Seville is more affordable than Madrid or Barcelona for an equivalent level of comfort. The working budget of €75 per person per day covers a decent double room, meals and the main monument entries.
Accommodation spans a wide range. A hostel dorm bed in the historic centre costs €20-35 per night. A double room in a three-star hotel or characterful guesthouse in Santa Cruz runs €65-110 depending on the season. A boutique hotel (many converted historic palaces) starts at €120-180. During Holy Week and the April Fair, prices can double or triple — book four to six months ahead.
The food scene offers outstanding value in local bars. A set lunch menu (3 courses with wine) in a neighbourhood taberna away from tourist routes costs €10-15. A tapa (one bite + one drink) runs €2-4 in a traditional bar. Dinner in a good Andalusian restaurant is €20-35 per person. Avoid the restaurants immediately surrounding the cathedral — opt for bars on the Alameda, in Triana or near the Encarnación market.
Entry fees are reasonable. Cathedral + Giralda: €12 (free Monday 4:30-6 pm). Alcázar: €14.50 (free Monday 4-5 pm). Plaza de España: free. Italica: €1.50 (free for EU citizens). Fine Arts Museum: €1.50 (free for EU citizens). The Metropol Parasol (Las Setas) offers a city panorama for €5.
Read also
- Andalusia — Granada, Córdoba, Málaga, Ronda and the Pueblos Blancos — the great south of Spain.
- Granada and the Alhambra — The Nasrid palace, the Albaicín, Sacromonte and Spain's unique free tapas tradition.
- Spain — Complete guide: entry requirements, budget, regions and the best time to visit.
- Barcelona — Gaudí, the Sagrada Família and Mediterranean beaches in cosmopolitan Catalonia.