Where to Stay in Seville: Insider’s Guide to the Best Areas and Hotels for First Time Visitors

Planning a trip to the capital of Andalusia and trying to figure out where to stay in Seville? You’re in the right place!😍 As a frequent visitor who’s based in Granada, I’ve visited Seville many times over the years – staying in different hotels, different areas, traveling solo and also as a couple.

The thing about Seville is that it’s an immense, spread out city with different neighborhoods. And as a frequent visitor, I highly recommend booking your stay more based on the location and the experience you’re looking for, than hotel amenities.

This guide is perfect for both first-time visitors who are looking for a nice and safe central stay location helps them optimize for their time, as well as repeat visitors who need a refresh or want more inspiration on where to stay. In here you’ll find great hotels for different budgets and different personas, essential insider tips, as well as brutal honesty and personal experiences, .

Without further ado, here are the best areas and hotels to stay in Seville for first-time visitors and tourists.

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The Best Neighborhoods to Stay within Seville’s Historic City Center

El Centro

This is kind of a given with the name: El Centro, which translates directly to “the center”, is the most central area within Seville’s historic city center, Casco Antiguo. Within El Centro you will find the Setas de Sevilla, the Palace of the Countess of Lebrija, Seville’s iconic and lively shopping streets, and beautiful squares.

From El Centro you’re only a 10-minute walk from the Real Alcazar and the Catedral de Seville. As a celiac, I’ve personally found this to be the best neighborhood to base myself to reach the best gluten free restaurants in Seville. These restaurants are all fairly spread out, so being as central as possible helped minimize the commute.

The centro is where my favorite hotel in Seville is, abba Sevilla Hotel. I’ll leave an in-depth review below, but as a quick description: this hotel sits right in front of the Setas de Seville, offering one of the best and coolest locations in the city. It’s a beautiful 4-star hotel with incredible amenities, including a rooftop pool and bar that look over Seville’s historic city center.

It’s the perfect hotel for solo traveling women, couples, and families, and I cannot recommend it enough. Only tip: book well in advance, especially if you’re traveling during peak-tourism season.

Santa Cruz

Welcome to Seville’s most iconic and historic neighborhood, Barrio Santa Cruz! This is where most of Seville’s main attractions are: La Giralda, Catedral de Sevilla, and the Real Alcazar. Barrio Santa Cruz is also famous for its historic beauty, including whitewashed buildings, cobblestone streets, and very lively atmosphere.

This is one of the most expensive and busiest neighborhoods to be in, but can be worth it depending on your personal preferences!

I’ve stayed in Santa Cruz before, specifically in the boutique hotel, Arco de la Seda. This hotel sits right next to the Catedral de Seville, like 5-steps distance, making it perfect for early visits.

I stayed at this hotel in February, and picked this hotel because it was the most budget-friendly, central stay I could find. The room was quite small, but offered the essentials I needed: central location, comfy bed, and a private bathroom.

Alfalfa

This might be one of my favorite neighborhoods to walk around! Alfalfa is a super colorful neighborhood full of beautiful buildings. This neighborhood is more residential and offers a more serene atmosphere than Centro and Barrio Santa Cruz.

Here is where you’ll find one of my favorite Seville hidden gems, Casa de Pilatos, artisan and locally-owned boutique shops, tapas, and locals and tourists alike enjoying a good time in Plaza Alfalfa.

El Arenal

El Arenal is another special neighborhood, and one I always have as a “must-visit” every time I’m back in Seville. This neighborhood sits the east bank of the Guadalquivir River, where you have the iconic Torre del Oro, Plaza de Toros, Mercado del Barranco, and obviously – the river itself.

You could say that this neighborhood sits across Alfalfa, as together they surround the Centro and Santa Cruz neighborhoods. I share this to help understand that all these neighborhoods remain the most central and have a great location.

This is a great neighborhood to stay in if you want to be close to Seville’s main attractions, while also enjoying staying near the river and bank. On the east bank you’ll always find people enjoying their time – whether they are biking, roller skating, strolling, or even doing water sports.

Sur (on the border)

Sur is a neighborhood that sits right outside of the Casco Antiguo, but is still worth considering. Sur is the home of the one and only, Plaza de España, and the neighboring Parque de Maria Luisa – making it the perfect neighborhood if you’re looking for a slower and more peaceful stay.

Because it’s a large, quiet, and more residential area, I recommend this neighborhood for couples, families, and group of friends. I’ve personally stayed in the Sur neighborhood multiple times – with my boyfriend, and solo.

While it’s very safe, as a solo traveling woman I was not the biggest fan of how quiet it gets at night time. For extra safety, when traveling by myself, I always opt for busier neighborhoods. But when I first stayed here with my boyfriend, I thought it was the perfect place for couples who want a vacation with a mix of sightseeing, relaxation, and quality time.

My biggest recommendation is staying in either Hotel Sevilla Center or Melia, both of which are beautiful, 4-star hotels that sit near Plaza de España and are roughly a 15-minute walk from the Real Alcazar, and Seville’s most iconic neighborhoods.

Between the two, Meliá Sevilla is the best pick if you want to be a quick 8-minute walk from Plaza de España.

Where to avoid staying in Seville

Because Seville is so immense, the chances of you accidentally heading to a less safe neighborhood is extremely low – given you’ll naturally stick to all the neighborhoods mentioned above, as those are where Seville’s main attractions are.

Some popular names that come up, as areas to avoid, are: Los Pajaritos, Las 3000 Viviendas (also known as Poligono Sur), and Torreblanca.

Another area I recommending avoiding, or leaving quickly, is the bus station Plaza de Armas. It’s not dangerous in the physical sense, but there are many pickpockets and thiefs that will lurk. With that, I would also avoid staying close to, or crossing, the bridge that sits right next to the bus station.

Unfortunate lesson I suffered: I hopped on my bus as I’ve always done, and my suitcase was swiftly stolen from the luggage space as I was boarding. I highly recommend waiting to board as much as you can, so you can keep an eye on the luggage space.

Why El Centro is the Best Overall Neighborhood to Stay in Seville for first timers

Because of how large and spread out Seville is as a city, the Centro (Center) neighborhood offers the most central location – helping you optimize for your time, as you’ll be in the middle of all of Seville’s main attractions, iconic neighborhoods, and city life.

This neighborhood is especially great for first time visitors who are visiting for a week or less.

If, on the other hand, you’re staying much longer or you’ve visited before, then other central areas, like Alfalfa and El Arenal, are still great to stay in.

Why abba Seville Hotel is the Best Hotel to Stay in Seville

I’ve stayed in quite a few hotels in Seville, and abba Sevilla Hotel quickly became my favorite hotel in the city – especially from the lenses of a solo traveling woman.

This 4-star hotel sits right in front of the Setas de Seville, in the Centro, and is a quick, 10-minute walk from Real Alcazar and the Catedral and La Giralda. Prices are decent, the staff is very welcoming, and the hotel is simply beautiful with great amenities and unbeatable location.

For my fellow celiacs, I actually chose this hotel because it’s closer to a variety of Seville’s best gluten free restaurants – something that as a celiac foodie was very important to me.

I personally booked the Deluxe Room and I couldn’t have been happier with the room – especially with the views of Las Setas de Sevilla at night time, when the light show takes place. As a bonus, I was allowed to check-in early and they held my suitcase for the entirety of the day when I checked-out (for free).

As a solo traveling woman I felt so safe here, not only in the hotel, but walking around this neighborhood at night time. This is where, beyond the main attractions, there is so much city life is, as well as shops, and restaurants. Overall, this is the perfect hotel for solo travelers, couples, and families.

Book your stay at abba Sevilla Hotel here.

Where to Stay in Seville FAQ

How many days in Seville is enough?

If you can, I strongly recommend spending 3 to 4 days in Seville – this amount allows you to enjoy the city’s main attractions, hidden gems, and incredible vibes at a slower pace, and soak everything in. Plus, with 4 days, you could take a day trip to Cordoba or a traditional pueblo blanco, like.

If you’re looking for the absolute minimum, you should absolutely spend 2 days in Seville! This is enough time to see the city’s main attractions and some hidden gems.

Can only visit Seville for one day? No worries! I’ve visited Seville as a day trip from Granada so many times, and let me tell you – one day in Seville is absolutely worth it!

Is it safe to walk in Seville at night?

Overall, Seville is a very safe city and as a young woman who’s visited plenty of times by herself, I’ve always felt safe to walk around Seville. With that said, I do always remain aware of my surroundings and avoid areas that are quiet and/or poorly lit at night time.

In other words – yes, it is safe to walk in Sevilla at night, but if you’re a solo traveler, it’s always to be follow “best practices”.

Want more help with your Andalusia travels? 

If you’re continuing your adventures around southern Spain, these guides will help you plan the perfect itinerary:

• The Perfect One Day in Seville, Spain. Only have 24 hours in Seville? As a serial destination repeater and day tripper, this is one-day itinerary optimizes for time and offers important insider tips, helping you enjoy the best of Seville in one day!
• 2 Days in Seville, Spain Itinerary. Have some extra time? This itinerary slows the pace down and includes more must-sees, hidden gems, and experiences you won’t have time for in one day.
• Answering 12 Seville Burning Questions. Wondering where to stay, how many days you need, Seville’s walkability, or the best time to visit? Discover all my answers to frequently asked questions.
• The Ultimate 7 Day Andalucia Itinerary. Traveling around southern Spain? This is the ultimate Andalusia road trip itinerary, including Seville, Granada, Cordoba, and beyond.

Grab my e-Checklist to make sure you’re properly prepared for Andalusia!👇

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What are you most excited about for your upcoming trip to Seville? Did this guide help you find the perfect neighborhood, or hotel, for your stay? Let me know in the comments!😊

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