Where to Stay in Seville (Best Areas & Places)

7 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Seville

You really can’t go wrong with any of Seville’s incredible districts. Even better, the city is easy to navigate and logically spread out. It’s easy to get to all the coolest areas no matter where you decide to stay.

Click the map below to read my pros and cons of some of the most popular areas to stay:

Barrio Santa Cruz

👉 Best Area For History & Top Tourist Attractions | ✨ Best Santa Cruz Hotels: Hotel Casa 1800 Sevilla • Hotel Rey Alfonso X • Hotel Casa Del Poeta • Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel 

Santa Cruz might be the most popular district in Seville. Many visitors are tempted by this neighborhood’s prime location in the middle of Seville. It’s close to almost every major place or attraction you’d want to visit, plus there are tons of restaurants and tapas bars.

There are lots of good hotels in this area. Hotel Casa Del Poeta and Hotel Rey Alfonso X are just a couple of highly-rated hotels I recommend.

The main problem with staying in Santa Cruz is that many other people have the same idea. This means that it’s busy all the time and hotels are generally more expensive. That’s the price you have to pay to be in the center of it all. 

Pros of Staying in Santa Cruz Neighborhood:

• Central location right in the city center
• Close to lots of popular attractions
• Many accommodations
• Easy to find amenities like a rooftop pool and rooftop terrace
• Delicious restaurants nearby

Cons of Staying in Santa Cruz Neighborhood:

• Very popular and busy neighborhood
• Can be more expensive

Alfalfa

👉 Best Area For Tapas Bars Galore | ✨ Best Alfalfa Hotels: Aguilas5 SevillaSuites • H10 Casa de la Plata • Joya del Casco Boutique Hotel

I spent time in seven different neighborhoods across Seville, but my favorite out of all of them was the first one I stayed in – Alfalfa.

As I struggled through the adorable, narrow streets with my bloated backpack trying to find my Airbnb, I immediately knew that I liked this area. Throughout the week I stayed in Alfalfa, I only learned that I loved it more than I originally anticipated. 

Like most spots in Seville, Alfalfa offers visitors an incredible array of restaurants to choose from. Mainly tapas bars that will leave you craving more, long after you leave, like Bar Sal Gorda (my absolute favorite tapas bar in the city). 

The big reason that Alfalfa was so perfect for me is that it was close enough to walk to all the exciting happenings. But most accommodations were tucked away on quiet, cozy streets that were a little bit separated from all the action. The best of both worlds. H10 Casa de la Plata is a fantastic hotel choice in Alfalfa – it’s highly rated with a great location. Not to mention, it has an outdoor terrace and pool.

The only downside to Alfalfa is that accommodations around this area become scarce in the high season. Everyone wants to stay here, so book in advance. 

Pros of Staying in Alfalfa Neighborhood:

• Delicious tapas is never far
• Cute boutique hotels
• Lots of other neighborhoods are within walking distance
• Fun nightlife scene without being too loud

Cons of Staying in Alfalfa Neighborhood:

• Hotels quickly sell out in this area during the high season
• The streets are often hectic and it’s easy to get lost

Centro

👉 Best Area For Central Location & Shopping | ✨ Best El Centro Hotels: Hotel Inglaterra • Querencia de Sevilla • Welldone Cathedral

I found Centro to be the busiest section of Seville, which makes sense given its name. It’s an even more centrally located neighborhood than Barrio Santa Cruz. However, Centro comes with way more clothing and souvenir shopping, as opposed to lots of intimate little restaurants. 

Querencia de Sevilla is a fantastic hotel choice in this area, with stellar reviews and stellar views from its rooftop.

If you’re only in the city for a day or two, Centro may be the best area for you. It’s right in the middle of all the other most interesting neighborhoods of Sevile. For people who love to walk, you can probably hit every other place just on foot. 

The downside to staying in the Centro neighborhood is that it’s typically bustling with tourists. So if you prefer a more down-to-earth experience, it might not be the ideal option. 

Pros of Staying in Centro Neighborhood:

• Excellent, central location
• Lots of places to go shopping
• Some of the best things to do in Seville are located in this neighborhood
• It’s easy to reach any other area of the city from here

Cons of Staying in Centro Neighborhood:

• Very busy throughout most of the year
• Fewer hotel options directly in this neighborhood

Triana

👉 Best Area For Authentic Local Vibes & Families | ✨ Best Triana Hotels: Monte Triana • Ribera de Triana Hotel • Zenit Sevilla

Moving a little outside of the main city center across the Guadalquivir River, you’ll find the endearing neighborhood of Triana. This one probably ranks as the #2 best neighborhood in Seville on my personal list. If you want to stay in a less touristy, more laid-back area of Seville, head straight to Triana. 

Some of the most highly rated accommodations in the entire city are in Triana. It’s slightly removed from the rush and busyness of the city center. Most of Triana’s hotels offer intriguing amenities that can make your trip to Seville a little sweeter, like a terrace or rooftop pool. It’s really a lovely place to relax and go into vacation mode, as opposed to being close to all the sites of Seville. 

Monte Triana and Zenit Sevilla are just a couple of beautiful hotels in Triana that offer terrace views and a rooftop pool. Both hotels offer private parking as well.

The only thing to consider when staying in Triana is that you’ll need to travel to reach other neighbors. Since you’re on the other side of the river, you may need to get familiar with Seville’s public transportation or put on your comfortable walking shoes.  

Pros of Staying in Triana Neighborhood:

• A chill and authentic atmosphere 
• Lots of chill bars and tasty restaurants around 
• Highly rated accommodations with top amenities
• Idyllic riverside location

Cons of Staying in Triana Neighborhood:

• Slightly outside of the city center 
• Fewer sites nearby

El Arenal

👉 Best Area For Delicious Food & Upscale Accommodations | ✨ Best El Arenal Hotels: The Zentral Arenal Suites • Hotel Kivir • Adriano Boutique Sevilla

El Arenal is located across the river from Triana. It provides visitors with a beautiful riverside location, but it’s still on the same side as all the other neighborhoods. El Arenal is in an advantageous location for foodies.

So many incredible restaurants are within walking distance in El Arenal. It doesn’t hurt that most of them are super affordable. Places like Bar Bartillo and Taberna del Arenal will feed you like royalty without breaking the bank. It’s the best of both worlds. Many of the main tourist attractions in Seville are located in El Arenal, too, including Torre del Oro and Plaza de Toros. 

There are a lot of upscale accommodations and some of the best boutique hotels around this neighborhood. It’s a good place to look if you want to treat yourself. Hotel Kivir is an especially beautiful hotel that’s sure to make you feel recharged after long days of exploring Seville. 

Pros of Staying in El Arenal Neighborhood:

• An abundance of excellent restaurants
• Offers visitors boutique hotels and luxury hotels with spacious rooms 
• Home to several big attractions in the city
• Close to the exciting central area without being directly in it

Cons of Staying in El Arenal Neighborhood:

• Not a huge nightlife scene around here 
• Must take a cab or scooter to most other areas

Distrito Sur

👉 Best Area For Outdoor Activities | ✨ Best South District Hotels: Melia Sevilla • Occidental Sevilla Viapol • NH Collection Sevilla

You’ll find the quieter, residential area of Distrito Sur just a little bit outside of Seville’s central district. This area provides a different experience than staying in busier neighborhoods, such as Centro and Alfalfa. 

It’s a more easygoing neighborhood with wider streets and fewer tourist crowds. It is a preferable spot for families with kids or anyone looking for a calmer vibe in Seville. 

Even though Distrito Sur is removed from the central neighborhoods, it’s actually closer to many of the city’s sights. This includes outdoor attractions of Parque de Maria Luisa and Plaza de Espana. The hotel, Melia Sevilla, is actually right next to Plaza de Espana.

The only drawback of staying slightly outside Seville’s city walls is that there aren’t as many restaurant options around. Additionally, the nightlife is practically nonexistent.

Pros of Staying in South District Neighborhood:

• Close to big parks like Maria Luisa and Jardines del Prado de San Sebastián
• A residential area that’s great for families with kids 
• Accommodations around this area can be more affordable 
• Less touristy

Cons of Staying in South District Neighborhood:

• Fewer restaurants nearby
• Accommodations can be difficult to find during the high season

Alameda

👉 Best Area For Budget Accommodations & Nightlife | ✨ Best Alameda Hotels: Suites Lumbreras • The Corner House • Patio de La Alameda

Alameda is the best neighborhood for young travelers, solo travelers, budget travelers, or anyone in search of a party in Spain. Maybe you’re all of the above! Alameda is located north of Seville’s central neighborhoods, but it’s still within walking distance of all of these places. 

Throughout Alameda, you’ll be close to all types of bars and nightlife options. Plus, there are also several popular attractions and markets around this area. 

There is also a surplus of affordable accommodations around Alameda. Lots of budget-conscious visitors opt to stay at The Corner House. It’s super comfortable, clean, and well-located. But a stay here won’t burn through your travel fund.

Pros of Staying in Alameda Neighborhood:

• Thriving nightlife scene
• Lots of cool markets nearby like Mercado de Feria and Mercado de la Encarnación
• Walking distance to attractions like Plaza de la Encarnación
• Easy to get to other neighborhoods
• Plenty of budget-friendly hotels

Cons of Staying in Alameda Neighborhood:

• Can get noisy at night, especially on the weekends 
• Fewer large apartments available for big families

Tips for Staying in Seville

Plan For the Season

Consider what season you’ll be visiting Seville. The summer is one of the best times to visit Spain for beach days, but it’s also oppressively hot. This can be hard to deal with if you’re visiting a city like Seville that’s at least an hour from the nearest beach oasis. 

Plan Around Siesta Time From 2 pm To 5 pm

When you’re planning a vacation or a move, you want to be aware of all the local customs that may affect your trip. In Seville, that would be the siesta or “nap” time. Most people just relax, but almost all local businesses shut down from 2 pm to 5 pm. 

For Americans, it can be a strange tradition, but I grew to love this quiet time when a lull came over the streets. 

The City Center Is The Busiest Part Of The City

Consider how you’ll feel about an area when you’re trying to sleep. Although being in the city center of Seville has its benefits, it also has its drawbacks. For example, the city center is busy and a tad noisy from morning until night. 

Get Tickets To Major Attractions Online In Advance

I just showed up to at least three attractions in Spain before I realized that almost everyone else purchases a ticket online beforehand. Save yourself and everyone else a hassle by booking tickets to attractions online ahead of time.  

Eat Lots Of Tapas

In my opinion, Seville is one of the best places to visit in Spain to try the tapas of your dreams. It’s borderline impossible to find a mediocre restaurant in this city. Take advantage of this and get your fill of excellent tapas bars. Read our list of top Seville restaurants to get started.

You Don’t Need to Rent A Car 

Unless you plan on heading off on a road trip around Spain, you won’t need a car to get around Seville. Having a car is actually a major hassle in this narrow-streeted city. Most places are close enough to walk to and there are lots of taxis available throughout Seville. 

Dinnertime Runs From 8:30 pm to 12 am 

Another potential culture shock for Americans visiting Seville is that dinner happens a lot later in the day than we’re used to. Usually, most restaurants close for the proverbial siesta time and then reopen around 8:30 pm. However, most locals head out for dinner well past 9 pm. 

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FAQs

Which part of Seville is best to stay?

In general, the best part of Seville to stay in is Barrio Santa Cruz. However, a lot depends on what you’re looking for in a neighborhood. Santa Cruz has an optimal location, lots of restaurants, and plenty of different accommodations to choose from. 

What is the main area of Seville?

The main area of Seville is the El Centro neighborhood. This district is considered the city center. It’s surrounded by many of Seville’s other popular destinations like Barrio Santa Cruz and El Arenal.

What areas are good to stay without a car?

If visiting Seville without a car, consider staying in El Centro, Alfalfa, or Santa Cruz. These neighborhoods are all very walkable and taxis are readily available if you want to make a farther journey. In fact, it’s actually more convenient to be car free in these Central Seville neighborhoods. The streets are super narrow and basically impossible to park on. 

Is 2 days enough for Seville?

Two days is enough to get a brief taste of Seville. Especially if you plan on staying in a centrally located neighborhood. However, it will probably only be enough time to experience one or two central neighborhoods of the city.

For visitors who want enough time to see all of Seville’s districts, it’s recommended to stay at least four days. 

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Which Seville neighborhood are you most tempted by? Leave me a comment below!

👉 Get a free, printable version of our Spain packing list here!

–Lea Rose Allbaugh & Nate Hake contributed to this article.