Travel to Seville

Travel to Seville

In the south of Spain lies Seville, the administrative centre of Andalucia. The city has been influenced by over 800 years of Moorish culture and retains a pleasant old-world charm. Seville has plenty to offer visitors including sightseeing of ancient sites, parks, museums and art galleries as well as many sporting activities.

Transportation to Seville

The most convenient way to get to Seville is to fly andthere are many cheap charter flights to Malaga.From there you can get a bus connection to Seville. The airport is located about four kilometres from Seville city and there are daily flights from many European cities such as London, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Brussels, Dsseldorf, Amsterdam and Rome. The airport is well-equipped with modern amenities.

It is likely that you will need to switch trains at least once to get to Seville from European destinations; however, there are high-speed trains connecting Madrid and Malaga to Seville. Eurolines coaches offer a bus service from London to Madrid, where it is necessary to connect to an inter-urban bus to get to Seville. Inter-urban buses connect Seville to all major cities in Spain. Seville is not car-friendly and visitors are advised not to drive to Seville.

What to see

The worlds largest Gothic-styled building, the Cathedral de Sevilla, is located in Seville together with the Giralda Tower. The imposing tower was built in the 12th century and offers spectacular views of the city. The Columns of Hercules (the remains of an ancient Roman temple) and the Casa Pilatos, built in the late 15th century, are interesting sites to visit to learn about Sevilles history. The Reales Alcazares, an Arabian-styled building, houses a collection of musical instruments that were used in ancient times. Other interesting places to visit are the Archeological Museum, with its statues and Carambol treasures; the Museum of Arts which exhibits paintings by Murillo, Ribera, El Greco and many other famous artists; and the theme park Isla Magica, which offers many thrilling rides for all ages.

Day trips

The National Park of Doana is about an hours drive from Seville. It is unique for the three ecosystems that it encompasses; sand dunes, pastures and swamps. The park is also the largest aviary reserve in Europe. Located in Santiponce are the remains of Itulica, a Roman city which was once home to two Roman emperors; Trojan and Hadrian. The village of Ecija was once a Phoenician and then a Roman settlement and has a curious collection of mosaics from the latter period. The churches of Santa Marta and San Gil as well as many other interesting ancient sites can be found at Ecija and its surroundings.

Activities and leisure

Seville offers opportunities for experiencing unusual activities like riding a four-wheeled tandem bike in Maria Luisa Park. The bikes are for either two or four riders and make it a pleasant way of viewing the gardens. Both young and old visitors can enjoy feeding the pigeons at Plaza de America, where the birds are so tame they will eat from your hand and perch on your shoulder. Many tourists enjoy renting a paddle boat or a kayak to see how far they can get on the Guadalquivir in an hour. There are many golf courses for golfing enthusiasts to choose from. There are also plenty of cycle and walking paths.

Safety issues

Seville is relatively safe for tourists, but like all other cities, petty crime does occur. Visitors are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings, to carry zipped bags and to never leave their belongings unattended. There have been incidences of snatch thieving and pick pocketing in the more crowded areas of Seville. It is advisable to have travel insurance when traveling to a new destination, in particular if there are language barriers and you plan to experience adventurous activities.