LANGUAGE

Spanish

CURRENCY

Euro

BEST TIME TO VISIT

July to August

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Sevilla Santa Justa

NEAREST AIRPORT

Seville Airport (SVQ)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

112

INTERNET ACCESS

Free wi-fi is almost universally available in hotels and hostels. Some also offer computer terminals for guests’ use. A few cafes, bars and restaurants also offer wi-fi but they are the exception rather than the rule.

VISA

Generally not required for stays of up to 90 days, and not required for members of EU or Schengen countries; some nationalities need a Schengen-zone visa.

Spain is one of 26 member countries of the Schengen Agreement, under which 22 EU countries (all but Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK) plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland have abolished checks at common borders. Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are all legally obliged to become a part of the Schengen Area in the near future.

The visa situation for entering Spain is as follows:

For citizens or residents of EU and Schengen countries, no visa is required.

For citizens or residents of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and the USA, no visa is required for tourist visits of up to 90 days.

For other countries, check with a Spanish embassy or consulate.

To work or study in Spain a special visa may be required; contact a Spanish embassy or consulate before travel.

Remember that Gibraltar is not part of Schengen and if you do not have permission to enter the UK, you may not enter Gibraltar.

HOTEL

The prime places to stay in Seville are those close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes the cathedral and the Alcazar. Just adjacent to these is the old Juderia, a maze of charming streets known as Barrio Santa Cruz. A number of the old houses here are now small hotels, while larger hotels are plentiful in the nearby streets of the Alameda district. Here are some highly-rated hotels in Seville that are close to the top-rated attractions:

LUXURY

Hotel Alfonso XIII

Hotel Palacio de Villapanes

MID- RANGE

El Rey Moro Hotel Boutique Sevilla

Hotel Becquer

NH Sevilla Plaza de Armas

BUDGET

Monte Carmelo Hotel

Hotel Goya

Hotel America – Seville

COST OF LIVING

Spain’s fourth largest city and the capital of its Andalusia region, Seville is an excellent stop for those doing a cultural tour of the country and looking beyond Madrid and Barcelona. It has a very different feel from those two huge cities, so it provides wonderful contrast, and slightly lower prices. The center of Seville is quite touristy, but for good reason, and that also makes it very easy to visit for English speakers. Hotels and hostels are good value, including those with central locations, but booking early is still wise, especially in high season.

The attractions here are mainly free or inexpensive so you’ll mainly be shelling out for a bed plus food and drinks. The food scene here is largely based on tapas places where you can get cheap snacks along with reasonably priced drinks that can easily make a filling meal on a budget. Hotel prices change little throughout the year with exceptions during major holidays and festivals. If visiting for a festival, it’s best to reserve your stay in advance as rooms fill quickly.