Most English councils and all of Wales break up for October half-term on Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 (a few councils differ, so check your own school calendar). Late October in Seville is usually warm, with highs often in the mid-20s Celsius and the odd wet day, which makes it one of the easiest times of year to do the city with children. These are the places that work best, in roughly the order I would book them.
Timings that catch British families out
Lunch in Spain is late, usually from about 2pm, and dinner rarely starts before 9pm. Many small shops close for the siesta in the afternoon, so plan your shopping for the morning. With young children, do what locals do: have a big late breakfast, an early afternoon rest, and a long evening stroll when it is cooler and the parks fill up.
Seville with kids at a glance
| Place | Best for ages | Area | Type | Price guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Alcázar | 6 and over | Old town | Palace and gardens | €€ (children's age limit varies, check website) |
| Plaza de España and its boats | All ages | Parque de María Luisa | Square, rowing boats | Free (boats €) |
| Parque de María Luisa | All ages | Centre | Park, pedal vehicles | Free (rentals €) |
| Parque de los Descubrimientos | 2 to 10 | Isla de la Cartuja | Pirate-ship playground | Free |
| Seville Aquarium | 3 and over | Muelle de las Delicias | Indoor aquarium | €€ |
| Casa de la Ciencia | 3 to 12 | Parque de María Luisa | Science centre, planetarium | € |
| Giralda and cathedral | 5 and over | Old town | Tower and cathedral | €€ (check website) |
| Metropol Parasol (Las Setas) | All ages | Plaza de la Encarnación | Viewpoint | € |
| Isla Mágica | 4 and over | Isla de la Cartuja | Theme park | €€€ (check website) |
| Guadalquivir boat trip | 3 and over | Muelle de las Delicias | River cruise | €€ |
The places in more detail
Real Alcázar
The royal palace is the obvious first booking. Entry is by timed slot, tickets can sell out weeks ahead, and children under a set age are free, although sources quote anything from under-12 to under-16, so check the official site and add them to your booking anyway. Go for the first slot of the morning or late afternoon, when it is quieter. The gardens are the part children remember, with their ponds, peacocks and hedge maze.
Plaza de España and Parque de María Luisa
Plaza de España is free to wander, and you can hire rowing boats on the semicircular canal for a short slot. It is the best-known photo spot in the city, so go early before the tour groups arrive. Next door, Parque de María Luisa is big and shady, with pedal buggies you can hire, and it is a good place to let children run off energy at the end of a sightseeing morning.
Parque de los Descubrimientos
Across the river on Isla de la Cartuja, this playground has a large wooden galleon with walkways and slides, plus sand and water play. It is the best playground in Seville for under-tens, and it costs nothing.
Seville Aquarium and a river trip
The Aquarium sits on the Muelle de las Delicias, is air-conditioned, and has shark pools and touch tanks. It is a sensible wet-weather option. From the same stretch of riverbank you can take a boat trip on the Guadalquivir, which shows you the Torre del Oro and the Triana bridge without much walking.
Casa de la Ciencia
This science centre in Parque de María Luisa is aimed at roughly 5 to 12, and its planetarium shows are open to children from 3. Check the workshop timetable before you go, because sessions change by day.
Giralda, Metropol Parasol and the old town
The Giralda is climbed by ramps rather than stairs, which small legs manage better, although it is worth asking about pushchair rules at the cathedral. The Metropol Parasol (known locally as Las Setas, "the mushrooms") has a walkway at the top, best at sunset when the heat has gone out of the day.
Isla Mágica
The theme park decorates for Halloween in October, but opening days in autumn are limited and some shows are not suitable for younger children, so check the calendar and age notes before buying tickets. The water park part of the site is a summer thing, so do not plan your day around it.
If you have a car
Mundo Park, at Guillena just outside the city, is a wildlife park and a good half-day if your children are animal mad. You need a car or taxi, and it is worth checking opening days before you set off. Alamillo Park, on Isla de la Cartuja, has a mini-train on Sunday mornings outside summer.
How to spread it over the week
If you have five days, I would book one big sight and one easy morning each day rather than stacking things up. A sensible shape is the Alcázar on the first morning while everyone is fresh, a playground and the Plaza de España on the second, the Aquarium or Casa de la Ciencia on the first grey day, the river and the Giralda on the fourth, and a slow day in Parque de María Luisa at the end. Isla Mágica or a trip out of town only makes sense if the weather has been kind and the children still have energy.
The old town (Santa Cruz and El Arenal) is walkable, and much of it is cobbled, so a lightweight pushchair or a baby carrier is easier than a big travel system. Open-top bus tickets are a useful rest for small legs, but check whether a second day is included before you pay.
Practical tips for half-term week
Three things are worth sorting before you fly:
- Book the Real Alcázar in advance and put every child on the booking.
- Choose accommodation within walking distance of Santa Cruz or El Arenal, so you can get back for the siesta.
- Pack a light waterproof; October showers in Seville can be heavy but short.
If you are staying into the weekend, remember that 1 November (All Saints) is a public holiday in Spain, so some shops and restaurants may close or change hours.
Seville is easier with children if someone local can tell you which playground the neighbourhood actually uses. Woltica's travelling families circle puts travelling families in touch with families who live in the city, and you can read more at Woltica.