April is one of the best times of the year to visit Seville (Image: Getty)
If you’re currently craving sunshine without a long-haul flight, there’s one European destination that stands out this spring. While much of northern Europe is only just shaking off winter, Seville is in full bloom. Just a short 2.5-hour flight from the UK, the beautiful city is already basking in warm temperatures of around 24C in April, according to 1001 Holidays.
Orange trees line its streets, outdoor cafés buzz with life, and the scent of jasmine hangs in the air. April is arguably one of the best times to visit. The intense summer heat hasn’t yet arrived, but the city is alive with colour and culture. The Andalusian capital comes alive with two of its most famous annual events – Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the Feria de Abril.
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The city comes alive with festivals like Semana Santa and Feria de Abril (Image: Getty)
Semana Santa is one of Spain’s most important religious celebrations with dramatic processions winding through Seville’s streets.
The Feria de Abril usually takes place about two weeks later and transforms the city into a vibrant explosion of colour, music and dance. Locals gather in decorated tents known as casetas, dressed in traditional flamenco attire, while horses and carriages parade through the fairgrounds.
Visitors can also wander through the historic old town, one of the largest in Europe, where narrow streets open into picturesque plazas filled with tapas bars and hidden courtyards.
The Real Alcázar, a stunning royal palace with intricate Moorish design, feels like stepping into another world, while the Seville Cathedral is also breathtaking with its immense scale, intricate Gothic architecture, and awe-inspiring interior filled with soaring vaulted ceilings, historic artworks, and the tomb of Christopher Columbus. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world’s largest gothic cathedral. Climbing the Giralda tower might take a minute but it rewards visitors with panoramic views across the sun-soaked city.
One cannot say they’ve been to Seville without seeing Plaza de España. This vast and beautifully designed square, with its sweeping semi-circular building, tiled alcoves representing Spain’s provinces and picturesque canal, is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
Getting there couldn’t be easier, with direct flights from several UK airports. Airlines including Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways and Vueling operate routes to Seville, with flight times averaging around 2.5 hours. Departures are available from major hubs such as London Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, as well as regional airports like Bristol.
That means you could leave behind grey skies in the morning and be sipping a cold drink in the Spanish sun by lunchtime.
Plaza de España is one of the most spectacular places in Seville (Image: Getty)
One TripAdvisor wrote about the Plaza de España on March 20: « It’s just a square’ you might think, and instead we spent 5 hours there without even realising it.
« First of all the building that dominates it is spectacular and you will take a thousand photos looking for the perfect shot. You will tour Spain watching the representations of its provinces. If you have time, take a boat ride in the artificial river (if there are not too many people it is also relaxing).
Another person from Basingstoke said Seville’s cathedral is « just beautiful. »
They added: « You do not to be religeious to enjoy the sheer majesty, scale and architecture of this building. From what I read I reckon its roughly the size of 4 football pitches and is beautiful inside and out. »
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