If you’re visiting Seville then the likelihood is that you’ll be wanting to visit the magnificent Real Alcazar of Seville.

No matter how many days you have allotted for exploring Seville, the Alcazar is the most important site to visit, and depending on how long you have in Seville, you can adjust the length of your visit accordingly.

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What exactly is the Alcazar?

​We can all admit that just sometimes we know we’re meant to visit something famous but we’re a little hazy on exactly what it is. So to ensure that isn’t you when you arrive in Seville, let’s talk about Seville’s Alcazar – what is it and why should you visit it?

Basically, it’s the oldest active palace in Europe.

Quick history of the Royal Alcazar of Seville

🕌 The beginnings – under Moorish leaders

The Alcazar was originally built by the Moorish rulers of Spain as a citadel in the 10th century.  In 913, Abd al-Rahman III built a fort here, apparently over the remains of a Visigoth church (the Visigoths ruled over much of Spain from the decline of the Roman Empire in Spain to the time the Moors arrived). 

In the 11th century it was developed into a palace complex by the Abbasid dynasty and then by the Almohads in the 12th century and 13th century. 

⛪️ Extensions – under the Catholic Kings

The Catholic Monarchs (Los Reyes Catolicos) then conquered the city in 1248 and made their own changes too. The Gothic Palace was built first, by Alonso X in 1258.

In the 1360s, Pedro I (called King Peter in English) rebuilt much of the site, including the most important/visually pleasing Mudéjar style palace you see when you enter the first courtyard, the famous Patio de las Doncellas and the Salon de los Embajadores. Much of the architecture from Pedro I’s additions are similar in style to the Alhambra in Granada. It is thought that Muhammad V of Granada sent his craftsmen to Seville to help build the palace. 

In the 16th century, offices were built by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand who also added the Casa del Asistente as their main residence in the Alcazar.

Carlos V built the Palacio of Carlos V on the site of the former Moorish palace. Felipe III then commissioned the construction of the Salones de los Tapices, de los Especjos and de los Reyes.

Modern day

During the Peninsular War, French troops caused significant damage to the palace and its gardens when they occupied the Alcazar. Shortly after they left, restoration work began. Later in the 19th century, much of the original Mudejar features were restored. 

In 1909 the palace was declared a national monument and in 1987 it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site (along with the Seville Cathedral and the Archivo de Indias). Today it is considered one of the best examples of Mudéjar (blended Moorish and Christian) architecture in the world. 

Where is the Alcazar?

The Real Alcazar de Seville is in the Casco Antiguo, the historic centre of Seville. Two important locations to know before you visit are:

🦁 Puerta del León (Lion’s Gate)

The entrance to the Alcazar is via the Puerta del León in the Casco Antiguo.

You can not buy tickets at this entrance. Only show up here once you have a ticket in your hand. 

All tickets are timed, do not miss your time slot. 

🇪🇸 Plaza del Patio de Banderas

This plaza, once a part of the Alcazar complex is today the location of the ticket office for people who choose to buy their Alcazar tickets on the day. It is also where visitors to the Alcazar exit the complex. 

How to visit the Royal Alcázar

The Alcazar is one of the main destinations of the city of Seville and there are numerous options for visiting it. There are also different ways to buy your tickets. 

My recommendation is always to buy your tickets for the Alcazar in advance otherwise you risk showing up in Seville and not getting a chance to explore this incredible place. This obviously holds particularly true in high season. 

Alcazar opening hours

⏰ Daily 9.30 am – 7 pm

​The ticket office opens at 9am so if you hope to buy tickets on the day, I recommend getting there shortly before. The first general entrance is at 9.30 am.

​How to buy your tickets on the day

🎟 Arrive at the Plaza del Patio de Banderas and join the generally long line and take whatever tickets are available.

🪪You’ll need to show ID to buy your tickets.

💳 Tickets must be paid for with a debit or credit card. The ticket office does not accept cash.

⏰ If you’re choosing this option, be clear that it will add to how much time you need to visit the Alcazar.

Buying tickets in advance

🎟 Buying tickets in advance means you need to plan not only when you want to visit the Alcazar but also what else you want to do while you’re in Seville. Buying tickets in advance requires making an itinerary (my favourite!) but it does save time in the long run.

You need to consider what type of ticket you want: do you want to visit alone, alone with an audio guide, or on a guided tour? All are possible.

Exploring the Alcazar alone 

⏰ You could easily walk around the Alcazar alone in an hour if you’re strapped for time. You won’t learn much but you’ll see the main sights. If you have plenty of time and love examining every detail, you could spend 6 hours here. The beauty of being alone is that you can spend as little or as much time in the Alcazar as you wish.

Note that if the official website doesn’t have tickets available, it’s always worth checking other ticket sellers such as Tiqets.

Exploring the Alcazar alone with an audio guide

There is no official audio guide provided for the Alcazar so if this is your preferred form of tour, then you’ll need to download one in advance.

⏰ With around 20 listening points sharing stories and information as you explore at your own speed, this can take as little or as much time as you wish.

Exploring the Alcazar with a tour guide

There are numerous tour guide options available to people visiting Seville’s Alcazar. If you take a tour, you’ll generally be handed an earpiece that links to a small microphone worn by the guide. This makes for a more peaceful tour experience than previously when tour guides had to speak loudly to be heard by members of their group. A guide will answer your questions as well as share interesting historical facts and anecdotes about the palace and the people who created it.

⏰ Generally a guided tour of the Alcazar will last 90 minutes to 2 hours and once it’s done you’ll be able to remain in the palace to return to any favourite spots, visit the cafe in the beautiful gardens or simply stroll around again. 

Alcazar tour options

Tours will generally ask you to meet in the Plaza del Triunfo around 15 minutes before your tour officially begins. Remember to bring your ID with you.

⭐️ Walks – Exclusive Early Morning Access

➡️ Regular guided tour

10 am start, 90 minute tour with free access after the tour of the Alcazar has ended. You’ll learn a lot on a regular guided tour of the Alcazar. The guides are knowledgable and interesting people.

➕ The benefit of using a tour aggregator such as GetYourGuide or Viator is that if the tour you select is fully booked, they’ll automatically find other options for you.

Evening access to the Alcazar

Between mid-May and mid-October is it possible to book evening visits to the Alcazar. It’s important to note that this tend to be theatrical events and are only available in Spanish. This year (2024) the evening event is called, “The Forgotten Women of the Alcazar” (Mujeres Olvidadas en la historia del Real Alcázar)

And finally,

What will you see on a tour of the Alcazar?

Most tours of the Alcazar will take you to the same places within the grounds. The only two exceptions are

➡️ you can’t visit the Royal Bedroom without paying extra

➡️ whether the Baños de Doña Maria Padilla is visitable is not up to your guide. I’ve been twice and they were closed both times

So what can you visit?

➡️ Patio de León

The first patio you enter when you walk through the Lion’s Gate

➡️ Patio de la Montería / Patio del Rey don Pedro

From the Patio de Yeso you move to the Patio de la Montería. In front of you is the entrance to the Palacio Rey don Pedro

➡️ Palacio de Yeso

Here there are remains from the Alcazar’s Almohad period. The Sala de la Justicia and the Patio de Yeso (with water feature) are in this section (see photo above).

➡️ Casa de la Contraction

Off the Patio de la Montería, built by Isabela and Ferdinand in 16th century – contains offices and a chapel as well as the Patios de Levies and the Patio de Asistente. Christopher Columbus will have spent time in this area of the Alcazar while waiting to go off exploring.

⏫ Don’ forget to look up everywhere you go in the Alcazar – the ceilings are amazing. In the photo below, every single gold circle is an individually carved mahogany rose covered with gold leaf.

➡️ Palacio del Rey don Pedro

Contains the most photographed areasin the complex

⭐️ Patio de las Doncellas

This was designed to represent heaven on earth. Until 2006, this gorgeous patio was covered with a hard marble floor laid in the time of Carlos V. By chance, excavators realised that under the marble was the serene water feature we see today.

⭐️ Patio de las Muñecas

From the Patio de las Muñecas look up and see the second floor with the royal apartments.

⭐️ Salon de los Embajadores

This astounding half dome ceiling was built in the 13th century. In this part of the palace, scenes from the Game of Thrones were filmed.

➡️ Palacio Gotico

Includes the Patio del Crucero (Sailor’s Patio) & the Baños Doña Maria de Padilla. This palace is the 3rd palace you visit but it’s actually the oldest remaining palace in the complex. It was built by Alfonso X in 1252. Only the remaining arches demonstrate that this was a gothic palace. The rooms here are famous for their tiles.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Ask your guide to explain what happened to the tiles during the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.

➡️ Alcazar gardens

As you wander through the Jardin de los Poetas, Jardin del Principe and the Jardin Ingles, take note of the marvellous orange trees, palm trees, the bougenvillia, the myrtle (run your hands along the bushes and then take a happy sniff), imagine how it must have been when these gardens were bustling with Alcazar life. In all there are 15 acres (7 hectares) of land belonging to the Alcazar. Stop for a coffee and snack at the coffee shop before you leave.

👑 There are still royal apartments in the Alcazar today although these are obviously not on the tour route. The Spanish royal family generally prefer to stay in Alfonso XIII hotel when they visit Seville rather than in the royal residence. 

​If you’ve got all the way to the end and haven’t yet booked anything, let’s quickly recap your options: