Andalusia : Formalities and administrative procedures

Andalusia : Organize your stay

Money Money Andalusia

As in most European Union countries, the currency is the euro. The local currency is the Gibraltar pound, which has the same exchange rate as the pound sterling (prices are around 5% higher if you pay in euros).

Budget & Tips Budget & Tips Andalusia

The cost of living can sometimes seem half as expensive, but this depends a lot on whether you're in a big tourist town or a small village, and also on the time of year, especially for accommodation prices, which rise during major events. But on average, you won't pay more than €2 for a coffee, fruit juice costs around €2 to €3, and a person can get his or her fill from a tapeo at around €10 to €15. However, the Spanish inflation rate is significantly higher than the French: around 2.8% over 1 year in December 2024 (source INE).

Average budget per day. Based on a stay for two in high season: accommodation, meals and drinks, transport, visits and small outings. Low budget: from €100, camping, to €120, board and lodging. Medium budget: around €180 (staying in a top-quality guesthouse or simple or budget hotel). Large budget: from €250, staying in luxury or boutique hotels with meals in gourmet restaurants.

Tipping is included in the bill, but it may be appreciated to leave 5 to 10% of the bill.

Haggling is not practiced. Except in the mercadillos, small markets (jewelry, clothes, bags... etc.) that flourish especially in summer.

VAT (IVA) varies from 10 to 21%, depending on the product, and is generally included in the price, but should be specified in hotels.

To reduce your "sightseeing" budget, look out for free access days or half-days. But remember to reserve a place or come in advance, because even free entry is not unlimited.

Passport and visas Passport and visas Andalusia

For Andalusia and Gibraltar, members of the European Union only need a valid identity card or passport. As for pets, check beforehand whether they can accompany you. There are three standards to be met: they must be accompanied by their owners or their representative, they must be perfectly identified and the health documents must include a transcription in Spanish. This is slowly changing, but many Spanish hotels or campsites do not accept pets and some transport, buses for example, make them travel in the hold. If they are accepted, you will be asked to pay a supplement, justified by the cleaning required. To find out more, think of info douanes service (www.douane.gouv.fr).

Health Health Andalusia

In Andalusia, the most frequent problems are sunstroke and insect bites (mosquitoes, small red spiders, bedbugs...). At the supermarket, remember to take the gloves provided before helping yourself to fruit or bread. Tap water is drinkable, but not always pleasant to the taste. For emergencies, dial 112, as in the rest of the European Union, free of charge and accessible 24 hours a day from a landline or cell phone. In the event of a serious problem, don't forget to contact the French consulate, which provides a list of French-speaking doctors.

Mandatory vaccination Mandatory vaccination Andalusia

There are no compulsory vaccinations, but you can consult the Ministry of Health website (www.sante.gouv.fr) to find out about vaccination centers near you.

Security Security Andalusia

The only real danger in Andalusia is theft. If you're traveling by car, we'd also advise you to take extra care on the roads, especially those along the Andalusian coast, which are among the deadliest in Spain, as any vehicle you see in the ravines will attest. Otherwise, Andalusia is a safe and pleasant destination with children.

Time difference Time difference Andalusia

There are no time zone differences. The time in Seville is exactly the same as in Paris.

Spoken languages Spoken languages Andalusia

Spanish is spoken in Andalusia, with a specific accent. The spoken language is Castilian(castellano), but spoken with a different accent to that of Madrid, and a little more slowly, with a strong tendency to drop the final "s" and even whole words.

Communication Communication Andalusia

Wi-fi zones have been opened in major and secondary towns, especially those with universities. It is also available, with an access code, in cafés, restaurants and hotels. The latter are more or less effective, and sometimes only work at the reception desk. But a major effort has been made to install routers on every floor. Some hotels still have computer access at reception. A few locutorios, communication rooms with computers, can help out.

Electricity and measurements Electricity and measurements Andalusia

Andalusia is connected to 220 V like the rest of continental Europe, but the voltage may be reduced to 110 V or 125 V in very remote areas. Rural tourism enthusiasts will therefore occasionally take their adapters with them.

Luggage Luggage Andalusia

The weather is often warm and sunny, so don't leave without sunglasses, a hat and sun cream. Andalusian elegance is no myth, so don't forget to pack some nice clothes for the evening. Many small villages are very steep, so you'll need shoes with a good grip on the ground.

Andalusia : Daily life

Hello? Hello? Andalusia

To call Seville from France: 00 + 34 + the 9-digit local number always beginning with 9 (except special numbers) (e.g.: to call Seville center 00 + 34 + 954 345 548).

To call from Seville to France: 00 + 33 + area code without the zero + 8 digits of the local number (e.g.: to call Biarritz 00 + 33 + 5 + 59 51 45 64).

To call another Spanish city from Andalusia: the 9-digit local number (e.g.: from Seville to Jaén 953 501 074).

To call from a cell phone: dial 00 34 + the number starting with 6.

Since 2017 , SMS messages sent from Spain are included in your package.

Health Health Andalusia

The most common problems encountered by travellers in Andalusia are sunstroke and insect bites (mosquitoes, small red spiders, bedbugs...).

Hygiene. When you go shopping in supermarkets, don't forget to use gloves before helping yourself to bread or fruit. There are always gloves next to the products, and it's always frowned upon not to use them.

Agua (H2O). Tap water is more or less potable in some places, so mineral water (5-liter bottle or jerrycan, more economical) is preferable.

Emergency numbers Emergency numbers Andalusia

Throughout the European Union, 112 is the emergency number for contacting an ambulance, the fire department or the police. The number is free of charge, whether dialed from a landline, mobile or payphone. 112 is available 24 hours a day.

Securty Securty Andalusia

The only real danger in Andalusia is theft. If you're traveling by car, we also advise you to be very careful on the roads, especially those along the Andalusian coast, which are among the deadliest in Spain, as any vehicle you see in the ravines will attest.

LGBTQ LGBTQ Andalusia

Seville is a welcoming city, with a sizeable LGBTQ community. Many bars, restaurants and nightclubs are dedicated to this community. The gay district par excellence is the Alameda, where bars fly the rainbow flag.

Mail Mail Andalusia

Post offices (Correos y Telegrafos - www.correos.es) are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. In major cities, the main offices are generally open all day from 9am to 8pm, except on Saturdays. Stamps(sellos) for a letter or postcard cost €1.65 for the European Union and €0.78 for local mail. It takes around five days for mail to reach France, so be sure to send your postcards a few days before you return.

Local media Local media Andalusia

At national level, four dailies have the largest circulations: El País (www.elpais.com); El Mundo (www.elmundo.es); ABC (www.abc.es), and Marca, (www.marca.com) (the benchmark for sports news).

At regional level, the 8 provinces offer various publications and their online versions:

Province of Almería: La Voz de Almería (www.lavozdealmeria.es) and El Diario de Almería (www.diariodealmeria.es)

Province of Cadiz: Diario de Cádiz (www.diariodecadiz.es), La Voz de Cádiz (www.lavozdigital.es), Diario de Jerez (www.diariodejerez.com), Europa Sur (Campo de Gibraltar: www.europasur.es), Area (La Linea de la Concepción and Algeciras : www.campodegibraltarsigloxxi.com), Cádiz Información, El Puerto Información(El Puerto de Santa María), San Fernando Información and Jerez Información.

Province of Cordoba: Córdoba (www.diariocordoba.com) and El Dia de Córdoba (www.eldiadecordoba.es).

Province of Granada: Ideal (www.ideal.es), Granada Hoy (www.granadahoy.com) and La Opinion.

Province of Huelva: Huelva Información (www.huelvainformacion.es)

Province of Jaén: Diario de Jaén (www.diariojaen.es).

Province of Málaga: Málaga Hoy (www.malagahoy.es), Sur (www.diariosur.es), La Opinion (www.laopiniondemalaga.es), El Noticiero (Málaga and Costa del Sol: www.elnoticierodigital.com), La Tribuna de Marbella, Diario Axarquia (www.diarioaxarquia.com).

Seville province: El Diario de Sévilla (www.diariodesevilla.es), El Correo de Andalucia (www.elcorreoweb.es), Estadio Deportivo (sports: www.estadiodeportivo.com).

A few free publications to consult during your trip: Mercurio (www.revistamercurio.es), a very good monthly literary magazine dealing in particular with Andalusian authors; Para Vivir Andalucía, a magazine dedicated to tourism in Andalusia (www.andaluciaeconomica.com) with 6 issues per year and available from tourist offices or Alma 100, a monthly for flamenco lovers. Last but not least, Málaga, Granada, Seville and Cordoba have put together a number of tourist and cultural freebies.

Radio. In Andalusia, a multitude of local radio stations cover the FM band with diverse programs ranging from the latest exitos (hits), commercial techno mixes (bakalao), pluralistic programs to cookery or local history courses, or thanks to independent and pluralistic schedules (let's mention, at random, Radiopolis, 98.4 Mhz in Seville - www.radiopolis.org - for its civic color).

TV. Regionally, 2 channels cover most of Andalusia: Canal Sur and Canal 2 Andalucía, with the latter offering slightly more ambitious programming. Look out for variety and flamenco shows, as well as tourist documentaries on specific areas of the region. On TV, there'll be plenty of soccer, as well as bullfighting, which fans wouldn't miss for the world. And if you're not fluent in Spanish, don't worry: hotel TVs often pick up TV5 and sometimes Arte.