10 Things to Do in Seville at Christmas

Thanks to the many activities and attractions Seville has to offer, the city has become one of the most visited on the continent.

At Christmas time, the fun and leisure activities only multiply, so in addition to the more traditional sightseeing tours, I invite you to enjoy as many of the following activities as possible and make the most of Christmas in Seville as the locals do.

At the end of November, the Christmas lights switch-on ceremony takes place in Seville. This ceremony is just the inaugural act that will culminate with the illumination of almost 300 streets and shops throughout the city.

The municipal government, together with merchants and collaborators, join forces to fill the streets of Seville with colour and charm throughout the Christmas season.

For this reason, it is highly recommended that in addition to the Avenida de la Constitución, don't miss the most iconic streets of the old town of Seville, such as Sierpes, Tetuán, Campana, Laraña, Plaza Nueva and others.

If you thought Seville was a beautiful city at night, you'll be amazed at how dazzling it becomes illuminated with Christmas lights and motifs.

Useful information

• Address: The lighting ceremony takes place in the important Plaza Nueva, where the town hall is located.
• Time: The opening ceremony takes place in the evening usually around 19:00h.
• Price range: Free for the general public. Just arrive early if you want to secure a good spot.

From mid-November until 23 December, a popular Christmas event known as the Nativity Scenes Fair is held in Seville.

This event has been organised for years by the Asociación de Comerciantes del Belén (ACOBE) and its purpose is to present the talent and work of a number of local artists who are experts in the art and manufacture of nativity scenes.

Here, Sevillians and visitors alike will find everything they need to create a nativity scene at home, with pieces that stand out for their originality. Despite being an event dedicated entirely to nativity scenes, variety is guaranteed as each year more than a dozen exhibitors join in.

Useful information

• Address and directions: In front of the Cathedral of Seville and the Archivo de Indias in the heart of Seville, in Constitución Avenue.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10:30h to 14h, in the afternoon from 17h to 21h. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 11am to 3pm and from 4pm to 9pm.
• Price range: Free admission for the general public.

From mid-December until the day before Epiphany (5 January), a creative fair is held with a Christmas theme but with a wide variety of stalls and lots of variety.

An average of 70 exhibitors meet every year in Seville's Plaza Nueva to present a diverse catalogue of gifts and curiosities, all handmade using different techniques and materials.

The event is organised by the Federation of Artisans of Seville, in close collaboration with the city council and is possibly the best place in the city to do your Christmas shopping and find truly original items.

Useful information

• Address and directions: The fair is held in Seville's Plaza Nueva, located in the immediate vicinity of the city's town hall.
• Opening hours: It runs every day from 11am to 3pm and from 5pm to 9pm. On December 24th and 31st they only work in the morning.
• Price range: Free for the general public.

If you visit Seville with children, one of the best things to do during the Christmas season in the city is possibly to attend the traditional Three Kings Day parade.

The different neighbourhoods of the city celebrate the arrival of the kings with a beautiful parade full of music and colour in which they also hand out sweets for the little ones.

Three Wise Men Parade in Seville

The most important parade of the festive season is organised by the Ateneo de Sevilla and takes place on January 5th at night. It is an event that brings together several music bands, a choir of bell ringers, hundreds of Bedouins and more than 30 beautifully decorated floats.

The event usually starts at the University of Seville around 16:30h. However, I recommend my travelling friends to visit the website On Sevilla days in advance to be aware of the route and the official schedule.

Other small parades

In the different neighbourhoods of Seville, small events of this kind are held as local celebrations. Here are some of the most popular and my favourites, dates and times are approximate and can sometimes be modified, I recommend checking the information before your trip.

• Padre Pio Parade: Usually takes place on January 4th between 17:00h and 22h. The route starts at Plaza Antonio Ruiz.
• The parade of His Eminence on the 5th of January at around 15:30h starts at Ceip Adriano del Valle.
• Cavalcade of San Gerónimo: 6th January at 10:30h, starting at the Civic Centre.
• Pino Montano Cavalcade: on 06 January at around 11:00h, starts at Calle Deliniantes.
• Triana Cavalcade: 6th January at around 17:30h, starts at the Plaza de Monte Pirolo.

Nativity scenes are one of Spain's most iconic Christmas traditions and with Seville being such a city steeped in tradition and culture, certainly one of the best things to do in the city at Christmas time is the popular route of the Sevillian Nativity Scenes.

Locations

Although some locations are already known for their support of the nativity scene tradition, every year new and interesting places are added to the route, adding variety and attraction. In any case, here are the places where, historically, you can see the best nativity scenes in Seville.

I recommend, days before the date of your trip, to visit local event pages such as On Sevilla to be aware of the available exhibitions.

• Belén de la Fundación Cajasol: The Fundación Cajasol with its exhibition is the main event that kicks off the season of nativity scenes in Seville. The exhibition, which occupies a surface area of around 140 m2, is the largest in the city and displays a collection of figures with more than 150 pieces from the Cajasol collection. The exhibition is open to the public for almost a month from the beginning of December until the beginning of January.
• Nativity Scene of the Circuito Mercantil: For more than 20 years the artist Silvio Torilo has been creating beautiful collections that are exhibited in the Circuito Mercantil from the beginning of December until the first days of January. It is one of the busiest exhibitions in Seville so you may have to queue.
• Belén del Hogar Canario in the Town Hall: In the Town Hall of Seville a special Christmas crib is traditionally exhibited from mid-December, completely set in the Canary Islands, the figurines present the traditional clothing of the island of Tenerife in the 18th century. Don't miss it!
• Living Nativity Scene at the Centro Cívico La Buhaira: If you want to see a Nativity Scene presented by living creatures then the Centro Cívico La Buhaira has an exhibition that only lasts three days but is truly spectacular. The exhibition opens to the public after the 15th of December and it attracts an average of 100 people.

In the last days of the month, the city of Seville hosts one of the most eagerly awaited traditional events for its citizens, which I highly recommend to all my friends who visit Seville in December: the special Christmas Carol Concert at the Teatro de la Maestranza.

As the name suggests, the event brings together talented local musicians who each year perform a repertoire of popular carols: Blanca Navidad, Noche de paz, Campana sobre campana and many more.

For details of the exact date, performance times and programme of the event I recommend checking the website of the Teatro de la Maestranza a few days before the trip.

Useful information

• Address: Teatro de la Maestranza, Paseo de Cristóbal Colón.
• Opening times: In the afternoon from 12 noon onwards.
• Price range: Between €13 and €30.
• How to buy tickets: Directly at the box office or online at the Teatro de la Maestranza.

What would Christmas be without good food? If your holiday plans include being in Seville for the celebrations, try not to let this be an excuse for not having a good Christmas dinner or lunch in true Spanish style.

Restaurants with Christmas menus for the festive season

As you would expect, many restaurants are joining in the celebration of this important holiday. Here is a selection of good restaurants in the city that offer their diners set menus for the festive season, which I hope will give you some inspiration.

• Azotea Located at Calle Conde de Barajas, 12.
• Entrecárceles Centenary tavern located at Calle Faisanes, 1.
• O'Neills Irish pub and restaurant located in Calle Enramadilla and Calle Adriano, 34.
• Manolo León Located in various locations in Seville such as Calle Guadalquivir, 8 and Calle Juan Pablos, 8.
• Al Solito Posto Italian restaurant in Alameda de Hércules, 16.

For a few years now, some pastry shops in Seville have been recovering a traditional dessert from the Triana neighbourhood, known as Torteras, for the festive season. Very similar to mantecado, its origins date back to before the first decade of the 20th century.

My recommendation? Try one or two recipes on your excursions around the city. After all, one of the best things about visiting Seville at any time of year is undoubtedly its delicious food. As you'll be able to confirm in your exploration, every cook has his or her own particular touch and some of them stuff them with sweet potato or cider - very delicious!

The best places to eat torteras in Seville.

If you want to try torteras, but don't know where to start, here are some interesting alternatives for your inspiration.

• Tradición Repostera Molinos The restaurant is located at Rodrigo de Triana, 63.
• Confitería Lola Located at Av. de Alvar Núñez, 8.
• Confitería Lida Located in the Triana neighbourhood at Calle San Jacinto, 90.

From the end of November until the first days of January, one of the most popular and eagerly awaited attractions in Seville takes place every year. It is a large themed amusement park with fun rides for the whole family and a Christmas fair included.

If you are going to be in Seville for 3 days or more at this time of year, spend a few hours touring the facilities; enjoy the games, the food and the ice skating.

Activities and attractions usually found at Sevilla On ice include: an ice slide, a giant Ferris wheel and a kiddie wheel, bumper cars, bouncy castles, children's car rinks and an extensive food court.

Useful information

• Address: In the Muelle de las Delicias park, located in the Port of Seville.
• Opening hours: The opening hours are from 11am until midnight at night.
• Price range: Sessions on the ice rinks range from approximately 7€ to 9€. Each session is worth 45 minutes for one person.

Like other major cities around the world, Christmas in Seville has for several years now included the placement of numerous Christmas trees with a striking and leafy decoration. The trees are placed all over the city in some of the most important squares and monuments.

A good plan for your holidays in Seville is to take a tour to admire these beautiful creations, take pictures and get to know the city better by walking through its streets.

Locations

Christmas trees in Seville are placed in different locations in the city; the main ones are: Puerta Jerez, Plaza CUba, Santa Justa Station, the roundabout near Torreblanca, Glorieta Párroco Gabriel Ramos in the southern polygon, Glorieta Presos de los Melonares in the eastern polygon and others.

Special mention should be made of the LED tree in Plaza San Francisco; an impressive structure 40 metres high and some 14 metres in diameter, which has gained popularity as the tallest Christmas tree in Europe.

Whether you are devoted to the Christian faith or not, I advise you to take advantage of your visit to the city of Seville to see the beautiful cathedral.

As you will surely know by now, visiting the Seville Cathedral is a must on any tour of the city as it is considered one of its main attractions.

Several Christmas masses are held in the cathedral.

The traditional mass of the cockerel for the Christmas festivities takes place every year on the 24th of December, but also on the day of the Nativity of the Lord, Eucharistic celebrations are held to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

It is a perfect opportunity to get to know the beautiful building, join in a traditional celebration and listen to the live choir of Seville.

Useful info

• Address: Seville Cathedral is located in the heart of the city on Avenida Constitución.
• Timetable: The Midnight Mass is celebrated at around 10pm; on 25th December masses start at 10.30am.
• Price range: free entrance for the celebration of the word.