Although what worries us most when we are traveling is the accommodation and the things that we are going to see in our destination, here is some additional information that can help you on your trip to Seville.
Language
Seville is the capital of Andalusia, Spain, so the official language is Spanish. If it is your mother tongue you have nothing to worry about, but if you are learning it, you should know that the Andalusian accent is distinctive and you may have some difficulties to understand as it is spoken quite quickly and the “s” at the end of the words isn’t pronounced.
In most businesses related to tourism you will be able to communicate in English. In other places, like shops and restaurants, they normally speak very little English, especially if you prefer to have lunch or dinner in more authentic places. However, English is increasingly present among the Sevillian population.
Identification
If you are an EU citizen, you can travel to Spain simply with your ID. For the rest of the countries the Passport is required.
There are museums with discounts if you are a student or over 65, so be sure to take this documentation with you in order to take advantage.
Business schedules
In Seville most shops remain open until 9:00 p.m. Of course, we are talking about the large chains. Many stores are small businesses and although usually they also close late, around 8:00 p.m., they will take a break from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. These hours in Seville are used for having lunch, so the best thing to do at this time is not go shopping but enjoy Seville’s gastronomy.
Another thing to keep in mind is the shops close on Sundays. Workers must rest one day a week, and it doesn’t matter that their trade is “tourism” -like the ceramics shops in Triana-, so if you plan to reserve a day for shopping, don’t wait for Sunday.
Tourist offices
In Seville you will find two Official Tourist Offices: the one dedicated exclusively to the city of Seville -metropolitan area-, and the one for the province, which has also information about the villages surrounding it.
The first one is located on the Paseo Marqués de Contadero, near the Torre del Oro, and the second one is much more central, in the Plaza del Triunfo.
I recommend that you go to the one located in the Plaza del Triunfo, because apart from being easier to get to, its city maps are much clearer and manageable. In addition, you will be able to know what else you can see near to Seville and how to get there.
Currency
Spain is part of the EU and since 2002 the official currency is the euro.
Plug sockets
In Spain the common voltage is 230 V. The frequency is 50 Hz. The plugs and sockets are type F.
Lockers
You may realize that your flight is at night, but you must leave your accommodation at 12.00 p.m. And suddenly the question arises: what do I do with my suitcases? Don’t worry, you have some options.
You have the possibility of going to the train or bus station and leaving them there, or you can leave them at some of the lockers located around the city, a start-up business run by a group of Sevillian women.
- The lockers at the Santa Justa Train Station are quite modern, and cost from €3.10/day. Its opening times are every day from 6.00 a.m. to 00.00.
- The lockers at the Prado de San Sebastián bus station are the most central, but they also have less capacity. The price is €2-3/day. Its opening times are Sunday to Thursday from 5.00 a.m. to 1.00 a.m. (closed between 1.00 a.m. and 5.00 a-m.). On Fridays and Saturdays they operate 24 hours.
- The lockers at the Plaza de Armas bus station are also central, and their price is €3.5/day. The opening times are every day from 5.30 a.m. to 1.30 a.m.
- Another option is The Pink Lockers, an initiative by a group of Sevillian women, where you can leave your luggage in the centre of the city, with 24-hour video surveillance and Wi-Fi. They operate every day, 24 hours a day, and also have a minimarket, perfect if you are hungry and everything is closed. Their prices range from €4.9/day for the smallest locker to €14.9/day for the largest, so if you go as a group it may be worth it.
Emergencies
Although you will most certainly not use them, here you have the emergency numbers that could be useful:
- Emergency services: 112
- Police: 091 and 092
- Ambulance: 061.
- Firefighters: 080 and 081.
- Violence against women: 016
If you have suffered from a robbery or incident, here are the Police stations that you can go to:
- Central District Police Station: Alameda de Hércules, 0. Tlf. +34 954 28 95 57.
- Triana District Police Station: Path of Discoveries, 1. Tlf. +34 954 99 11 14
Image source: Author’s photo.
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