More about: Alcázar of Seville Tickets and Tours
Entering the Alcazar of Seville is a treat for the eyes: its beauty is more than equal to the rest of monuments and neighborhoods of Seville and although its name does not resonate as much as the Giralda or the Torre del Oro, the Alcazar is a must on your trip.
Seville Alcazar Tickets
Secure access to one of the most important monuments of Seville
Save time and money by buying your tickets in advance and enjoy exploring the Alcazar of Seville. Walk through all the rooms and admire the different styles that make this palace complex so special.
One of the must-sees of the Andalusian capital. The Real Alcazar of Seville is an architectural work that receives millions of tourists annually and that I recommend you visit if you are traveling through the city. Book your tickets in advance and save unnecessary queues and waiting.
This palace has characteristics of different historical periods: Islamic, Mudejar, Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque. An authentic architectural jewel declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the late 80s. It is composed of three palaces and is currently the only enclosure that still functions as the residence of Spanish royalty.
Recommended if... you are visiting Seville and want to ensure access to one of the emblems of the city without having to take care of anything.
What types of tickets are available to visit the Alcazar of Seville?
The visit to the Alcazar is one of the must-sees in Seville and it is common to find combined tickets to access the Alcazar and take a guided tour or some other activity, such as visiting the Cathedral or the Giralda.
You can also buy tickets at the ticket office or online. I suggest the second option, so you do not risk having to wait in long lines or even having to come back another day. Make sure you have access to this wonderful monument and explore the history of Andalusia and Spain in each of its rooms.
Entrance and guided visit to the Alcazar of Seville
The Alcázar of Seville is located in the historic center of the city and visiting it is an essential activity in your visit to the city of Seville. The option of taking a guided tour of this palace and its gardens is the most convenient if you want to learn in depth about the stories and architectural details that hide each of its corners.
What does this tour consist of?
The details are as follows: the duration of the visit is about 1-2 hours and the price is about 34 euros. To secure your place, you must book online and, once you choose the day you want to take this guided tour of the Alcazar of Seville, you will receive an email informing you of times, meeting point and other instructions.
In addition, you will have a professional guide during the whole tour, who will accompany you and will be able to answer any questions you may have.
Remember, with or without guided tour, buy your tickets online. Waiting in line at the ticket office is a sacrifice and does not ensure you will be able to enter the same day.
Entrance and guided tour to the Alcazar, the Cathedral and the Giralda
The Cathedral of Seville and its famous tower, the Giralda, are key attractions for visitors to the city. If you want to see them all, I recommend a guided tour that combines the Alcazar, the Cathedral and the Giralda for being references in terms of architecture and cultural wealth, not only in Andalusia but throughout Spain.
What this tour consists of
The price is $55 and the total duration of the guided visit to these two monuments is about three and a half hours. You will avoid the queues at the entrance by going directly with your expert guide and the rest of the group.
You can book your place online and choose the day and time that suits you best to make the visit. I recommend choosing early in the morning to escape the heat and avoid the weekends to avoid crowds. The tour includes tickets for the Alcazar, the Cathedral and the ascent to the Giralda tower.
Any lover of art and Islamic and Christian history will be fascinated by this tour of the most outstanding and visited monuments of Seville.
Guided tour for small groups to the Alcazar of Seville
If you are a fan of guided tours or you are especially interested in the history of the city of Seville and its Arab legacy, this guided tour of the Alcazar for small groups is worth it. The price of $41 is very similar to a regular guided tour and the difference is that you will be in a group of no more than 20 travelers; this will allow you a climate of greater confidence with your guide and greater comfort when touring the Alcazar.
What this tour consists of
In addition to the services of a professional guide, the price includes the entrance without queues. That is, you will not have to wait in the long line at the ticket office, but you will meet your guide outside and you will pass directly. Once you make the reservation online and choose the day you want to make the visit you will be informed of the meeting point and time.
This tour covers the history of this enclave, but also information about the architecture of the place (with Arab, Renaissance and Baroque influences) and about the rooms that served as the setting for the popular series Game of Thrones. You can book this tour in English or Spanish and the duration of the visit is about an hour and a half.
What am I going to see in the Alcazar of Seville?
Many compare the Alcazar of Seville with the Alhambra in Granada not in terms of importance or size but in terms of style. Certainly after visiting one and the other site you will see several similarities between the two as both are among the oldest palaces in Spain and also both have in common the Arabic and Andalusian decoration.
To enjoy the Alcázar of Seville to the fullest, my first recommendation is that either you consider taking a guided tour or you document minimally what you will find inside and who were the kings who lived in this palace. Although getting lost in the Alcázar of Seville is a delight, do not forget to get a map at your entrance to recognize what you are seeing.
The essential stops
- The gardens: totally captivating and dotted with wonders such as the pond of Mercury or the pavilion of Charles V.
- The Palace of King Don Pedro: called the little Alhambra. It is not difficult to find out why; I could name several of its rooms but I would not know how to choose which one deserves more recognition.
- The Casa de la Contratación: of the highest historical value for being a reference in terms of trade with America.
- The Gothic Palace: where the Christian kings lived after the reconquest.
- The Patio del Yeso: is the area you will find at the entrance and, although it will not impress you as much as others, it is one of the oldest preserved.
Tips for visiting the Alcazar of Seville
If you are not a fan of guided tours or are not interested in combined tickets, you can also visit the Alcazar on your own. Individual tickets can also be booked in advance by choosing date and time of visit on the official website of the Alcázar of Seville; this way, even if you don't have a guided tour, you will avoid queuing at the ticket office. The difference in price will be only in the management fees which are usually one euro.
The general admission price is 11.50 euros adding 4.50 euros more for those who want to visit the area of the Upper Royal Room, located on top of the Palace of King Don Pedro.
Attractions included in the entrance ticket to the Alcazar itself
- Antiquarium
- Bellver-Casa Fabiola Museum
- Triana Ceramics Museum
- Castle of San Jorge
Special groups
You also have to take into account that the entrance to the Alcazar is free for disabled people, children under 16 years old and residents of Seville. Pensioners and students will also have a discount on the general admission and in the last hour of access to the Alcazar (from 16 to 17 in winter and from 18 to 19 in summer) the entrance is free for all visitors. Something very important: this does not mean that you should not book in advance any type of free admission to avoid being left without a place.
Other options
Finally, you will also be interested to know that sporadically the Alcazar organizes dramatized night tours. Keep an eye on the official channels to find out when they are and book your place in advance.
Ana's Traveller Tip
Do not visit the Alcazar in a hurry. Reserve two hours (minimum) of your trip to enjoy its gardens and architecture.
Organize your visit
How to get to the Alcazar
The Alcázar of Seville is located in the historic center, very close to the Cathedral and the Santa Cruz neighborhood. Once you get to this area you will have no problem to find the different signs that mark the entrance, although it is true that it may go unnoticed by the beauty of the surroundings. Different city buses will leave you near this area and also the metro line that runs through some areas of Seville.
The nearest metro and bus stop is Puerta de Jerez and from there, if you do not want to walk, you can take a streetcar that will leave you at the door of the Cathedral, a few meters from the Alcazar.
Opening hours
The Alcázar of Seville is open from Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am throughout the year. In winter it closes at 5:00 pm and in summer at 7:00 pm. It is only closed (with some exceptions) on January 1 and 6, Good Friday and December 25. Outside these hours the Alcazar can be opened to groups belonging to congresses, symposiums or similar events paying the exclusive price of a night visit.
When to go
Those who are not used to the high temperatures of Seville may have a hard time visiting not only the Alcazar but also the different monuments of the Andalusian capital. Therefore, the first recommendation on when to go to the Alcazar, especially when visiting in summer, is to avoid the central hours of the day even though both in the gardens and in the palaces there are many shady areas.
Being one of the most visited monuments of Seville, I also recommend avoiding holidays and weekends as far as possible to enjoy the visit without crowds.
Duration of the visit
Whether you go on an organized tour or an individual visit, the Alcázar of Seville has a lot to see and it is not worth doing it in a hurry. My recommendation is to reserve a minimum of two hours to tour the interior of the same delighting in their rooms and gardens.
Photographs
Undoubtedly the Alcazar is one of the most photographable places in Seville. The beauty of both its palaces and gardens will constantly invite you to capture every detail. Since photos, unless otherwise indicated by signs in certain rooms, are allowed, if you are especially fond of photography add an extra hour to the time you reserve for the visit.
Where to eat
If you want to eat before or after your visit, my main advice is to stay away from the area as much as possible. You will probably find different public relations people on the street selling you the typical delicacies of restaurants in the area. Regardless of the quality of these places, the price is quite inflated and let's say they are not the most authentic in the area...
Instead of succumbing to these offers I recommend you to wander around a bit; the prices will probably still be high, but you will find more authenticity.
The surrounding area
The location of the Alcazar is the historic center of Seville. That means that a few meters from it you will have treasures such as the Cathedral or the Santa Cruz neighborhood; both are worth a separate visit. If you follow the streetcar route coming from Puerta de Jerez you will arrive at Plaza Nueva taking a beautiful, though hot, walk. One last tip: wander around the area as much as you can, it's worth it.
Visiting the Alcazar with children
The Alcazar is an ideal place to visit with children, not only because children under 16 have free admission, but because the little ones will love to walk through its courtyards and labyrinths. If the Alcazar is like a fairytale setting for adults, it is even more magical for children.
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A few meters from the Royal Alcazar of Seville is the impressive Cathedral. The Cathedral of Seville, in Gothic style and crowned by the Giralda tower, is among the most important works of architecture in the world and if contemplating it from the outside is already a privilege, accessing it, visiting its interior and climbing the tower is a unique experience.
The architectural styles of the Cathedral of Seville and the Real Alcazar are very different, which is why it is so fascinating for the traveler to enjoy both in the same visit. There are joint guided tours of both monuments, but I recommend that you take a look at this article on Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tickets and Visits to soak up all the necessary information about a must-see visit.