10 Things to Know Before Traveling to Seville

Note: Sevilla in English is actually Seville, so both are technically correct. I prefer using Sevilla, mainly since that is the Spanish name, so I choose to use that here.

I’ve lived in Sevilla for almost eight months now, so I feel as if I’ve gotten a local’s perspective on how to visit the city. From bustling tapas restaurants at night to the maze-like gardens of the Alcazar, Sevilla has a lot to offer to many travelers. After much thought, I’ve decided to compile a list of 10 things to know before visiting, a digital mini guide of tips and tricks from yours truly.

1. Be prepared to walk a lot

Sevilla has a lot of accessible and cheap transpiration — a tram, buses and one-line metro —but it’s also very walkable. You can walk a significant portion of the city in under an hour. It’s also very flat which makes for great walking terrain and feels a lot better on the feet. Still, come prepared with one or two pairs of comfy walking sneakers, or even sandals if you’re one of the lucky few who can find those suitable enough for miles on end. More importantly, stay hydrated. There are some places to fill up water, but they are sparse and if you dare to come visit the city in the summer months, you’ll need more than you think.

2. Always have sanitizer and tissues on hand

Although useful for wiping off sticky food-covered hands, having sanitizer and a pack of tissues on hand may actually come in handy in a different way than you may think. It’s no secret that public bathrooms in Spain are not very common and some may even charge a fee. If you do end up in a free public bathroom (a miracle truly) you may find there is no toilet paper and the soap dispenser is very much empty. This has happened to me so many times, I am no longer surprised and just start opening my purse when I enter the stall. Buy a handful of packs before traveling and make sure to have at least one pack in each purse or bag so you don’t have to worry about panicking after having located a rare public bathroom.

3. The air quality may affect you

If you’re someone who is easily affected by air quality or suffers from any respiratory diseases, be aware that the air quality in Seville frequently reaches the red and “unhealthy” range of the air quality index. This is mainly due to pollution amongst other factors, but it can definitely impact sensitive individuals. It helps to have functioning air conditioning in the event that you cannot open the windows for fear of letting the air in. Consider bringing a mask to wear as needed and contact your hotel or AirBnB owner to see if the air is filtered and purified well. If you suffer from allergies as well, you may be affected during the spring months when the pollen is at its worst. The area gets little rain so pollen can last as long as through June and coupled with the dry heat, makes for pretty unbearable allergies. Bring allergy medications and don’t fret if you forget them, you can easily pick some up at any Spanish pharmacy.

4. Try bars with metal countertops for a more authentic tapas experience

Sick of sitting at a restaurant that is clearly overrun by tourists and getting spoken to solely in English? Look for bars (not to be confused with bars that solely serve alcohol and play club music, a bar can mean a tapas place too!) with metal countertops, lots of standing Spaniards and little to no English menu. If you’re up for the challenge, eat here and enjoy a more authentic and Spanish dining experience. Don’t order sangria, order “tinto de verano” which is a more common choice in the region and tends to be cheaper. Come prepared knowing a few Spanish words because it may be more local and therefore less catered to tourists, thus, run by Spaniards who may not speak a lot of English. My tip: download Google translate and my personal favorite— Spanish Dict — to take photos or quickly type in words when you aren’t sure. Try goat cheese (queso de cabra), pork cheek (carillada en salsa), croquettes (croquetas) and if you’re visiting in the spring months and feeling adventurous, snails (caracoles)!

5. Be aware of any big events that may be occurring

While it may seem obvious, doing research to see if there are any big events during your visit will save a headache and a lot of confusion. It may also explain unusually high prices, especially in the off season. For example, Semana Santa (Holy Week leading up to Easter) is a huge event in Sevilla. It lasts for a full week and many streets shut down as large crowds swarm the narrow cobblestone alleyways and fill up the main streets as religious processions walk through the city. It’s a huge influx of people so even getting around on foot may be tricky and it will likely mean a lot scheduled around the processions. If you happen to be visiting during this time, intentionally or not, you can find a schedule of the processions online to plan ahead. But in many years past, including this years, rain and inclement weather has stopped many processions from happening and quite literally rained on the parade. Bring rain gear in case you get some showers, and think of a few rainy day activities (cooking or pottery class, the aquarium, etc.).

6. You can easily explore the city in a few days, so don’t overlook doing a day trip

One of my favorite things about living in Sevilla is that there are so many options for day trips. You can also easily make the trek for a weekend trip if you so desire. Sevilla is only an hour from Cádiz and Córdoba, two and a half hours from Málaga and its beach towns, and barely an hour and a half from quintessential Andalucian white-washed mountain towns. A simple Google search will pull up several guided tours under 100 euros that can fill up a day or two and allow you to see more than just the city of Sevilla itself. I have done two trips with Naturanda, a local tour group that does trips around the region and even to Morocco, and have enjoyed getting to experience it all on a budget. You can also stay closer to Sevilla, and try exploring the beautiful Spanish architecture of Carmona or visiting the ancient Roman city ruins of Itálica. Whatever you choose, you really can’t go wrong.

7. Don’t skip on the shopping. Or the nails. Or the hair?

One of the first things I noticed about Sevilla was its shockingly low prices for clothes, nails and hair, coming from U.S. prices. You can find tons of basics at Zara or Bershka for under 50 euros, or meander in a more local boutique and find a cheap selection of sandals, dresses and blouses. If you’re hoping to have a picture-perfect manicure while traveling, skip your local nail salon and schedule one in Sevilla or just walk right in. Gel prices typically start at under 20 euros for an entire manicure and sometimes even include a massage, whereas a typical manicure can be as low as 10-12 euros. And if you’re brave enough to try a haircut after learning some Spanish words, you can pay as little as 25-30 euros for a wash, cut and blow-dry (what I paid two months ago for my haircut!). Bring cash just in case, and it helps to have on hand anyways, and enjoy getting glammed up on a budget.

8. Enjoy the beautiful Guadalquivir River and don’t forget the bug spray

Sevilla boasts a beautiful river, where rowers and ducks gather galore and locals sit on the side smoking and drinking wine in classic Spanish style. You can follow suit by sitting and enjoying the sunset, and whatever you do, don’t skip the bug spray. When it gets warmer out (and I swear even in the colder months), gnats appear and swarm innocent sunset-watchers and their charcuterie spreads. Spray some bug spray before going out and keep it on you to reapply as needed. In the warmer months, the temperature peaks around 5 or 6 p.m. and sunset is anywhere between 9 and 10 p.m. Keep this in mind when you’re planning your sunset river picnic.

9. Buy tickets ahead of time

Looking to visit the famous Real Alcazár? The stunning Gothic Cathedral? Book your tickets ahead of time to be spared from waiting in exhaustive long lines, potentially in the hot sun. Make sure you’re booking from the actual websites and not paying extra on accident, this one for the Alcazár and this one for the Cathedral. If you want to save money and it fits with your schedule, the Cathedral is free from 2 to 3 Monday through Friday excluding holidays but book online for a spot. For Plaza de España you won’t need tickets, just arrive on the earlier side to avoid crowds. Spend 6 euros for a boat to paddle around the semi-circular river at the Plaza but be warned that it is unnecessarily difficult to do.

10. The Andalusian accent is notoriously difficult to understand

If you’ve decided to give practicing Spanish a go, whether it be wanting to exercise the high school Spanish or in hopes of one day becoming fluent, be warned that the regional dialect — Andaluz — can be incredibly difficult to understand. You may hear words that seem to be new but actually aren’t, because the accent causes the “s” to be dropped frequently and the “-ado or -ido” disappears from the end of a word. “Gracias (thank you)” becomes more like “graciah”, words like “demasiado (too much)” and “pescado (fish)” are pronounce more like “demasiow” and “peckow”, which can of course cause confusion. Words in general are shortened, “claro (okay or sure)” becomes “aro” on occasion. They also speak fast and have words native to the region — quillo (slang for dude/bro), no ni na (of course), pesha (a lot of something), and many more. In my opinion, one of the best ways to practice Spanish is to listen to music or a podcast and watch TV shows or movies. Jot down words you pick up but don’t know and start a list. Give yourself grace if you struggle but remember that many locals appreciate the attempt at their language.