Seville
Discover Seville
Seville (Spanish: Sevilla) is Andalusia's capital. With heritage from the Arabs and from the Age of Discovery, as well as the flamenco scene, Seville is a diverse destination. Tourist facilities are top-notch and the city is buzzing with festivals, color and a thriving nightlife scene. With more than 685,000 inhabitants (2021), and 1.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is Spain's fourth-largest city, dominating southern Spain.
Taste of Seville...
Seville, like most Andalusian destinations, is known for its tapas. "Tapa", while it is associated with certain dishes, is actually a size and many restaurants or bars will offer a tapa, media ración (half serving, although sometimes enough to make a meal) and ración (serving) of the same dish. There are many great tapas places around the foot of the cathedral in the centre of town. You can't go wrong; simply order one of everything to find your favourite! Some typical tapas include tortilla española (potato omelet), pulpo gallego (Galician octopus), aceitunas (olives), patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), and queso manchego (sheep's milk cheese from the region of La Mancha in central Spain). Also be sure to try the jamón (ham), which you often see hanging above the bar. Most of the restaurants kitchens do not open before 20:30 in the evening. Though usually some easy to prepare meals are available before that time. As the quality of food is considered of a great importance in Seville, most local bars will have very good food at a low price. For an authentic and interesting meal, stop at one of the many bars, especially one which doesn't offer English menus (the prices are likely to be lower!). Some bars near the river, such as Pedalquivir and El Faro de Triana, offer a nice view but aren't as good of a deal in terms of the quality of the food.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Seville.
Take some Spanish classes or do activities in Spanish to get in touch with the locals. Seville is home to many beautiful artifacts, some of the more popularly known are plates and Spanish tiles. Triana offers many ceramic factories where one can buy various tiles from authentic craftsmen. There are stores that custom design plates and tiles near the cathedral, especially in Calle Sierpes, but across the river in Triana are other worthwhile pottery stores. Depending on the time of year, but especially leading up to Christmas, there are a number of artisan fairs throughout the city. Seville offers a wide variety of retail clothing, although generally at high prices. The main shopping district is home to all the big international and Spanish clothing lines (such as Zara who has at least 4 stores in Seville).
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsRyanair flies from some 50 destinations (some seasonal) within Spain, across Europe (especially from Italy, Germany, UK and Ireland), and from Morocco. Iberia, Vueling and other carriers fly from Madrid, Mallorca, Asturias, Bilbao, Barcelona, Valencia, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Melilla in Spanish North Africa, and other European cities. It's only worth flying here from Madrid if you have a connecting flight, as the trains from the capital are so fast. 37.423-5.91 Sevilla Airport (SVQ ) (10 km northeast of city centre on A-4). The airport is a single terminal with Arrivals downstairs, with car hire desks and not much else. There are more groundside cafés and other facilities upstairs in the Departures hall. From there you pass through security and U-turn into the long airside mall. Gates are divided into areas A and B for Schengen destinations and C for non-Schengen destinations. Cafés and shops line the first half of the mall in areas A and B....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Walking is the best option for sight-seeing: Seville is a large city but the points of interest are in the compact old centre. Strolling and coming across fine old churches, charming cafes and hidden plazas is part of the experience of being here. With the rechargable green travel card you can use all means of public transport (metro, tram, regional trains (Cercanías), city and regional buses) for a lower price. The card can be bought in tobacco shops for €1.50 and must be charged with at least €5 (Nov 2024). There are other travel cards issued by the metro or the city bus operator, but you can only use certain means of public transport with those cards. The local bus operator issues a rechargeable card named bonobus. The minimum recharge is €7 plus €1.50 as a deposit. With the card the fare is €0.35 or €0.38 including a transfer.
Where to Stay
Most places have air conditioning but be sure to ask in summer, you'll need it. You will probably pass the siesta (early afternoon) in your room to escape the heat. Sevillanos are well-known for their nightlife so if you don't plan to be out at all hours yourself, then seek accommodation on a street without lots of bars and restaurants, or ask for a room set back from the street. As of Sept 2021, Seville has 5G from Orange and Vodafone, and 4G from Masmovil / Yoigo and Movistar. Local administration runs a free (1 hr) internet cafe right next to the tourist office in the centre. Alternatively, most coffee places and certain bars will have Internet connection free for customers. If the Internet connection is a priority, make sure you ask about it before sitting. Also, chains like McDonalds, Starbucks or Cafe de Indias offer Internet access. Internet can also be accessed in cyber-cafes or "locutorios".
Money & Budget
Seville is home to many beautiful artifacts, some of the more popularly known are plates and Spanish tiles. Triana offers many ceramic factories where one can buy various tiles from authentic craftsmen. There are stores that custom design plates and tiles near the cathedral, especially in Calle Sierpes, but across the river in Triana are other worthwhile pottery stores. Depending on the time of year, but especially leading up to Christmas, there are a number of artisan fairs throughout the city. Seville offers a wide variety of retail clothing, although generally at high prices. The main shopping district is home to all the big international and Spanish clothing lines (such as Zara who has at least 4 stores in Seville).