Where the City Eats, Drinks, and Argues Until Midnight
You step out of a December evening in Sevilla and the whole centre is lit up for Christmas and for the long weekend that wraps around 6 December, Día de la Constitución. The air smells of roasted chestnuts and churros fried in hot oil, the crowds are three deep along the shopping streets, and the bars are loud with the particular Sevillano mix of celebration and political debate. Constitution Day marks the 1978 referendum that approved Spain's current constitution, and in Sevilla it lands right at the start of the December puente — the run of public holidays that makes this one of the busiest long weekends of the year.
Eat Your Way Through the Christmas Markets
Sevilla's Christmas markets open in late November and run through the Christmas period, and the Constitution Day long weekend falls right in the middle of them. Go hungry.
- Plaza Nueva — the city's main Christmas market fills this square beside the Ayuntamiento with wooden stalls selling figurines for belenes (nativity scenes), sweets, and decorations. This is where you come for the classic market atmosphere.
- Plaza de San Francisco — a smaller market in the heart of the old town, a short walk from the Cathedral, good for a quick browse between sights.
- Mercado de Navidad on Avenida de la Constitución — stalls along the wide avenue that runs from Plaza Nueva past the Cathedral, selling gifts, sweets and seasonal goods.
- Belén displays — Sevilla takes its nativity scenes seriously. The city's belenes, both the monumental public ones and the ones in churches and civic buildings, are a December tradition in their own right.
For eating, head to a bar for tapas — the free or low-cost small plates that come with a drink in many traditional bars — or sit down for a plate of jamón ibérico and a glass of fino or manzanilla, the dry sherries from nearby Jerez and Sanlúcar that Sevillanos drink before lunch. In December you will also find mantecados and polvorones, the crumbly almond-and-lard Christmas sweets, and turrón on every market stall.
Join the Crowds in the Centre
Constitution Day itself, 6 December, is a national public holiday, and in Sevilla the city centre fills with people. There is no single official parade or fireworks display that the sources record for Sevilla specifically on this date, so treat the day as a city-wide street celebration rather than a ticketed event.
- Walk the centre — the area between Plaza Nueva, Avenida de la Constitución, the Cathedral and the Barrio de Santa Cruz becomes one continuous promenade of families, shoppers and visitors.
- See the lights — Sevilla's Christmas illuminations are switched on in late November and stay up through the season, so the Constitution Day weekend is one of the first chances to see the centre lit.
- Check local listings — the Ayuntamiento de Sevilla and the Junta de Andalucía publish the programme of civic acts, concerts and institutional events for the day. Look for them locally or on the city's website in the days before.
- Expect the puente — with 6 December and 8 December (Inmaculada Concepción) falling close together, many Sevillanos take the days between as holiday. Book transport and tables early.
Cross the River to Triana
When the centre gets too crowded, walk across the Puente de Isabel II (the Triana bridge) into Triana, the neighbourhood on the far bank of the Guadalquivir. It is the traditional home of Sevillano ceramics and flamenco, and its market, the Mercado de Triana, is a good place to eat. In December the streets here are quieter than the centre but still dressed for the season, and the walk along Calle Betis gives you the classic view back across the river to the Torre del Oro and the Cathedral.
Plan Around the Puente
Constitution Day 2026 falls on Sunday 6 December, with the Inmaculada on Tuesday 8 December — so the long weekend runs from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 December. Sevilla in early December is mild by day, cool in the evening, and dry far more often than not, which makes it good walking weather. Book accommodation and trains well ahead: this is one of the most heavily travelled weekends in the Spanish calendar, and Sevilla is a popular destination for it. Bring layers for the evening, cash for the market stalls, and an appetite for the bars. Start with your dates, then build the trip around the centre, the markets, and a walk across the river.