10 Things to Do in Seville in January

Seville is a particularly attractive destination, as it always seduces tourists and locals with plans and activities to enjoy with friends and family.

Visiting Seville in January allows you to take advantage of many of the attractions that the city prepares for the Christmas and Epiphany festivities and, of course, to attend some of the events of this month. All of this, obviously, without leaving aside everything you can usually see and do in Seville.

Seville Cathedral is the largest Christian Gothic temple and one of the most beautiful religious buildings in Europe. Although it is open all year round, in January you will be able to get tickets to the Seville Cathedral without the usual crowds of other times.

It was built on the site of an Almohad mosque and its Moorish architecture later added elements of Mudejar, Gothic, Renaissance and even Baroque, which can be seen in many of its altars. The interior of the Cathedral is equally beautiful, exquisitely decorated and lavish.

I recommend booking a guided tour of Seville Cathedral to learn more about its history and the illustrious historical figures who are buried here. Did you know that the tombs of Christopher Columbus, Alfonso X the Wise and Pedro I the Cruel, among others, are here?

Everything to see in Seville Cathedral

• The Prince's Gate
• The Door of Forgiveness
• The Orange Tree Courtyard.

To finish this tour you cannot miss climbing the bell tower of the cathedral, the famous Giralda, one of the most recognisable symbols of Seville. It was originally the main minaret of the Great Almohad Mosque, but after the reconquest it became the Cathedral's bell tower.

In case you didn't know, not only can you enjoy the Giralda from below, but you can also climb it.

Practical information

• Where: Av. de la Constitución, s/n
• Price: the guided tour with the climb up to the cathedral costs around 34 €.
• Opening times: in January it is open from 10.45am to approximately 5pm.

If you have travelled to Seville in winter you will have noticed that it is not as severe as in other parts of Spain. However, temperatures can sometimes get close to 3ºC, so it's always good to stop off at a bar for some delicious tapas paired with a glass of good local wine.

Tapas are dishes served in small quantities and covering all kinds of ingredients. The best thing is that you can try different specialities without filling up on a single portion.

To get to know the best places in Seville, my recommendation is that you go with a Sevillian. If you can't, don't hesitate to book a tapas and wine tour of Seville.

Even in Seville, on some nights in January, you may want to keep your plans indoors. One of the most recommended activities is to book a flamenco show at a tablao in the city.

Seville is one of the cradles of flamenco, so you won't have any trouble finding a show to see. The dancers, both men and women, are absolutely seductive.

The dancers, both men and women, are absolutely seductive, with the women in long, frilly, tight-fitting dresses and the men in dark trousers and a shirt knotted at the chest. Accompanied by guitars, castanets and hand clapping, they stomp their feet on the tablao and with every movement the audience can't take their eyes off them.

January marks the beginning of the flamenco fashion season in Seville. Different events and fashion shows take place where it is possible to appreciate beautiful gypsy costumes and flamenco fashion.

The focal point of the Flamenco Fashion is the We Love Flamenco catwalk, famous for being the first catwalk to present the trends of the season.

However, if you can't get a ticket but would like to learn more about the costumes of this famous dance, I recommend you book tickets to the Flamenco Dance Museum in Seville, which houses dresses and other artistic pieces.

Practical information

• Where: Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville
• Price: depends on the parade. It is advisable to buy tickets well in advance.
• When: mid-January, for about a week.

Seville has the largest historic centre in Europe. The best way to get to know its main monuments is to take a guided tour of the city, which will take you to the most important sights. However, it's also worth going off the beaten track and seeing lesser-known sights.

In January, you won't have to queue anywhere, as it's not high season.

Another great option for January is to visit some of **Seville'**s museums. Not only will it be less crowded, but you'll be able to warm up for a while.

Unlike other countries, in Spain the Christmas festivities last until the first week of January. Seville is no exception, and if you visit at this time of year you will be able to enjoy the last of the season's activities:

• If you've spent New Year's Eve in the city, head to Plaza Nueva to listen to the chimes as you eat the traditional twelve grapes.
• Afterwards, find a good spot to watch the fireworks display and stroll around the bars to celebrate the arrival of the new year.
• Another thing I recommend you do is to visit one of the city's Christmas markets.
• Take the route of the nativity scenes, a perfect plan if you've been to Seville with children.

Every year, the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville offers a New Year's Concert. In this Andalusian version of the traditional New Year's Concert in Vienna, different conductors and soloists are summoned to delight the audience with an attractive programme for music lovers.

As this is an increasingly popular event, I recommend that you buy your tickets in advance on the official website of the ROSS, the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville.

Practical information

• Where: at the Teatro de la Maestranza.
• Price: between 30 € and 50 €.
• When: early January, usually from 8:00 pm onwards.

The Three Kings Cavalcade is one of the most striking activities you can enjoy in Seville with children in the month of January, specifically on the 5th.

In this traditional children's festival, beautiful floats travel through the main streets of the city in a colourful and extravagant parade with the presence of Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar, who throw sweets for the spectators to pick up.

This is now a traditional event in the city, which was first organised by the Athenaeum in 1918.

Practical information

• Where: All over the city centre. It starts at the University and goes through the Rondas, the city centre, Macarena, Triana and Los Remedios.
• Price: totally free
• When: 5 January from 5pm to 10pm.

The 6th of January not only marks the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Seville, but it is also the day when Sevillians can taste the Roscón de Reyes, one of the most delicious jams in Spain.

The Roscón de Reyes is a ring-shaped sweet filled with cream and decorated with glazed fruit as if it were a royal crown.

If you want to do as the Sevillians do, pick one up at any bakery or café and enjoy it for breakfast with a steaming cup of café con leche.

After the gift exchange on January 6th, Sevillian shops start with the sales, a unique opportunity to take advantage of the most affordable prices and buy gifts for the whole family and friends.

It is a particularly interesting time for tourists, who can enjoy a quieter and more comfortable shopping experience, as they avoid the crowds of the days before Christmas.

Whether you choose the big shops or the Torre Sevilla or Nervión shopping centres, you will see how they compete with each other to see which one offers the most attractive prices and offers to seduce potential customers. Just like those in San Jacinto, Triana, Los Remedios or the Los Arcos shopping centre.

One of the advantages of travelling to Seville in January is that, unlike other cities, the weather is not too harsh. Thus, maximum temperatures usually rise to 16º, while minimum temperatures rarely fall below 6º.

On the other hand, it is not a particularly rainy month either, with an average of six days of rainfall.

In any case, it is always advisable to check the weather forecast a few days before travelling.