Due to its vibrant culture and rich history, visiting Seville would be a treat for anyone. Being the capital and the largest city of Andalusia, Seville offers a lot, from beautiful architecture and lively cultural events to delicious cuisine and a friendly local community.
Seville has all it takes to land itself on your bucket list. We’re sure you’re already wondering where to stay and what to do in this picturesque town — and that’s what we’re here for today.
The 5 Best Places to Stay in Seville
Our 5 favorite areas in Seville include:
- Barrio Santa Cruz: The best area for first-time visitors where shopping, great food, museums, and diversely priced accommodation come together.
- La Macarena: The best option for travelers on a budget because it’s a relatively affordable yet young, lively, and hip neighborhood.
- Triana: The go-to spot for tourists looking to experience the local traditions, being the birthplace of flamenco and bullfighting and the heart of Sevillian culture.
- El Arenal: Must-see for history buffs because it’s home to some of the most well-known and visited historical landmarks in Seville.
- Alameda: If you’re looking for a party, Alameda is the ideal place. Being a relatively affordable area with a thriving nightlife scene, Alameda is jam-packed with fun and the perfect spot for solo travelers and party animals.
Where to Stay in Seville: Best Areas & Hotels
While every corner of Seville is equally magical, we do have some recommendations. Here are our favorite areas to stay when visiting Seville:
1. Santa Cruz
SEVILLE, SPAIN – May 7, 2011: Tourists and locals mill around the Plaza Del Triunfo in Seville, Spain with rooftops and the Santa Cruz church in the distance./Tito Slack/Shutterstock
At the heart of Seville, Santa Cruz has everything you seek. It’s well-connected and provides easy access to all other major touristic locations, making it the perfect spot for first-time visitors.
Plenty of restaurants, shops, accommodation options, and entertainment venues around, so you can spend all of your holiday in Santa Cruz without missing too much.
But this isn’t the only reason for choosing Santa Cruz. The whole area looks idyllic, with picturesque cobblestone streets, brightly colored buildings, and lively Piazzas where locals and tourists can have a pleasant time and mingle.
Santa Cruz, also known as the Jewish Quarter of the Old Town, used to host the largest Jewish population in Spain.
Although most of the population was forced to migrate due to the rising political tensions between the Christian government and the Jewish minority in the 14th century, Santa Cruz retained some traces of the diversity and cultural mosaic that can still be seen in Seville to this day.
Fast forward to the present, Santa Cruz remains the center of art, culture, and commerce due to its beauty and rich history.
Accommodation is plenty, and the prices are usually mid-range all year around, although they do tend to rise during its high season, between April and June. However, some people find Santa Cruz too “touristy.”
Santa Cruz Budget Hotels
- Hotel Simon is a two-star 18th-century Andalusian mansion just a stone’s throw away from Santa Cruz’s center. The hotel has a breathtaking courtyard, which was later on renovated into a hotel. Its rooms come with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and private bathrooms.
- Basic Hotel Sevilla Catedral is a one-star hotel restored from an 18th-century building, and its central location, right across the street from the Seville Cathedral, offers easy access to many of the famous touristic spots in the city. The rooms come with flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and air conditioning. The hotel also offers airport transportation and a rooftop terrace with a mesmerizing city view for all guests to enjoy.
Santa Cruz Mid-Range Hotels
- Hotel Gravina 51 is a four-star hotel in the mid-western part of Santa Cruz, also known as the “Museum” district. It welcomes guests with its eclectic interior design, lobby reminiscent of hanging gardens, and two traditional Sevillian patios. The hotel has a free Wi-Fi zone and offers rooms with air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and laptop safes.
- The H10 Casa de la Plata is a four-star hotel at the very center of Santa Cruz. Contrary to the other hotels we’ve mentioned so far, H10 is a new building, but it still is largely inspired by traditional Andalusian architecture. The soundproof rooms all come with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and private bathrooms. Some rooms have their own entrance to a patio, while others have terraces with amazing city views.
Santa Cruz Luxury Hotels
- Hotel Casa 1800 Sevilla is a four-star hotel usually featured as one of the best hotels to stay in Seville and for a good reason. Its central location offers easy access to many of the top touristic spots in Seville, the closest being Jardins de Murillo. For those looking to stay on the premises, it also offers a stunning city view. Its rooms come with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and safety deposit boxes, while some rooms even have terraces with pools.
- Hotel Casa Del Poeta is a four-star hotel located in the south of Santa Cruz, a short walking distance from Jardins de Murillo. It’s the go-to spot for travelers looking for a luxurious atmosphere. It was renovated from an old Sevillian mansion, and every inch of its interior decoration screams luxury. This outstandingly beautiful hotel offers rooms with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and minibars.
2. La Macarena
SEVILLE, SPAIN – Jul 30, 2020: The door of the Macarena, also known as arch of the Macarena, is the only three accesses that are preserved todayof Seville/Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock
La Macarena is a suburban neighborhood that has become a hot spot for a young, artsy crowd, making it the perfect location for the bohemian traveler.
The streets are lined with antique shops, bookstores, markets, and thrift shops, giving the area an inherently intellectual feel. However, it’s not an uptight area, as there are many places to unwind and have fun, such as chic bistros, tapas bars, and aesthetic plazas.
In La Macarena, you can expect to meet a warm, trendy, and authentic crowd and have fun until the early morning.
Fun fact: the 1993 dance hit “Macarena” was inspired by this neighborhood! How cool is that? But La Macarena hasn’t always been the hip neighborhood it is today.
This area used to be the poorest part of Seville, but gentrification has helped transform it. And while it has a much cooler atmosphere than its initial beginnings, the price range of the area stayed humble, making it the perfect place to stay for budget travelers.
La Macarena Budget Hotels
- Casual de las Letras Sevilla is our top pick for travelers looking for a fresh, unique, yet affordable hotel experience. This two-star hotel will wow you with its colorful and clever interior decoration inspired by literature and art, and the best part is that it’s close to many major attractions, including Alcazar Palace and Archivo de Indias. Each room has a flat-screen TV, air conditioning, and free Wi-Fi.
- BYPILLOW ABRIL truly offers value for its price, being a clean, well-reputed hotel with picturesque rooms. The most outstanding part of its interior decoration is the color palette, which gives the whole hotel a Wes Anderson-esque vibe. This two-star hotel is also quite close to La Macarena’s top tourist attraction, Les Setas. All rooms have free Wi-Fi and air conditioning, and guests can enjoy an outdoor pool.
La Macarena Mid-Range Hotels
- Hotel Posada de Lucero is a historic inn that was later renovated into a two-star hotel, but it still retains most of its old-fashioned charm. Each room opens to a central courtyard and is equipped with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, and a minibar. The location is also great, close to two bus stops and Casa de Pilatos.
- Exe Sevilla Macarena is the four-star Macarena branch of the award-winning Exa hotel and resort chain. Its rooms offer flat-screen TVs, air conditioning, minibars, and safes, and it has a rooftop pool with a panoramic city view, looking over the closest attraction, Basilica de la Macarena.
La Macarena Luxury Hotels
- Hotel Unuk is one of the more high-class accommodation options in the neighborhood, offering guests rooms with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, minibars, safety deposit boxes, desks, and private bathrooms. This five-star hotel is situated on the outskirts of La Macarena but is still close to many major attractions, such as Archivo de Indias.
- COOLROOMS Palacio de Villapenes is another five-star hotel renovated from a palace that provides a stay that leaves most guests feeling like royalty. Each room comes with a satellite TV, air conditioning, a desk, and free toiletries. On the outskirts of La Macarena, the hotel is a short walk from Casa de Pilatos and Diego Velazquez’s birthplace.
3. Triana
SEVILLE, ES – MARCH 7, 2017: The Triana market is located in the emblematic Plaza del Altozano, the gateway to the neighborhood from Seville through the Triana Bridge./Anibal Trejo/Shutterstock
If you’re a tourist looking for something a little bit more authentic, local, and less touristy, Triana may be the place for you for a few reasons. The most obvious is that it’s located across the Old Town, on the other side of the Guadalquivir River.
Although it’s still relatively close to all the popular landmarks and is accessible by a bridge, many tourists choose to stay on the other side for ease of access, as Triana does not have many landmarks to explore.
This has allowed the city to develop into a working-class neighborhood less frequented by tourists. It also makes Triana a relatively affordable location compared to some in the city center.
Nevertheless, it’s absolutely worth the visit. A stroll through Triana is a scenic delight due to its many colorful houses.
The heart of Sevillian culture beats through the streets of Triana, and it’s common to come across local entertainment, such as flamenco dance performances.
Indeed, Triana is the birthplace of flamenco, and there are many flamenco shows throughout the district. Triana also takes pride in being a district that has produced many notable bullfighters. Overall, the authenticity and culture of this area are a joy to experience.
But if you’re not too big on walking across a long bridge daily to get to all the landmarks you want to visit, we recommend checking the locations closer to the center.
Triana Budget Hotels
- Noches en Triana is a highly-rated, two-star hotel that genuinely provides value for its price. The rooms have private balconies, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and private bathrooms. It’s a short distance from the Isabell II bridge, which you can pass to visit the Golden Tower.
- Apartamentos “El Escondite de Triana is an aparthotel and a highly convenient pick, as it provides airport shuttles and bicycle and car rental services on its premises. All rooms come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and private bathrooms. Some rooms come with a terrace. It’s just across the bridge from the Maestranza bullring.
Triana Mid-Range Hotels
- Monte Triana is a highly-rated four-star hotel, perfect for those looking for a luxurious stay on a budget. This chic accommodation provides guests with a gym, an outdoor pool, and a great city view from the rooftop. Each room has free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and a digital TV. It’s located right between two bridges, Isabell II and Cristo de la Expiracion.
- Triana Luxury Home is a small three-star hotel at the heart of Triana, sure to steal your heart with its authentic Andalusian decor. The premises offer private parking for guests with a car, and all rooms come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, desks, and air conditioning. Its proximity to Isabel II Bridge provides ease in visiting the most prominent tourist attractions.
Triana Luxury Hotels
- Zenit Sevilla is a four-star hotel with an outstanding rooftop view of the Guadalquivir River. Both the hotel’s decor and restaurant menu reflect the Andalusian spirit perfectly. All rooms come with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Like most hotels in Trinana, it’s close to the Isabel II Bridge.
- Eurostars Torre Sevilla is a five-star hotel that promises guests royal treatment during their stay. This hotel provides private parking, a spa, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center. Each of its rooms features a sleek interior design and has air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and a flat-screen TV. It’s a jump away from the Cristo de la Expiracion Bridge, making it the most convenient location for going to the Museum District.
4. El Arenal
javarman/Shutterstock
El Arenal is your spot if you’re a history geek or just super into old Mediterranean architecture. The area is part of the Old Town, sitting somewhere between the Guadalquivir River and Santa Cruz, and it’s in this part of town where you’ll find the highest concentration of historical landmarks.
We’re not kidding when we say “high concentration,” as this tiny triangle is home to around 10 tourist attractions. Having so many landmarks in this area makes sense because historically, El Arenal was the port of Seville until the 17th century.
And much like other port areas, it developed into a center of culture, trade, and commerce, known as the “Babylon of the World” for most of the 16th century.
Today, it’s still one of the busiest locations in Seville, so it’s common to see tourists here all year round.
Since it’s central and busy with tourists, El Arenal’s prices for accommodation tend to be on the higher side. So, travelers looking for a less hectic and cheaper location could consider other options.
El Arenal Budget Hotels
- Vincci La Rabida was renovated into a four-star hotel from a mansion featuring a charming Andalusian courtyard. Its stylish rooms have free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and satellite TVs. It is the closest hotel on our list to the Maestranza Bullring.
- Cathedral Boutique is one of the more affordable options in this area. The two-star hotel features a scenic view of the city from its terrace. Its small yet modern rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and private bathrooms. This hotel is right around the corner from the Seville Cathedral.
El Arenal Mid-Range Hotels
- Hotel Boutique Casa de Colon offers guests a breath of fresh air with its beautiful decor, brightly lit rooms, and common spaces. Free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and desks are amenities provided in its air-conditioned rooms. This three-star hotel is right at the heart of the area, right between the Flamenco Museum and the Seville Cathedral.
- La Casas de El Arenal is a charming four-star hotel with traditional decor and a lot of greenery in the common areas! The rooms feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and private bathrooms. The hotel also has an airport shuttle service and is a couple of streets down from the Maestranza Bullring.
El Arenal Luxury Hotels
- Hotel Colon Gran Melia provides guests with a stay during which they can truly experience the spirit of Seville. The hotel has all the amenities a five-star hotel should have, including a wellness center, fitness center, gourmet restaurant, hammam, and rooftop pool. All rooms come with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, automatic lighting, and flat-screen TVs. It’s also located at the center of Seville and is a short walk from both the Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower.
- Soho Boutique Cathedral is part of the world-famous four-star Soho hotel chain, and it truly lives up to its name, providing guests with a luxurious experience. The rooms are all air-conditioned and include free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and terraces. Its location provides ease of access to both the Seville Cathedral and Triana.
5. Alameda
Seville, Spain – June 08, 2017 : Column Alameda de Hercules in downtown of the city Seville – is the largest city of the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain./V_E/Shutterstock
If you’re not too big on history or sightseeing and are more into nightlife and entertainment, we suggest you pick Alameda for your stay.
Alameda, also known as Seville’s Soho, is where all the cool kids of Seville hang out, and there are plenty of chic cafes, trendy bars, vintage boutiques, and international cuisine.
And don’t worry, staying in Alameda doesn’t mean you have to miss out on any cultural events, as there are frequent art exhibitions and flamenco performances down at Espacio Santa Clara, an art center that was formerly used as a monastery.
Since it’s frequented by a younger crowd (mostly university students), it tends to be much more budget-friendly than some of the other areas we’ve mentioned.
The streets of Alameda really come alive during nighttime, and there are so many entertainment options that you’d probably have to stay much longer than a couple of weeks to visit all.
Alameda is home to tapas bars, live performance venues featuring jazz performances, open-mic nights, and plenty of nightclubs. We could say that this area is heaven-sent for bar hoppers who are always looking for the next place to party!
One possible downside of Alameda is that it’s a bit further away from the center and all the tourist sites.
It takes around a 20-minute walk to get to all the major landmarks, and if you’re not into walking too much, you should consider an option closer to the center.
Alameda Budget Hotels
- Hotel Venecia is the most budget-friendly option in this area and features clean and modern rooms with free Wi-Fi, desks, and flat-screen TVs. This three-star hotel is located between the museum district and Las Setas.
- The Corner House is a cozy establishment and blends in great with the aesthetics and vibe of Alameda, being situated right in the square. The three-star hotel has its restaurant serving local and international dishes, a rooftop terrace to wind down and relax, and a cocktail bar to enjoy a few drinks before the night starts. All rooms come with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and balconies.
Alameda Mid-Range Hotels
- Sacristia de Santa Ana is a three-star hotel at the heart of Alameda, renovated from an 18th-century manor. It features a unique classical interior decor, and all rooms come with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and work desks. It also provides airport shuttle services for its guests.
- One Shot Palacio Conde de Torrejón 09 is an excellent four-star option with mid-range pricing. It features an outdoor swimming pool (opened seasonally), as well as rooms with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and flatscreen TVs. It’s a four-minute walk from Alameda de Hercules.
Alameda Luxury Hotels
- Palacio Bucarelli is a luxury aparthotel located at the center of Alameda. It has an outdoor pool open all year round and apartment rooms with kitchens, free Wi-Fi, free toiletries, and living rooms with flat-screen TVs. It’s nearby to Isla Magica and the Isabell II Bridge that connects to Triana.
So, Where Should You Stay in Seville?
| 🏆 Best for First Timers | Barrio Santa Cruz |
| 💲 Most Budget-Friendly Area | La Macarena |
| 🏹 Best for Cultural Experience | Triana |
| 🏛️ Great for History Buffs | El Arenal |
| 🎉 Best for Nightlife | Alameda |
Seville is one of those cities that offer great conveniences to travelers because most of what you’d like to see or do is situated quite close to one another.
But knowing what you’ll find in each area is a practical solution if you’re not interested in taking long walks around the city while wading through groups of other tourists.
If you’re visiting for the first time, without a doubt, you should consider staying in Santa Cruz because of its proximity to everywhere else. But if you think that would be too expensive, we recommend La Macarena, a lively neighborhood perfect for travelers on a budget.
If you want to skip all the tourist haunts and go for a truly local experience, we recommend Triana. And if you’re just a fervent sightseer looking to learn about Sevillian history and enjoy the beautiful architecture, consider staying in the El Arenal area.
And lastly, if you’re just here for the party, opt for Almeda, as its thriving nightlife scene will keep you hooked and going out every night.
Regardless of which location you choose, you’ll still be surrounded by beautiful architecture, picturesque streets, a friendly local crowd, as well as rich history and culture. Happy travels!