If you plan to travel to Seville but you still don’t have a date, here I’ll tell you the advantages and disadvantages of the different seasons, so that you can decide when the right time to make your trip is.

If your date is decided because you already have your flight booked, don’t worry, here I tell you what you will find during your stay.

Spring

It’s the main season in Seville, in which festivals and traditions are celebrated. If you travel in spring, you will most likely want to coincide with Holy Week or the April Fair.

Weather: In Seville the weather is always good, but spring is when you smell the characteristic orange blossom, the gardens are more beautiful than ever and you will not be too hot, or cold. However, they say that “Abril, aguas mil” (“April waters a thousand”), and although in Seville it does not usually rain much, if you are very unlucky you may find yourself surprised by a stay with bad weather. 

Prices: Spring is the high season in Seville, so it is when prices are at their highest, hotels are filled up and you will have to book in advance to get a fairly decent price.

Tourism: Because of it being the high season, forget about walking around the city without being surrounded by a thousand tourists, and you’d better book your ticket to the Alcazar and Cathedral in advance if you don’t want to queue for three hours at each monument. However, the city of Seville is so beautiful that even things like these will not spoil your visit.

Holy Week: If you visit the city during Holy Week, on the one hand you will experience the most holy festival in Seville, but on the other hand you will not be able to visit the historic centre calmly, because of the fact that many streets are closed or will be interrupted by processions. Before traveling you must take into account this week’s date, which lasts a whole week from Sunday to Sunday.

April Fair: Although in Holy Week you’ll be unable to see the historic centre serenely, this event takes place two weeks later is the ideal time to visit the city, since everyone is at the Fair, leaving the streets empty. This way you don’t only explore the city of Seville but you can also get to know one of the best parties in the world, all at once! Of course, find out all about the April Fair to enjoy it to the maximum.

Summer

In general, it is the worst time to come to Seville. The city is usually emptier and less lively, and many businesses are closed for vacations.

Weather: The very high temperatures make it especially uncomfortable to visit a city so big and full of things to see. Especially in the central hours of the day it is recommended to sit and rest in some air-conditioned café or go home for a siesta. The best hours for sightseeing are early in the morning and from 18:00 or 19:00, since the sun does not set until approximately 22:00.

Prices: If there is any advantage to visiting Seville in summer, it is an economic one, since prices are usually much lower than the rest of the year.

Tourism: It is one of the low seasons, so although you will always find some tourists, the amount is much less than at other periods and it is not necessary to get tickets to the monuments in advance. Sightseeing tours will typically have fewer people, and venues are usually emptier.

Autumn

Once the summer heat is over (although it takes its time to leave), the city recovers its life and autumn becomes a perfect season to visit the city, since until the end of October the sun doesn’t set until 20:00-21:00.

Weather: If the heat does not last long, the temperatures are perfect for walking around the city, although there is a difference between visiting in September (warmer) and in November (colder). The heat of early autumn is not stifling and will even allow you to take a dip at the nearest beaches. The rain (if it rains) is usually in October or November and is usually only a few days, although just like in spring, you can get an unpleasant surprise.

Prices: Unfortunately, the owners of the accommodation are aware of these good conditions and prices tend to rise quite a bit, although not as much as in the spring. October is the most expensive month, so if you travel on this date, book in advance.

Tourism: We are again in high season. While at the beginning of September or the end of November the city is much more spacious, in October the amount of visitors have come to surpass those of spring, so in order to avoid unpleasant surprises I recommend that you to book the tickets you need in advance so that you do not leave anything unseen.

Winter

While traveling around Europe in winter can be a bad idea due to storms, low temperatures and roads cut by snow, Seville is different, and so becomes the ideal place to visit in winter.

Weather: With a minimum temperature of 10ºC during the coldest hours, the days are sunny and cosy, so forget about having to wrap up warm when walking around the city, since the walk is pleasant. Due to the fact that the rains are usually in spring and autumn, you will most likely enjoy clear skies during your stay.

Prices: Except for the Christmas period, January and February are the cheapest months of the year.

Tourism: Although you will never see Seville empty of tourists, these two months are perfect to enjoy the city, since you will not see the huge groups that prevent you from enjoying walks through the historic center. In addition, the local atmosphere gives a great life to the city without being as overwhelming as in the spring festivals.

Christmas: Although the city is filled with lights and nativity scenes, the number of people, in the city centre especially, doing Christmas shopping make this period one of the most inadvisable for visiting the city.

Images source: 24 – 28 (section 1)