The Royal Alcázar of Seville is a palace complex begun in the 10th century and still used today by the Spanish Royal Family, which makes it the oldest royal palace in Europe still in use. What visitors call “the Alcázar” is in fact several palaces built one inside another over six centuries — and knowing which is which is what turns a walk-through into a visit.
 | Opening hours of the Alcazar of SevilleThe schedules displayed on our website are the official ones, although they may be modified by cultural activities and worship. |
| Opening of the monument | Opening hour is 9:30, but closing hour changes with the season — from 1 April the Alcázar stays open until 19:00, and from October to March it closes at 17:00. For current prices, the free-entry slot and the rules on nominative tickets, see Alcázar ticket prices and rules. |
 | How to get to the Alcazar of SevilleThe Real Alcázar of Seville is located in the Patio de Banderas next to the Avenida de la Constitución and constitutes the heart of Seville. It can be accessed by various means of transport. |
| Plane | From Seville Airport. (AENA Customer Information: +34954221404). AE Special Bus to Jardines del Cristina Station. |
| Train | From Santa Justa Station. (Information Stations RENFE: +34912432343). Take the commuter train to San Bernardo Station. Take Metrocentro to “Archivo de Indias” stop. |
| Bus | (TUSSAM: +34954975304). Lines: C4, C3, 5, 41, 42, C1 y C2. Stop “Jardines del Cristina”. |
The Alcazar of Seville:
history, curiosities and legends
The origin of the Sevillian Alcázar is in the old citadel (al-qasbah) of Madinat Isbiliya, the Islamic Seville. Over the centuries, the palatial space has been modified and renovated until it is in unbeatable condition to this day, being considered the oldest royal palace in Europe that is still in use.
The Alcázar belongs to the Seville City Council since 1931, when it was ceded by the government of the Second Republic, and since 1993 it has been managed by the Royal Alcázar Board of Trustees. Currently, by agreement with the National Heritage, the so-called “High Royal Room” is ceded for the exclusive use of the Spanish Royal House and other heads of state. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, along with the Cathedral and the Archivo de Indias. Entering the Reales Alcázares of Seville is entering an evocative world worthy of the best of fairy tales.
With more than fifteen hectares of palatial buildings and seven hectares of gardens, it has always stood out for its beauty and splendor. The gardens of the Alcázar are a kind of great historical botanical garden, with some 170 species from all over the world, where you can see the stylistic evolution of European gardens. As Walt Disney said at the time: “You could not have built a more beautiful and grandiose set.”
Our tours will introduce the visitor to a magical world where they can explore the different cultures that have passed through the city, contemplate the different artistic styles that have left their mark on its buildings and get lost in its evocative gardens.
If you want the easiest way to visit Seville’s top monuments in one go, our Alcazar Seville Tour is the most complete option.
Discover the secrets of the Alcázar
Visit its History, the rooms and the gardens of one of the most emblematic sites of the city of Seville: the Alcázar. Get the best prices for your guided visit to the Seville monument, and discover in detail what you will consider from this moment on as one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Walk, breathe, and enjoy the pleasant scent of gardens taken from a beautiful dream.
The gardens, in detail
Most visitors walk the first terrace and leave. The gardens guide: what most visitors miss covers the whole route.
The Grutesco Gallery — the man-made cliff built along the old city wall.
The Mercury Pond — the Renaissance fountain, and what it was before.
The Baths of Doña María de Padilla — the vaulted pool beneath the gardens, and the legend attached to it.
Beneath the Courtyard of the Flags
The courtyard you cross on the way in is the oldest part of the whole site, and what was found under it rewrote the Alcázar's origins. We told that story in the secret origins beneath the Alcázar.
The Alcázar is not one palace but several, built over nine centuries. These are the rooms people come for, each explained in detail
The rooms, one by one
The Patio de las Doncellas — the Mudéjar courtyard at the heart of Pedro I's palace.
The Patio de las Muñecas — the private courtyard, and the faces hidden in its columns.
The Hall of Ambassadors — the throne room under the golden dome.
The Cuarto Real Alto — the royal apartments, still in use, with a separate ticket.
The full route through the interior.
The palaces, building by building — who built each one, and why.
The Alcazar of Seville in Game of Thrones series
In April 2011, the HBO network premiered a television series called Game of Thrones, inspired by the series of novels ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’. What they could not imagine was the impact it would cause at a global level. In just eight years, it has become one of the mythical and cult series that has stood out, not only for its plot and audience but for its production carried out all over the world, to the point of generating exclusive tourism to visit the filming places. So, when in 2014, HBO announced Seville as the venue for the recording of the fifth season of this series, it was a real revolution.
According to one of the producers, Dan Weiss: ‘Seville is a wonderful city in a wonderful country. As I look around, I think that someone kindly designed all this for us many years ago, as if he was waiting for us to film. We could never have paid for something like this. Thanks to Carlos V for building it’. Seville became the capital of the kingdom of Dorne, and the Alcazar in The Water Gardens as a palace of the Martell dynasty, since the description of this kingdom in the books, tells us about a kingdom very similar to Al-Andalus. Thus, in the Alcázar, very important scenes were recorded for the future of the series. Plot and places such as The Ambassadors Room, the Grutescos Gallery, the Queen María Baths and others…where stories and anecdotes will be discovered by you with our guides.
The Alcázar played the Water Gardens of Dorne, and the locations are easier to recognise than most visitors expect. We mapped every one of them in the Alcázar as Dorne in Game of Thrones
Frequently asked questions
Is there a dress code at the Alcázar?
No. The Alcázar is a palace, not a place of worship, and there are no clothing rules. People often confuse it with Seville Cathedral, which is an active church and does enforce one: no bare shoulders or backs, no very short clothing, no beach footwear.
What time does the Alcázar close?
From October to March it closes at 17:00. From 1 April it moves to summer hours and stays open until 19:00. Last entry is around half an hour before closing.
Where is the entrance?
Through the Puerta del León, on the Patio de Banderas side, between the Cathedral and the Archivo de Indias. There is only one visitor entrance.
Is the Cuarto Real Alto included in the normal ticket?
No. The royal apartments are visited separately, with their own timed ticket and a guide. See the Cuarto Real Alto.
How long do you need inside?
Around 90 minutes for the palaces, closer to two hours if you want the gardens without rushing. We broke it down in how long a visit actually takes.
Can you buy tickets at the door?
Sometimes in low season, rarely in high season. The full picture is in visiting without booking.
Is the Alcázar ever free to visit?
Yes, there is a free-entry slot with its own conditions and a separate booking process. The details are in is the Alcázar free?
Pictures of Alcazar of Seville
The other two monuments
The magic of the Cathedral of Seville is waiting for you
Go up and discover the sky of the city of Seville
