Is this a good month to visit?
Yes, if you want the monuments without the crowds. January in Seville is mild and sunny by day, around 16 °C, cold at night, around 6 °C, and one of the cheapest months of the year.
- Weather: average high 16 °C, low 6 °C, about 6 rainy days
- Big event: the Cabalgata de Reyes, the Three Kings parade, on the evening of 5 January
- Crowds: busy until 6 January, then the quietest weeks of the year
- Hotel prices: low, except over New Year
- Best for: sightseeing, museums, day trips and budget breaks
The catch is the cold indoors: many old houses and small hotels have little heating, and evenings are too chilly for long dinners on a terrace.
Compare the months around it: Seville in December and Seville in February, or see the full month-by-month guide. Quiet weeks are the time for the big sights: see the best things to do in Seville.
Weather
| January | |
|---|---|
| Average high | 16 °C |
| Average low | 6 °C |
| Rainy days | about 6 |
| Daylight | about 10 hours |
A typical January day starts cold and bright, warms up quickly, and by midday you can sit in the sun in a coat or a jumper. After sunset the temperature drops fast, and a few nights a year come close to freezing. Rain arrives in spells of a few days when Atlantic fronts pass, then the sun comes back.
Plan your day around the light: sightsee from mid-morning, have lunch outside in the sun, and keep the evening for tapas bars and a flamenco show.
What’s on
Cabalgata de Reyes (5 January)
The Three Kings parade is the biggest event of the Christmas season in Seville. Organised by the Ateneo de Sevilla for more than a century, it crosses the centre from the afternoon until late in the evening, with floats carrying the Kings, their pages and dozens of characters. The riders throw tonnes of sweets to the crowd: local families bring bags, or upturned umbrellas, to catch them.
Streets close for hours and taxis are scarce, so choose a spot on the route early. The route is published a few weeks before. See Christmas in Seville for the full holiday calendar.
Día de Reyes (6 January)
Epiphany is a public holiday, and for Spanish children it is the day they get their presents. Families share a roscón de Reyes, a ring-shaped cake, sold in every bakery in early January. The Real Alcázar closes on 1 and 6 January, and many shops close on the 6th.
The winter sales
The January sales (rebajas) usually start on 7 January. The main shopping streets are Calle Sierpes and Calle Tetuán in the centre, with the department store El Corte Inglés on Plaza del Duque close by.
Oranges on the trees
The orange trees that line the streets are heavy with fruit in winter. They are bitter Seville oranges, too sour to eat raw, and are used for marmalade. Leave them on the trees.
Crowds and hotel prices
The first week of January is busy with Spanish families on holiday. From 7 January the city goes quiet: the Alcázar and the cathedral have short queues, and the Plaza de España is almost empty in the morning. It is still worth booking the Alcázar online, but a day or two ahead is usually enough.
Hotels are at their cheapest outside New Year. A double in a good central hotel typically costs around €90–150 a night. Choose a hotel with proper heating, and check reviews for cold rooms. Santa Cruz and the Centro put you within walking distance of everything. See where to stay in Seville.
Winter is also a good time for day trips: Córdoba is 45 minutes away by train and much quieter than in spring. See all day trips from Seville.
What to pack
- A warm coat or a light down jacket for the evenings, plus a jumper
- Layers you can take off at midday, when the sun is warm
- An umbrella or a light waterproof
- Shoes with grip: the polished stone paving of the centre is slippery in the rain
- Sunglasses: the winter sun is bright
- Warm clothes for indoors: old buildings can feel colder inside than out
Hotel pools are mostly closed or too cold in January, so leave the swimwear at home unless your hotel has a heated indoor pool or a spa.
FAQ
Is Seville warm in January?
Mild rather than warm. Days are usually around 16 °C and sunny, which feels pleasant at midday, but nights drop to around 6 °C.
Is January a good time to visit Seville?
Yes, for sightseeing on a budget. After 6 January it is the quietest and cheapest time of year to see the Alcázar, the cathedral and the museums. It is not the month for terraces and long evenings outside.
When is the Three Kings parade in Seville?
On the evening of 5 January, starting in the afternoon. It crosses the centre for several hours, and the route is published a few weeks before.
Is everything open in January?
Almost everything, except on 1 and 6 January, when the Alcázar and many shops close. Opening hours are the winter ones: the Alcázar closes at 17:00 from October to March.