The Feria del Caballo in May is the single most compelling reason to plan your visit around a specific date. The Horse Fair, held in the Las Banderas exhibition park, draws riders from across Andalusia and beyond, the city fills with women in flamenco dress and men on horseback, and the casetas (marquee bars) serve chilled manzanilla from morning onwards. It lasts a week and is one of the great Spanish festivals.
Spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) are the most comfortable months for sightseeing: warm but not extreme, with long evenings and good light. The September Fiesta de la Vendimia — the grape harvest festival — is a smaller but atmospheric celebration with wine tastings and flamenco performances around the cathedral square.
July and August are very hot, regularly reaching 40°C, and humidity from the Atlantic makes it stickier than inland Andalusian cities. Winter is mild and green, with the sherry country landscape looking its best after autumn rains. The Reyes (Three Kings) processions on 5 January are elaborate and genuinely festive.