podtour
At a glance
- Country
- Spain
- Region
- Andalusia
- Language
- Spanish. Hello: hola or buenos días. Thank you: gracias.
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Population
- Around 700,000 people
- Sockets
- Types C and F, 230 V; bring an adaptor for UK plugs
- Emergencies
- 112
- Tap water
- Yes. Mains water is drinkable; bring a reusable bottle.
- Card payments
- Cards are widely used; some cash is useful for small purchases.
- Tipping
- Tipping is optional; leave something if you want to thank staff for good service, without assuming a fixed percentage.
- Driving side
- right
When to go
| Season | Approximate temperature | Rain | Daylight | Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Roughly 10–27 °C. | Showers between mild days. | Increasing daylight. | Lively, with major celebrations. |
| Summer | Roughly 20–37 °C; it can be hotter. | Very little rain. | Long days. | Intense heat and essential breaks. |
| Autumn | Roughly 12–29 °C. | Rain returns. | Shortening afternoons. | Mild at first and good for walks. |
| Winter | Roughly 6–18 °C. | Periods of rain. | Short days. | Some mild afternoons; cool nights. |
- For comfortable walking: spring or autumn. In winter, bring a coat for shade and evenings.
- March or April · Holy Week: processions and crowds change how you cross the centre.
- April or May · Feria: a festive atmosphere and busy accommodation; arrange your arrival ahead.
- December · Christmas: lights and crowded shopping streets; allow a slower pace.
Walking the city
- Hills: the centre and Triana are fairly level, with gradients at bridges and some entrances.
- Underfoot: stone slabs, cobbles and narrow Santa Cruz lanes; slow down in rain.
- Weather: open squares and riverbanks can be exposed. Find real shade and avoid long continuous walks in heat.
- Distances: Cathedral, Santa Cruz and Arenal combine well. Macarena and Plaza de España sit at different ends: plan by area.
- Crossings: traffic drives on the right, unlike Britain. Check both directions and leave tram tracks and cycle lanes clear.
- Daily rhythm: lunch and dinner come later than many British visitors expect. In summer, the city retreats from the heat in the early afternoon: do the same and walk again when the sun eases.
Getting there and around
- Airport: bus and taxi connect with the city. Consider luggage and the final stretch to your accommodation.
- Santa Justa station: outside the monumental centre; bus or taxi saves carrying luggage the whole way.
- In Seville: buses, tram and metro help with longer journeys; walk within old-town routes.
- Local tip: choose your river crossing carefully; the right bridge saves an unnecessary return walk.
The neighbourhoods
| Neighbourhood | What it's like | Who it suits | Our routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral and Alcázar | Major monuments and busy squares. | First visits. | The Cathedral, the Giralda and the Alcázar Free |
| Santa Cruz | Narrow lanes and small squares beside the monuments. | A compact walk through the former Jewish quarter. | Santa Cruz: Seville's Jewish Quarter |
| Arenal | Between the monumental centre and river. | Port stories and riverside walking. | The Arenal and the Port of the Indies |
| Triana | Residential streets, ceramics and views from the other bank. | Local life and crafts. | Triana: Castle, Potters and River; Seafaring and Gitano Triana |
| Centre and Alfalfa | Shopping streets, squares and churches. | Combining walking and breaks. | Central Seville: Legends and Truths |
| Alameda and San Lorenzo | Open squares and neighbourhood life. | A walk farther north. | The Alameda and San Lorenzo |
| Feria and Macarena | Lived-in streets, churches and stretches of wall. | Beyond the main monumental area. | The Macarena and the Feria |
| Southern monumental area | Avenues and parkland around Plaza de España. | Gardens and broad spaces. | From the Tobacco Factory to the Plaza de España |
What to try
| Dish or drink | What it is |
|---|---|
| Gazpacho | Cold tomato and vegetable soup, lighter than salmorejo. |
| Salmorejo | Thick cold tomato and bread soup, usually with egg and ham. |
| Spinach with chickpeas | A spiced dish common among tapas. |
| Montadito | A small filled bread roll; ask what the local version contains. |
| Pescaíto frito | Floured, fried fish, often shared. |
| Pavías de bacalao | Battered, fried strips of salt cod. |
| Carrillada | Slow-cooked cheek in sauce. |
| Pringá | Shredded meats from a stew, also used as a filling. |
| Tortas de aceite | Thin crisp sweet biscuits with oil and aniseed. |
| Pestiños | Fried pastry with honey or sugar, found elsewhere in Andalusia too. |
What to pack
- Comfortable, breathable shoes: hard surfaces and time spent standing.
- Water, hat and sunscreen: useful habits under strong sunshine.
- Summer: light clothes; a thin covering layer is useful in places of worship.
- Winter and shoulder seasons: a jacket, because shade can feel cool despite sunshine.
- Light waterproof: useful without filling narrow lanes with open umbrellas.
- Types C and F sockets. Bring an adaptor for a UK plug.
- Podtour works offline: download what you want to listen to before heading out.
For the trip
Customs and common mistakes
- Say hello and ask whose turn it’s at a crowded bar.
- Tapa, media ración and ración describe different portions; ask about size.
- An open door doesn’t make a private courtyard a visitor attraction.
- Give processions room and follow local directions; use another street if you can’t cross.
- Keep quiet in churches in use.
- Listen without blocking narrow lanes or doorways.
- The oranges on street trees are bitter, the sort used for marmalade; don’t pick them expecting a sweet eating orange.
- Lower your voice beneath windows late at night; the centre is residential too.
If it rains (or it's very hot)
- Heat: Santa Cruz: Seville's Jewish Quarter offers narrow lanes but not continuous shade. Rest before you’re worn out.
- Rain: combine Central Seville: Legends and Truths with an independent museum or church visit; wet paving needs care.
- More exposed: The Arenal and the Port of the Indies and From the Tobacco Factory to the Plaza de España include open spaces; choose comfortable conditions.
- Indoor pause: the Museum of Fine Arts or General Archive of the Indies may fit your part of the city.
Itineraries with Podtour
Allow a break between routes. Indoor visits are separate plans from the walk and the audio.
Days Plan
1 day
Start with The Cathedral, the Giralda and the Alcázar Free. At the river, take a break before The Arenal and the Port of the Indies.
2 days
Day 1: as above. Day 2: Santa Cruz: Seville's Jewish Quarter and From the Tobacco Factory to the Plaza de España, moving from Santa Cruz towards gardens and Plaza de España.
3 days
Days 1 and 2: as above. Day 3: Triana: Castle, Potters and River and Seafaring and Gitano Triana; spend the day across the river, with a long break between walks.
What to see with Podtour
marks places covered by the free route. Outdoor listening doesn’t include admission to interiors.
| Place | Why go | Route and stop |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral exterior, doors and steps | Its monumental scale is clear from the square. | The Cathedral, the Giralda and the Alcázar Free · «Madmen?» |
| Giralda | Take time over the details from below. | The Cathedral, the Giralda and the Alcázar Free · «The tower and the minstrel» |
| Torre del Oro | The free route links the monuments with the river here. | The Cathedral, the Giralda and the Alcázar Free · «The tower they were going to demolish» |
| Callejón del Agua and Murillo Gardens | A narrow lane where the wall itself has a story. | Santa Cruz: Seville's Jewish Quarter · «Water inside the wall» |
| Calle Susona and Plaza de Doña Elvira | A small square opening into the neighbourhood’s stories. | Santa Cruz: Seville's Jewish Quarter · «Elvira de Ayala» |
| Santa María la Blanca | A façade prompts questions about changing uses. | Santa Cruz: Seville's Jewish Quarter · «The synagogue that became a church» |
| Hospital de la Caridad | Memories of people who worked beside the water. | The Arenal and the Port of the Indies · «Those who buried the drowned: the Caridad» |
| Postigo del Aceite and the Arenal wall | A surviving gate helps you picture an earlier boundary. | The Arenal and the Port of the Indies · «The gate that survived: Postigo del Aceite» |
| Triana’s pottery quarter | Ceramics offer a way into the neighbourhood. | Triana: Castle, Potters and River · «The potter saints» |
| Santa Ana Church | A reference point in neighbourhood life. | Triana: Castle, Potters and River · «The king’s eye: the panel at Santa Ana» |
| Calle Betis | Another perspective on the river and its stories. | Triana: Castle, Potters and River · «The chain that was not there» |
| Town hall, Plaza Nueva and Plaza de San Francisco | A civic square for a different view of the centre. | Central Seville: Legends and Truths · «A square for watching» |
| Salvador Church | A church and square suited to a pause. | Central Seville: Legends and Truths · «The church that collapsed on the eve» |
| Encarnación square, Setas and Antiquarium | The visible city meets the one below ground. | Convents and Legends of the Northern Old Town · «The Roman city beneath the Setas» |
| Alameda de Hércules | A broad promenade for slowing down. | The Alameda and San Lorenzo · «From lagoon to promenade» |
| Royal Tobacco Factory | A large building that invites you to imagine its working life. | From the Tobacco Factory to the Plaza de España · «A palace for tobacco, with a prison» |