Transportation in Sevilla
Sevilla is a large city, but fortunately has many forms of transportation to navigate through its winding streets, bustling downtown, and sleepy suburbs. Although cars, motorcycles, and scooters are all common, I will focus on alternative, public forms of transportation that are available to me as an international student.
The first major kind of transportation is the metro line that runs through Sevilla. The line is divided into three sections: the middle, which is downtown Sevilla, and two areas of suburbs. The metro is very fast, and has trains come into the station around every 7 minutes or so. The only drawback for the metro for me is that it closes at 11 p.m. during the week and 2 a.m. for the weekends. Notable stops on the metro include:
Puerta Jerez: This is the closest stop to downtown Sevilla where the largest attractions, including the Catedral and the Plaza de España.
Plaza de Cuba: Downtown Sevilla on the west side of the river.
Pablo de Olavide: Stop for the Universidad Pablo de Olavide.
Gran Plaza: The closest stop to where I live! Also convenient for anyone trying to go to the FCS stadium.
Although the metro is very convenient, the line only runs west-east, without any north-south options. Therefore, buses offer greater diversity as they have lines that run to all areas of the city. Buses are also a little bit cheaper than the metro to ride, as well. Generally, I have not used buses because I don’t mind walking the average 15-20 minutes from the metro station to my destination.
Taxis are also popular in Sevilla and are all hybrids, making them a better option for those looking for a more environmentally friendly alternative to a traditional, combustion engine car. Uber is the only ride-share application that I have observed in Spain, and is convenient for ordering rides when you aren’t on a major street. One important difference to note is that, unlike the United States, Ubers in Spain are not cheaper than a regular taxi, and instead cost approximately the same.
Since the downtown of Sevilla hosts so many significant landmarks and historic buildings, cars are not allowed as their pollution would stain buildings over time. The downtown accordingly offers a few alternative forms of transportation. First, there is a trolley that runs through downtown that is convenient for saving time walking between larger areas. There are also electric scooters that people can rent using an app on their phone, called LIME. Finally, my personal favorite, there is a fleet of horse-drawn carriages that operate as a taxi service through the downtown area.
One of the most popular forms of transportation in Sevilla is biking, since the city is built on very level terrain. There is a popular sharing bicycle app, Servici, that allows users to borrow bicycles, ride them to other Servici stations in the city, and drop them off there. Servici is also popular because it is very inexpensive, with a year-long pass only costing around 30 dollars.
Finally, the most common form of transportation in Sevilla is walking. Locals walk for considerable distances, and consider a 45-minute trek to be “close”. Fortunately, Sevilla has so many beautiful buildings, fountains, sculptures, and scenery that one doesn't feel bored at all walking through town.
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