Real Alcázar Tickets & Guide 2026 | Seville's Royal Palace

By Emma · Updated 8 October 2026 · 3 min read

TL;DR

General tickets are timed, so book online a few days ahead (weeks in spring)
Allow as long for the gardens as for the palaces
The Upper Royal Quarters cost extra and have tiny tour groups
Go at opening time to beat heat and crowds

Type: Landmark
Where: Seville
Time needed: 2-3 hours
Admission: from about €15.50 (2026), book a timed slot, check current prices

The Real Alcázar is the oldest royal palace in Europe still in use, and one of the loveliest buildings in Spain. Begun as a Moorish fortress, it was transformed in the 14th century by King Pedro I, who hired craftsmen from Granada and Toledo to build a palace in the Mudéjar style: Islamic-inspired arches, tiles and plasterwork made for a Christian king. Later monarchs added Gothic halls and Renaissance gardens, and the Spanish royal family still stays here when in Seville.

What you'll see

Palace of King Pedro I: the highlight. The Patio de las Doncellas (Courtyard of the Maidens) with its sunken pool and orange trees, and the Hall of Ambassadors under a gilded wooden dome.
Gothic Palace: vaulted halls lined with 16th-century tiles and the Tapestry Room.
Baths of Doña María de Padilla: atmospheric rainwater cisterns beneath the palace.
Gardens: acres of fountains, pavilions, palms and pools, including the Mercury Pond and the Gallery of Grotesques. Fans of Game of Thrones will recognise them as the Water Gardens of Dorne.

Tickets and opening hours

General ticket: €15.50 for an adult in 2026, covering the ground floor of the palaces and the gardens, with a timed entry slot.
Reduced: €8 for visitors over 65 and students aged 14-30 (with proof).
Upper Royal Quarters (Cuarto Real Alto): a €5.50 supplement for a short, small-group visit to the rooms used by the royal family.
Free: children up to 13 with an adult.
Opening hours: 9.30am-5pm from 1 October to 31 March and 9.30am-7pm from 1 April to 30 September. Closed 1 and 6 January, Good Friday and 25 December.

Buy on the official Real Alcázar ticketing site; many lookalike sites sell the same entry with an audio guide at more than double the price. Check current prices before you book.

The Upper Royal Quarters slots are few and often sell out well before general tickets. If you want them, book that combination first.

When to go

Seville is one of Europe's hottest cities, and the gardens offer little relief in the afternoon from June to September. Take the first slot of the day, see the palace while it is cool, then wander the gardens before lunch. In spring, around Easter (Semana Santa) and the April Fair, tickets go much faster than usual, so book a couple of weeks ahead.

Getting there

The main entrance is the Puerta del León on Plaza del Triunfo, opposite the cathedral and Giralda tower. Everything in the old centre is walkable. Flights from London to Seville take about 2 hours 40 minutes, and the airport bus reaches the centre in around 35 minutes.

Spend the rest of the day at the cathedral next door and the Barrio Santa Cruz, then add Granada's Alhambra and Córdoba on our Andalusia road trip.

Where is Real Alcázar?

Open in OpenStreetMap · 37.38321, -5.99018

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book the Real Alcázar in advance?

It's strongly recommended. Capacity is capped and online slots can sell out days ahead in high season. In quiet months, a day or two is often enough.

How long does a visit take?

Two to three hours for most people: about an hour in the palaces and the rest in the gardens.

Is an audio guide included?

The official site offers a free downloadable audio guide you can use on your phone, so bring headphones.

Which Game of Thrones scenes were filmed here?

Scenes set in the Water Gardens of Dorne were filmed in the palace and gardens, notably around the Baths of Doña María de Padilla and the Hall of Ambassadors.

Written by

Emma City breaks & deals editor

Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.