10 Things to Do in Seville in November

Autumn is the ideal time for many tourists to visit Seville due to the pleasant climate, which is neither too cold nor too hot. The colours of Seville's vegetation make it a paradise to behold and the arrival of the Christmas holidays is already beginning to be felt.

In November, in addition to everything there is to see and do in Seville, there are a series of activities specific to this time of year. Its wealth of culture, tradition and history have amazed millions of tourists and you can be one of them.

Although you can visit this park any day of the year, in November it is a unique experience. The Mediterranean autumn weather is very pleasant and the colour palette of each leaf of the trees ranges from green, yellow, orange and red.

The Maria Luisa Park is surrounded by leafy groves of willows, poplars, poplars, elms, wild olive trees, holm oaks and strawberry trees; it could look like a fairy tale, can you imagine living a fantasy like this?

An excellent option to visit this park and get to know all its secrets and nooks and crannies is to hire a guided tour of María Luisa Park, where an expert guide will explain the history of this green area, created from the gardens of the Palace of San Telmo, and will take you to its most representative places:

• The beautiful Plaza de América.
• The Museum of Popular Arts and Customs, in Mudejar style.
• The Royal Pavilion, in Gothic style.
• The Archaeological Museum, in Renaissance style.

Practical information

• Where: between Avda. de Portugal, Avda. de la Borbolla, Avda. de Eritaña, Paseo de las Delicias and Avda. de María Luisa.
• Price: free to visit on your own. Hiring a guided tour that includes María Luisa Park and Plaza de España costs only 12 euros.
• Opening hours: the park is open from 8:00 a.m. to midnight.

It's clear that visiting the Real Alcázar of Seville is a must-do no matter when you visit the city. However, November is the ideal time, because you can tour it at your own pace, in peace and quiet and without suffering the sun's rays and the 40-degree summer heat.

In recent years, the already attractive visit has added a new attraction, as the Real Alcázar was used as the setting for the filming of some scenes in the popular series Game of Thrones, specifically, as the location of the Water Gardens in Dorne, the residence of the Martell family.

To see the Real Alcázar, which is one of the best examples of a mixture of architectural styles in Spain, from Mudejar to Gothic, you have several options:

• Buy tickets to tour it on your own. Thanks to these tickets, you can enter the interior of the Real Alcázar of Seville without queuing or waiting.
• Hire a guided tour. You will enter without queuing or waiting and, for an hour and a half, a guide will explain the history of this fascinating complex. Afterwards, you will have time to visit the gardens at your own pace.
• Book a guided tour that also includes the Cathedral and the Giralda. This tour lasts 3 and a half hours and you will be able to visit the most representative monuments of Seville, including, of course, the Real Alcázar.

Practical information

• Where: Patio de Banderas, s/n
• Price: the highly recommended guided tour costs 35 €. The entrance ticket to visit it on your own without waiting or queuing costs 22 €.
• Opening hours: In November it is usually open from 9.30am to 5pm.

Although most visitors usually take advantage of their stay to attend a flamenco show in Seville, in November fans of this musical style have a very attractive destination just a few kilometres from the capital: the Soleá de Alcalá Flamenco Singing Competition.

This event takes place in Alcalá de Guadaíra, just 14 kilometres from the capital, and lasts approximately twenty days, during which up to ten singers a day from not only Andalusia, but also from other regions of Spain perform.

However, if you are in Seville on other dates or simply don't feel like leaving the city, there are plenty of options in the capital that you can't miss:

• Book tickets for a flamenco show at Tablao Pura Esencia: for one hour you can enjoy a flamenco show in the Triana neighbourhood, while you enjoy a complimentary drink.
• Book tickets for a flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria: classical guitar, heel-clicking and singing in one of the most charming places in Seville, at the 16th century Casa de la Memoria.
• Book tickets for a flamenco show at Lola de Los Reyes: witness the classic palos and rhythms of flamenco live at this legendary tablao in Triana.
• Book tickets for a flamenco show at Los Gallos: enjoy a show by the flamenco elite in one of the oldest tablaos in Seville.
• Book tickets for a flamenco show at Palacio Andaluz: discover the most elegant and luxurious essence of flamenco for an hour and a half in the heart of Seville.
• Book tickets for a flamenco show at the Flamenco Dance Museum: enjoy this show choreographed by flamenco dancer and founder Cristina Hoyos.

Practical information

• Where: Soleá de Alcalá Flamenco Peña Flamenca, C/ José García Alcalareño, Alcalá de Guadaira.
• Price: admission is free
• When: Friday and Saturday in November at around 10 pm.
• How to get there: as well as by car, there are three bus lines that connect the capital with Alcalá de Guaira, the 121, 122 and 123. Check the timetables here.

Although Halloween is behind us, November, with its All Souls' Day, retains a certain air of mystery that you can't miss when you visit Seville. That's why one of the best things to do is to take a night tour that will take you to its most mysterious corners. What's more, the weather in Seville during this month still allows you to stroll through the streets without fear of getting too cold.

This route, which you can do with a guide or organise on your own, must include the Santa Cruz neighbourhood, a place full of legends and stories of love and death, such as the Legend of the Susona.

Other magical places in the city include Calle Fabiola, Plaza de la Alfalfa and the current Faculty of Fine Arts, where students still report that strange events occur with no apparent explanation.

If you are not afraid of cemeteries and you like theatre, during the month of November you will be able to enjoy a performance of Don Juan Tenorio in San Fernando Cemetery, focusing on the third act of the play, in which you can contemplate the relationship between death, love and cemeteries.

This activity, although nowadays it is associated with Halloween, began to be developed for the Day of the Dead, which in Seville has always been closely related to the story of the famous Don Juan Tenorio.

I recommend it if you want to live a unique experience and attend a performance of Don Juan Tenorio in the cemetery of Seville under the light of dusk and the chandeliers.

Practical information

• Where: Av. Dr. Fedriani, s/n
• Price: around 15 €.
• Time: There are usually two performances, the first at around 5pm.

If you are someone who never misses a concert and you also want to enjoy what Seville's nightlife has to offer, Monkey Week is held in the Sevillian capital in the second half of November.

It is, in fact, more than just a music festival, as it also serves as a meeting point for industry professionals to share new trends.

However, as a visitor to the city, you will probably not be interested in these professional events, but rather in the night-time music programme. Concerts and parties take place in various venues and spaces around the city. In total, there are usually around 60 performances.

Practical information

• Where: Cartuja Center CITE, Espacio Santa Clara, Sala X, Sala Even and Sala Malandar.
• Price: there are different tickets depending on the number of days you want to attend.
• When: it is held over three days in the second half of November.

Autumn is also one of the most eagerly awaited seasons of the year because it allows gastronomy to exceed the expectations of its consumers. During this time of year, mushrooms, quince, chestnuts, figs, persimmons, rabbit, partridges, wild boar, venison and a wide variety of vegetables predominate. For example, you can celebrate Chestnut Day every November to enjoy a delicious, gluten-free nut, rich in fibre and vitamin C.

Or take part in the Mycological Days in the Sierra Norte de Sevilla Natural Park, organised by Constantina Town Council and the Sierra Norte de Sevilla Mycological Society. This activity has been held every November since 1996 and is free of charge, although prior registration is required.

Another excellent option to enjoy Andalusian gastronomy is to hire a tapas and flammenco tour in which you will visit the most characteristic bars of Seville and taste typical dishes such as meat with tomato, spinach, serranitos, fried food, tuna, almond tongues, cortadillos de cidra, torta de polvorón.... A real tribute!

If you are a horse lover, don't miss SICAB, the International Purebred Spanish Horse Show, which is held every year at the Seville Conference and Exhibition Centre.

SICAB brings together more than a thousand horses from 350 different stud farms, which perform more than 50 equestrian tests, different shows and competitions, such as the Morphology World Championship.

In addition, there are hundreds of livestock and commercial stands where you can find out about all the latest developments in the sector and buy products related to the world of horses.

Practical information

• Where: FIBES, Avda. Alcalde Luis Uruñuela, 1
• Price: from €11 for a ticket to the show, and from €14.5 for a ticket to the venue.
• When: one weekend in November

The Seville Book Fair is the main event of its kind in Andalusia and one of the most important in Spain, so if you are a literature lover and you are in Seville the first weekend of November, this is definitely an activity not to be missed.

In its fifty or so stands, at the Seville Book Fair you can discover works by the country's leading publishers and, of course, get copies signed by the most important authors.

Talks, presentations, storytelling, meetings and literary competitions complete the programme of a fair that has already won the National Prize for the Promotion of Reading and has been awarded the Medal of the City of Seville.

Practical information

• Where: Plaza Nueva
• Price: free of charge
• When: late October and early November

Although the weather in Seville in November is warm, especially compared to other regions, it can be cold and even rainy. Therefore, it is always a good idea to have plans to do indoors, sheltered from the inclement weather. Especially if it is as original as the one I present here.

It is a workshop to learn how to make your own espadrilles, fans and even wedges and heels in which you will have all the materials and you will be guided at all times by expert teachers. Of course, you'll be able to take your handmade creations home with you once the workshop is over.

And, as it couldn't be otherwise in Seville, at the end of the class you and your group can enjoy some typical tapas and toast this new learning experience with a drink.

Practical information

• Where: Seville
• Price: from 76 euros
• When: every day, at 10:00 and 15:30 hours.

During the month of November temperatures range from 11 degrees Celsius to 19 degrees Celsius. Although the weather is pleasant, it is important that you take warm and warm clothing, even a mackintosh, to avoid getting cold or even a cold.

Rain only occurs during the middle of the month, possibly eight to fifteen days of rain, so an umbrella and rain boots will be your best ally. Most days are dry with eight hours of daylight.