Where to stay in Seville – 4 great options for first time visitors to Seville

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Seville is one of Europe’s most underrated cities. While it still attracts a huge number of visitors every year, it doesn’t receive the same level of acclaim as the likes of Madrid and Barcelona globally, but it definitely should.

Home to a rich history, a culture and architecture influenced by its connections to North Africa, home to a great foodie scene driven by tapas and churros, Seville has all the makings of a great city break.

Seville also has some of the most beautiful buildings in the whole of Spain, like Casa de Pilatos, La Real Alcazar and La Giralda.

Deciding where to stay in Seville will ultimately come down to your budget and the type of stay you would like to have while you visit.

For first time visitors we would recommend staying in Barrio Santa Cruz or Alfalfa to make sure you are within easy walking distance of everything.

For someone looking to enjoy the nightlife Seville has to offer, you could try Arenal, along the Guadalquivir river and for an authentic local feel, go across the bridge into Triana.

Where to stay in Seville – at a glance

• Barrio Santa Cruz – This is where you will find most of the cities best attractions like La Giralda, Seville Cathedral and La Real Alcazar. Perfect central base with lots to do. Our favourite hotel in Barrio Santa Cruz is Hotel Rey Alfonso X.
• Triana – This is a more traditional area slightly out from the centre renowned for its Flamenco and Tapas, perfect if you want somewhere with a really local feel to your stay. Our favourite hotel in Triana is Cavalta Boutique
• El Arenal – This is one of the most lively parts of Seville and sits right along the river. El Arenal is a short walk to Plaza España and great for someone looking to enjoy nightlife as part of their stay. Our favourite hotel in El Arenal is Melia Sevilla

Best Areas to stay in Seville

Barrio Santa Cruz/Old Town (The central hub)

If you are really unsure about where to stay in Seville, the safest option is Barrio Santa Cruz.

Barrio Santa Cruz is right in the heart of the action in Seville, within walking distance of most of Seville’s main attractions like Seville Cathedral, la Giralda and La Real Alcazar.

Barrio Santa Cruz was our favourite area to just go for a walk and enjoy the orange trees lining the streets, the cozy bars and narrow streets that wind around the area.

The area is great if you want to snap some nice photos of your stay as well, with lots of colourful boutiques and shops dotted around.

We tended to use Barrio Santa Cruz as our main hub while we stayed in Seville and we would definitely recommend staying there if it is your first time in Seville especially.

The obvious advantage to staying in Barrio Santa Cruz is that you will very close to everything, with the slight downside being that you will naturally pay a little bit more for accommodation in this area.

Equally, this is the most ‘touristy’ part of the city so if you are hoping to get away from the bigger crowds, then we would suggest somewhere like Triana instead.

Where to stay in Barrio Santa Cruz

Hotel Casa de la Poeta – If we could only pick one place to stay in Seville, it would be Hotel Casa de la Poeta .These beautifully designed rooms are right in the heart of Seville, just a couple of minutes walk from La Giralda and the Cathedral. The hotel is full of character with a natural blend of old and new, a chic luxury hotel perfect for a stay in Seville.

Hotel Casa 1800 – This hotel has a much more of a classic feel to it, great for anyone looking for a more regal, fairytale style hotel. The standout feature here are the incredible views of La Giralda from the rooftop.

Hotel Mercer – If you want the ultimate luxury stay in Seville, then this is the place for you. These private suites are all uniquely designed and the hotel has a stunning outdoor pool and terrace.

Triana (Local Feel Stays)

As we mentioned, if you want to get away from the more touristy areas and have a more authentic, local feel to your stay, then we would recommend saying in Triana

Triana is set on the other side of the Guadalquivir river and is renowned for its lively atmosphere, great local food and links to the Flamenco.

There are lots of great bars and restaurants along Calle Betis, ceramic shops and bars hosting live flamenco shows. Triana is colourful, full of life and will give you a real glimpse into authentic life in Seville.

Hotels in this area tend to be a little bit more affordable overall than the likes of Barrio Santa Cruz, making it a great area to stay on a budget but naturally, you will be slightly further away from some of the main attractions.

While we didn’t stay in Triana the last time we visited Seville, having stayed in the city centre previously, we would definitely choose a stay there for our next visit.

Where to stay in Triana

Cavalta Boutique Hotel – If you would like to stay in a luxury hotel in Triana, the standout choice is the Cavalta Boutique Hotel. This stunning boutique hotel has everything you need for a memorable luxury stay, with a rooftop pool and terrace that you will find it hard to stay away from while you stay.

Zenit Sevilla – The standout feature of this hotel is their rooftop terrace with a swimming pool and beautiful views overlook La Giralda, we would recommend staying here for that alone. They also have a gym on site and a really well regarded restaurant for the days you want to stay in.

Ribera de Triana – This is a brilliant choice for anyone planning to visit Seville on a non luxury budget but looking for a luxury style of stay.. Naturally, when you go will impact this but we have seen double rooms here from as little as €89 per night (August 2026)

Arenal (Best for nightlife)

Arenal runs right along the Guadalquivir River and is probably the best area to stay in Seville if you want to enjoy a lively atmosphere with a bit of nightlife.

The area along the river also has some of Seville’s best landmarks like Torre del Oro and Plaza del Cabildo.

The great thing about Arenal is that it sits between Triana and the Old Town areas, as well as being a relatively short walk to the Plaza España, so it is really central located for accessing all the key areas in Seville.

We didn’t spend a huge amount of time in this area but one of our favourite evenings in Seville was spent sitting along the river with a glass of wine watching people pass by in the evening sun.

Again, Arenal is a healthy blend of everything. There is a great food scene here, lots of bars and restaurants, easy access to key attractions and while it still gets a big crowd, it’s not quite as touristy as the likes of Barrio Santa Cruz.

If you would prefer a quieter area or are visiting with young kids etc. you may prefer one of the other neighbourhoods but this is still a great choice for all visitor types to the city.

Where to stay in Arenal

Vincci La Rabida – This is one of our favourite options in Seville and you can get rooms here for a really good price depending on the time of year. The hotel is set in an 18th Century mansion giving it a unique style and again it has perfect views of the city from its rooftop.

Hotel Lobby – A 5* hotel with all the facilities you could wish to have for a luxury stay in Seville. The hotel has spa and wellness facilities, an outdoor pool and rooms with stunning views of the surroundings, as well as an mazing on site cocktail bar.

Hotel Kivir – This hotel is set right across the bridge from Triana, making it a great location for exploring the other neighbourhoods in the area and going to Plaza España. Great for anyone who prefers a modern style and a stylish pool area.

Alfalfa (Best for tapas lovers)

The final option for a stay in Seville is Alfalfa.

Set in the centre near Barrio Santa Cruz, Alfalfa is where to go if you want to immerse yourself in Seville’s foodie culture.

One of the most famous tapas bars in Seville, Bar Alfalfa, is right in the heart of this area and is a must try if you are visiting Seville regardless of where you choose to stay.

Beyond that, we would also highly recommend visiting Casa de Pilatos when you are in Alfalfa, a beautiful palace decorated with Roman statues.

Where to stay in Alfalfa

Vincci Seleccion Unuk – For a luxury stay in this part of the city we would recommend Vincci Seleccion Unuk, especially if you are a foodie. This hotel has a Michelin star restaurant, rooftop pool and gym facilities. The hotel is perfect for anyone who prefers a more modern aesthetic to their hotels.

The Cool Rooms – The Cool Rooms are just as luxurious as Vincci Seleccion but with more a classic style, incorporating the kind of architecture you would typically see around Seville.

The hotel is set in a converted 18th Century, perfect for anyone looking for an authentic local feel to their stay, without losing any of the luxury.