Going to à SÉVILLE: Formalities and administrative steps

Organize your stay à SÉVILLE

Money Money à SÉVILLE

Spain was part of the "first train" of the changeover to the euro. So you'll be using the same currency as in France. While the banknotes are the same regardless of the issuing country, the coins are very special. The cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is engraved on the 1, 2 and 5 centime coins. The writer Miguel Cervantes appears on the 10, 20 and 50 centime coins. And King Felipe VI appears on the €1 and €2 coins.

Budget & Tips Budget & Tips à SÉVILLE

The cost of living in Seville is significantly lower than in French cities. There are, however, periods when prices soar: Holy Week and the feria, particularly for accommodation, but also for small daily expenses. Some budgets per day and per person:

Small budgets: between €60 (night in a youth hostel or campsite), two tapas meals, bus or streetcar travel and visits during free hours, and €80 (night in a guesthouse).

Average budget: between €100 and €150, you can afford one night in a 2 or 3-star hotel, one meal in a tapas bar and one in a restaurant, admission to a museum and a drink in the evening. You can also get around the city by bus, streetcar or cab.

Big budget: from €180, you can stay in a luxury hotel, have a meal in a gourmet restaurant, go out for a cocktail and see a flamenco show, and bring back a few souvenirs.

Passport and visas Passport and visas à SÉVILLE

For members of the European Union, a simple identity card or passport is all you need to enter Spain.

Driver's license Driver's license à SÉVILLE

If you're renting a car or two-wheeler, you'll be asked to show your driving license.

Health Health à SÉVILLE

Spain presents no particular danger. Before you leave, check the latest recommendations on the www.diplomatie.gouv.fr website. Don't forget to get your European Health Insurance Card, so that you can be reimbursed for any medical expenses you may incur in Spain.

Mandatory vaccination Mandatory vaccination à SÉVILLE

No specific vaccinations are required, apart from the standard ones (diphtheria, tetanus, polio), which you should make sure are up to date.

Security Security à SÉVILLE

Seville is a safe city. But as in all tourist cities, beware of pickpockets, don't leave anything in your car (including in the trunk) and make sure your bags and backpacks are securely fastened.

Time difference Time difference à SÉVILLE

There is no time difference between France and Spain. But there will be a difference in mealtimes. Breakfast is from 8am to 10am, lunch from 2pm to 4pm and dinner from 9pm. Bear in mind that between 2pm and 5pm, 90% of shops are closed. This is the perfect time to take a siesta. Especially when it's hot, and to get ready to enjoy the festive life all night long.

Spoken languages Spoken languages à SÉVILLE

It's best to have some knowledge of Spanish, as most information is in Spanish or English. French will be more widely spoken in tourist offices, but not much beyond a few phases. Take advantage of your stay to perfect this language, the third most widely spoken in the world, after Chinese and English.

Communication Communication à SÉVILLE

Cell phone. To make calls in Spain, you can use your French rate plan, thanks to the roaming charges included in the new European regulations.

Internet. Hotels, restaurants, cafés - almost every establishment has a wifi connection, usually free of charge. In hotels, it's more or less operational, but at the very least it works at the reception desk. WhatsApp is a practical application for sending messages, and is a favorite with Spaniards.

Electricity and measurements Electricity and measurements à SÉVILLE

Like France, Spain is connected to 220 volts: no need for plug adapters. The metric system is also used.

Luggage Luggage à SÉVILLE

Sevillians are very sensitive to appearance and like to dress elegantly. Remember to pack a few nice clothes for going out, dining or even strolling around the city. It all depends on the season of your stay. In summer, opt for very light, loose-fitting clothes to let the air through (when there is any...) and for white (which doesn't trap the sun), with a hat and sunglasses. Winter is often milder than in France, but that doesn't mean you can't take a coat and woollies with you, even if you have to take them off in the middle of the day. We cover our shoulders when visiting churches and convents.

Daily life à SÉVILLE

Hello? Hello? à SÉVILLE

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

Since June 2017, SMS messages sent from Spain are included in your package. Please check with your operator.

Accessibility Accessibility à SÉVILLE

In the center of town (especially the historic district), streets and sidewalks are very narrow, so people with reduced mobility may find it difficult to get around. Traffic is relatively heavy, so you need to be careful. On the other hand, most facilities are accessible to people with reduced mobility, as are a good number of hotels.

As far as children are concerned, Seville is a great destination for families. Most museums and points of interest offer discounts for younger visitors (under 18 or under 12), and even free admission for the very young. Don't hesitate to take them along to cafés and parties: you'll be surprised at how many children, even the very youngest, have plenty of room to play. The only drawback here is the circulation of strollers, given the narrowness or absence of sidewalks.

Health Health à SÉVILLE

The level of hygiene is very comparable to that of France. With your European social security card, you can go to any hospital in case of emergency. For the most common, the city has many pharmacies, usually open until 9pm or indicating the address of the pharmacies on call. Some are open 24 hours a day.

Emergency numbers Emergency numbers à SÉVILLE

As throughout Europe, call 112, free of charge and available 24 hours a day. It will direct you according to the nature and seriousness of the emergency.

Securty Securty à SÉVILLE

Seville is a safe city. But as in all tourist cities, you should be careful of pickpockets, leave nothing in your car (including in the trunk) and check the locks on your bags and backpacks. In case of theft, go to a police station to make a declaration, " denuncia ".

LGBTQ LGBTQ à SÉVILLE

Spain was one of the first European countries to allow same-sex marriage in 2005. Seville is a very tolerant city, and the Gay Pride March brings together tens of thousands of participants every year.

Embassies and consulates Embassies and consulates à SÉVILLE

The role of the embassy is to deal with relations between states, whereas the consular section is responsible for a community of nationals. It is therefore the consular section that should be contacted for any problems concerning identity papers or health. The French consular agency in Seville is located at Av de la Constitución, 27,1er A.

Mail Mail à SÉVILLE

Most post offices are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and until 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Stamps(sellos) for a letter or postcard cost €1.70 (2024) for the European Union. They are sold at post offices or the more numerous tobacconists(estancos). You'll find yellow post boxes all over town. Allow around a week for delivery to France.

Local media Local media à SÉVILLE

Television. At national level, there are two general-interest public channels: 1 and 2, one dedicated to non-stop news(24horas), one for children(Clan) and one for sport(Teledeporte). Private channels include Antena 3, Telecinco, La Sexta and Cuatro. On the regional level, Canal Sur and Canal 2 are part of RTVA radio y televisión de andalucia. In terms of programming, DTT has generated the same type of channels as in France. Some hotels receive French channels (France 24, TV5), but there are still not many of them.

Radio stations. There are five national radio stations, including the general-interest Radio 1 and the all-news station Canal 5. On the private side, Cadena Ser is a very influential, high-quality national news channel. In Seville, a multitude of local radio stations cover the FM band. These range from the latest hits to more commercial music (bakalao), as well as cooking classes and promotion of the Andalusian territory.

Print media. The major national newspapers are El País, the best-selling paper with a center-left editorial line, followed by El Mundo, a right-wing daily, and ABC, also right-wing. Also of note is La Vanguardia, a daily with a centrist editorial line, published in Barcelona but distributed throughout the country in its Spanish version, and on the sports front, Marca, the benchmark newspaper with almost 2 million readers. Seville has 2 major dailies: Diario de Sevilla and ABC de Sevilla, which cover international, Andalusian and Seville news. In the free press, you'll find 20 minutos Sevilla.