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Travel to Seville

Flying to Seville

Airlines offering direct flights to Seville from the UK include easyJet and Ryanair. There are often cheap flights to Seville all year round, but be sure to book early at Christmas and New Year for the best prices. If travelling from the USA, there are no direct flights. The quickest route is via Madrid with Iberia.

Flight times

From London - 2 hour 45 minutes; New York - 10 hours 15 minutes (including stopover);Los Angeles - 15 hours (including stopovers); Toronto - 14 hours (including stopovers); Sydney- 32 hours (including stopover).

Travel by road

In Seville, traffic drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18 years. Speed limits are 120kph (74mph) on motorways (autopista) and 50kph (31mph) within towns.

A valid driving licence and third-party insurance are required to drive in Spain.

National licences from EU countries are accepted, although drivers are advised to obtain an International Driving Permit. A Green Card is strongly recommended for all visitors and is compulsory for those from outside the EU. The use of mobile phones, unless completely hands-free, is illegal while driving in Spain.

Real Automóvil Club de España - RACE (tel: +34 900 100 992; www.race.es) has reciprocal agreements with the AA and RAC in the UK and the AAA in the USA for emergency breakdown services.

Emergency breakdown services

Real Automóvil Club de España (RACE) (tel: +34 902 112 222).

Alternatively drivers can contact the Ayuda en Carretera, run by the Guardia Civil, via the roadside SOS telephones located on both sides of the carriageway at 2km (1 mile) intervals.

Routes

Seville is well connected to the rest of Spain and Europe by a network of motorways. All of the motorways from Seville to other major Spanish cities are toll-free except the A4, which connects to Cádiz.

There are two routes to get from Seville to Portugal: A-49 via Huelva or the A-22 that leads directly to Faro and Lagos. In the opposite direction, Córdoba is connected via A-4 and Granada lies along the A-92. A-3 leads to the coast towards Valencia via Ciudad Real.

Coaches

ALSA coach company (www.alsa.es) runs domestic and international coach services from Estación Plaza de Armas in Seville’s city centre. It operates routes to all the main cities in Spain as well as ongoing travel across Europe in conjunction with Eurolines.

Time to city

From Madrid - 5 hours; Barcelona - 9 hours 30 minutes; Valencia - 6 hours; Córdoba - 1 hour 30 minutes; Granada - 2 hours 30 minutes; Faro - 2 hours; Lisbon - 4 hours 30 minutes.

Travel by Rail

Services

Train travel in Spain is comfortable, punctual and fast. Modern high-speed AVE trains connect many of the major cities, while local and suburban carriages cover the remainder of the country.

The main train station in Seville is Estación de Santa Justa, located to the north of the city on Avenida Kansas City. This modern terminal has a number of cafés, bars and shops with taxi and bus ranks located just outside.

Seville has good rail links to the rest of Spain, with hourly departures to Almeria, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva and Valencia. Thanks to the AVE high-speed train, travel time to Madrid is 2 hours 30 minutes and to Barcelona is 5 hours 30 minutes. There are no trains from Seville to Algarve in Southern Portugal despite its proximity; the best way to get there is by bus.

Operators

The Spanish rail network is operated by Renfe (tel: +34 902 320 320; www.renfe.com). It operates all routes in Spain including suburban (Cercanías) and medium-distance trains as well as international rail services. Renfe connects Seville to all major Spanish cities including Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia. Ongoing international connections to Lisbon, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam are available via Madrid.

Journey times

From Madrid - 2 hours 20 minutes; Barcelona - 5 hours 30 minutes; Granada - 3 hours 10 minutes; Córdoba - 45 minutes; Malaga - 1 hours 55 minutes.

Transfer

Taxi is the quickest and easiest way of getting into the city centre from the Estación de Santa Justa, with a taxi rank located directly outside the terminal. A cheaper option is by bus. Routes C1, C2 and 32 all head to the city from outside the terminal.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

Book Accommodation

Featured Hotels

Hotel Alfonso XIII

If you're looking to splurge, the Hotel Alfonso XIII is arguably one of the most prestigious hotels in Seville. Converted from a neo-Moorish palace, the hotel pays homage to Spain's past. Huge chandeliers, opulent fabrics and an exotic ambiance make it the preferred choice of the rich and famous, including foreign royalties, members of the government and celebrities. The hotel's cocktail bar is ideal for pre-prandial drinks by the pool, followed by dinner at San Fernando Restaurant or its venerable tapas lounge.

EME Catedral Hotel

Stylish and chic, the EME Catedral Hotel stands out for its juxtaposition of avant garde and rustic. Rooms are tastefully decorated with modish touches while the bricked walls and vaulted ceilings take on a rugged appearance. The rooftop swimming pool and terrace bar have spectacular views of the Cathedral, and dining options include a rustic Italian restaurant. The hotel also features glass floors that reveal Roman ruins under the hotel.

Hotel Holos

A little further from the historical centre, the calm and oasis of Hotel Holos is blissful retreat in a neighbourhood lined with orange trees. What this boutique stay lacks in size, it certainty makes up in fantastically helpful staff, style and silence. Inside its post-modern exterior there are just six doubles and a single, all of which are clean and comfortable, and its wooden rooftop terrace is delightful where the sun is out. It’s also just a few streets away from the Real Betis football stadium. All rooms come with air-conditioning, and bikes are available for guests.

Corral del Rey

Set on a narrow street in the old town, this stylish boutique hotel is set in a 17th century palacio. The rooms are set in two buildings around a central courtyard and furnished in antiques with Moroccan touches. If you don't treat yourself to the suite with two terraces and a private plunge pool, the rooftop garden has a pool too. Downstairs, there's a tapas bar. The hotel arranges insightful tours of the city too.

Hotel Abril

Located along Calle San Jerónimo Hernández, one of the main shopping streets of Seville, Hotel Abril is a humble bolthole with reasonably good prices. Rooms are spacious and clean, with homely decor; some have windows opening into the lobby but they are quieter than those opening onto the street. For those keeping to a tight budget, free coffee and tea is available throughout the day. A hearty breakfast buffet is also available for an extra fee. All rooms are en suite and come with free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning.

YH Giralda

A former house of the abbots, the YH Giralda is a perennially popular option for young couples seeking affordable comfort. The 2-star hotel is just metres away from the Giralda, in the midst of tapas bars and shops. The tastefully-furnished rooms are small but comfortable and are all en suite. Ask for the patio-facing rooms as they are quieter than those overlooking the streets.

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