Real Alcázar of Seville: The Complete Visitor's Guide

The Real Alcázar of Seville is a royal palace built over a thousand years, from an Islamic government house of 913 to the Mudéjar palace of King Pedro I and the gardens of the Renaissance. The official site describes it as one of the oldest palaces in use in the world, and the Spanish royal family still stays upstairs. This guide brings together everything you need to plan a visit, with links to the detailed guides on each topic.

The essentials

Ticket	€15.50; reduced €8.00; children under 13 free
Where to buy	Official ticket shop
Hours	09:30–19:00 (1 April – 30 September); 09:30–17:00 (1 October – 31 March)
Closed	1 January, 6 January, Good Friday and 25 December
Time needed	2 to 3 hours
Entrance	Puerta del León (Lion Gate), Plaza del Triunfo
Address	Patio de Banderas, s/n, 41004 Sevilla

Prices and hours checked against the official visitor page, September 18, 2026. They can change; check before you travel.

Tickets

The general ticket covers the palaces and the gardens. Book a time slot online: for most of the year a day or a few days ahead is enough, but spring and autumn weekends fill early. Three things are sold separately or run on their own quota:

• The Upper Royal Quarters, €5.50 extra, in small groups. See Upper Royal Quarters.
• The free Monday visit, the last hour of the day, which sells out early. See free entry.
• Theatrical night visits, €15.00. See night visits.

Full details: tickets and booking. If the official shop gives you trouble, see booking problems; and to avoid resellers, the official website.

When to go

• The first slot of the day (09:30) is the calmest, and the best for photographs.
• Late afternoon is quieter again, with softer light in the gardens.
• In summer, avoid the gardens at midday. See visiting in summer.

More in opening hours and the best time to visit.

How long you need

Two to three hours for the palaces and gardens at a relaxed pace; add 30 to 45 minutes for the Upper Royal Quarters. With only an hour, focus on the Palace of Pedro I and a short loop of the gardens. See is it worth it, and how long?

What to see

In the order you meet them:

1. The Lion Gate and the first courtyards.
2. The Patio del Yeso, from the Almohad palace, and the Hall of Justice.
3. The Patio de la Montería and the façade of Pedro I's palace.
4. The Cuarto del Almirante, home of the Casa de la Contratación.
5. The Palace of Pedro I: the Patio de las Doncellas, the Hall of the Ambassadors, the Patio de las Muñecas.
6. The Gothic Palace, with its tapestries and tiles.
7. The Baths of María de Padilla.
8. The gardens, as much a part of the visit as the palaces.

The full room-by-room route: what to see. And our photo gallery shows each highlight.

The history in one paragraph

Founded by the Umayyads in 913 and rebuilt by the Abbadids and the Almohads, the Alcázar passed to the Christian kings of Castile in 1248. Alfonso X added a Gothic palace; in the 1360s Pedro I built his palace in the Mudéjar style, the architecture of al-Andalus made for a Christian king. From 1503 the Casa de la Contratación ran Spain's trade with the Americas from its rooms; Charles V married here in 1526. UNESCO listed it in 1987. Read more: the history, the Islamic centuries, Mudéjar architecture and 50 facts.

Guided tour or on your own?

On your own is fine, and cheapest, if you like to wander and read. A guide adds the stories hidden in the inscriptions and the building phases, and a tour often has space when your date is sold out. The main options, compared in guided tours:

• The Viator best seller, the Alcázar and Cathedral tour: 5,402 reviews, 3 hours 30 minutes, non-refundable.
• The Royal Alcázar tour with priority access: from €56.00, 1 hour 30 minutes, free cancellation.
• The early access tour, before the palace opens to the public.

Getting there

The Alcázar is in the historic centre, on Plaza del Triunfo opposite the Cathedral. Walk from anywhere in the old town; the nearest stops are Archivo de Indias (tram T1) and Puerta de Jerez (metro line 1). See how to get there and the queue.

Practical tips

• What to wear: comfortable shoes and sun protection; no dress code. See visitor tips.
• Bags: keep them small; there is a security check.
• Photos: personal photography is allowed. See the photography guide.
• Families: children under 13 are free, and the maze is a favourite. See with kids.
• Accessibility: much of the ground floor and the gardens are accessible, with some steps. See wheelchair access.

Around the Alcázar

Seville Cathedral and the Giralda, the free Archive of the Indies and the Santa Cruz quarter are all within a few minutes' walk. See things to do nearby, Alcázar vs Cathedral, Seville in one day and two days in Seville. Going on to Granada? Alcázar or Alhambra?

Frequently asked questions

How much is a ticket to the Real Alcázar?

€15.50 for a general ticket; €8.00 reduced; free for children under 13.

Do I need to book in advance?

It is strongly recommended. Usually a day or a few days ahead is enough; book earlier for spring, autumn and the Upper Royal Quarters.

How long does a visit take?

Two to three hours.

What is the best time to visit?

At opening (09:30) or in the late afternoon.

Is the Real Alcázar worth it?

For most visitors it is the highlight of Seville.

Is it the official website?

No. This is an independent guide; the official site is alcazarsevilla.org.

Can I visit the Alcázar and the Cathedral on the same day?

Yes: the Alcázar in the morning, the Cathedral in the afternoon.

Is the Alcázar still a royal palace?

Yes. The Upper Royal Quarters are used by the Spanish royal family in Seville.