10 Things to Do in Seville at Christmas

Thanks to the great amount of activities and attractions that Seville has to offer, the city has become one of the most visited in the continent.

At Christmas, fun and leisure activities only multiply, so, along with the more traditional sightseeing tours, I invite you to enjoy as many of the following activities as possible and take advantage 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 only the inaugural act that will culminate with the illumination of almost 300 streets and stores throughout the city.

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

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

If you thought that Seville at night was a beautiful city, you will be surprised 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 city hall is located.
• Time: The opening ceremony takes place in the evening usually around 19:00h.
• Price range: free for all public. Just arrive early if you want to secure a good spot.

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

This event has been organized for years by the Association of Nativity Scene Merchants (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 both Sevillians and visitors find everything necessary for the creation of a home nativity scene, 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 full Av, Constitution, in the heart of Seville.
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 10:30 am to 2 pm, in the afternoon from 5 pm to 9 pm. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 11h to 15h and from 16h to 21h.
• Price range: Free admission for all public.

From mid-December until the day before Epiphany (January 5), 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 the Plaza Nueva in Seville to present a diverse catalog of gifts and curiosities all handmade using different techniques and materials.

The event is organized 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 Christmas shopping and find truly original items.

Useful information

• Address and directions: The fair is held in the Plaza Nueva of Seville located in the vicinity of the city hall.
• Hours: It operates every day from 11 am to 3 pm and from 5 pm to 9 pm. On December 24 and 31 they only work in the morning.
• Price range: Free for all public.

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

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

Three Wise Men Parade in Seville

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

Usually the event starts at the University of Seville around 4:30 pm. However, I recommend my traveling 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 neighborhoods of Seville small events of this type are held as local celebrations. Here are some of the most popular and my favorites, dates and times are approximate and can sometimes be modified, I recommend checking the information before your trip.

• Padre Pio Cavalcade: It usually takes place on January 4th between 17:00h and 22h. The route starts at Plaza Antonio Ruiz.
• Cavalcade of His Eminence on January 5 at about 15:30h from the Ceip Adriano del Valle.
• Cavalcade of San Geronimo: January 6 at 10:30 am, starts at the Civic Center.
• Cavalcade Pino Montano: January 6 at 11:00 am, starts at Deliniantes Street.
• Cavalcade of Triana: January 6 at 17:30h, starts from the Plaza de Monte Pirolo.

Nativity scenes are one of the most iconic Spanish Christmas traditions and being Seville a city so attached to traditions and culture, certainly one of the best things to do in the city during Christmas is the popular route of 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 add variety and attraction to the route. Anyway, 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.

• Nativity Scene of the Cajasol Foundation: The Cajasol Foundation with its exhibition is the event that mostly kicks off the season of Sevillian nativity scenes. The exhibition, which occupies an area of about 140 m2, is the largest in the city and exhibits a collection of figures of 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 wait in line.
• Belén del Hogar Canario at the Town Hall: In the Town Hall of Seville a special Christmas crib is traditionally exhibited since mid-December, completely set in the Canary Islands, the figurines present the traditional clothing of the island of Tenerife in the eighteenth century. Don't miss it!
• Living Nativity Scene at the Civic Center La Buhaira: If you want to see a nativity scene presented by living beings, know that the Civic Center La Buhaira awaits you with an exhibition that only lasts three days but is really spectacular. The exhibition is open to the public after December 15 and adds about 100 people on average.

In the last days of the month takes place in the city of Seville one of the most awaited traditional events by its citizens and that I fully recommend to all my friends who visit Seville in December: the special Concert of Christmas Carols of 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 others.

For details on the exact date, the time of the performances and the program of the event I recommend looking at the website of the Teatro de la Maestranza days before the trip.

Useful information

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

What would Christmas be without good food? If your vacation 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 the purest Spanish style.

Restaurants with Christmas menu for the holidays

As expected, many restaurants join in the celebration of this important holiday. Here is a selection of good restaurants in the city that offer their diners closed menus for the holidays, hoping to inspire you.

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

For the past few years some pastry shops in Seville have been recovering for the holidays a traditional dessert from the Triana neighborhood known as Torteras. Very similar to the mantecado, its origin is located in times prior to the first decade of the twentieth century.

My recommendation? On your excursions around the city try one or two recipes. After all, one of the best things about visiting Seville at any time of the year is undoubtedly its delicious food. As you will be able to confirm in your exploration each cook gives it his particular touch and some 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 place is located at Rodrigo de Triana, 63.
• Confitería Lola Located at Av. de Alvar Núñez, 8.
• Confitería Lida It is located in the Triana neighborhood at Calle San Jacinto, 90.

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

If you are going to be in Seville for 3 days or more during these dates, spend a few hours touring the facilities; enjoy the games, food and ice skating.

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

Useful information

• Address: In the Muelle de las Delicias park, located in the Port of Seville.
• Hours: The opening hours are from 11h in the morning until 00 hours at night.
• Price range: The sessions on the ice rinks range from 7 € to 9 € approximately. Each session is worth for one person a time of 45 minutes.

As well as other important cities around the world, for several years Christmas in Seville includes the placement of numerous fir trees or Christmas trees with a striking and leafy decoration. The trees are placed all over the city in some of the most important squares or monuments.

A good plan for your vacations 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 of the city; the main ones are: Puerta Jerez, Plaza CUba, Santa Justa Station, the traffic circle near Torreblanca, Glorieta Párroco Gabriel Ramos in the south polygon, Glorieta presos de los Melonares in the east polygon and others.

The LED tree located in Plaza San Francisco deserves a special mention; an impressive structure of 40 meters high and about 14 meters in diameter, which has gained popularity for being the tallest Christmas tree in Europe.

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

As you surely know by now, visiting the Cathedral of Seville 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 rooster on the occasion of the Christmas festivities is held every year on December 24, 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 a traditional celebration and listen to the live choir of Seville.

Useful information about Seville

• Address: The Cathedral of Seville is located in the heart of the city in the middle of Avenida Constitución.
• Schedule: The Midnight Mass is celebrated around 10 pm; on December 25 the masses are from 10:30 am.
• Price range: free admission for the celebration of the word.