Seville is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, maybe even Europe. Whether you’re visiting Seville as part of a larger Andalucia trip, or just dropping in for a weekend break from Madrid or Malaga, you are going to fall in love with this city. Every corner you turn brings new beauty. I know this because I live here and love exploring the city with my kids. So, if you’re planning on visiting Seville with kids in tow, this is the ultimate and definitive guide to Seville, what’s what and where everything is from a kid’s perspective.

I took my time before deciding to write this article because I wanted to really get to know Seville before I shared my opinions. I am so fed up with searching “Seville with kids” or “X other city with kids” only to find exactly the same information as every other article about the city, often written by people who don’t even have kids.

Look, if your kids are super into cathedrals and art galleries, I’m (through gritted teeth) happy for you but I suspect most kids are like mine: they. do. not. care.

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In this Seville with kids article we’ll discuss 

📌 The main tourist sites and whether they’re kid friendly

📌 Where the real kid fun is found in Seville

📌 Great Day Trip Options – Near and Far

📌 Eating in Seville with kids

A Note on the Seville Schedule

⏰ It’s important to remember that Andalucia takes its siesta very seriously and this has an impact on visitors. Seville is extremely hot for much of the year so opening hours and hours of activity reflect this. There is generally a morning session and an evening session with a long break in between. Many shops also observe the siesta (although tourist shops generally don’t). 

⏰ Kids in Seville may look as if they never sleep. You’ll find children playing on plazas late into the night while the parents sit and drink at outside tables. Don’t judge; remember it’s just a very different lifestyle.

⏰ In Seville (and the rest of Spain), your kids are welcome everywhere and all times and that is magnificent. 

When to Visit Seville

🌸 Spring – The climate is delightful at this time of year. Both the orange and jacaranda trees are in blossom and in my opinion, this is the most perfect time to be in Seville. If your family enjoys processions and parties then spring is also a good time to visit as you’ll be able to experience the Semana Santa (holy week) parades. Seville’s Feria is also held in spring every year. In 2024 it is set for 14 – 20 April.

☀️ Summer – Truthfully, calling Seville hot is an understatement. During the summer it can feel as if you’re melting if you’re on the streets between 10 am – 10 pm. While I can do a day of sightseeing in this weather I probably wouldn’t choose to have younger children out in this heat. Many locals leave in summer, and for good reason. If you’re coming to Southern Spain in summer, why not try adding a day or two in a a small inland village like Mijas Pueblo, or Antequera or go down to the Cádiz coast where it’ll be more comfortable?

🍁 Autumn – As the days cool down Seville starts to get lively again and you can have a great time exploring this beautiful city.

🧤 Winter – Winters in Seville can be surprisingly damp and cold although if you’re out walking and exploring all day then this really won’t matter too much, Generally, there is very little rain and plenty of sunshine even in the winter months. 

Where to Stay When Visiting Seville with Kids

How to Get Around Seville with Kids

✅ Seville’s historic centre is pedestrianised, which makes it great for exploring with kids.

✅ Generally in Spain pedestrian crossings are everywhere (and they’re taken very seriously by motorists) and the places visitors generally want to see are all pretty accessible on foot.

✅ The city is stroller/buggy friendly and slightly bigger kids could definitely use scooters to get around.

✅ Seville has a very cheap and simple metro system that runs through the central areas of the city as well as an electric tram that serves as far as the cathedral and Av de la Constitucíon and buses, of course.

✅ Take the “hop-on, hop-off” bus to see as much of the city as possible.

✅ There are regular cabs and Uber and Caibfy are both active in the city too.

✅ Use this article to figure out how to get from the airport to Seville (including if you need a child car seat).

Seville with Kids: Visiting the Main Tourist Sites

When I was a kid my dad would drag us round churches and my mum loved a good stately home visit. Guess what my brother and I hated: that’s right, churches and stately homes. Still not a massive fan if I’m honest. And that’s what I want to avoid with my kids if I can. I don’t want my kids to hate culture or history so when we do something cultural we always try to make it super interesting for them.

Seville is a great place to visit with kids so let’s consider each of the main sites in Seville, whether kids truly enjoy them and how you can make a visit slightly more entertaining for them.

⭐️ If you’re contemplating the big question; Malaga or Seville for your vacation, let it be known that I think both cities are great for kids. The Same goes for anyone deciding between Valencia or Seville.

➡️ Let’s check out the perfect 1-day itinerary, 3-day itinerary and 5-day (+ quirky day) itinerary for Seville.

Real Alcazar and Alcazar Gardens

The beautiful Royal Alcazar of Seville was originally built by the Moorish rulers of Spain but was adapted and modified by the Catholic Monarchs when they conquered Seville (1248). Today it is considered one of the best examples of Mudéjar (blended Moorish and Christian) architecture in the world. Along with the cathedral and the Archivo de Indias, the Alcazar is part of the Seville UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How to make it fun

📌 Spot peacocks and parakeets in the gardens

📌 In the tiled areas, ask the kids to find their favourite tile, honestly some of them are hilarious – generally I wouldn’t ever think to ask kids to look at tiles but these are kinda funnily bad. I also think I’m probably the only person to ever admit I think this publicly. Oh well. For the record: I did not think the tiles were wonderful.

⭐️ There are a myriad of excellent reasons to visit Spain, keep reading to learn more about this magnificent country ⭐️

Cathedral and La Giralda Bell Tower

This cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It is apparently the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Much like Córdoba’s famous Mezquita, this cathedral began life as a mosque. It was converted into a cathedral after the Christians took Seville. The cathedral we see today was completed in 1506. There are many famous artworks to be spotted while exploring the cathedral including works by Goya and Murrillo. 

How to make it fun 

📌 The tomb of Christopher Columbus is here and it’s big, they might like it. 

📌 Climb the Giralda (tower that was once a minaret), it’s a ramp not stairs to climb the 100 metre tower.

📌 Look for interesting (silly) features in the paintings

📌 Use Google translate to translate any Old Spanish you find in the cathedral – we did this in the Cordoba Mezquita and it made the kids giggle a lot.

My kids’ view – one went on a school trip and said it was the worst day of his life. I suspect his teachers didn’t enjoy 50 miserable kids either!

➡️ If you’re going to visit the Cathedral at least grab skip the line tickets!

Torre de Oro

This is a thirty-six metre high, dodecagonal (twelve-sided) military tower built during the Almohad Caliphate to control the Guadalquivir River during the 13th century. It was later used as a prison and today it houses the maritime museum. If you visit be sure to head up to the roof for gorgeous views along the river. 

➡️ Buy your ticket now

How to make it fun

📌 Let them climb the tower

My kids’ view – towers are fun but the museum is not. 

See a Flamenco Show

Not all flamenco shows admit kids but if you are interested in flamenco, how about first seeing how the kids react to the free show you’ll undoubtedly find on the Plaza de España? 

My kids’ view – they have Día del Flamenco at school where they learn about flamenco and watch a performance. They hate it. 

Tiles in Triana 

Yes, the tiles are beautiful and traditional. Do kids care? Doubtful. 

So What is Fun for Kids in Seville?

It sounds as if you’re left with nothing, right? Absolutely not. There’s plenty to do and see in Seville with kids and I promise you that if you pick from this list of the best things and fun activities for kids in Seville you’re going to have a great family trip. 

Main Seville Attractions that Kids Genuinely Enjoy

Metropol Parasol

 “Las Setas” (The Mushrooms) is the popular name for Metropol Parasol, this fascinating wooden structure that towers over Plaza de la Encarnacion. This plaza was the city centre of old Sevilla and it has a long history dating back to the Roman period. 

It was only in the early twenty-first century when the city of Seville decided to build a new plaza with underground parking here that the ancient history of this area was rediscovered. While excavating for the garage they found important ancient remains and plans for a parking lot were abandoned. Instead, the archaeological museum (mentioned above) was created and after a design competition Las Setas was built – apparently, this is the world’s largest wooden structure. 

How to see it with kids

📌 Admire the structure, have a coffee, and then realise that the local kids are all jumping over the barriers at the tower bases and using them as makeshift slides. Your kids will have a blast joining in with locals. 

📌 For smaller kids there is a tiny playground here too. 

📌 It’s possible to take the lift /elevator to the roof of this fascinating structure and walk around. My recommendation is to go as late as you can as after dark it is lit up beautifully. 

Buy on the day or book in advance to skip the lines

My kids’ opinion: they love coming here to slide and run and they really enjoyed the night walk we took over the roof.

Antiquarium Museum (underneath Las Setas)

In the basement of Las Setas you’ll find the Antiquarium. This is a modern, well-presented archaeological museum where you can follow paths through the ruins of Roman and Moorish Seville. The site was discovered when excavating for a carpark in 2003.

We first went in here because my daughter needed to pee and they have toilets. It’s a nice, small museum and since it has elevated paths to explore over mosaics, it’s not bad for kids. 

My kids’ opinion: fine once, please don’t make us go back.

Plaza de España 

The Plaza de España is really the most famous and one of the most beautiful landmarks in all of Seville for both tourists and locals alike. Built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exhibition (of 1929), this astounding semi-circular building has two high towers from which you can see much of Seville. 

All around the building are 48 tiled alcoves each representing a Spanish province (except for Seville which is featured elsewhere and one of the Canary Island provinces which didn’t exist in 1928). Each has a mural and a map of the province. This is one of the most iconic places in all of Seville and since it’s outdoors, it’s not difficult with kids. 

Cool Fact: Plaza de España has been in both Star Wars II and Lawrence of Arabia. It was also in the Netflix show, The Dictator. Look out for scenes filmed in the Plaza de España in the brand new Netflix series, Kaos. 

How to Make it Fun

📌 When there aren’t too many people around, it’s perfectly fine to let the kids run around 

📌 Ride the small boats on the small canal

📌 Explore the tiled bench areas, see which one you like best or which places you’ve been to

📌 Find the different maps and talk about them and what they represent

📌 If the buskers with bubbles are around, let them play

My kids’ view – yup, acceptable

Maria Luisa Park (Parque de Maria Luisa)

This beautiful park is also the biggest park in central Seville and it’s a nice place to let the kids play. For anyone who likes birds, be sure to help them spot the bright green parakeets hiding in the trees. There are toilets and kiosks selling drinks in the park. Find the play area for the younger kids and relax as they play.

My kids’ view – yes, more please

The Aquarium (Acuario de Sevilla)

The Seville Aquarium is just on the other side of Maria Luisa Park next to the river. Both my kids have been on school trips and say it’s excellent and they regularly ask to go back. They particularly love the shark tank and I’m tempted to take them to the evening shark experience as a treat. This is a great place to escape the summer heat.  

My kids’ view – why can’t we go more often? (Because it isn’t cheap, obviously)

➡️ Pick up “Skip the Line” Tickets in advance

Old City / Old Jewish Quarter

Exploring the old streets of Sevilla is a lot of fun for everyone, including kids. Let the kids get you lost in the narrow streets, turning where they want, peering into alleyways, stopping to examine giant fig trees on random plazas, let them take control (if you have a GPS on your phone you’re really never lost anyway).

Our favourite section is just alongside the Alcazar – look for Calle Agua on the map and then follow towards Patio de las Banderas via Calle Judería.

Walk Along the River

Our favourite place to walk is between the aquarium and Puerta Jerez. Keep your eyes open for exhibitions, giant hidden tile-maps and fountains.

Buying Souvenirs

Of course the kids want to buy rubbish, I mean souvenirs. There are plenty of souvenir shops to attract the little magpies as you explore Seville.

Ice cream – don’t forget to eat a lot of ice cream because on a hot day there is nothing like it

Other Great Options (Less Cultural but Fun) in Seville for Kids

Imaginarium

Although not my personal favourite, my kids and their dad had an absolute blast playing with the optical illusions in here. After a while I got bored and left to wander the streets while they all got sillier and sillier. A great break from the regular tourist stuff.

➡️ See Imaginarium ticket info here

Casa de la Ciencia

Who doesn’t love a science museum? This one is beautifully interactive and on the weekends has a planetarium too. We spent hours here when we visited recently.

Torre Sevilla, Pabellón de la Navegacíon and Parque Fernando Magallanes

Although the Torre Sevilla is really little more than a shopping arcade and huge tower, the area is lovely and kids can run around here fairly freely. The park is modern and clean and on the edge of the river. Just a little way along is the Pabellón de la Navegacíon – here there are regular roving exhibitions (we have seen the Van Gogh exhibition, a lego exhibition and an optical illusion exhibition recently) as well as permanent exhibitions kids will enjoy. The tower outside (Torre Schindler) is a 65m mirador that can be ascended too if your kids are into climbing things.

Isla Mágica and Agua Magica

There are two theme parks just outside Seville that are open from April: Isla Magica and Agua Magica. We haven’t been to either as I’m a mean parent but Agua Magica is obviously a water park with water slides. Isla Magica is a theme park.

➡️ Grab your Isla Mágica tickets here

Note, there is a smaller water park in Sevilla Este if you prefer.

Nao Vigia – el globo de Sevilla

If your kids fancy a ride in a totally safe hot air balloon, try this. It’s tethered but reaches heights of 150m. The trip takes around 30 minutes in total and my kids loved looking down over Sevilla.

Fun for Older Kids in Seville

📌 Kayaking or Paddle boarding on the Guadalquivir River

📌 Skate park Plaza de Armas

📌 Avenida 5 Cines (VOS) – Original language cinema

📌 ⭐️Tour of Soccer Stadium and hit up their stores in town

Day trips from Seville with Kids

Let’s split this into two sections

⭐️ Short trips for play spaces etc

⭐️ Serious day trips

✅ Of course, the whole family will love a beach trip from Seville.

Short Day Trips from Seville with Kids

➡️ Dos Hermanas – Their is a brand new playground space called Bárbol (at the end of 2023) – find it on the map as Parque de la Tirolina in Parque Forestal Dehesa Doña Maria. There is also a trampoline park called Costa Jump in the mall on the edge of town.

➡️ Lagoh – this is the main shopping mall for the Sevilla region but it’s worth mentioning here because it has a great outdoor space for bigger kids that includes ziplines, climbing walls, a wave-surf centre, and even a sky diving simulator. There are little boats for kids on the small lake here. Inside there is a cinema, a trampoline centre, bowling alley.

➡️ Crazy Zone is my kids’ favourite trampoline park. It’s on Ave de Andalucía on the edge of Sevilla.

Day Trips From Seville with Kids

🚗 Some of these options are available as organised tours, some require private transport. Driving in Spain is really very safe as the roads are well maintained and people follow the rules.

Check rental car options here

Alcalá de Guadaíra

A gorgeous small town just twenty minutes from Seville with a huge park and forest along a river. Sevillanos use this park as their escape from town at the weekends. There is a cute cafe, a brand new playground in the park, a castle and a great “Molino Trail” along the river to the Dragon Bridge.

🥮 Kids will also love la Cueva de la Zarzamora, a cool cave cake restaurant that has been open since 1851.

⭐️ Read More about Alcalá de Guadaíra

Italica

This Roman city just outside Sevilla is fun for kids (mostly). My kids did enjoy our day out here as they’re weirdly into mosaics.

It was the first Roman city to be built in Spain and apparently also the first Roman city outside of Italy. The amphitheatre is one of the largest ever built, with a capacity of 25,000 spectators, making it even larger than Mérida’s incredible amphitheatre. There are two parts of Itálica, Vetus Urb, the old city, which is under the centre of modern-day Santiponce, and Nova Urbs, the new city, created by Hadrian. 

⭐️ Read more about taking a day trip to Italica

➡️ Book a guided tour to Italica

Castillo de Almodovar del Río

This castle is around 90 minutes from Seville on the way to Córdoba. It’s an entirely restored castle that kids just love to explore. I took a group of 7 kids earlier this year and everyone loved it.

Gibraltar

A much more serious undertaking is a day trip to Gibraltar, (2hr30 drive) but if your kids love adventures and exploring then they’ll love the opportunity to cross and international border, find themselves in a tiny part of England on the edge of Spain

⭐️ Read more about a day trip to Gibraltar

➡️ Book a day trip to Gibraltar from Seville

Huelva City

Explore the gorgeous and airy city of Huelva, take the kids for the best burger of their lives (true story) before heading to La Rabida to check out replicas of Columbus’ ships and a great park.

⭐️ Read more about Huelva day trips

Read more about other excellent day trips from Sevilla

Eating In Seville with Kids

Meals

Lunch: In Andalucia, the biggest meal of the day is lunch, which is taken between 2 pm – 4 pm. In Seville, you’ll always be able to find somewhere to eat something but between 4 pm – 8 pm many bars and restaurants will be closed so you’ll need to be flexible.

Supper: People start coming out again to eat around 9 pm and it’s perfectly normal to see groups eating at 11 pm including children.

Breakfast: Spanish breakfast is generally bread with cheese, ham or jams. Children will enjoy a cup of cola-cao – this is what all Spanish children love to drink (essentially it’s Nesquik, let’s not pretend). It’s also perfectly acceptable to eat churros and chocolate for breakfast when in Spain.

Don’t for one second think you won’t find local food for even the fussiest of kids when you’re in tapas bars. There are plenty of Spanish dishes that the kids will love and thanks to the tapas tradition, the plates are small. If you are really struggling, there’s always fast food.

There are very often children’s menus available and if there isn’t, it’s worth asking if meals can be made plain for children. Generally the answer is yes.

Tapas and Bigger Plates My Kids Love

✅ Montaditos (rolls)

✅ Pringá (a mix of meats generally served in a roll)

✅ Tortilla – the potato/egg dish that is so typical to Spain

✅ Croquetas – two-bite-sized deep fried filing that is then breaded – many flavours, generally delicious

✅ Hamburguesa – burgers

✅ Dedos (fingers) / Lagrimitas (tears) de pollo o pescado – chicken or fish nuggets

✅ Jamon con huevos – ham and eggs

✅ Lagartos or chuletas – largartos are chunks of meat and chuletas are chops – it’s hard to be vegetarian in Spain. Soooooo much meat.

Desserts

You should totally try them all, especially churros with chocolate.

A Final Word on Seville with Kids

My opinion is that pretty much everywhere is kid friendly as long as you make it so. As long as you don’t try and force the kids to spend all day in museums and churches, and do feed them ice creams then they’ll have a wonderful time as long as they’re with their family. That said, Seville is a great city to explore with kids, it has a large pedestrianised centre and plenty to keep them active. We’ve loved getting to know it over the last 18 months and are excited to keep digging deeper into the city.

⭐️ ⭐️ If you’re looking for inspiration for other city trips with kids, try Malaga, Ronda, Segovia, Gibraltar, Faro or Porto. It’s even possible to take a family road trip between Seville and Lisbon – because, don’t forget, Europe is teeeny compared to the USA.

¡Buen Viaje!