Where to stay near Alcázar of Seville: the 2 areas to know in 2026

Our tips for booking the right place

• In winter the palace closes at 5pm, and that changes the day: From 1 October to 31 March, the Alcázar is open from 9.30am to 5pm; from 1 April to 30 September, from 9.30am to 7pm. The ticket office opens at 9am. Our reviews give the length of visit that has to fit inside that window: « you can easily spend a good two hours there without any problem », writes MorganeL; « the palace is huge, and you can easily spend several hours there », writes MathildeFlor. Two of our members add a guided tour on top, which stretches it further. In other words, in winter an afternoon arrival leaves a window shorter than the visit itself, and JeromeA advises to « book in advance » if you can. The palace is also closed on 1 and 6 January, Good Friday and 25 December.
• Five of our ten reviews talk about Game of Thrones: It is the most cited fact of the set, and it comes from our members, not from us. Dudy: « part of season 5 of the show Game of Thrones was filmed here as the Water Gardens of Dorne ». Lili Be: « it is the city of Dorne, for those in the know ». Ariane: « I felt like I was in Dorne, the oasis land from Game of Thrones, which was filmed here ». MathildeFlor: « if you are a fan of GOT like me, the scenery should look familiar ». MorganeL: « you will recognize some filming locations. It is fun to remember the scenes ». The places in question are the gardens and the pools, which are also the part where visitors linger longest.
• Two of our members recommend a guide, for the same reason: Bill, who gives 4 out of 5: « I still recommend a visit with a guide to understand a place with such varied styles ». Ariane, who gives 5: « I highly recommend the guided tour. It provides so much information about the daily life of the sovereigns, as well as the function and decor of the Alcazar ». The reason is the same for both: the palace was reworked era after era, and JeromeA says it differently when he writes that he « was surprised by the typical Mudejar architecture ». A guided tour has a start time, and a start time means being there on time: that is this district's second argument, after the 5pm closing.
• The gardens divide our reviews, and that is worth knowing: Bill is blunt: « I have to admit that the gardens disappointed me a bit ». JeromeA says the opposite, in the same terms as three other members: « the highlight of the show, the gardens where fountains, orange trees, and huge palm trees all come together ». MathildeFlor: « I especially loved visiting the gardens, with their fountains ». Shanour K: « the gardens are just as impressive, with their fountains and palm trees ». We serve both without settling it. What is certain is that the part under debate is also the one that takes the most time, and that it is better visited in the cool of the morning than late on a summer afternoon.
• Who does not pay, and what the rest costs: General admission is $18*, the reduced rate $9* for over-65s, students aged 14 to 30 and European Youth Card holders. The Cuarto Real Alto, the floor the royal family still occupies during its stays, costs $6.20* more. Admission is free for residents and natives of Seville, under-13s with an adult, people certified at 33 % disability and one companion, and unemployed residents of the province on production of their card. There are also theatrical night visits, at $17*, which are a different product and a different hour.