Seville Tourist Office
Oficina de turismo |
There are many in Sevilla now. Stop by one of the locations!
The tourist office in Seville really is the best place to
get information once you are here. Maps, pamphlets, transportation
information, exhibits and events plus a whole lot more are
offered in various languages. The staff also speaks English
and can help you get to where you need to go fast. Best of
all the majority of information here is free of charge! Located
in the city center only a block or two from the Cathedral
(and on the same side of the street) is the city office. Other
locations, some of which are provincial offices but offer
the same information, include the Sevilla Province office
in the Plaza del Triunfo, the Costurero de la Reina (The Queen's
sewing room - this is currently closed for renovations), the
train station and the airport.
Important update.
Making phone calls to the U.S. is best using a telephone
card purchased in a estanco (Tobacco Shop) or kiosco.
Most offer a toll-free number (900 numbers are toll-free
here), where you can choose  your
language, enter a pin number and the number you are calling.
These cards are where I have seen the best rates from Spain
to the U.S. or other countries. Also be sure to check the
expiration date for the cards - they often have a 30 day
limit once you make your first call, so be sure you'll use
all of your minutes before the card expires. One phone card
I've seen come highly recommended is the Eurodirect
phone card. It offers calls to the US, Australia and other
countries for 3.7 cents per minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week. There are no connection fees, which makes this hands
down the best card you can use when calling overseas. You
can find it at a number of newsstands and internet cafes
in Sevilla. If you wish you can also bypass the operators
here and call toll-free to an AT&T, MCI or Sprint operator.
This option is best if you have a calling card from any
of these companies, but expect those rates to be higher
than what you will find with a locally purchased card. Finally,
using coins at a telephone booth or calling direct from
a hotel room will always be the most expensive option.
A few notes about calling: Be wary of special calling cards
not from the main long-distance companies which claim you
can use them from anywhere in the world. One card a relative
of mine bought in Costco or Sam's advertised it could be
used all over the world, but when they got here they could
never get through to an operator and never were able to
use the card. Also keep in mind that local calls in Spain
(and most of Europe) are not free, and that calling a mobile
phone from a fixed line or pay phone will be much more expensive.
For example, a call from a pay phone to a mobile phone is
a minimum of 0,60€., while the same call to a fixed
(home) line is only 0,20€.
Helpful Information & Links |
Toll-free numbers for US operators:
AT&T: 900-99-00-11
Sprint: 900-99-00-13
MCI: 900-99-00-14
|
Receiving Mail
The mail system is much improved since I lived here in 1993,
but I still expect delays when receiving a package from the
U.S. or the U. K.. Airmail packages tend to take anywhere
from 7-21 days, while surface mail can be, at times, the equivalent
of throwing your package in a dumpster down the street. Recently
I have received my packages in 2-3 months, but I did lose
two I sent to the U.S. as well as one I sent to Seville some
years ago. At times I have received a letter in 5 days, while
another letter sent from the same location at the same time
arrived 2 weeks later. As well, at least once a month my weekly
magazine fails to arrive during a given week but generally
turns up the following week. Most often anything other than
surface will arrive in a reasonable amount of time. When receiving
packages by U.S. Airmail be prepared to pay a nominal handling
fee when you go to pick it up at correos. Smaller
packages may arrive directly to your house while larger ones
will always require pick up. Bring an ID to prove who you
are and be prepared to pick up the package at one of the smaller
neighborhood offices, which will hopefully be closer to you
than the main one. Services such as UPS
or DHL will deliver
the package to your door, although expect those shipping fees
to be much higher and expect to pay a duty on some shipments.
Sending Mail
When shipping something urgent from Spain to the U.S. or another
country I recommend using UPS, if only from my brief experiences
in mailing documents. My last mailing cost about 32 Euros
to get one set of documents to the U.S. in two days. I shipped
this using the local Mailboxes, Etc. office on calle Jesus
del Gran Poder. All of the tracking information was sent to
my email address where I received updates on the shipment
including final delivery. It arrived on time (48 hours) and
I was fairly pleased with the service. I have heard Fedex
is not recommended to use because they contract out their
services to another company in Spain. This may be the case,
but I have never used Fedex to send, so cannot speak from
the sending experience. However, i have on two occassions
waited much longer than normal to receive Fedex packages,
which were delivered by another carrier in Seville. When one
passed by to deliver the package, we called a mobile phone
number left on the slip. We were told the next day they would
bring the package back. At the end of the next day (a Friday)
we called again, and were told they had stopped working for
the day, and would deliver the package on Monday. Or we could
drive out to their warehouse to pick it up. For this reason,
send it UPS if you send to Spain! The Spanish mail system,
Correos, also offers a rapid delivery service, but
I just don't trust them yet to get it there as quickly as
UPS.
The Post Office
The main post office is located in the heart of the center
on Avda. Constitución, just across from the Archivo
de Indias. Once you enter you need to take a number from one
of the machines depending on what service you need (pick-up,
mail, etc.) Then keep an eye on the screen until they call
your number. The screen will reference your number plus the
the number of the window you need to go to (no worries, it's
fairly easy). There are several stations located where you
can fill out slips for various types of mailings (packages,
registered and urgent letters, etc.) as well as a machine
or two right at the entrance where you can purchase stamps
and envelopes for mailings. Note you can always purchase stamps
for letters and post cards at the local tobacco shop, or estanco.
Finally it's worth mentioning that Correos has entered
the 21st century with it's new locutorio in the main
office on Avda. Constitución. You can now surf the
internet or place a long distance call at very reasonable
rates at the locutorio, located just through the
doors to your left before you enter the main room. They are
generally open all day until about 10 or 11pm. A call to the
U.S. using their service comes out at 0,06€ per minute,
especially competitive now that there is a 0,12€ surcharge
on all calling card calls made from a public phone.
Laundry and dry cleaning
Lavar ropa y Lavanderias |
Getting your laundry done while on the road can be a pain.
If you live in the city in a shared or private flat then
chances are you have a washing machine. In almost all cases
of your own apartment do not expect a dryer - not in the
land of extreme heat in the summer. In the summer months
your laundry may dry on the roof in just a couple of hours,
which makes doing multiple loads in a day possible. Take
a few pieces of advice from me when doing your laundry on
your own: 1) do use fabric softener and still expect your
clothes to be a bit stiff. I think this is mainly due to
the water, but I won't claim to know exactly. 2) beware
of the sun and fading clothes with colors, especially in
the summer but also during other seasons. And I am not talking
about over a number of washings, but literally from one
day in the sun. When in doubt turn your clothes inside out,
which helps. 3) if you live in a building you may have a
specific place to hang your laundry or it may be a free-for-all,
where it's first come first serve. In the latter case make
sure you don't take up all of the space with several loads
of wash and make sure you take your stuff down in a reasonable
amount of time after it's dry so others can use the space
as well.
If you are traveling around or simply need to get extra
laundry done you can take them to a lavanderia
in town. Rather than the coin operated machines you may
see in the U.S. you will pay someone there and you can either
wash it by yourself or have them do it for you. Typical
prices for wash, dry and folding of one load are anywhere
from 6-10€. Many places will also iron clothing for
a fee. For dry cleaning head to a tintorería: El
Corte Inglés in Plaza Duque offers a decent service
and at a good price, too.
|
Helpful Information & Links |
| Lavandería y Tintorería
Roma |
c/ Federico Sanchez Bedoya, 18 (Arenal) |
| Lavandería Robledo |
c/ Castelar, 2 (Arenal) |
The three major Spanish newspapers here are El
País, ABC
and El Mundo.
One note and something you have to hate about El País
- you must be a paid subscriber to read the paper online.
This makes no sense whatsoever to me and while it's a good
paper this policy is just plain stupid. There are local
editions of each of the above national papers, as well as
local papers such as El
Diario de Sevilla. A free paper called 20
Minutes can be found at cafes and bars, or in the
early morning you may see people handing them out in the
center. Metro
is 20 Minutos competition and they generally hand
them out in the same places in the center. If you're looking
for news from home or other countries  foreign
newspapers and magazines can be found here at some kioscos
or newsstands in the center of the city. The International
Herald Tribune, now run exclusively by the New
York Times, is offered daily except Sunday. The Tribune
also include's a small 8 page version of El País
in English. USA
Today also offers an international version of the
paper. Finally, a smaller version of Newsweek
is available at some newsstands as well. One newsstand near
the Cathedral (next door to Flaherty's Irish Pub) tends
to offer all three on a regular basis. Of course in the
age of the Internet you can always head to a cyber cafe
and read up on everything you need. If you are searching
for press from England, Germany and France you shouldn't
have a problem finding the major newspapers.
Two other publications are great resources for either classifieds
or entertainment, dining and cultural events. Both are in
Spanish, however. El
Giraldillo is a monthly pub which covers dining,
music, conferences, sports, movies, exhibitions, courses/study
options as well as a few other random listings. A wide range
of classified advertising, including apartments and housing,
can be found in el Cambalache.
Metro - Spanish language, daily
(except weekends) free, ad-supported newspaper which can
be found in various locations. In the morning this is passed
out in several locations around the center of the city.
20 Minutos - Spanish language,
daily (except weekends), free, ad-supported newspaper which
is simialr to Metro. This can also be found around
the city in the same locations as Metro.
Qué - Spanish language,
the newest arrival to the daily, free, ad supported newspapers.
Follows the same distribution method as Metro and
20 Minutos.
Casco Antiguo - Spanish language,
free newspaper which can be found in bars and tourist offices
covering news in the city center, such as renovations, new
projects, art and exhibits, conferences and more.
El Giraldillo - Spanish Language
monthly magazine which covers all of the arts - music, theatre,
exhibits, movies, festivals and more. Also has a large listing
of classes and private schools, restaurants, trips and other
local businesses. This is free at thr tourist office and
some bars/restaurants. Sometimes necessary to buy at other
lcations.
Cambalache - Spanish language,
2-3 times weekly, classified ads, most known for their apartment
and roomate wanted/needed listings. All other types of classifieds
as well. Can be purchased at newsstands.
Welcome Olé - free tourist
magazine in English and Spanish available in hotels and
the tourist office. Includes descriptions of the main sites,
a few monthly and seasonal events plus a map.
The Tourist - free tourist magazine
in English and Spanish available in hotels and at times
the tourist office. Similar to Welcome Olé, and my
one big problem is their tourist information which tells
you that it is customary to tip 10% at hotels, restaurants
and taxis. Tell this to just about any sevillano
and watch them laugh.
Prices and Tipping
Precios y propinas |
Below are some sample prices for random
things you may want to buy, eat, read or do while here.
Not here are prices for museums and tourist attractions.
I will soon add those to my list.
| What |
Approx. Price |
| Tapa |
1,30 - 4€ |
| Cheap Meal |
4-7€ |
| Better Meal |
8-20€ |
| Beer |
1 -1,50€ |
| Soda/Refresco |
1 - 1.50€ |
| Cocktail |
4 - 6€ |
| Coffee |
0.80 - 1.50€ |
| Whole roast chicken |
5-6€ |
| Pizza |
6-10€ |
| Bus (1 trip) |
0,90€ |
| Bónobus (10 trip pass) |
3,80€ |
| Month pass (unlimited) |
26€ |
| Taxi |
3 - 8€ |
| Taxi to Airport |
18 - 25€ |
| Local Phone Call (booth) |
0,30€ |
| Herald-Tribune (US Newspaper) |
2€ |
| ABC, El Pais (Spanish Newspaper)
|
1€ |
| Movie ticket |
5€ |
| Movie rental |
2-3€ |
| Haircut |
10-30€ |
As for tipping leave a few Euros at a very nice restaurant,
maybe leave the same or a little more if you have a bigger
group. In general you don't tip here for meals or drinks.
You don't tip taxi drivers either, but rounding off the
change sometimes is nice. Contrary to what one of The
Tourist magazines (hint, hint) says about tipping
in Sevilla, it is not customary to leave 10% for every meal,
cab ride, hotel or bar. In general reward someone for doing
something nice, providing good service or going out of their
way, but these folks aren't expecting a large tip since
they don't work for below minimum wage as is the case in
the U.S. and other countries. Not much more to add other
than I am happy not doing the math - estimating 15% plus
tax - every time I eat out.
Useful Phone Numbers
Teléfonos útiles |
Most of these I hope you'll never need to know. Others
can be quite helpful in the right situation.
| Who/What |
Telephone |
| Emergency (as in 911) |
112 |
| National Police |
091 |
| Municipal/Local Police |
092 |
| Fire (Bomberos) |
080 |
| Red Cross (Cruz Roja) |
954 35 14 00 |
| Farmacia de Guardia |
902 52 21 11 |
| Santa Justa (Train Station) |
954 54 02 02 |
| Plaza de Armas (Bus Station) |
954 90 80 40 |
| Prado (Bus Station) |
954 90 77 37 |
| Tussam (City Bus) |
954 55 72 00 |
| Tussam Lost Objects |
954 42 04 03 |
| Radio Taxi |
954 67 55 55 |
| Tele Taxi |
954 62 22 22 |
American Express
(Credit Card) |
915 72 03 03 |
Master Card (Credit
Card) |
900 97 12 31 |
Visa (Credit
Card) |
900 97 44 45 |
Holidays and Festivals
Días Festivos |
National and Regional Holidays
Listed below are the dates of national and regional holidays
which fall on fixed dates. Expect banks and other government
offices to be closed. Beware of other holidays which create
puentes, or long weekends. These can make finding
a good hotel room a difficuly process. Aside from Semana
Santa and Feria you can always show up and find something,
but your choices may be less than ideal in terms of location
and/or comfort.
| Observed |
Date |
| New Year's Day |
January 1 |
| Kings (Reyes) |
January 6 |
| Dia de Andalucia |
February 28 |
| Maundy Thursday |
April 8 |
| May Day |
May 1 |
| Assumption Day |
August 15 |
| Columbus Day |
October 12 |
| All Saints Day |
November 1 |
| Constitution Day |
December 6 |
| Immaculate Conception |
December 8 |
| Christmas Day |
December 25 |
Semana Santa, Feria de Abril and Corpus Dates
Listed below are the dates of Semana Santa, Feria de Abril
and Corpus through 2010. Note that the Feria de Abril dates
are always tentative until they are confirmed around the
beginning of December the year before. In most cases Feria
de Abril falls 2 weeks after Semana Santa, although it is
rare for the Feria to go into April, so sometimes (as is
the case with 2006) they are closer together.
| Observed |
Semana Santa |
Feria de Abril |
Corpus Christi |
| 2006 |
9 - 16 April |
25 - 30 April |
15 June |
| 2007 |
1 - 8 April |
24 - 29 April |
7 June |
| 2008 |
16 - 23 March |
8 - 13 April |
22 June |
| 2009 |
5 - 12 April |
28 April - 3 May |
11 June |
| 2010 |
28 March - 4 April |
20 - 25 April |
3 June |
|
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