In this guide · 5 sections
Seville has plenty of places to stay, from cheap hostels in the old town to boutique hotels in old buildings. The city's popular year-round, and mid-range places are generally good. For gay visitors, the main question is usually how close you'll be to the Alfalfa neighborhood and Calle Amor de Dios, and what prices look like during Semana Santa and the Feria de Abril.
Where to stay
The old town (Casco Antiguo) is the most convenient spot for gay visitors. You can walk to the gay bars in the Alfalfa neighborhood, the main sights, and most of the good tapas bars and restaurants. Old town hotels are often in converted historic buildings—palaces, mansions, convents—which gives them more character than purpose-built blocks.
Triana, across the river, is quieter and a bit cheaper. It has some gay-friendly bars and feels more like a working-class Sevillano neighborhood than a tourist trap. Walking across the bridge to the old town and Alfalfa takes about 20 minutes.
Santa Cruz, next to the Cathedral and Alcázar, is central and atmospheric but also the most touristed. There are lots of places to stay here, but they're expensive and often feel a bit like a souvenir shop.
Air conditioning isn't optional
If you're visiting between May and September, make sure your room has air conditioning before you book. This isn't a small detail in Seville; summer temperatures genuinely make sleeping in an un-air-conditioned room miserable. Most mid-range and upscale hotels have it, but some budget spots and older apartment rentals don't. Double-check.
Booking windows
Semana Santa (the week before Easter) and the Feria de Abril (two weeks after Easter) are when Seville accommodation is scarcest and most expensive. Book six months ahead for Semana Santa—earlier is better. For the Feria, three to four months ahead usually works. During these weeks, central accommodation can cost three to five times the normal rate.
The rest of the year, Seville isn't hard to book. Spring and autumn are popular, so booking ahead for better properties makes sense, but you can usually find last-minute availability outside of those festival weeks.
The hotels
Practical notes
Many old town hotels have no parking; if you're driving, arrange parking beforehand. The old town has limited vehicle access. Most places in the historic center are a reasonable walk from the main sites and the gay area. For more on Seville, see the Gay Seville Guide.