Things to do in Seville in December

Here are my picks for things to do in Seville in December. While it’s a month in which temperatures may have dropped (a little bit compared to other European cities!), the city is still a flurry of activity as people gear up for the holiday season.

With festive cheer sweeping the city’s streets, Seville is the perfect place to visit during December. As time goes by, more and more people are choosing Seville for their winter getaway, and with good reason! From traditional celebrations to local customs, the simplest things to the truly spectacular, here are our picks for things to do in Seville in December.

Visit a Christmas market

Visiting a market is an essential part of winter tradition in Seville. Across the city you’ll find a variety of Christmas markets, each with their own unique selection of goods.

• Mercado Navideño de Artesanía & Navidad en la Alameda de Hércules: These are two of the most popular markets in Seville. With so many stalls providing beautiful hand-crafted toys, ornaments and clothes, this is the perfect place to find a special Christmas gift.

• Feria del Belén: To experience something unique and traditional, head to the Feria del Belén. Here you can see the wide range of figurines that locals purchase for the nativity display in their homes. The tradition of the nativity display has been alive in Seville for centuries, and the city’s nativity market is one of the biggest of its kind in Spain.

Appreciate the nighttime views

With so much incredible architecture dotted across the city, Seville’s skyline has to be seen to be believed. Although the views are spectacular all year round, with the sun going down earlier in winter, seeing the sights lit up at night gives them a new kind of magic.

For the best nighttime views, head to some of the city’s rooftop bars (don’t worry, there will be heaters placed outside!) or to the top of Las Setas in the center of the city. The iconic mushroom-shaped monument provides a breathtaking panoramic view of Seville.

Enter the New Year in Seville

Tradition is incredibly important to people in Seville, and New Year’s is no exception. Generally speaking, the celebration is a family affair. Relatives will gather for a dinner of fish and white wine and as the clock strikes twelve, people scramble to stuff 12 grapes into their mouth, one at each stroke of midnight. This tradition is said to bring good luck, but we can never manage to make it to twelve!

Restaurants put together special menus for New Year’s Eve and huge crowds also gather in Plaza Nueva to eat their grapes under the glow of an astonishing fireworks display. The party goes on long into the night as people don’t have to work the next day!

Enjoy the nice weather

For many people, the average temperature of 12ºC (54ºF) in Seville during December wouldn’t even be considered winter! You’ll still need a coat and hat, but the mild temperatures mean you can get out and soak up the Festive atmosphere in comfort.

Take a stroll through Seville’s parks, stop and listen to the beautiful carols sung in the city center and appreciate the beautiful Christmas lights along the main streets – it all sounds pretty good to me!

Warm up with a hot chocolate with churros

Sitting down to a nice cup of hot chocolate is one of life’s simple pleasures! Of course, hot chocolate is something that can be enjoyed all year round, but there’s something special about being inside in a warm, cozy café knowing how chilly it is outside!

And while you are at it, why don’t you dip some churros on your hot chocolate? Although churros are usually for breakfast, you can also have them on the afternoon. They are are made of fresh dough that is fried. The dough is squeezed with the help of a pastry bag and fried into hot oil. Once removed from the vat, churros are cut into lengths and eaten hot. Simply delicious!