How To Get Around Seville

Published by: BouncePosted
How to get around Seville, Spain

Seville, the capital of the autonomous region of Andalucia, is one of the most beautiful and most visited Spanish cities. More than two million tourists make their way to this southern city every year, to take advantage of exceptional weather, beautiful beaches, historic monuments, and excellent food. And that's to say nothing of the vibrant nightlife.

And part of the charm of Seville is how easy it is to get around. The center of the city is packed with historic attractions like the Real Alcazar and cultural highlights like the Fine Arts Museum, and Seville's old town is also an excellent place to just wander and see what you can discover for yourself. But if your feet get tired — and they probably will — the city also has an excellent public transport network that makes it easy to get around Seville and see everything you want to see.

Of course, public transportation is no place for heavy bags. That's why Bounce provides luggage storage in Seville and in cities around the world. By partnering with local businesses, Bounce makes sure you always have a place to leave your things.

Train travel in Seville

How to get around Seville by train

Spain's train network is efficient and well-maintained, and it makes getting around the country a breeze. Seville has an international airport, San Pablo airport, but many of the city's visitors arrive instead by train. After all, the AVE high-speed rail line from Madrid to Seville travels at speeds of up to 300 kilometers an hour, making the journey from the Spanish capital to the Andalusian one in less than two and a half hours. Likewise, a fast train from Barcelona to Seville takes around five hours to make a journey that would take more than 10 hours by car.

These fast trains from major Spanish cities stop at Santa Justa Train Station. As Seville's main train station, Santa Justa also receives trains from nearby cities, making it a public transport hub for Seville. Located on the east side of the city, Santa Justa train station isn't right in Seville's city center, but it is less than half an hour from Seville Cathedral on foot. And because it's so well-connected to the rest of Seville's public transportation infrastructure, you won't have any trouble getting around from here.

Once you're in the city itself, you'll find multiple ways to get around. Seville has only one metro line, which makes it easy to navigate. And because this Metro line only began operating in 2009, it remains clean, modern, and well-maintained.

How to get around Seville, Spain

With just one line in operation, the Seville subway system doesn't go everywhere in the city you might want it to. Nervion is the closest station to Santa Justa train station, and from there it's just two stops to Real Alcazar, more or less right outside the Metro station. But the rest of Seville's old town lies a little to the north of the Metro station. Plus, you'll have to walk for about 15 minutes to get from Santa Justa to Nervion.

To address this shortfall, Seville also operates a network of trams. Like the subway, the MetroCentro tram offers a limited route, with just five stations on a single line. The tram line runs from Plaza Nueva in the Old Town to Puerta Nueva next to Real Alcazar and then on south to San Bernardo close to Plaza de España, connecting almost all of Seville's most popular attractions. So although Seville's tram system may be limited, it's very convenient for visitors to the city.

Tickets for both the subway and the MetroCentro can be bought at machines in tram and subway stations, which have an option for the English language to make things easier. You can opt for a Tarjeta Multiviaje, which gives you multiple trips on public transport depending on how many you choose. Alternatively, you could opt for a tourist card, which allows unlimited travel for $5 for a day or $10 for 3 days. This card can be picked up from Prado de San Sebastián and recharged online, and it is good for the Metro, the MetroCentro, and Seville's bus network.

How to get around Seville

How to get around Seville by bus

If you choose to get to Seville by plane, there's a good chance you'll enter the city itself by bus. Bus line EA from Seville airport is the cheapest and one of the easiest ways to get to the city from the airport, since there is no Metro or rail line between the two. The bus runs every day of the year and takes around 35 minutes to make the journey from the airport to the city. Tickets cost four euros each way.

Once you've arrived in the city itself, you'll find that Seville has an extensive bus network that makes it easy to get around and fills in the gaps left by the city's subway and tram systems. Bus route C5, which takes a circular route through the city center, is one of the most useful for tourists, but other routes connect more outlying neighborhoods of Seville.

Bus tickets can be bought as you board the bus, and they cost €1.40 per trip. Most bus routes leave from Plaza de Armas bus station, which also hosts long-distance bus routes to other cities in Spain. You can also buy the Tarjeta Multiviaje from a tobacconist or newsstand which will not only save you having to fumble for change when the bus comes, but will also save you money as well. You'll pay a refundable €1.50 deposit for the card, and can load it up in increments of seven euros at a time. A single journey can cost as little as $0.70 when paid for this way, making it half the price of a regular bus ticket and a great bargain if you plan on traveling by bus a lot. However, for convenience, a tourist bus pass is usually easier and still quite affordable.

Getting around Seville by car

How to get around Seville by car

As is the case with so many old European cities, Seville is not a great place to explore by car. Most of the city streets were laid out in the days when a horse and cart was state-of-the-art transportation technology, and many of the streets, especially in the old town, are not suitable for modern vehicles. Throw in all the one-way streets and factor in the difficulty of finding parking in central Seville, and you'll soon see why a car may not be the best way to get around.

However, if you are dead set on having your own wheels, you can find a car rental at the airport or in the city of Seville itself. It's usually a good idea to spring for extra insurance since you never know what may happen when driving in a city you don't know well. It's also a good idea to get your hands on an international driving permit before you visit. This acts as an official translation of your driving license and proves you are valid to drive in Spain during your trip.

As with most countries, Spain has very strict drunk driving laws, so if you've indulged in the local wine while enjoying the best Seville nightlife, don't even think of getting behind the wheel. Note that Spanish law requires you to have a high visibility vest, two warning triangles, and spare bulbs for your car's lights in the vehicle at all times. If you rented a car in Seville, it should have these safety features included, but it never hurts to make sure.

If you don't fancy driving for yourself, it's easy to get a taxi in Seville wherever you need to go. Taxi fares from Seville airport cost €20-€30 and can have you in the city center in 15-20 minutes depending on traffic.

Walking around Seville

Can I get around Seville on foot?

You not only can get around Seville on foot; if at all possible, you probably should. Half the appeal of this charming city is its compact size and its historic atmosphere. Exploring on foot lets you experience the lively atmosphere of the town and drop in anywhere that catches your attention. Most of Seville's major attractions are within easy walking distance of each other, and you'll be so impressed by what you're seeing that you won't even notice how many miles you're racking up. Plus, Seville has reliably sunny weather that makes it a pleasure to walk around and see a huge chunk of the city at your own pace.

If you're a fan of retail therapy, walking the streets of Seville will give you easy access to many of the best shopping locations in town.

Another option for exploring Seville under your own steam is to take advantage of the city bikes. Seville provides a network of bikes called SEVICI, and in a flat sunny city like this one, a bike is an almost perfect way to get around. SEVICI bikes are stored at 260 stations spread around the city, and a seven-day pass with an unlimited number of trips costs around €13. When you're done with your bike, you can drop it off at any nearby station and continue your journey on foot, then grab another bike if you feel like it and do some more exploring.

Seville has a great network of bike lanes that can get you from one side of the city to the other, keeping you safe along the way. Plus, with so many urban parks to explore, you won't struggle to find some natural surroundings to ride your bike through.

Cycling in Seville

Conclusion

Thanks to a relatively compact city center laid out centuries ago, Seville is easy to get around on foot. And for the majority of visitors to the city, that's their main means of transportation. But if you want to travel further, you'll be glad to know that Seville has an excellent public transit network. Although the subway and tram lines aren't as developed as you would find in major world cities, they are clean, efficient, reliable, and can get you to most of the city's most interesting sites. And for anywhere they don't serve, there's probably a bus that can take you there, and at very little cost.

You can save valuable time on your trip to Seville by taking advantage of the tourist cards that allow you unlimited travel on public transport. You can also take advantage of the city's cycle lanes and save money while you explore Seville at your own pace.

However you choose to get to know the city, Bounce is there for you. With dozens of locations throughout Seville, Bounce makes sure you always have a place to drop off your heavy bags so you can travel unencumbered. Whether you choose to get around by car, bike, Metro, tram, train, or on your own two feet, you'll be glad you chose to leave the heavy bags behind so you can enjoy the city to the fullest. Seville, with its ancient history, vibrant Andalusian culture, and incredible cuisine is just waiting to be explored. Get out there and see it for yourself.

Newsletter Banner

Love discounts and traveling?

Sign up for our newsletter to get insider travel tips and a 10% discount delivered straight to your inbox.

No spam here, just the good stuff.

Get the
Bounce app

Instantly find locations nearby to drop off your luggage wherever you go.

Download