Rainy day · Seville · Spain
6 things to do in Seville when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: peribanyez, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Seville Cathedral and the Giralda, Flamenco in a tablao and Casa de Pilatos. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 7–8 hours across 2 areas; 1 is free. January is usually the wettest month, with about 6 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 7–8 hours
- Areas
- El Centro and Barrio Santa Cruz
Seville on a rainy day
Religious site · El Centro
1.Seville Cathedral and the Giralda
Climb the Giralda early in the visit, then rest in the Patio de los Naranjos, the orange-tree courtyard of the former mosque.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
Experience · Barrio Santa Cruz
2.Flamenco in a tablao
Choose a small venue where you sit close to the stage; dinner shows in large halls tend to be less authentic.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- After dark
- Couples
- Iconic
- Rainy day
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Palace · El Centro
3.Casa de Pilatos
Visit after the Alcázar to compare the two palaces; it is far less crowded.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Gallery · El Centro
4.Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla
Visit on a hot afternoon; the cloisters and galleries are cool and rarely crowded.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Historic site · Barrio Santa Cruz
5.Hospital de los Venerables
Visit in the middle of the day when Santa Cruz is crowded; it is an oasis of calm.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · El Centro
6.Archivo General de Indias
Step inside for a few minutes between the Cathedral and Alcázar to see the vaulted upper gallery and historic maps.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro | Seville Cathedral and the Giralda, Casa de Pilatos, Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla and Archivo General de Indias | 1.5–2 hours + 1 hour + 1.5 hours + 30 minutes |
| Barrio Santa Cruz | Flamenco in a tablao and Hospital de los Venerables | 1–1.5 hours + 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 1 free, 2 low cost, 3 mid-priced. Book ahead for Seville Cathedral and the Giralda and Flamenco in a tablao. The longest visit is Seville Cathedral and the Giralda; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Seville Cathedral and the Giralda: Buying a timed ticket online avoids the long queue at the entrance in high season.
- Flamenco in a tablao: Small venues sell out on weekends; reserve a day or two ahead.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (El Centro): Seville Cathedral and the Giralda → Casa de Pilatos → Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (El Centro and Barrio Santa Cruz): Archivo General de Indias → Flamenco in a tablao → Hospital de los Venerables, at least 3 hours.
The wettest months
- January: highs of 16°C (61°F), about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild, sunny days and cool nights; one of the quietest months, good for sightseeing without crowds.
- April: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 6 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak season, with Holy Week and the April Fair; hotel prices can double during both weeks.
- November: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds. Mild with some rain; pleasant for walking and the Christmas season begins at the end of the month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Barrio Santa Cruz — Former Jewish quarter of narrow lanes, patios and squares beside the Alcázar
- El Centro and Alfalfa — Shopping streets, Las Setas and the tapas bars of Plaza del Salvador and Alfalfa
More of Seville
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Seville?
Seville Cathedral and the Giralda. The largest Gothic cathedral in the world was built on the site of the Almohad great mosque, whose minaret became the Giralda bell tower.
+Which of these are free in Seville?
Archivo General de Indias.