car hire seville
Pick up your hire car at Seville airport and head for the most quintessential of Spanish towns. Book car hire seville now
the 60-second guide to Seville
in its own head
"We're the enchanting ancient capital of Andalucia, combining the style and grandeur of Spain's golden age with a rambling intrigue and excitement inspired by our North African neighbours."
but more realistically
Seville is as Spanish as it gets. You'll see parading matadors and dancing ladies aplenty - and it's not just for the tourists.
the vibe
Seville's nightlife is less conservative than it's architecture. Whether you want haunting guitar and flamenco foot stamping or raucous raving in a downtown bar, Seville's got it all and it goes on late.
the natives
A cleaner, calmer city than nearby Granada, Seville's townsfolk are less likely to hassle you in the street but pull up a pew in any back street bar and they'll chat for hours.
the weather
It's not called the frying pan of Europe for nothing. With scorching temperatures in mid summer, even the locals stay away. On the plus side, you'll rarely need a coat.
the local speciality
If Seville epitomises Spain then its food epitomises tapas. Crispy calamari and garlic potatoes enjoyed in a riverside bar will taste delicious and cost you less than a beer.
the celebrity
Seville's famous sons date back centuries - Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian were born just down the road. But the most popular celeb is a fictional one: the legend of Carmen is set in the city.
did you know?
The majority the world's marmalade is made from oranges grown in Seville.
they say
"The air is soft as that of Seville in April" - Explorer, Christopher Columbus
5 to see in town...
- 1. Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla
- 2. Casa de Pilatos
- 3. Parque Isla Magica
- 4. Iglesia de San Esteban
- 5. Alcazar
The fine arts museum displays a wealth of Spanish wonders, helping to put Seville into historical context. With El Grecos and Murillos on offer, if you like your art Spanish, you won't be disappointed.
where to park?
You can park in the Plaza de Armas shopping centre.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla
- 2. Casa de Pilatos
- 3. Parque Isla Magica
- 4. Iglesia de San Esteban
- 5. Alcazar
There are various local rumours as to why the mansion is named after Pontius Pilate. The ancient ruler never lived here but the impressive tile work and beautiful gardens are still worth the trip.
where to park?
There's free parking at Plaza del Cristo de Burgos.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla
- 2. Casa de Pilatos
- 3. Parque Isla Magica
- 4. Iglesia de San Esteban
- 5. Alcazar
It's not often you get a theme park based on 16th-century colonial adventures. This lakeside park offers an imaginary world of knights, rogues, merchants and pirates, with plenty of thrills to be had - eat your heart out Disneyland.
where to park?
There is a huge, free parking area outside the park.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla
- 2. Casa de Pilatos
- 3. Parque Isla Magica
- 4. Iglesia de San Esteban
- 5. Alcazar
This richly decorated 14th-century church has enough paintings to rival the Louvre. The plasterwork in the sacramental chapel gets the most oohs and aahs but a dig around will unearth plenty of hidden treasures.
where to park?
Head for the Escuelas Pias car park in Plaza Ponce de Leon. It will cost you €2.15 an hour.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla
- 2. Casa de Pilatos
- 3. Parque Isla Magica
- 4. Iglesia de San Esteban
- 5. Alcazar
A smaller version of Granada's Moorish palace, the Alcazar's stature loses nothing in grandeur. With gardens to rival those of Eden you simply won't want to leave.
where to park?
Park in the car park at the Prado San Sebastian bus station. From there it's a 15-minute walk or you catch the tram along Calle San Fernando.
and 4 to drive to...
Cadiz claims to be the oldest city in Europe and it's certainly seen it's fair share of action; Christopher Columbus sailed from here, as did Sir Francis Drake. History and beaches - what more could you want?
how to get there?
Head south on the E5. It'll take about an hour and a half.
and 4 to drive to...
This 160,000-hectare natural reserve, spread out to the north of Seville, is potted with tiny ancient villages and staggeringly deep drops. It's perfect walking country - just don't look down.
how to get there?
Head north on the A-8006 and the A-432. It'll take around an hour and a half.
and 4 to drive to...
Just north west of Seville is the Roman town of Italica, which dates back to 206 BC. It's the first of its kind in Spain and the extensive ruins include tombs, amphitheatres and bathhouses.
how to get there?
Head north on the SE-30/E-803, then continue on the A66 before doubling back south on the Via Verde de Italica. It's a 20-minute drive.
and 4 to drive to...
Jerez is the heart of the 'sherry triangle' - an area that does exactly what it says on the tin. An array of bodegas will tempt you in for a tipple so you'll have to draw straws over the driving.
how to get there?
Head south on the AP-4/E-5. It'll take just over an hour.
ask a Seville cabbie!
Local taxi driver Juan Carmona on car hire in Seville: "Driving in Seville can be fun, but be on the look out for scooters weaving through the traffic and ignoring traffic signals. As far as possible, avoid driving through Paseo de Cristobal Colon, Avenida de Luis Montoto, Calle Torneo, and Ronda Historica - these are the most busy and problematic roads, especially during rush hour. It's not that easy to park in the centre of town, so my advice is to save yourself time and a load of hassle by using one of the public car parks."