Seville in summer: how to handle the heat and enjoy it

Let’s start with the obvious: in July and August Seville goes above 40 °C on many days. Now the other side: the city has been adapting to that heat for centuries, accommodation is usually cheaper than in spring, and summer nights (terraces, open-air cinema, the river) are some of the best things it has. You just have to play by its rules.

The golden rule: live on Seville time

The classic mistake is to follow the same plan in August that you would in April. Here, summer is lived in two shifts:

Where to cool off

Pools: if you’re travelling as a family, the city’s summer public pools are a good plan for the middle of the day, and the kids will thank you.

The river at sunset: hiring a kayak or a paddleboard on the Guadalquivir late in the afternoon is one of the best things you can do in Seville in August, with an orange sky behind Triana.

Cool interiors: it’s much more comfortable inside the Cathedral than out on the street, and the Museo de Bellas Artes (free for EU citizens) makes a perfect cultural siesta.

Always keep water to hand: carry a bottle you can refill. There are drinking fountains around the centre, and bars will usually top it up for you if you order something.

If you want your own corner in the open air, these have a patio or terrace:

Featured

Triana · Sevilla

Patio de Pureza

A designer ground-floor flat with a private patio in the heart of Triana

• 4 guests
• 1 bedroom
• 2 bathrooms

Washing machine · Dishwasher · Patio

Price depends on dates

Pick your dates to see the final price.

You’ll find them all in flats with a patio or terrace.

Eating and drinking, summer style

Summer has its own menu: gazpacho and salmorejo on every table, caracoles (snails) from May to July (the stalls with a queue of locals are the good ones) and pescaíto frito with well-chilled white wine. Beer is ordered as a caña, small and ice-cold, so it has no time to warm up. And what locals drink is tinto de verano, not sangría.

At night, look for the rooftop terraces: several hotels in the centre open theirs to the public, and watching the sunset facing the Giralda with something cold in your hand makes up for any heatwave.

What summer has that other seasons don’t

• Prices: July and August are usually the cheapest season in Seville. See for yourself in our apartments.
• Fewer people: first thing in the morning, the monuments are far calmer than in spring.
• Cine de verano: open-air cinemas in patios and gardens, one of Seville’s good traditions.
• The nights: the Alameda and Triana at midnight in July have an atmosphere you won’t find at any other time of year.

In short

Seville in summer isn’t for everyone, but with local hours, air conditioning and well-planned afternoons, it makes a great trip, and a cheaper one. If you’re unsure which neighbourhood to pick for these dates: Triana or the Alameda if you’re after terrace nights, and Nervión if you’re coming by car or AVE and want somewhere quieter. For the rest of the year, here is our neighbourhood guide.