Tourist Office
As always, we recommend that your first stop in Seville be a tourist office. The Tourist Information Center at Calle Arjona, 28 is open from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on weekends. A second office, Edificio Laredo at Plaza de San Francisco 19, is open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on weekdays.
The office at Plaza del Triunfo, 1-3 provides information on the entire Province of Seville. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m until 7:30 p.m. and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday and holidays. For more information, visit the Seville Board of Tourism official website.
Museums Prices and Passes
Here are admission prices to the main attractions in Seville, for adults and children:
Cathedral and Giralda (Web site in Spanish only): €7.50 (adults)/€2 (reduced); free (children under 16); free to all on Sundays
Alcázar: €7 (adults)/free (reduced)
Flamenco Museum: €10 (adults)/€6 (children)
Plaza del Toros (Web site in Spanish): €5 (adults)/€4 (reduced);(includes guided tour)
Archaeological Museum (Web site in Spanish): €1.50
Torre del Oro (Golden Tower) : €1/free to all on Tuesdays
Hospital de los Venerables: €4.75 (adults)/€2.40 (reduced)/free (children under 12); free to all on Sundays between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The Sevilla Card is a great value, offering free admission to most city museums and attractions, Cruceros Tours boat rides on the Guadalquivir River, and free admission to Isla Mágica theme park, plus discounts to various shops, clubs, and restaurants. Cards cost €50 for a 24-hour period, €60 for a 48-hour period and €65 for a 72-hour period. Cards can include unlimited transportation for an added fee between €3.11 and €6.25. You can purchase the Sevilla Card at tourist information offices, or buy online and receive a small discount.
Free Sights
Seville is chock full of free wonders. It wouldn't be difficult, in fact, to spend entire days in the city paying for nothing but your food. Pay attention to attraction hours and fees. Many, like the Cathedral (free on Sundays) and the Torre del Oro (free on Tuesdays), offer free admission to the public on select days. East of the Cathedral, the Barrio de Santa Cruz, Seville's medieval Jewish quarter, is a labyrinth of winding streets that tempt curious travelers with its colorful plazas and sweet-scented gardens. It's shaded lanes provide an escape from hot summer days, and adventures into its hidden patios reward the intrepid with a feeling at once clandestine and idyllic.
Seville counts the Guadalquivir River as one of its important attractions. Meander along the river's edge and marvel at its many bridges, or stop for a drink at one of the countless terrace bars that dot the area. Take a twilight stroll for a glimpse of the Torre del Oro's reflection glittering on the still surface of the water.
For a full day of free, pack up a picnic and a bottle of wine (or two) and head to Plaza de España, the vast expanse of gorgeous architecture with its very own canal built for the Hispano-American Exposition of 1929. If you do happen to tire of the stunning square, move on to the nearby Parque de María Luisa, a treasure trove of lush gardens, colorful tiled patios, and tranquil ponds.
Flamenco
Seville is steeped in the tradition of Flamenco, and it would be a travesty to leave the city without witnessing the passionate, beautiful dance. That said, Flamenco shows can get expensive, so beware. A good general rule of thumb when seeking out Flamenco shows is to steer clear of tablaos. Hotels and tourist offices will push you towards these tourist-oriented venues, but they tend to be expensive and inauthentic.
Seek out restaurants that host regular flamenco nights. The quality is sometimes unpredictable, but you're guaranteed a richer atmosphere. We like La Carbonería (Calle Levies, 18) in the Jewish district. Still better, befriend the lovely folks at the Pension de las Cruces, a pension and school of Flamenco that often throws private parties with well-known dancers and guitarists on its intimate, private interior patio.
Bullfights
The stunning, ancient Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza hosts some of the biggest, most thrilling bullfights in Spain. The season runs from Easter Sunday through early October. Fights take place every Sunday, usually starting at 6:30 p.m., with daily fights during the weeks before and during Feria de Abril. Tickets will cost between €20 and €100 from the start of the season through mid-summer, when full-fledged matadors are fighting. The rest of the season sees novice bullfights and cheaper ticket prices, between €9 and €42.
The ticket office will have maps of the bullring so that you can choose your seats. Sol (sun) seats will be the cheapest option but you'll be in the sun for an hour or so until it sets. Sombra (shade) seats may give you a better vantage point to see the action. During the high season of professional fighting, premium seats will be scarce, as season ticket holders take up a lot of them. The further back you sit, of course, the cheaper the tickets will be.
Senior Discounts
Senior travelers can get discounts all over Seville. To obtain some discounts, membership in a particular senior association may be required. Members of the AARP receive discounts on hotels, airfares and car rentals in Seville. They can be reached in the United States at 1-800-424-3410 or accessed online at the AARP Web site.
Student Discounts
The International Student Identity Card, ISIC, the most widely accepted form of student ID, provides discounts on sights, accommodations, food and transportation. Some places offer admission discounts of 20%-50% to ISIC members. All cardholders have access to a 24-hour emergency helpline. In the United States call 1-800-223-7986 or click onto the ISIC site. Applicants must be degree seekers of a secondary or post-secondary school and must be at least 12 years of age. The card costs US$22 and is valid until the end of the year issued.
For non-students 25 years or younger, the International Youth Card, IYTC, also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC. The card costs US$22 and is valid for one year from the date issue.
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