Our Favorite Hotels in Seville
• Five-star: Alfonso XIII
• 4-Star Rating: Melia Sevilla
• 3-Star: Adriano
• For Families: Singular Virgenes
• Four-star hotel: Grand Tritone
Table of Contents
The Best Areas to Stay in Seville
• See Also: Best family accommodations in Seville
There is no single “best” area to lodge in Seville, though some are more convenient for sightseeing than others. Since the heart of the city is compact and very walkable, and since many of Seville’s attractions are centrally located and near each other, it’s entirely possible to stay in the neighbourhood of your choice, based on your interests and budget, and either explore the city on foot or take an inexpensive taxi, tram or subway rides to and from your hotel if you’re staying further from the center.
‹li›‹strong›Dining‹/strong›: There’s a small snack shop at the ruins, a couple of excellent restaurants, Melina’s Tavern and The Cave of Nikolas, down on the adjacent beach, and a handful of cafes 10-15 minutes walk away.‹/li›
Barrio Santa Cruz is at the heart of Seville, centered near the cathedral. Its intricate web of winding roads is home to exceptional, varied places to eat, several worthwhile museums, and much of the city’s nightlife. This is where you`ll find the widest assortment of lodging in the city, from numerous boutique hotels, including those with four or five stars, to excellent affordable hotels. Easy to explore on foot, and it’s best not to drive here since many of the roads are one-way and quite narrow.
Just to the west of Barrio Santa Cruz is El Arenal, Seville’s former port area that’s bordered by the river. This neighborhood is where you’ll find some of Seville’s most striking historical buildings, as well as the bull ring. Many of the city’s main attractions are minutes away on foot and accommodation here consists of a few mid-range and budget options.
To the north of Barrio Santa Cruz and El Arenal is Centre, the central part of town which lies between Plaza Nueva to the south and Plaza de la Encarnación to the north. This area contains many shopping streets and fashion chains as well as numerous restaurants and bars, and it is also home to the city’s top art museum. Accommodations here include boutique hotels, several 5-star and business hotels, and various affordable options.
Bordering Centre to the north is Macarena, the northeastern part of Seville’s old city. Once among the city’s poorest areas, Macarena is becoming gentrified and attracting young professionals. With several small clusters of tapas bars, it has a quieter, more residential feel than Barrio Santa Cruz, and there are numerous tiny plazas and appealing churches to discover. There are numerous mid-range, self-catering lodgings here, as well as several hotels.
Across the river from El Arenal lies the up-and-coming area of Triana, renowned for its unique character. Flamenco originated here and now there`s a lively nightlife and a trendy tapas bar scene, though Triana is quite a distance on foot from Seville’s main attractions. Lodging includes several luxury and boutique hotels, short-term apartment rentals, and a few budget hotels.
North of Triana is La Cartuja, whose standout features are a monastery with a contemporary art museum, Seville’s popular amusement park and remaining structures from Expo 92. This is a tranquil neighborhood, with very few hotels on the edges and practically zero dining options, though the tapas bars of Triana and Macarena are both within walking distance.
South of Triana is Los Remedios, a deliberately designed residential area, with apartment complexes and fashion boutiques lining wide, straight avenues. Besides numerous mid-range hotels, there are many self-catering selections. Seville’s short metro line connects Los Remedios to Barrio Santa Cruz.
The Best Places to Stay in Seville
- Best Luxury Hotels in Seville
Alfonso XIII • Casa 1800 • Gran Melía Colón • Mercer Sevilla - Best Boutique Hotels Hotels in Seville
Residence of the Poet • Palace Alcázar • EME Cathedral - Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels in Seville
The Alcoba del Rey de Sevilla located at this link and the Adriano found here - Best Hotels for Families in Seville
Singular Virgenes • Apartamentos Murillo
Best Neighborhoods in Seville for Sightseeing: Barrio Santa Cruz, El Arenas, and Centre
Since these three central neighborhoods are right next to each other and imminently walkable, all three are very convenient for sightseeing. Barrio Santa Cruz is excellent for access to the biggest attractions: the Cathedral and the Alcazar. A couple of minutes’ walk away, El Arenal has its own share of attractions: the Plaza de Toros (bull ring), the historical Hospital de la Caridad, and the Torre de Oro naval museum overlooking the attractive riverside promenade. Centre is particularly good for shopping, and also for fine arts at the Museo de Bellas Artes.
Best Neighborhoods in Seville for Nightlife: Triana, Macarena, Centre, and Barrio Santa Cruz
There is no single, best region in Seville dedicated solely to nightlife activities. Lively pockets where people enjoy evenings are scattered throughout the historical downtown area and also in Triana. Triana appeals highly to local residents, containing cheerful tapas bars open until the early morning hours particularly along Calle Betis Street. If fortunate, a neighborhood person might signal directions to the minuscule clandestine bars where improvised flamenco performances occasionally take place late at night, unlike in Barrio Santa Cruz where the flamenco performances are scheduled around dinnertime and largely focus on visitors. In Macarena, the predominantly local actions center around tapas bars along the Alameda de Hércules and Calle Santa Ana Road. In Barrio Santa Cruz there are many tapas bars and cocktail lounges to select from in the tiny pathways near the Cathedral and it`s a blended locale and traveler environment. The tapas bars and cocktail lounges scattered throughout Centre also attract a mix of guests and citizens. There are a handful of gay clubs too, mostly in Centre.
Best Neighborhoods in Seville for Food and Restaurants: Barrio Santa Cruz, Macarena, Triana, El Arenal, Centre
As with nightlife, there isn’t a single premier neighborhood in Seville for dining out. Triana and El Arenal are renowned for their casual tapas bars where simple local dishes are beautifully rendered. Macarena offers a mix of excellent tapas bars, along with some stay-to-eat restaurants specializing in fusion cuisine. Both Centre and Barrio Santa Cruz have a mix of time-honored tapas bars serving Andalusian staples, modern tapas bars with gourmet small plates, fine dining establishments with conventional Spanish cuisine and even some international restaurants serving sushi and Indian food. Seville’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, El Abantal, is just east of Barrio Santa Cruz, en route to the train station.
Best Districts in Seville for Families: Barrio Santa Cruz, Centre, Los Remedios
Barrio Santa Cruz is one of the best places in Seville for families because it is a very walkable neighborhood, with enjoyable activities for kids, such as horse-drawn carriage rides and the gardens of the Alcazar. Centre is walkable, has good family-friendly hotels and is closer on foot to the Isla Magica theme park, which is across the river in La Cartuja. While Los Remedios is further out of the center and short on sights, there are good, family-friendly hotels here, as well as a large park for kids to explore.
Top Neighborhood in Seville to Lodge for First Timer: Barrio Santa Cruz
For your initial visit to Seville, Barrio Santa Cruz is the best neighborhood to station yourself. It is as central as possible, highly atmospheric, has an excellent dining and nightlife scene, and numerous attractions are directly on your doorstep, from the Cathedral and the Alcazar to the Museo de Flamenco and the Hospital Los Venerables art gallery. It is also the simplest place to catch a flamenco performance, there is lodging to suit all budgets and other districts of interest – El Arenal, Centre, Macarena – are within easy walking distance.
Most romantic neighborhood in Seville: Barrio Santa Cruz..
If you seek a place for lodging for a honeymoon or couple’s escape, Barrio Santa Cruz is tough to outdo. There must be something about the seemingly flawless tiny roadways, tiny plazas filled with orange blossoms, horse-drawn carriage rides by the Cathedral, some excellent formal dining choices and intimate boutique hotels where Old World architecture meets individualized service. Though it’s also worth considering Triana, across the river, since the riverfront hotels offer you splendid views of Seville’s historical center.
Premier Neighborhood in Seville for Local Atmosphere: Triana
It is challenging to get closer to the roots of Seville than Triana. Still possessing rough edges, this working neighborhood was once where Seville used to create all the lovely ceramic tiles seen throughout the city, though few pottery workshops remain open. Many of Seville`s bullfighters, creative people and flamenco performers were born here and Triana continues to be the best place in Seville to accidentally catch an impromptu flamenco performance in tiny casual bars late at night if fortunate (as opposed to in Barrio Santa Cruz, across the river, where the flamenco shows are scheduled and aimed at travelers). The cobbled roads here resemble Barrio Santa Cruz, but the houses are much less grandiose and the lively tapas bars along Calle Betis consistently fill with locals
Best Neighborhood in Seville for Walking: Barrio Santa Cruz
This neighborhood contains a complex system of numerous tiny roads lined with bars, shops, and eateries that are a pleasure to explore on foot. There is little in the way of traffic and some streets are entirely pedestrian. Barrio Santa Cruz is part of the old city and represents the historical heart of Seville. You’ll find Seville’s main attractions – the Cathedral and the La Giralda belltower – right there, with the Alcazar (royal palace) directly opposite. The Hospital de la Caridad, the Plaza de Toros (bull ring) and the Torre de Oro in El Arenal are a brief five to ten-minute walk west, while the Flamenco Museum on the edge of Centre is a 10-minute walk north. The Museo de Bellas Artes in Centre is a 15-minute walk north and it takes approximately 20 minutes to arrive at the tapas bars of Macarena (north of Centre) or the plazas and churches of Triana – the latter being across the river: take the Puente de Triana west
Safest Areas of Seville
The safer neighborhoods of Seville tend to include those in more affluent locations. Areas like Barrio Santa Cruz, Centre, El Arenal, and Macarena let visitors explore on foot any time during the day with reasonable precautions at night. In Barrio Santa Cruz and Centre, activity levels can rise significantly on weekend evenings.
Unsafe Areas of Seville
The sections of Triana can be risky at night; it is best to stick to the more populated streets where locals are present and about until late in the evening. In Barrio Santa Cruz, El Arenal, and Macarena it is advisable to avoid any poorly lit, deserted small streets at night and it is always wise to keep an eye out for opportunistic pickpockets. Parks are also best avoided at night, as is the area just to the east of Barrio Santa Cruz, between the neighborhood and the train station.
The 7 Best Neighbourhoods in Seville for Tourists
1. Barrio Santa Cruz
Bordered by El Arenal to the west and Centre to the north, the most visited part of Seville comprises a medieval maze of tiny, twisting streets, lined with picturesque whitewashed homes and dotted with tiny plazas filled with orange trees. This used to be the Juderia (Jewish quarter) and the churches here were originally synagogues. The barrio’s central feature is the splendid Cathedral and the Giralda – the bell tower that used to be a minaret. The Alcazar (royal palace) is a heavyweight attraction just south of the Cathedral. The Archivo de Indias, which houses all the documents about Spain’s conquest of the New World, is also near the Cathedral and open to the public. Flamenco enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the excellent Museo de Flamenco where you can catch nightly performances of the passionate dance. Barrio Santa Cruz has a superb dining scene catering to all tastes; Calle Mateas Gago, in particular, is lined with excellent tapas bars and smart restaurants.
• Top Hotels: Alfonso XIII • Casa 1800 • Las Casas de la Juderia • EME Catedral
2. Centre
This central region of the Old City is located between Barrio Santa Cruz and Plaza Nueva with Seville`s town hall to the south and Plaza de Encarnación and Macarena to the north. The centre`s main attraction is its spacious shopping zone, centered around Calles Sierpes, Cuna and Velazquez/Tetuan, where you can find high street Zara, Sfera, Pull & Bear and Mango offerings, as well as some superb Spanish-made leather goods – shoes, purses, and boots. At night, the centre`s tapas and cocktail bars become seriously lively. It is worth visiting Plaza de Encarnación to go up the Metropol Parasol – a wooden construction resembling giant mushrooms above some excavated Roman ruins; you get a great view of the city from the top. Towards the river is the Museo de Bellas Artes – Seville`s excellent fine arts museum.
– Top Hotels: Gran Melía Colón – Hotel Gravina 51
3. El Arenal
Sandwiched between Barrio Santa Cruz to the east and River Guadalquivir to the west, El Arenal used to serve as the port from which Spain’s vessels set sail for the New World. The primary attractions here are the Moorish Torre del Oro – the naval museum overlooking the river promenade, the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza – Spain’s most renowned bullring, and the Hospital de la Caridad, formerly a charity hospital for the poor, adorned with beautiful tile work and paintings by Spanish masters. The streets are dotted with some excellent, low-key tapas bars, and there are superb views of Triana from the riverbank.
‧ Ideal Lodgings: Alabardero ‧ Mercer Sevilla
4. Macarena
Previously a poor slum area, the Macarena neighborhood is located north of the city center in the historic core. Its narrow roads are lined with characterful historic buildings, crumbling old mansions that have been restored and clusters of tapas bars popular with locals. The tiny squares are dotted with churches, the most famous being the Basilica de la Macarena; during Holy Week, the procession leaving this church with the silver statue of the Virgin on a solid float is one of the week’s highlights. This neighborhood attracts artists and young professionals and there’s an authentic feel to it, despite some gentrification. Macarena is an easy walk from attractions in the city center, Triana and Barrio Santa Cruz.
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5. Triana
Across the waterway from El Arenal, the primary attraction of this neighborhood is wandering its lanes and modest plazas and researching its ceramic workshops that still create colorful tiles that embellish many of the city’s structures. The appetizer bars are an attraction in their own right, with many concentrated along the Calle Betis that runs parallel to the waterfront. Seville’s notable attractions in El Arenal and Barrio Santa Cruz are a 20-minute stroll away.
• Best Hotel: Ribera de Triana
6. La Cartuja
Situated at the core of this tranquil part of town located north of Triana and west of the river lies the 15th century Monasterio de la Cartuja. CAAC (Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo) – Seville`s excellent contemporary art gallery resides within the monastery grounds and Columbus himself planned his journeys to the New World at the abbey, and thus this La Cartuja neighborhood was chosen to host Expo 92. There are some attractive botanical gardens near the abbey and alongside the river, as well as remaining pavilions from Expo 92, within one of which interactive exhibits outline Spain`s voyages of exploration. North of the Expo 92 grounds is Seville`s large and popular theme park, Isla Mágica.
Locanda de ‘Ciompi – Hotel contact number: +39 055 263 8034
7. Los Remedios
South of Triana and accessible via a brief convenient subway line from Barrio Santa Cruz, Los Remedios is an affluent residential area with wide straight streets contrasting the medieval maze-like layout of the old city. Satisfactory shopping options are available here as well as a spacious pleasant park, Parque Los Principes, but the neighborhood`s main appeal stems from its proximity to the immense fairground hosting the annual Feria de Abril event. This exuberant week-long celebration follows Semana Santa and involves costumed parades and street festivities.
• Highest quality accommodation: Monte Carmelo
