveling to Seville, Spain? If you're planning to go to Seville, with its magnificent architectural and cultural attractions, this is some important information about when to go, what to wear, and what to pack.

Contents

About your travel guide

Hi! I'm Dev. I've traveled all over the world and in my travels, I have made many packing lists. In this series, my team and I have compiled the most useful information, as well as things we couldn't live without, to help you plan your trip.

When to go to Seville, Spain

Based on the climate and weather in Seville, the best time to go is May. In May, you will avoid the crowds of tourists and the exhorbitant summer prices.

However, there are some great festivals that you may want to check out at other times of the year, such as the giant Flamenco festival in August, and Semana Santa in March or April. See below for details.

Important essentials for Seville, Spain

Here are some general tips on what to wear in Seville, as well as several items to remember to pack when traveling there.

IMPORTANT COVID-19 ESSENTIALS

Other health necessities


  • Travel first aid kit

    This one is a good one.


  • Emergency rapid COVID-19 test

    U.S. residents can get them free here. Otherwise, you can buy them here.


  • Emergency motion sickness relief

Don't forget these

 

What to wear/what to pack for Seville, Spain by month

Already know when you're traveling?

January

January in Seville is chilly. The average overnight temperatures in the area are in the low 40s F (single digits C), with a few days below 32 F (single digits C). It tends to rain regularly. But the colder weather doesn't bring low humidity, which is in the 50% to 60% range on average.

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in January

One of the first events of the year in Seville is Epiphany or Día de los Reyes Magos. A parade is held in Seville where the Three Kings arrive on horseback, camel and elephant. Lots of candy is also handed out to attendees. Lots of presents are also exchanged during this event.

A great indoor activity you can do this month is attend the Flamenco Show at Casa de la Memoria. The Casa de la Memoria is a 15th-century palace and here you can witness some of the city's best flamenco performers. A great event if you love dance and music.

Since January is the start of a new year, you can celebrate New Year's in Seville. New Year's is a national holiday and a great way to celebrate is booking a room at the EME Cathedral Hotel You can eat grapes while having a great view of the city and fireworks at the rooftops.

February

If you are traveling to Seville in February, you will notice that it can be chilly. Expect it to rain regularly. Daytime temperatures are in the 60s F (high 10s C).

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in February

During February in Seville, you'll want to spend some time indoors, so attend the 'Tablao Flamenco Pura Esencia' show. This is another live Flamenco show held at the banks of the Guadalquivir River. Aside from dancers, you will also witness guitar playing and some singing in a small theater.

Seville holds many carnival events during February as well. The Seville City Carnival offers many song and dance performances all across the city. A children's style of carnival is also held this month throughout the weekends.

For a snack, you can get some delicious desserts from the Nuns at in the convent. The Nuns are known have a huge bake sale that takes place at the Real Alcazar’s Patio de las Banderas.

March

March for Seville is balmy. Temperatures average in the low 70s F (low 20s C) during the day. It rains regularly. You may visit during Semana Santa, with its giant processions and religious events.

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in March

March is the start of Spring, so it's a great time to do a Granada day trip. From Seville, you will travel to through Andalusian olive groves and onto Granada. You'll get to see the Alhambra, as well as some amazing scenery.

A major event that happens in March in Seville is Semana Santa or Holy Week in Spain. During this week, a huge parade is held in the city full of extravagant floats and statues of religious figures. A fun parade to look at if you are in the city during this week.

One other thing you can do this month is visit the Casa de Pilatos. This is an historic 16th century palace that offers great views and also has a beautiful garden for you to gander at. A nice place to go to during the warmer Spring weather.

April

Traveling to Seville in April, you will notice that it is balmy and somewhat rainy. Expect it to rain a bit less than half of the time. Daytime temperatures are in the low 70s F (low 20s C). The Fiera de Abril is a giant fair that occurs after Semana Santa, and is full of public and private parties, music, flamenco, and more.

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in April

One of the biggest and best events in April is the Seville Fair. This takes place two weeks after the aforementioned Semana Santa and is a week full of dancing, eating, drinking and socializing. This event has parades, bullfighting and more.

During April, you can also visit the "Calle del Infierno” (Hell’s Street) which is a fun amusement park. This event has lots of rides for the kids, circus events and shows. A great time and place to be if you have a family with kids.

If you want to get more exercise, try an e-bike tour. You can ride on a bike to see some of the city attractions such as the Golden Tower (Torre del Oro), Plaza de España and more. A fun and fit way to explore the city!

May

If you vacation in Seville during May, you will probably notice that it is a perfect temperature, somewhat hazy and dry with little rain. Temperatures tend to hover around the low 70s F (mid 20s C) during the day, while at night they can dip into the 50s F (low 10s C). Humidity is generally between 40 and 50% during the day. In terms of precipitation, you can expect it to rain 5-10 days this month. This is a great time to visit due to the shoulder season, but you will miss out on some of the amazing festivals and night life.

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in May

May continues the Spring season and one thing that takes place at this time of year is the Crosses of May Festival (Cruces de Mayo). This is a local street festival is held in Seville where women dress up, and many concerts occur.

It's a great time to do a river boat trip. This is a short boat trip where you ride along the Guadalquivir River. You will come across iconic landmarks and historical monuments while admiring a great view.

May is also a time another religious celebration takes place. On May 30, the people of Spain celebrate the day of Saint Fernando. A military parade takes place and the body of the King is displayed at in the cathedral.

June

If you are traveling to Seville in June, you will notice that it can be sweltering, somewhat hazy and dry with little rain. Expect it to rain occasionally. Daytime temperatures are in the high 80s F (low 30s C).

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in June

June is a great time to take the kids to Seville. They'll love the Aquarium of Seville. There are over 400 different species of fish and sea creatures that you can see that span 35 different water tanks. A fun trip for the whole family!

Whether or not you think bullfighting is an "art" (as many in Spain believe), it's worth understanding from a cultural point of view. You can visit the Bullfight Museum and learn more. If you're so inclined, you can also see a match, which are frequent this time of year.

For some jet-setting fun, take a private yacht tour riding on the Guadalquivir River. It's a great way to celebrate an important occasion.

July

July for Seville can be excruciatingly hot, somewhat hazy and very dry with almost no rain. Temperatures average in the 90s F (mid 30s C) during the day. There will be huge crowds at all of the attractions, and prices are sky high.

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in July

For a relaxed, yet exciting intro to Seville, take a Segway tour. You ride on a Segway for several hours and you can see he Cathedral of Seville, Giralda Tower, the Real Alcazar, and more. Tour guides will also tell you the best places to drink and eat too.

For some summer fun, visit the famous Isla Magica amusement park. There are rollercoasters available for both kids and adults, as well as live shows and other attractions. A great time for the whole family.

The La Velá de Santa Ana festival takes place in July. This is a week long celebration that features competitions and flamenco, and is broken up into “casetas” (tents). This also has tons of delicious food for you to eat and performances to watch.

August

If you are traveling to Seville in August, you will notice that it is a scorcher, somewhat hazy and very dry with almost no rain. Daytime temperatures are in the 90s F (mid 30s C). But there is a giant flamenco festival, Bienal de Flamenco, which may be worth braving the heat.

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in August

For a summer hike, take a Caminito del Rey trekking tour from Seville. El Caminito del Rey is one of Spain's most popular attractions, and many people like to hike to this location. All the interesting sights can be seen in just one day.

Another great Summer activity that you can do at this time of year is visit the nearby Doñana National Park. This is one of the most diverse wildlife habitats in the world, and it includes a range of different animals for you to see.

Finally, check out the Sevilla Sensual event. This is a great live event for people that love dancers and extravagant shows. Salsa and DJs are also a part of this event, and many famous artists attend too.

September

September for Seville can be very hot, somewhat hazy and dry with little rain. Temperatures average in the high 80s F (low 30s C) during the day.

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in September

In September the football/soccer season is already underway and Seville has two teams called the Real Betis Balompié and Sevilla FC. The stadiums that they play in are Benito Villamarín Stadium and Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium. It's worth getting a ticket to one of their games to experience the electric atmosphere.

It's still a great time to be outdoors, so consider a White Villages and Ronda side trip from Seville. Ronda is a unique place to visit because it's one of the oldest towns in Spain. There is also nice views and wildlife you can see on this trip too.

Finally, try to catch the Feria de San Miguel. This is a fun cultural festival that features famous Flamenco shows as well as horses too.

October

October in this region is a perfect temperature. Temperatures average in the high 70s F (mid 20s C) during the day. It rains 5-10 days this month.

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in October

In late September/early October, Seville hosts something called La Bienal de Flamenco. It is described as the 'biggest Flamenco festival in the world' and it's held every two years in the city. It's worth making the trip to see.

For families, visit the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions. This museum includes a ton of traditional dress costumes, handicrafts and other historical items. This place is located at the María Luisa Park.

For something different, do a Gibraltar day excursion from Seville. Gibraltar is an old and culturally diverse city and it even features some monkeys for you to look at too. One of the biggest landmarks to see is the Rock of Gibraltar too.

November

November in Seville is balmy. The average overnight temperatures in the area are in the high 40s F (single digits C). It tends to rain about a third of the time. But the colder weather doesn't bring low humidity, which is in the 50% to 60% range on average.

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in November

In November the people of Spain celebrate Fiesta Todos los Santos. The entirety of Spain celebrates this occasion, during which they gather in cemeteries to bear flowers to remember loved ones. After that, families eat sweets. In Seville there are special concerts held.

If you are into food and cooking, this is a great time of year to book a paella cooking class.  You can learn the secrets of cooking paella, then enjoy a yummy feast of your creation.

For kids, take a trip to the Casa de la Ciencia. This science center is very fun and interactive, plus there is hands-on exhibits for kids. A planetarium is also available to see too!

December

December in Seville is cool and somewhat rainy. The rain can amount to several inches/centimeters. During this time, temperatures average in the low 50s F (low 10s C) to low 60s F (high 10s C), although night temperatures can dip into the low 30s F (single digits C).

What to wear/what to pack:

What to do in Seville in December

If you're willing to brave the cold in December, don't miss a tapas crawl. Drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic are provided, plus you can taste a variety of different foods. You will also learn more about Seville's history and its cuisine.

After that, get into the holiday spirit by checking out the Christmas lights in the city of Seville. More than 80 streets in the city are lit up and many department store decorate their locations too.

And don't miss the excellent Christmas Markets and Christmas concerts during this time of year.

 

Activities for Seville, Spain

Here are some activity recommendations and activity-specific packing tips for Seville.

The Cathedral of St. Mary cannot be missed. It is the largest Gothic church in the world, with over 80 chapels. Remember, however, that it is still a religious site, and modest dress is appropriate. Consider these:

There are several neighborhoods that you will want to walk. The Barrio Santa Cruz is known for winding lanes, and plenty of bars and cafes. The Barrio de Triana is a historical area with markets and late night Flamenco. And the area around Real Alcazar requires a lot of walking as well. So you may want to bring these:


  • Ultralight day pack

    Like this, so you don't have to lug around a heavy suitcase.


  • Comfy walking shoes


  • Binoculars

    Like these


  • Skip the line tickets to Real Alcazar

    This skip-the-line ticket can be very valuable if you're visiting in high season.

Here are a few great tours you should consider:


  • City Biking or Boat Tours

    For a great overview of the city, and to check out some of the best attractions, consider a bike or boat tour. A bike is an easy way to see the most important sights over a short period. A good guide will give historical context to the tour, and make it a true experience.

    Check out the tour options


  • Tapas tour with a local

    There are so many tapas restaurants in Spain, but which one should you choose? There are a lot of tourist trap restaurants around, so it's a good idea to get some recommendations with a local. If you don't feel comfortable asking someone on the street, consider a tour.

    Check out the options


  • Flamenco Show

    Don't miss at least one Flamenco show when you go to Seville. You can find one in many bars at night in the Barrio de Triana, although you may be better off reserving tickets to one beforehand:

    Check out the options


  • Ronda and the White Villages

    You've seen it in photos, and here's your chance to see it in real life. Within a day tour from Seville, you can see beautiful Ronda with its giant bridge separating the two mountaintop parts of the village, as well as the beautiful Andalusian countryside.

    Check out the tour options


  • Granada

    You're best off going to Granada separately, but if you don't have time, consider a day tour to see the bucket list Alhambra.

    Check out the tour options

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