Seville, capital of the community of Andalusia, is one of the five most populous cities in Spain. With its almost 700,000 inhabitants, the old town of Seville is the largest in Spain and one of the most representative symbols of tourism in Spain. In this guide you can find useful information if your next destination is the capital of Spain.
Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.
Contents
How to get
How to get to Seville will depend on our point of origin. If we travel from another Spanish community, we can choose between traveling by air, land or sea, while if traveling from a European destination, the best option is always to travel by plane and more today with the wide range of low cost flights in Europe. In the following sections we show you the different possibilities that exist to travel to Seville.
By air
Seville has its own international airport, the Seville-San Pablo Airport (IATA code: SVQ), which is located 10 km northwest of the city center and is located between the municipalities of Seville and La Rinconada.
A large majority of airlines both cheap flights and conventional flights have Seville as their destination. These include Air Berlin, Air Europa, Air France, British Airways, easyJet, Iberia Express, Lufthansa, Ryanair, Vueling and TAP Portugal, among others.
To consult a list with the most important airlines of the world, you can check our article List of airlines.
By land
Choosing to travel by land is a good option, especially if you are traveling from another point in Spain or from Portugal. The city has the Seville-Santa Justa Station, located in Seville capital, to which the high-speed train or AVE arrives.
For example, if you travel from Madrid, the capital of Spain and where there are more connections, the duration of the trip is about two hours. Trains depart for Seville from other Andalusian provinces (eg Córdoba) and other Spanish communities such as Extremadura or Castilla-La Mancha practically daily.
Another option very contemplated by both Spanish and Portuguese tourists is to travel by car. The advantage of opting for this means of transport is that Seville has an excellent road and highway network connected with the rest of the capitals of Andalusia, Spain and Portugal.
On the other hand, you can also travel in coach with some of the most popular companies in Spain and Europe, such as Alsa, Eurolines, Unionbus, Condama or Socibús, among others.
By sea
He port of Seville It stands out as the only river port in Spain, as it is located on the Guadalquivir River, navigable from its mouth in Sanlucar de Barrameda to Seville. It is located approximately 80 km from the Atlantic Ocean.
Although this is not the most common means of transport to travel to the city, there are a good number of tourist cruises that travel the Guadalquivir river to the port of Seville, the latter considered first class.
Addresses and telephone numbers of interest
Below we list the most useful addresses and telephone numbers of interest for any tourist traveling to Seville:
- Seville Tourist Office: managed by Andalucía.ORG, is located at Av. de la Constitución, 21, 41004 Sevilla and the contact telephone number is +34 954 78 75 78. If you want to visit the official website, we recommend you click on this link.
- Seville Tourism Consortium: Here they will be able to offer you all kinds of information about the city, whether it is in terms of accommodation, gastronomy, what to see, shopping, guided tours, etc. The address is Plaza de San Francisco, 19. Edif. Laredo. 41004 Seville and the contact telephone number is +34 955 471 232. To visit its website, we recommend you click on this link.
- Touristic bus: it is a very comfortable and pleasant way to see the city in its entirety. There are several types of tickets, such as the 48h ticket, the price for young people is € 7.00 and, for adults, € 16.00. These and other options can be found on their website, which you can access by clicking on this link. The office is located in Paseo de Colón, nº 18, Lower right 41001 Seville and the contact telephone number is +34 954 56 06 93.
Maps
As we mentioned earlier, the municipality of Seville is in the province of the same name and belongs to the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, located south of the Iberian Peninsula.
The entire city is located on the left bank of the Guadalquivir River minus the neighborhoods of Los Remedios and Triana, which are located on the right side. This makes Seville a river port. Also, in the surroundings of the city there are countryside areas, marshlands and the Aljarafe area, formed by two elevated areas. In total, the municipality of Seville has a territorial extension of 140.8 km².
Seville is divided into a total of 11 districts, each with its corresponding neighborhoods. Thus, the districts into which the city is divided are mentioned below: Bellavista-La Palmera, Casco Antiguo, Cerro-Amate, Este-Alcosa-Torreblanca, Los Remedios, Macarena, Nervión, Norte, San Pablo, Santa Justa, Sur and Triana
What to see and do
Seville is a city full of monuments, restaurants and, ultimately, tourist attractions, so traveling to this city requires organization depending on the length of your stay. However, the Hispanic capital has 10 absolutely essential places that can not be missing in your list of things to see and do in the city. Here we show you what are the tourist attractions and monuments of Seville that you can not miss.
Royal Alcazar of Seville
The Royal Alcazars of Seville constitute a set of palaces surrounded by a wall that began to be built in the High Middle Ages. Its architectural style is characterized by being the result of a mixture between Islamic, Mudejar and Gothic styles. In addition, in the successive reforms that have been made have included both Baroque and Renaissance elements. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
Maria Luisa Park
María Luisa Park, also known as Park of the pigeons, is the most important public garden in Seville and one of its green lungs. Opened in April 1914, it was recently declared Well of Cultural Interest under the official name Urban Park Infanta María Luisa Fernanda. Within the same park two other places are included: the Plaza de España and the Plaza de América, the latter on the occasion of the Ibero-American Exhibition of Seville, created in 1929.
tower of Gold
The Torre del Oro is another of the tourist attractions of Seville that can not be missed in every trip to the city that boasts. Located next to the bullring of the Real Maestranza, it is a albarrana tower, that is, a tower that was part of a fortified enclosure in the past. It is located on the left bank of the Guadalquivir River. Since 2005, when a series of restoration works of the tower took place, it is known that the tower has the brightness that characterizes it because its tile coating has a mixture of lime mortar and pressed straw.
Archive of the Indies
The General Archive of the Indies of Seville constitutes, together with the Cathedral and the Alcazar, another of the main buildings of Seville. Its construction took place in 1785 by order of King Carlos III with the objective of centralizing in this place all the documentation regarding the administration of Spanish colonies that was dispersed in the Spanish archives of Cádiz, Sevilla and Simancas (Valladolid). Declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987, the building was initially the Casa Lonja de Mercaderes de Sevilla, built between 1584 and 1598.
The Giralda
La Giralda is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Seville. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, its construction took place in two different periods: on the one hand, the lower two-thirds correspond to the minaret of the city's 12th-century mosque, on the other, the upper third is an overlapping construction dating from the Christian era. On the cusp of La Giralda is the famous Giraldillo, which is the largest bronze sculpture of the European Renaissance. With its 104.1 m height, it is one of the highest towers in Europe, above Big Ben in London (96.3 m) and the Tower of Pisa in Italy (55.8 m).
Spain Square
The Plaza de España in Seville is a place framed in the María Luisa Park that we have talked about previously. It is an architectural complex that forms one of the most spectacular examples of the legacy of regionalist architecture. It is the main building of the Iberoamerican Exhibition of Seville of 1929. It stands out because on the walls the busts of illustrious characters appear in Spanish history and on the banks all the provinces of Spain are represented in tiled cloths.
Cathedral of Santa Maria de la Sede
The Cathedral of Santa Maria de la Sede, better known simply as Cathedral of Sevilla, is the Gothic-style cathedral with the largest area on the planet, hence UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1987 and Good of Outstanding Universal Value in 2010. Its construction dates back to 1401. The Cathedral temple collects the mortal remains of figures as relevant to universal history as Christopher Columbus and various kings of Castile such as Ferdinand III El Santo or Alfonso X El Sabio, among others.
Lebrija
Lebrija is a Sevillian municipality of almost 30,000 inhabitants and almost 400 km² of territorial extension, hometown of Antonio de Nebrija, author of the first Spanish grammar, and the navigator Juan Díaz de Solís, discoverer of the Río de la Plata (Southern Cone of America). Lebrija is nestled in the Guadalquivir Marshes and is surrounded by municipalities such as Jerez de la Frontera, Arcos de la Frontera and Trebujena. It has a series of monuments that are really worth visiting, such as the Palace of the Countess of Lebrija, the Church of Santa María de la Oliva, the Ruins of the Castle and Hermitage of Santa María del Castillo and the Statue of Elio Antonio, among others.
Santiponce
Santiponce is, together with Lebrija, Dos Hermanas, Herrera and Marchena, one of the Sevillian municipalities that receive more tourist visits annually, perhaps because they represent the Sevillian tradition in its purest essence. The most representative activities of this town are, on the one hand, the Local Fair and, on the other hand, the Popular Craft Exhibition, faithful references to the popular culture of yesteryear. Monuments like the Fernando Marmolejo Main Museum, the Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo and the monumental complex Ruinas de Itálica are obligatory stops in every visit to this Sevillian municipality.
Metropol Parasol of the Incarnation
The Metropol Parasol, popularly known as Mushrooms of the Incarnation, is a wooden structure in which the two concrete columns in which the elevators that give access to a viewpoint from which you can see the entire city of Seville are located. With its 26 m height, this monument is located in the central Square of the Incarnation from Seville and was built between 2005 and 2010.
Transport
To move around Seville we can choose between five different options, namely: bus, car, taxi, subway or bicycle. However, moving around the city on foot is very easy and pleasant, and in turn constitutes an excellent way to visualize the beautiful landscape offered to tourists.
Bus
Getting around in the buses of Seville is a very good option to get around the city, but you should avoid the rush hours, since the traffic is very dense and the journey slows down. A single ticket costs € 1.20 but it is recommended to purchase the Tourist Card, since it allows to make as many trips as desired in the period of validity that is acquired, which can range from 1 day to 3. This card also includes tram trips.
In addition, there is the EA Line: Special Airport, which links the Plaza de Armas with the airport and stops at several strategic points in the city, such as the Santa Justa AVE station. For more information on this special bus line, we advise you to click on this link.
Subway
The Seville metro has only line 1, which connects the metropolitan area of the city with the center (Puerta Jerez), as well as the Nervión area, where the main leisure and shopping establishments of the city are located.
To travel by subway, you can also get the 1 day card, specially designed for tourists. It allows unlimited travel and its price is € 4.50. You can find more information by clicking on this link, which will take you to the official website of the Seville Metro.
Train
Renfe has a complete commuter train network in Seville, divided into zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Within these, the network is divided into lines C-1, C-2, C- 3 and C-4. To learn more, here are two links that might be of interest to you:
- Prices: you can check the prices of the single ticket according to zones by clicking on this link.
- Flat: also, if you access this link, you will be shown a map with all the areas and lines that the Seville commuter network has.
Bike
To get around by bike, Seville has 77 km of bike lane that communicates in an excellent way the different neighborhoods of the city. It also has a bicycle rental service, the SEVIci, which allows obtaining a weekly bonus (7 days) for the price of € 5. With this voucher you can make as many trips as you want per day and the first 30 minutes of travel are totally free.
Cab
As in all major cities, we can move around the city of Seville by taxi. There are four companies that manage the city's taxi network, which are listed below along with their respective telephone number:
- Radiotaxi Seville: 954 57 11 11
- Giralda Radiotaxi: 954 67 55 55
- SeviTAXI: 954 519 499/954 255 589
- Teletaxi Seville: 954 62 22 22
Weather
Seville's climate is continental mediterranean with an oceanic hue given its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. With a height above the sea between 5 and 7 meters, the Sevillian climate is described as warm-temperate, with moderate temperature fluctuations throughout the year.
However, there is no doubt that what is most striking is the summer season. Seville is characterized by its steamy summers, long and, above all, very dry, with an average temperature between 31-35 ° C, even exceeding 45 ° C at the peak of the day. In winter, the cold is mild, with a minimum temperature between 5-6 ° C.
Gastronomy
Sevillian cuisine is characterized by a strong presence of Spanish tapas, the simplicity of cooking and the seasoning that is added to its dishes. One of the star dishes of Seville and Andalusian cuisine in general are the famous flamenco style eggs, a dish consisting of fried eggs with tomatoes, peppers, sausage and condiments to taste.
He Andalusian gazpacho It is another of the dishes par excellence of Andalusian geography. It is a kind of cold cream made from crushing various fresh vegetables, including ripe tomatoes, green pepper, cucumbers, onion and garlic, etc. He fried fish, that is, floured fish and fried in olive oil, it is also very characteristic of the Hispanic capital.
As for the sweets and desserts typical of Seville, the popular ones stand out first Easter toast, a recipe that reminds a lot of the desserts typical of Arabic cuisine. On the other hand, the polvorones, mantecados and alfajores of Steppe, province of Seville, Spanish houses are never lacking during Christmas, since these exquisite sweets have become a tradition within the Spanish gastronomy at Christmas.
Holidays
The fiestas of Seville are deeply rooted in the spirit of Seville. The city has very important holiday periods throughout the year. Thus, during the Christmas period in Spain the famous takes place Three Kings Cavalcade of Sevilla. But without a doubt, the most important parties are the April Fair, known throughout the world, and the celebration of Seville's Holy Week. Here we tell you what these two events are about.
April Fair
The Feria de Abril, also known as Feria de Sevilla, is a local festival in Seville consisting of a series of booths and attractions installed in a fairground located in the neighborhood of The medicines, west of the city. It takes place one or two weeks after Holy Week and coincides with the bullfighting period.
It is the most important fair of the autonomous community of Andalusia and one of the most attractive for tourism in Spain. The April Fair is one of the best opportunities to enjoy two of the typical dances of Spain: the Flemish and the sevillanas.
Easter
Holy Week is a religious holiday that celebrates the passion, death and resurrection of Christ and takes place between the Palm Sunday and the Easter Sunday, between the months of March or April.
During the Holy Week in Seville, up to sixty brotherhoods parade in procession towards the Cathedral of Seville. It constitutes one of the great spring parties in the city and has been declared of International Tourist Interest, besides being the celebration of the most important Holy Week in all of Spain.
Night life
Seville is a happy, festive city and friend of the streets. Sevillians love to celebrate on the street, either on the terrace of a bar or in a trendy place. Either day or night, if you go out in Seville you will find any crowded establishment.
The Sevillian nightlife is divided between the neighborhoods of Santa Cruz, Triana, he Maria Luisa Park, the center and the river. In all these areas you will be able to enjoy a classic in the Sevillian culture: a good wine and a tapa. The premises usually close between 2 and three in the morning and in all of them you can find the typical decoration of Andalusia and very lively people.
In the center, for example, the German street, the area of Alfalfa, Alameda or Plaza del Salvador are the most popular areas to go out. In them you will find true masses of people. Also, on the banks of the Guadalquivir River you can enjoy several areas, one of them being the one near the Torre del Oro and next to the Triana Bridge, all of them full of terraces and taverns where you can taste the real Sevillian cuisine
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