Seville is one of the easier Spanish cities to move to with children. It is flat, sunny for most of the year and small enough that few school runs take more than twenty minutes. The harder part is choosing where to live, because the city changes a lot from one neighbourhood to the next, and the right answer depends on your children's ages, your budget and whether you want an international school or a Spanish one.
This guide covers ten areas that families moving to Seville tend to shortlist, from leafy neighbourhoods near the centre to the commuter towns of the Aljarafe, with a short explanation of how Spanish schools work. Rents and school places change every year, so treat it as a starting point and check current listings and school websites before you decide.
The ten areas at a glance
| Area | Best for ages | Location | Type of home | Price guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Remedios | All ages | Across the river from the centre | Large flats | €€€ |
| Triana | 4 and over | Across the river from the old town | Flats, some townhouses | €€ |
| Nervión | All ages | East of the centre | Modern flats | €€ |
| El Porvenir | All ages | South of the centre, by María Luisa Park | Flats and older villas | €€€ |
| Heliópolis | All ages | South, near the river and the Betis stadium | Houses and low-rise flats | €€€ |
| Santa Clara | Under 12 | East | Detached and semi-detached houses | €€ |
| Sevilla Este | Under 12 | Far east | Newer flats with communal pools | € |
| Tomares | All ages | Aljarafe, west of the river | Houses with gardens | €€ |
| Mairena del Aljarafe | All ages | Aljarafe, on Metro line 1 | Houses and flats | €€ |
| Bormujos and Castilleja de la Cuesta | All ages | Aljarafe | Houses and townhouses | €€ |
Neighbourhoods inside the city
Los Remedios
Los Remedios sits just across the river from the old town and is the area most often recommended to families. Its streets follow a grid, with wide avenues, big apartment blocks and plenty of shops at street level. The Feria de Abril is held next door, which is great fun for a week in spring and very noisy for the same week. Families like it because you can walk to the centre over the San Telmo bridge and still have space for scooters and bikes. Flats are large but rarely cheap.
Triana
Triana is the old potters' and sailors' quarter on the west bank, with ceramics shops, the Triana market (Mercado de Triana) and a riverside walk that children love. It has a strong neighbourhood feel and lots of local families. The trade-off is space: many flats are older, and streets near the river are busy with visitors. It suits families with school-age children who want character over a big terrace.
Nervión
Nervión is a modern district east of the centre, built around offices, the Nervión Plaza shopping centre and the Sevilla FC stadium. It is practical rather than pretty. Transport is good (Metro line 1 and many bus routes), supermarkets and after-school clubs are everywhere, and new-build flats often come with lifts and parking, which matters with a pushchair.
El Porvenir
El Porvenir sits between the old town and María Luisa Park (Parque de María Luisa), the city's biggest park. Streets are quiet and tree-lined, with a mix of flats and early twentieth-century villas. Having the park on your doorstep is a real advantage for families with young children. It is one of the more expensive parts of Seville.
Heliópolis
Further south, Heliópolis was built as a garden suburb in the 1920s and still has many houses with small gardens. It is close to the river path and to the Real Betis stadium, and it feels calmer than the centre. Homes come up for rent less often here, so it pays to start looking early.
Santa Clara
Santa Clara is a residential area in the east made up mostly of detached and semi-detached houses. It appeals to families who want a garden without leaving the city. You will need a car for most errands, and it is quiet in the evenings, which some parents see as a plus.
Sevilla Este
Sevilla Este is a large, newer district on the eastern edge of the city. Blocks of flats often share communal gardens and pools, which is a big help in July and August, and prices are lower than in the centre. The downside is distance: getting into the old town by bus takes time, so it works best for families whose work and school are on that side of the city.
Towns in the Aljarafe
The Aljarafe is the raised plateau west of Seville, dotted with towns that have grown into commuter suburbs. Many families from abroad end up here because houses with gardens are easier to find and several private and international schools are nearby. Traffic on the bridges into Seville at rush hour is the main drawback.
Tomares
Tomares is one of the closest Aljarafe towns to the city and one of the most sought after by families. It has plenty of parks, sports facilities and a lively town centre. Homes range from flats to large detached houses.
Mairena del Aljarafe
Mairena has the big advantage of Metro line 1, which runs from Ciudad Expo into central Seville and out the other side. That makes it workable for parents who commute without a car. The town has a good mix of housing and plenty of children's sports clubs.
Bormujos and Castilleja de la Cuesta
These neighbouring towns are popular with families who want more space for their money. Castilleja de la Cuesta is home to Yago School, which teaches the Spanish curriculum alongside the International Baccalaureate. Expect to drive for most things.
How schools work in Seville
Spanish children start school in the year they turn three. Infant school (Educación Infantil) runs from three to six, primary (Primaria) from six to twelve and secondary (ESO) from twelve to sixteen. You will see three types of school:
- State schools (colegios públicos), free and run by the regional government of Andalusia.
- State-funded private schools (colegios concertados), often religious, with low or no fees for the core timetable.
- Private schools (colegios privados), including the international and British schools.
Applications for state and state-funded schools in Andalusia are made in spring for the following September. Places depend largely on where you live, so your address affects which schools you can realistically get into. If you arrive mid-year, contact the local education office as soon as you are registered at your new address.
International schools in and around Seville include CBS, The British School of Seville, St. Angela International School (British curriculum with Spanish subjects), Colegio Internacional de Sevilla San Francisco de Paula in the historic centre (the full IB programme), Highlands School Sevilla, Deutsche Schule Sevilla and Yago School. Visit before you sign a lease, because the school run will shape your daily routine.
Practical tips before you choose
- Visit in summer if you can. From June to September afternoons regularly pass 35°C, and a flat with air conditioning, shade or a communal pool makes a big difference with children.
- Expect a different daily rhythm. Lunch is eaten around 2pm, many small shops close in the early afternoon and reopen around 5pm, and children's parks fill up after 7pm.
- Check the lift. Many older buildings in the centre have narrow stairs and no lift, which is hard work with a pushchair.
- Look at the bus and Metro map before you look at flats. A short, direct school run matters more than a few extra square metres.
- Ask about parking. In the centre and Triana, a parking space is often rented separately.
Meeting local families when you arrive
Making friends is often the hardest part of a move. Woltica is a family social network where travelling families and families who have just moved can meet local parents with children of similar ages, and through the open neighbourhood circle you can find families living near you in Seville and join their meet-ups. You can find out more about Woltica before you arrive.