Seville is the hottest city break destination in Spain - and probably in Europe. It sits on the flat Guadalquivir River plain and simply bakes in summer, with temperatures nearly always in the 30s in July and August. The temperature tops 40°C every summer and reached 47.2° in 2003. This is a city where the siesta isn't just a way of life, it's a necessity.
It's hardly surprising that the Seville holiday hotel 'low season' is high summer, when most people just want to get out of the city. Summer evenings are beautiful, however, hence Seville's reputation as a late night city.
Spring and autumn are the best times for a Seville city break. The weather will be warm, indeed often hot. Even in winter, it's possible to enjoy many days of tee-shirt weather with average January daytime temperatures about 16°C. There'll be plenty of holiday sunshine too, making this an ideal time for photography.
Most rain falls in the winter months - indeed, a rainy day in the summer is a rarity, except for the odd thunderstorm. Total rainfall is about 700mm, or 27ins a year with December the wettest month. Frosts are rare, typically on about four days a year.
For Seville weather check out the
Seville When To Travel Guide on Weather2Travel.com
Seville festivals and events
Seville is home to two of Spain's largest festivals. They are both spectacular, but finding city break accommodation anywhere near Seville is extremely difficult:
Semana Santa: the Holy Week of Easter is an amazing affair with a procession of hooded penitents and floats passing through the city streets.
It may be based on a religious festival, but the Seville bars are packed day and night. Preparations for the festival take many weeks and many neighbourhoods are busy building floats and making elaborate costumes.
It all comes to a climax on Good Friday with the floats passing through Barrio Santa Cruz and converging on the Cathedral. A highlight is the float carrying an image of La Macarena, the patroness of bullfighting, the historic sport of Seville.
Feria de Abril: It starts two weeks after the Easter festivities and lasts a week. It's on the Triana bank of the river, features pavilions and tented displays, with men and women in traditional dress as Flamenco takes centre stage.
It's a massive event and the atmosphere is exhilarating. Locals parade in horse-drawn carriages while visitors get carried away with the dancing and drinking. It's also the highlight of the Seville bull fighting season.
Bull fighting: The season runs from Easter Sunday to early October, with fights every Sunday, indeed every day during the Feria de Abril and the week before it. Be aware that only cheap seats in the sun are normally available unless you have a season ticket. The crowd is very knowledgeable and demanding.
From early July onwards, many of the fights feature novices. The tickets are appreciably cheaper and are sold in advance at Empressa Pagés (954 50 13 82) at c/de Adriano 37 and from 4.30pm on fight days at the bullring.
Santa Cruz
Seville roof
Seville gardens
Seville Flamenco
