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Your ultimate Christmas travel guide to Seville

Christmas in Seville is a vibrant celebration of light, music, and tradition. The city’s orange trees glow with twinkling lights, plazas fill with nativity scenes, and the scent of roasted chestnuts drifts through the historic streets. You’ll find streets covered in bright lights and decorations, markets bustling with vendors selling all kinds of food, and most importantly, temperatures that ensure you won’t freeze or wilt in the summer heat. This guide provides all the information you need to know about celebrating Christmas in Seville.

Top things to do in Seville during Christmas

Visit Seville’s most iconic landmarks

Seville is home to beautiful landmarks like the Alcázar of Seville, the very place that set the scene for the Kingdom of Dorne in HBO’s Game of Thrones, and the Seville Cathedral right next to it, home to Christopher Columbus’ tomb. These structures are beautifully lit, and the best part is that you'll get to explore them with fewer crowds.

Recommended tickets:

  • Alcázar of Seville + Seville Cathedral + La Giralda Combo Tickets
  • Seville Cathedral & La Giralda Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Catch a Christmas concert or flamenco show

Christmas is also the ideal time to catch a flamenco show or a Christmas concert, and you’ll find several of these organized in theatres across the city. The fusion of the guitar, song, and dance is bound to be a highlight of celebrating Christmas in Seville.

Recommended tours:

  • Seville Flamenco Theatre - Passion Show
  • Palau de La Música Catalana - Gran Gala Flamenco Show

Stroll through Seville’s Christmas markets

Christmas and food go hand in hand, and Seville’s markets offer a bounty of local delicacies for you to try, besides several other goodies. You’ll find handcrafted gifts, festive treats, and artisanal décor at markets like Plaza Nueva and the Avenida de la Constitución fair, perfect for soaking in the city’s seasonal charm.

Watch holiday lights in the historic center

Wander through illuminated streets, especially near the Cathedral and Santa Cruz, to enjoy magical light displays and lively evening ambience. The magical light show at the Plaza de San Francisco is an unmissable experience.

Visit traditional nativity scenes

Explore beautifully crafted belenes displayed in churches and cultural centers, showcasing detailed storytelling and local craftsmanship. In fact, the Nativity Scene Fair next to the Seille Cathedral is a key highlight, and one you shouldn’t miss out on.

Your perfect Christmas itinerary

Day 1: Christmas Eve – Lights, markets, and tradition

Morning: Start your day with breakfast at Confitería La Campana, sampling local Christmas pastries. Head to the Seville Cathedral for a guided tour and climb the Giralda Tower for panoramic city views.

Afternoon: Explore the Feria del Belén and browse the Christmas market stalls around Plaza Nueva. Enjoy lunch at a nearby tapas bar, such as Bodeguita Romero, for classic Andalusian flavors.

Evening: Take a stroll along Avenida de la Constitución to admire the Christmas lights. End your evening with a Christmas flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria or Tablao El Arenal.

Day 2: Christmas Day – Culture, food, and festive strolls

Morning: Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at a local café. Visit the Alcázar of Seville, which is open on Christmas Day, and wander through its gardens.

Afternoon: Have lunch at Restaurante San Marco Santa Cruz, set in a former Arab bathhouse. Afterward, walk through the Santa Cruz neighborhood, taking in the festive decorations and tranquil plazas.

Evening: Attend a Christmas concert at the Teatro de la Maestranza or a local church. Wrap up your day with a stroll along the Guadalquivir River, enjoying the city’s peaceful holiday atmosphere.

Know before you go to Seville during Christmas

Here’s everything you need to know before you enjoy the Christmas festivities in Seville:

  • Weather: Seville’s weather during Christmas is pleasant, with average highs ranging between 16°C to 18°C and lows between 6°C to 10°C.
  • Dress code: While you don’t need to follow any dress code during Christmas in Seville, you will need to dress modestly when visiting landmarks like the Alcázar Seville or the Seville Cathedral. 
  • Expected crowds: The best part about celebrating Christmas in Seville is that the city is lively, but not overwhelmingly crowded. You’ll get to enjoy the hustle and bustle without having to push through heavy crowds. 
  • Getting around: Public transportation can be really busy, so walking around, especially in the city center, is the best way to get around while enjoying the lively atmosphere.

Extend your visit till New Year’s Eve

The Spanish tradition is to celebrate the arrival of the new year by eating the lucky grapes. The locals believe that eating the 12 grapes in time ushers prosperity and good luck, and you’ll be surprised at how the city comes together in its central squares and plazas to celebrate this.

If you have the time, you should definitely stick around in Seville till the New Year, as the city remains busy with flea markets, sparkling lights, and a lively environment all around, without the crowds in other, bigger cities.

Tips to make the most of spending Christmas in Seville

  • Landmarks like the Alcázar and the Seville Cathedral see large crowds from late morning onwards. If you want to visit them during your time in the city, the best time to do so is right after they open in the morning. 
  • Getting last-minute tickets to these attractions can also be tough, and the last thing you want to do is stand in long queues. Booking skip-the-line tickets at least a week in advance is the best way to go. 
  • Christmas markets tend to be crowded at night, and while that can be an experience in itself, if you’re someone who wants to browse through the stalls peacefully, late afternoons between 3pm and 6pm are the best time to visit. 
  • While public transportation is available throughout, the best way to get up close to the activity and the lights is to walk around the city. This way, you’ll also end up avoiding tram delays and other such inconveniences. 

Frequently asked questions about spending Christmas in Seville

Is Christmas a good time to visit Seville?

Absolutely! Seville is incredibly lively during Christmas; the streets are bustling with activity, flea markets give you plenty to shop, and the sparkly lights make for ideal photo-ops.

What are some things to do in Seville during Christmas?

Christmas in Seville has plenty to offer. You can visit key landmarks like the Alcázar and the Seville Cathedral, explore the Christmas markets, watch a flamenco show, or even walk through the brightly lit, bustling streets.

What is the weather like in Seville during Christmas?

The weather in Seville is pleasant during Christmas, with highs ranging from 16°C to 18°C and lows between 6°C to 10°C. This means no freezing winters or wilting summers.

Are restaurants open during Christmas in Seville?

Yes, the restaurants in Seville truly come alive during Christmas. However, your best bet at securing a reservation is to do so at least a day in advance, or as soon as reservations open for the day at the restaurant you want to visit.

Will I have to wait in long queues to book tickets to the city’s attractions?

Yes, Seville does get busy during Christmas, and this leads to long queues at attractions like the Alcázar and the Seville Cathedral. We recommend booking skip-the-line tickets at least 5-7 days in advance so you can breeze past the long ticket lines.

Which is the best place for photo-ops in Seville during Christmas?

The whole city truly transforms into a sparkling haven during Christmas. Still, if you want the best and most memorable photo ops, we recommend visiting the Plaza de España, which lights up like no other place and is the perfect backdrop for capturing frame-worthy pictures.

What traditional foods should I try during Christmas in Seville?

Don’t miss local sweets like polvorones, mantecados, and turrón. Tapas bars also serve seasonal dishes, and bakeries offer a wide variety of holiday treats.

Is it worth staying in Seville till New Year's?

Absolutely! The locals usher in the new year with lots of pomp and show, and you’ll also get to participate in a long-standing tradition - eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes 12 as you wish for plenty of prosperity and good luck. You’ll find the entire city come together on New Year’s Eve in the city’s plazas and squares to partake in this memorable activity.