Seville

Climate for Seville

Seville has a mild Mediterranean climate, with warm, sunny summers and cool, mild, winters. The hottest months are July and August, with temperatures sometimes reaching a high of 99F (37C). Temperatures are, however, sometimes modified by cool sea breezes, which is a relief at the height of summer.

Winter tends to have mixed sun and cloud and January is the coldest month. Autumn and winter are the wettest seasons, and September and October often bring heavy showers or thunderstorms. March, which is early spring, can also be a wet month, but showers are usually followed by sunny periods. Seville receives hardly any rain during the hot summer months.

As with most of Spain, the height of summer, between June and August, is when most people choose to travel to Seville for the hot sunshine, tempered by cool sea breezes. Other people argue that the best time to holiday in Seville is spring, when temperatures are moderate and the crowds are thinner.

With its Mediterranean climate, however, Seville is a destination for all seasons, so long as visitors don’t mind a few wet days during winter. Easter is a great time to go if visitors are looking for festivity, because Holy Week brings all sorts of fiestas to the city streets.

Health Notes when travelling to Spain

There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Medical facilities are good in Spain, but comprehensive travel insurance is always advised. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, providing emergency health care for EU travellers on the same terms as Spanish nationals. After Brexit, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for UK citizens. The GHIC allows UK citizens access to state healthcare during visits to the EU. The GHIC is not valid in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, nor is it an alternative to travel insurance. EU travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Travellers should take any medication they require along with them, in its original packaging and accompanied by a signed and dated letter from a doctor detailing what it is and why it is needed.

Safety Notes when travelling to Spain

Most visits to Spain are trouble-free, except for occasional street crime, which is common in the big cities. Travellers are advised to take precautions to avoid theft of passports, credit cards, travel documents and money. Crime is usually petty and violent assault is rare. Visitors should be wary of strangers offering or asking for help of any kind, as it is often a distraction for accomplices. There are also scams involving letters for outstanding traffic fines or Spanish lottery winnings. If travellers exercise all the normal precautions they should have a trouble-free holiday in Spain.

Customs in Spain

Smoking in public places is banned and stiff fines will be imposed for smoking in areas such as enclosed public spaces, areas where food is prepared and sold, public transport, non-smoking areas of bars and restaurants, and any places that cater for children. Drinking alcohol in the streets of Madrid and the streets of the Canary and Balearic Islands is illegal.

Duty Free in Spain

Travellers form EU countries are allowed the following items duty free: 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg tobacco; 110 litres beer; 90 litres wine; and 10 litres spirit. Travellers from non-EU countries may have 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1 litre spirits, 4 litres wine, and 16 litres beer.

Doing Business in Spain

The business culture in Spain is slowly shifting but, for now, it’s entrenched in tradition and it can take some time for foreigners to gain a foothold in the Spanish working world. It is important never to undermine authority, with hierarchy central to Spain’s business world. Managers often tend to make decisions without considering input from their colleagues.

A strong emphasis is placed on social status, character attributes, and personal pride. Success is often hinged upon being well-dressed, honourable, and dignified, while also exhibiting great social skills. Business meetings are generally conducted face-to-face and can go on for long periods, as Spaniards prefer long deliberations in order to avoid uncertainty in corporate dealings. Business meetings in Spain tend to tread a fine line between personal and formal.

Conducting business in Spain can entail navigation through a lot of red tape and bureaucracy. Spanish is the language of business, but some of the larger multinationals conduct meetings in both English and Spanish. Business hours are often quite varied, but generally open by 9am and close in the mid-evening with a two-hour lunch break during the early afternoon.

Business attire is quite conservative with dark or linen suits, with shirts and silk ties for men. Women should wear modest dresses or tailored suits. Brand names or labels attract affirmation from colleagues and associates.

After the conclusion of successful negotiations, gifts are appropriate. Gifts should be of high quality and, when receiving a gift, it should be opened in front of the giver. Business cards are important and should be bilingual. Meetings are best scheduled for mid-morning, in which establishing a formal yet personable environment is important before beginning. Meetings often occur over lunches and dinners and may be characterised by several speakers.

Communication in Spain

The international access code for Spain is +34. WiFi is widely available; travellers can purchase local SIM cards for unlocked phones.

Tipping in Spain

Hotel and restaurant bills usually include service charges, but additional tips are welcomed for services rendered. In established restaurants, tips of about 10 percent are expected. In Mallorca, value added tax is usually included in restaurant bills, designated IVA, and may be mistaken for a service charge. Drivers of metered taxis expect small tips and it is customary to tip about 5 to 10 percent for most services, including guides.

Passport/Visa Note

The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that has a multiple entry option, allowing the holder to travel freely within the borders of all. Non-EU nationals must hold a return or onward ticket, all necessary documents for onward travel and sufficient funds. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months’ validity remaining after the intended date of departure from Spain. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for Americans:

United States citizens require a passport valid for three months beyond the period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period.

Entry requirements for Canadians:

Canadian citizens require a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period.

Entry requirements for UK nationals:

United Kingdom citizens require a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of intended stay, with the exception of passports marked ‘British Citizen’, ‘British Subject’ (containing a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode issued by the United Kingdom), and ‘British Overseas Territories Citizen’ issued by Gibraltar, which will be accepted if valid on arrival.

No visa is required for passports endorsed ‘British Citizen’, ‘British Overseas Territories Citizen’ issued by Gibraltar, Identity Cards issued by Gibraltar, and ‘British Subject’ (containing a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode issued by the United Kingdom) for a maximum stay of 90 days. All other British nationals are entitled to a maximum stay of 90 days without a visa within a 180 day period.

Entry requirements for Australians:

Australian citizens require a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period.

Entry requirements for Irish nationals:

Irish nationals require a valid passport, but a visa is not necessary.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders:

New Zealand citizens require a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period.

Entry requirements for South Africans:

South African citizens require a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of intended stay. A visa is required.

Seville may be pegged as the slightly sleepy southern cousin of Madrid and Barcelona, but there is still a decent local nightlife. Between the bohemian tastes of the university students and the affinity for the arts held by the more sophisticated Sevillianos, there is a wide assortment of Andalusian activities after dark.

A great way to start an evening is by blazing a tapas trail. A wide selection of dingy dives and smoother, more stylish spaces crowd around the cobblestone streets of Barrio Santa Cruz and the area around the Catedral de Seville. Travellers should simply look for the iconic leg of jamon (cured ham) hanging from the ceiling and pop in for a quick bite, an easy chat, and a cold Cruzcampo (Seville’s local beer).

When visitors can’t stomach any more sample-sized portions, they can head to either Plaza Alfalfa or Calle Betis for a bit of bar-hopping. During Seville’s sultry summer nights, sipping a sherry alongside the Guadalquivir River is also an intoxicating way to kick-off the evening.

Most Seviallanos only leave home around 11.30pm, at which point they start the night with a stiff drink and a shot. Partygoers drain their drinks and head to the nightclubs around 1am, where it is possible to party until 10am the next morning.

For those with a calmer, more cultural appetite, the nightlife in Seville can be just as satiating. Flamenco, a passionate mix of dance, music, and singing with roots reaching into Andalusia’s Roma (gypsy) communities, is a firm favourite and must-see in the city.

There are plenty of venues with regular tablao (performances); the Triana district caters to locals while options in Santa Cruz are more tourist-friendly, often offering a traditional Andalusian meal alongside the performance.

For those who would rather forego Flamenco, Seville’s opera house, Teatro de la Maestranza, attracts iconic celebrities and features big-name shows. Occasionally jazz and classical concerts also take place.