Seville Holidays | Travel guide to getting around in Seville Spain

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Photo: Helen DavenportBus tours are popular on Seville holidays

A good way to see Seville sights is in a horse drawn carriage
In Seville tour buses do brisk business circling the city centre
Seville is built on a large plain so you don't have to worry about hills
Driving is very difficult. Streets in the centre are narrow and traffic signs few

Getting around

With the main attractions all within walking distance, Seville is an easy city to explore. Local public transport has improved dramatically with the construction of a new Metro system and, for the more romantic visitor, there are horse carriages for hire.

Seville holiday walking

Walking is the best way to enjoy a Seville holiday. Nearly all the major sights are close to each other and many of the streets in Barri Santa Cruz, including the main shopping streets, are pedestrian only or are so narrow that only a scooter can get through.

Walking tours for small groups (minimum four people) are available, Monday to Saturday (Monday, Wednesday and Friday in August). Tours of the Cathedral and Alcazar can also be arranged. Call 902 158 226 or 616 501 100 for information.

Seville holiday buses

Seville has a good network of buses including services to the railway station and the airport. Buses are also a useful way of returning to the city centre after walks in the huge Maria Luisa Park and the Plaza de España, particularly in the tiring heat of summer.

Seville has a couple of open-top tour bus firms - SevillaTour (red) and Tour por Sevilla (green). They are based by the Torre del Oro on the riverside. The buses are hop-on and off, but with only a few stops and long distances between them, they are of limited value.

While buses are a great way to see the major parks, the narrow streets of Seville city centre mean they can only run along the main avenues - in effect the inner ring road. The bus tour across the river can also be disappointing.

Seville holiday metro

Seville has been building a 19km tram system since 2003 and the first city centre service started in April 2009. Trams now connect Plaza Nueva, Avenida de la Constitución, Puerta Jerez, Calle San Fernando (the University) and the Prado de San Sebastian.

Trams connect with the airport bus arriving at Plaza Nueva. Eventually the tram will link up with the Santa Justa train station, but nothing seems to happen with a great deal of urgency.

A four line metro system is planned, most of it underground. Work on one line is well advanced and work on the other three is set to start in 2010.

Seville holiday horse carriage

This is the romantic way to tour Seville. Horse carriages are widely available around the Cathedral at an official price of €30 an hour. They seat four with maybe a fifth sitting next to the driver.

Seville holiday river cruise

The Guadalquivir is one of the great rivers of Spain and Seville is the only river port in the country. Historically, the port was the main link with the Americas until Cadiz took over much of the traffic.

Cruise boats run from near the Torre del Oro - with a reduced price if combined with a Tourist Bus ticket - and Seville cruises last an hour with departures every half hour. While the views are OK, this is more of a pleasant way to cool down on a sweltering summer's day.

Seville holiday taxis

Seville taxis are numerous and reasonably cheap. They can be hailed in the street if the light is illuminated. Tips are generally 10% of the taxi fare.