Our guide to the best things to do in Seville with children: best kid-friendly attractions in Seville and practical info to book the perfect trip to Seville with kids.
Seville is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and of the most enjoyable European destinations for families with kids.
It is a city I never tire of visiting and that never ceases to impress me, no matter how many times I see it.
The first thing that strikes me, as I step out of the Seville train station, is the blue sky, blinding in its Southern, brilliant light.
Then it’s the soft perfume of orange blossoms, teasing my nose, and the clattering of cutlery from tapas bars, promising delicious foodie experiences.
Finally, it’s the heat of the sun on my skin and the holiday bliss is complete: I are in wonderful Seville and your five senses are loving every minute of it.
Seville is a beautiful city with amazing architecture, weather, and food and has the perfect size for a family city break.
It is small enough to be visited in a couple of days but so rich of attractions you can go back many times and still discover new corners and restaurants.
Seville is a very family friendly place and there are many reasons why I highly recommend it for a family trip.
In this post, you will find my best tips for visiting Seville with kids and an overview of theist places to stay.
To make your trip even more special, I recommend you also check out this Seville Food Guide, with amazing tips on what and where to eat in Seville.
Heading to Spain with family soon? Then you may also like: Tips for planning a trip to Spain with kids | Top things to do in Barcelona with kids | Family guide to Madrid | Guide to a day in Toledo | Guide to a day in Segovia
It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy… Let’s go exploring! – Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes
Find more inspirational family travel quotes here
Table of Contents
Practical info – Best time to go to Seville with children
The best time to visit Seville is the spring (March to May) closely followed by the autumn (September, October), seasons when the weather is sunny and dry but not excessively hot.
Especially with children, the months of July and August should be avoided as the temperature reaches easily over 40 degrees celsius.
Winters are mild but they can be rainy and they would make you miss out one of the most pleasant experiences in Seville, which is its gorgeous terraces.
Seville festivities and what you need to know
If you are lucky enough to go to Seville in spring, do check what dates the city’s famous Feria de Abril is on.
La Feria is a fun event where you can admire flamenco costumes and enjoy a truly buzzing atmosphere, but it is also a time when tourists flock to the city and prices sky rocket.
Another important yearly event in Seville is the Semana Santa, the week of festivities around easter.
This is an interesting cultural event during which the city streets are filled with processions with beautiful floats carrying religious statues adorned with flowers.
This can be a great opportunity to see Seville with kids while taking in the festive spirit and experience a different type of Christmas.
How to get to Seville
Seville has an international airport and an excellent train station served by the AVE, Spain’s high-speed trains.
The AVE connects Seville and Madrid and it’s a fantastic option if you are travelling with kids: fast, efficient, clean and with food on board, it is my transport of choice in Spain: tickets can be bought in advance on www.renfe.es
Top 10 things to do in Seville with children: Seville attractions
What are the best things do so in Seville with kids?
These are our handpicked child friendly sightseeing opportunities and children attractions in Seville for the whole family
Visit Seville cathedral
Seville city centre is home to one of the largest (if not the largest) Gothic cathedrals in the world: Santa Maria de la Sede.
Erected between 1401 and 1506, it was built with a specific aim in mind which documents from the time report in the following, remarkable words: ‘Let’s build a church so beautiful and so magnificent that those who see it finished will think we are crazy’!
Madness is not what comes to mind when looking at this church, but indeed it is a striking building of indisputable beauty.
Its main body is Gothic in style but since the cathedral was built over an older mosque, many Moorish elements persist and add to the building fluidity of design and elegance.
The most beautiful and remarkable are the ‘patio of oranges’, one of the cathedral main gates and its imposing tower: la Giralda.
What to see in Seville cathedral and what kids will love.
Cathedrals can be boring for kids but the one in Seville has at least two elements that are sure to capture the attention of young children: the tomb of Christopher Columbus (Cristoforo Colombo or Cristobal Colon as he is known in Spanish) and a crocodile!
Explorers and beast are sure to make a trip to Seville with kids so enjoyable!!
Columbus’ tomb in Seville
‘The’ explorer, the one who sailed the seas with the caravels and ended up in a continent most of Europe had no idea it existed, Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain, but his peregrinations across the oceans didn’t end with his life.
History tells us that he was originally buried in Valladolid, which is close to Madrid, but a few years later was moved to Seville by request of his son Diego who is said to be buried there with him.
A few decades after this first move, Diego’s wife asked for the two bodies to be moved across the ocean and they received a home in a monastery in Santo Domingo.
After the Spaniards had been ousted, however, they moved again to Havana, Cuba.
Not satisfied with having toured the Caribbean in life and in death, history tells us that eventually, Columbus moved again to Seville, where DNA test have now confirmed he lies! I guess once an explorer always an explorer…
The tomb is carried by four statues, representing the four kingdoms of Spain at the time conveyed but the symbols carved on each of these gentlemen’ cloaks: Castilla (castle), Leon (lion), Navarre (linked chains), Aragon (stripes).
Seville’s crocodile
Little and not so little kids will love the most unexpected guest of the cathedral, the crocodile that hangs from the ceiling in the Patio of Oranges!
The crocodile, of which I sadly do not have a photo, has a peculiar story, set in the XIII century.
At that time Spain was under the government of King Alfonso X who had a beautiful daughter: Berenguela.
The Emir of Egypt wished to marry her and sent over to Spain exotic gifts for her, including a large crocodile.
Some stories tell us it lived in prosperity in its new home, while others claim it quickly died, away from its environment and in captivity, but what it is sure is that eventually, the crocodile met his fate and, when this happened, his skin was used to cover the crocodile shape wooden sculpture we now see in the church!
Rather than the memory of a beloved pet, the reason for keeping this sculpture seems to have religious reasons: crocodiles were sacred in Egypt and were symbols of prosperity and fertility as well as protectors from evil: in this sense, its presence at the entrance at a gate makes perfect religious sense.
Climb the Giralda Tower
The Giralda tower is iconic of the city of Seville and was built at the start of the XI century as the minaret of the then Mosque.
Now it operates as the bell tower of Seville cathedral and from its 108 meters offers great views over the city.
If you make the trek up the Giralda, you might notice the peculiar shape of the steps: they are wide enough for two muezzins to climb up by horse or donkey.
Marvel at Seville Alcazar
When I was a child I learn that ‘Cordoba has the Mezquita, Granada the Alhambra and Seville the Alcazar’ and while this is an oversimplification of what these cities have to offer, there is no doubt that the Alcazar is one of its most impressive buildings.
Located near the cathedral, the Alcazar is a stunning palace notable for its elaborate architecture and beautiful gardens.
It was built in 913 to work as a fort the governor of Seville, but it has been modified many times during the course of the years and took the shape we see now largely during the XII century.
It is hard to pinpoint what is the most beautiful element of the Alcazar: maybe the delicate marble carvings that make it look as if made of lace? Or maybe the many fountains or how the indoor and outdoor spaces seem to melt into each other?
What is sure is that for the kids the highlight of a trip to the Alcazar is the garden: while the temptation to pick at the flowers and climbing into fountains will be strong, even restraining from these two activities will give them loads to do.
The gardens are big and beautiful, they have many pathways to run on and they host peacocks!
Explore Barrio Santa Cruz
Both the cathedral complex and the Alcazar are located in barrio Santa Cruz, probably the most picturesque area of the whole of Seville.
An ancient part of the city, it is made of narrow, cobbled streets, hidden gardens and whitewashed houses and it is delightful for a stroll.
Tourists flock here but it is still possible to find quiet streets: this is the perfect part of town to let the kids lead the way- getting lost in the maze of alleyways is the best way to experience Seville!
Play in Parque Maria Luisa and Plaza de Espana
Parque Maria Luisa is the largest in the city and a great place for kids to run around and get a break from the busy city streets.
The Park is in the city centre and close to Placa de Espana, and has a plethora of attractions for little ones including duck ponds and playgrounds with climbing frames and swings.
The park has many beautiful buildings and pavilions with fabulous tiles floors, so a stop there will not only make the kids happy but also give the adults the sense of having done some sightseeing!
Plaza de Espana is another major landmark in Seville and there are at least three reasons I can think of why kids will love it.
The first: it is huge (it has the size of 5 football pitches!), it has water and you can rent boats; it appeared in star wars!
The plaza was built as the centerpiece of the Seville Expo 29 and is beautiful for its sheer size, ornate decorations and colorful tiles. It sits inside Maria Luisa Park.
Admire the historic Guadalquivir river
Seville is crossed by the wide Guadalquivir river and one of the best ways to enjoy this waterway is either renting a boat of joining a river cruise.
If the weather is good, renting a pedal boat is the most fun for kids and it is even possible to get one with a pirate theme!
Visit Seville Aquarium
I find aquariums always to be a good bet with kids especially if, like this one, they sport tanks with sharks and a mind-bending 400+ species of aquatic creatures for a total of over 7000 animals!
The aquarium is organized so that the visitor follows the itinerary of Magellan in 1519 and recreates 5 natural habitats: Guadalquivir (the river crossing Seville), Atlantic ocean, Amazonian river, Pacífic ocean and Indo-Pacific ocean.
Find more info on their official site here
Discover Flamenco (and dress the part!)
Sevilla is the home of flamenco and colourful, pint-size flamenco dresses are likely to attract little princesses to the tourists stall like no other thing. Who can resist frills, dots and red shoes?
Despite the many tourist variations of flamenco dresses, there is cultural relevance to this dance in Andalucia and it can be interesting and fun for adults and kids.
One option is to visit the Museum of Flamenco or you can catch both an exhibition and flamenco shot in the Casa de la memoria which also sells reduced tickets to kids aged 6-11
Play in Isla Magica amusement park
Isla Magica is a pirate theme museum park with loads of water rides, special play area for younger children, restaurants and bars.
The park is organised to recreate Seville as it was during its Golden age and in this sense is an interesting site as well as a fun one, but it’s the rollercoasters here that steal the show, so kids who love adrenaline will be in heaven.
Because of the many water attractions, Isla Magica is only open April to November.
If you are in Seville at this time, do check it out: it is one of the most fun things to do in Seville with kids when you want a break from sightseeing.
Eat all the food
My kids can sometimes be fussy about what they like to eat, but Andalucian tapas are always met with approval.
There many excellent places to eat in Seville and the selection of food on offer is vast: I spent my whole first weekend there moving from one place to the next just to taste as many tapas as possible!
From jamon, to pork and lamb, meat is exceptionally good here, but if you have a sweet tooth you won’t be disappointed either.
The thing to try in Seville is Torrijas. They are cubes of bread soaked in beaten egg, deep-fried and then covered with maple syrup or honey.
They are a little bit like what in America is called French toast and they are said to date back to the Al Andaluz period, when a Moorish type of brioche covered in honey was popular.
Where to stay in Seville with children: best family hotels and apartments in Seville
Seville offers a huge array of accommodation options. Here are four addresses for families, chosen on the basis of personal experience and the recommendation of trusted family travelers who shared their best picks with us.
Apartamento Murillo Located in Barrio Santa Cruz and a stone throw away from Seville cathedral, this apartment is in a perfect location both in terms of ease of access to Seville’s main landmarks and atmosphere. Studios, one and two-bedroom apartments are available, all with kitchen facilities (fridge, microwave, utensils etc).
Apartamento Mariscal Another self-catering option in barrio Santa Cruz, this apartment has the added advantage of having a tour desk. They have one and two-bedroom apartments with kitchen facilities and it is regularly rated as one of the best accommodation options in town on booking.com
NH Sevilla Plaza de Armas Member of the NH chain, this hotel is a great option for families for its handy location, sound proof rooms and rooftop terrace (seasonal). For families that have a good selection of rooms, including twins and triple rooms – one child under 12 stays free of charge when using existing beds; cots and additional beds are available but should be requested in advance.
I hope you enjoyed our guide to Seville with children. Safe family travels!
Please note: the inclusion of attractions in this post is unsolicited and unbiased and we received no compensation for it. We included sights and experiences that, in our opinion, will make your family trip to Seville as informative and enjoyable as possible. This post includes affiliate links and if you make a purchase through them we might receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Great read Marta i will keeping this for reference for when we are in Seville next month
Can’t wait to read your take on it, Mark! I think you’ll love it and the Alcazar will be a great addition to your castle collection