Photographing Seville: the Plaza, the Lanes and the Two Weeks to Avoid
Seville has the opposite problem to most cities. There is no shortage of places to photograph — there are too many, and nearly all of them fail at the wrong hour. A session that works here is organised by light, not by map.
5 photo spots in Seville — click a pin to open the full guide
The Plaza de España is a trap by mid-morning
It is the most photographed place in the city and deservedly so: a brick semicircle two hundred metres across, tiled bridges over a canal, and forty-eight alcoves each tiled with a Spanish province. It is also where the most sessions go wrong.
The reason is simple. It is an open space facing the sun, and the brickwork starts to glare by mid-morning. By eleven the stone is burnt out, faces are squinting, and the azulejos have lost the colour that justified coming.
The answer is to go early. First thing the plaza is nearly empty — the coach tours arrive later — and the light comes in low and sideways, which is exactly what the reliefs need. It is the highest-value hour of the day in the whole city.
If you can only come in the afternoon, stay under the arcades and beneath the bridges, where there is built shade.
Santa Cruz holds up when nothing else does
The old Jewish quarter is a maze of whitewashed lanes, patios full of pots and orange trees. Its practical virtue is that high white walls bounce light rather than taking it head on, so it works at midday, when the plaza no longer does.
That makes it the natural second stop: Plaza de España at sunrise, Santa Cruz afterwards. The order matters.
Two warnings. It is a genuine maze and easy to get lost in, and some lanes are too narrow for a large group. With a pushchair it is uncomfortable.
Las Setas, so the whole set is not arches
The Metropol Parasol is an enormous timber structure in the middle of the old town with a walkway across the top. Aesthetically it has nothing to do with the rest of the city, and that is its value: it stops the whole session being arches, tiles and whitewash.
Twenty minutes here changes the rhythm of the set completely. The walkway is ticketed and has opening hours; the square below is free and already gives you the shape.
The river at the end of the day
The Guadalquivir gives the last light. From the Triana bridge you have the Torre del Oro on one side and the Triana facades on the other, and the water holds the sky's colour for several minutes after the sun has gone.
It is the logical close to a long session, and it needs no ticket, permit or timing beyond the sunset.
What clients say about this kind of shoot
What can we say about Dani except that he is the best. He did an amazing job catching all of our special moments (and there were A LOT of them) and, more importantly, making us and our guests feel completely comfortable and relaxed throughout the whole wedding. My husband and I are not the most photogenic couple and always get nervous in front of a camera, but we had such a fun time with him that we were able to relax and got a lot of wonderful shots. We recommend him to everyone who will listen, because you simply can't go wrong with Dani as your photographer. Thank you again!
— Ariana Cerdera on Daniel G.
Daniel captured our Indian wedding day so beautifully! The photos turned out amazing, and he managed to catch so many special, candid moments throughout the day. We are absolutely thrilled with his work. Thank you so much, Daniel!
— Arjun Lotay on Daniel G.
Well, I hired him for my wedding day and without a doubt it's one of the best decisions of my life ❤️ Dani has magic in his hands — his work is genuinely STUNNING. He was wonderful to deal with, he understood exactly what I wanted, and whatever I had imagined my photos would look like, Dani went far beyond it. Your photos make people cry, and looking at them takes you straight back to the moment. All I can say is that I'd choose you a thousand times over, and a million thanks for making such a beautiful day stay with us forever.
— Client on Daniel G.
It was a great experience for the family pictures. Great communication and engaging with kids.
— Alexandra on Dau S.
What an amazing experience we had with Dau! She was on time, ready to go, prepared to keep our belongs safe, and so personable. Her assistant, her mother, was also so sweet and kind. If you are looking to savor some memories this is the photographer to use!!!
— Stephanie on Dau S.
Having Daniel for our daughter's christening was one of the best decisions we've made — not only because of how kind he is, but because he managed to put everything we lived that day into pictures. The quality of the photos, and how natural they feel, is what we liked most. Thank you so much for the wonderful job you did.
— Rocío Ruix on Daniel G.
The Real Alcázar: check before building a day around it
The gardens and courtyards are probably the most beautiful thing in the city. It is also a ticketed monument with timed capacity and restrictions on professional photography sessions.
For personal photographs during a normal visit there is usually no issue. For an organised session with a hired photographer, check the current conditions before planning the day around the Alcázar rather than after.
When not to come
Two weeks a year when Seville is wonderful and a photo session is not viable:
- Semana Santa. The centre fills, many streets close for the processions, and moving between two points can take an hour.
- The Feria de Abril. The city decamps to the fairground and everything else runs at half speed.
If you are travelling then, assume the session will be in outer neighbourhoods or at first light.
And the heat: July and August routinely pass 40°C. In summer there are two usable hours, at dawn and at the end of the afternoon. April, May, October and November are the good months — and see the seasonal guide for how that compares with the rest of Spain.
A route that works
- Sunrise — Plaza de España, empty and side-lit
- Mid-morning — Santa Cruz, shade and whitewash
- Midday — stop; it is the worst light and the worst heat
- Afternoon — Las Setas or Triana
- Sunset — the river from the Triana bridge
Four stops within walking distance, in the order the light opens them.
The photographers covering Seville work this city weekly and will fit the route to your date, the sunset time and how far you are willing to walk.
Frequently asked questions
What time of day should I photograph the Plaza de España?
First thing in the morning. It is an open space facing the sun, and the brickwork starts to glare by mid-morning — by eleven the stone is burnt out, faces are squinting and the azulejos have lost their colour. At sunrise the plaza is nearly empty, the coach tours have not arrived, and the light comes in low and sideways, which is exactly what the reliefs need; if you can only come in the afternoon, stay under the arcades and beneath the bridges.
Can I have a photoshoot in the Real Alcázar of Seville?
Check before building a day around it. The gardens and courtyards are probably the most beautiful thing in the city, but it is a ticketed monument with timed capacity and restrictions on professional photography sessions. Personal photographs during a normal visit are usually no issue; for an organised session with a hired photographer, verify the current conditions first.
When should I avoid Seville for a photoshoot?
Semana Santa and the Feria de Abril — two weeks when the city is wonderful and a session is not viable, with streets closed for processions and everything else running at half speed. And the heat: July and August routinely pass 40°C, leaving two usable hours at dawn and the end of the afternoon. April, May, October and November are the good months.
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