Language
Spanish with a Sevillano dialect. Don’t assume that everyone in Seville will speak English. Although multilingual people are often employed in places that deal with tourists, this is by no means the norm. As a starter, try buenos dias (good morning), buenas noches (good evening), muchas gracias (thank you very much) and no hablo espanol (I don’t speak Spanish).
Currency And Tipping
The Spanish use the Euro, made up of 100 cents. In restaurants, the locals will round up the food or drinks bill by a couple of Euros, but visitors are generally expected to pay a bit more. Tip 10% if the service was good and 5-10% in cabs if the driver has been helpful. In smart hotels, you could leave a few Euros in the room for the cleaning staff, but this is not expected.
Safety
The abundance of street life means that you will rarely find yourself alone or in a position to be harassed. However, women might be intimidated by men passing comment as they walk by. This ‘pastime,’ known as piropo, is common and not meant as a serious threat. There are no particularly notorious areas of Seville to be avoided. Just act street-wise: don’t use maps late at night and try to look as if you know where you’re going. Pickpockets are common in crowded areas, especially outside monuments and at markets. Be particularly wary of people asking you the time as they might be trying to distract you while someone attempts to snatch your bag or wallet.
Weather
Even in winter, few days in Seville are entirely without sunshine. From the spring, the sunshine starts to build up progressively and by midsummer it can be dangerous to go out even for a short time without adequate skin protection. The hottest months are July and August – the temperatures can be extremely high. The best time to visit is in the spring as temperatures are more moderate, though still warm.
Getting Around
Seville city centre is a compact maze of old narrow streets, with most sights within walking distance. If you do use a bus for getting around the city, you'll find that most lines converge at Plaza de la Encarnación, Plaza Nueva or in front of the cathedral on Avenida de la Constitución. The bus service is daily from 0600 to 2315. The city tourist office will provide a booklet outlining bus routes. The best buses for circling through the centre of town include C1 and C2 (circulares interiores). It costs 1 Euro for a journey between any two points in Seville. No buses go directly into the town's medieval core, since the streets are too narrow, but anyone can reach the approximate point of their intended address by getting out at an appropriate point on the avenues that encircle the central core, then walking a short distance.
Travel Tip: If you plan on riding the bus frequently, consider buying a pass, known locally as a Bonobus, for 3.90 Euros. It allows its holder ten rides on any bus in Seville, and it can be transferred without penalty from one person to another. You cannot buy these passes on the bus: they're available at tobacco stands, news kiosks and during any morning session at the Seville Tourist Office at Plaza Nueva.
