Seville (Sevilla) http://www.turismosevilla.org/ing-index.html is the capital of Andalucia, the cultural and financial centre of southern Spain. A city of just over 700,000 inhabitants (1.6 million in the metropolitan area, making it Spain's 4th largest city), Seville has much to offer the traveller.

The city is situated on the banks of the smooth, slow Guadalquivir River, which divides the city into two halves: Sevilla and Triana. The river head is located much further West, and its basin is very large. The river mouth is in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and crosses the Doñana National Park (one of the most important wetlands in Europe, breeding ground to many species of birds). The Guadalquivir (known as Betis by the Romans and as Betik Wahd-Al-Khabir by the Arabs) has had a major impact in the history of the city. The location of Sevilla is roughly coincident with the point where the Guadalquivir stops being useful for navigation. It is at this point that the cereal producing region of the Guadalquivir Valley starts, and Sevilla has acted as a sea-port for commerce of agricultural goods produced further West. Intense trade existed in the area from Roman times, continued under Muslim rule, and exploded as Seville monopolized the new trade with the Americas. As the monopoly was broken Cádiz largely took Seville's place), the city entered a period of relative decline.

Seville has played host to two international exhibitions - the Ibero-American Exhibition in 1929 and the International Exposition in 1992.

Inhabitants of the city are known as Sevillanos.

Get in

By plane

Sevilla International Airport (IATA: SVQ) is located about 25 minutes drive from the city center.

A bus service "Especial Aeropuerto (EA)" http://www.tussam.es/index.php?id=200 runs about every 30 minutes from just outside the "Arrivals" hall during most of the day (though with longer gaps from 1PM-4PM) and costs approx. €2.40. Taxis are always available next to the bus stop and run on a fixed fare to Seville center, just under €18 during the day and just under €21 after 10PM and on weekends/holidays. Much controversy has been stirred by some taxi drivers trying to overcharge tourists, so be careful to pay no more than this if you are traveling into the city. Other destinations outside Seville obviously cost more and are metered. Tips are not necessary, though €1-2 for polite, helpful service is appreciated. You might also want to be aware of the fact that speed limits seem to be considered as kind of minimum speed by most taxi drivers...

La Parra Internation Airport (IATA: XRY) in located 10km from Jerez de la Frontera, in the way to Seville.

Used by discount airlines such as Ryanair (from Frankfurt-Hahn London-Stansted).

Please Note that Ryanair also flies to Sevilla International airport, from more destinations than Jerez.

By train

Sevilla Santa Justa Station is on the eastern edge of Seville city centre. Completed in 1991, the station is the southern terminus of the Spanish high speed AVE train service.

High-speed are great if time is of the essence, less than an hour from the wonderful city of Córdoba, less than three hours run from Madrid to Seville. However, slower trains remain a bargain, and there is an overnight train that runs from Barcelona to Seville in under 11 hours.

By car

Driving is also always an option for long distance travel in Spain, but isn't as convenient or as useful once in town.

By bus

The Spanish bus service is amazingly punctual and comfortable with most having air-con and a toilet. Believe it or not, to get to Seville from other cities in Spain it can sometimes be only minimally longer than train (but much cheaper). Check out your options first with the helpful Information desk you will find inside any terminal. The buses run regularly to/from most major cities, departing either from the Plaza de Armas bus station near the river, or the Prado de San Sebastián station near the University/Santa Cruz.

Get around

Sevilla has a great public transportation system. The buses run frequently and cover the majority of the city in their routes. You can purchase bus cards at any news stand. Green cards cost €5 for 10 single trips and red cards cost €6 for 10 trips allowing transfers. As of the end of Decembre 2009 the cardboard forms of these cards will cease to be valid, and you will have to purchase the new plastic bonobus card. This card follows the same pricing structure (60c or 70c per trip), however it costs €1.50 to buy and can be kept and topped up.

Sevici bikes are available throughout the city with special docking stations that allow you to easily grab a bike and go wherever you need, then drop it off at another station when you arrive. Bikes cost 5 euro for a week pass, which allows the first 1/2 hour free and subsequent hours are a euro each. Also, year passes can be purchased for 10 euro with each half hour free and additional hours 50 euro cents.

Scooters are available for rent for €30 for the day and €120 for the week. These are a cost efficient way of getting around and a drivers license is not necessary.

A tram system is currently being incorporated into Sevilla's local transportation and is running from the San Sabastian Bus Station to the Plaza de Nueva but is expanding North and West into Triana.

Taxis are easily accessible throughout the city. Many offer decent rates, but tourists should beware of the possibility of a crooked cabbie.

By metro

Seville's new metro opened on the April the 2nd 2009. It follows a 18km reverse U from the south-west to the south-east through the southern end of the city centre where it stops at Plaza de Cuba, Prado de San Sebastian and San Bernardo. Tickets are €1.30 for a single zone or €4.50 for all 3 zones unlimited trips, and the metro runs from 6.30AM-11PM on weekdays, and late departures are available on Fridays and Saturdays until 2 o'clock.

Get out

• The Prado de San Sebastian bus station offers routes to other cities in Andalucía, including Córdoba, Granada, and Algeciras where it is possible to continue on by ferry to Morocco. The Plaza de Armas bus station offers routes to other parts of Spain and other countries, most notably Portugal.

• Lisbon. No direct rail link connects Seville with Lisbon, however a direct bus service exists http://www.alsa.es/portal/site/Alsa?portal.alsa.request.locale=en_GB, with advance web fares from €45 each way. The coach departs from Plaza de Armas bus station (platform 20/21 at 15:00) daily and the journey takes up to 7.5 hours (including a 15 and 30 minute break).

• Sierra de Aracena. Located towards the North West of Sevilla, it is one of the most famous places for Jamón in Spain and full of lovely small villages to discover. Great for walking around, eating and exploring this Natural Park. There are numerous buses from Plaza de Armas Bus Station.

• Sierra Norte. Located towards the North of Sevilla, it makes for a nice change from the monotonous landscape of the Guadalquivir Valley. It is an area of steep relief, olive groves, and deep river valleys. Deer, wild boars and other large animals are often seen from the car. The area is well-known for its cured meats.

• Cordoba. A wonderful day trip (about an hour by train from Seville) or make it two days to see everything. Visit the Mezquita with peppermint striped arches, the old white walled Jewish quarter where every turn offers a new view, and the Medina Azahara archeological site. You can also take a bath in Hamam, Arabic baths, massage included, a very relaxing experience.

• Granada. Offering the incredible Alhambra, is possible on a long day trip, but better for an overnight or long weekend.

• Cadiz. A wonderful, ancient (oldest city in Europe) city. It's an hour and a half by train, a little less by car. Walk its downtown, bathe at its beaches and taste its delicious fish. And if it's Carnival time, don't miss one of the more massive Carnival celebrations in the world (and surely one of the funniest too).

• Huelva. Discovering a XIX Century British town in the middle of this Andalusian city is definitely remarkable. Huelva has a interesting history. Columbus left from Puerto de Palos and La rabida Monastery, where he spent a few months it is well worth the visit. The wide and white beaches around, like Punta Umbria or Islantilla are also a good reason to visit and try fresh fish. Buses from Damas Bus Company every hour from Plaza de Armas Bus Station.

• Italica. A partially excavated Roman city, only a brief bus ride from Seville on the M-172 (from Plaza de Armas Bus Station). Most of it is lost under the village of Santiponce, but several streets and the footings of houses and public buildings with mosaic tiled floors can be seen. The highlight is one of the largest known Roman amphitheaters with seats for 25,000.

• In the summer, cruises are offered from beneath the Torre de Oro to Sanlucar de Barrameda at the mouth of the river.

• For a longer trip, Madrid is 2.5 hours from Seville using the AVE from the Santa Justa Train Station at the end of Avenida de Kansas City.

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