How to get around Seville? If you’ve read our guide and, more specifically, our article how to get around Seville, you’ll have realised that we have a very clear philosophy: Seville is best explored on foot, moving from one neighbourhood to another by pleasant walks, which are the best way to enjoy the city (and to burn off the calories from the tapas…!).
However, there are some situations in which it can be convenient to use certain public transport, including the Seville metro. Yes, as you may know, the principal city of Andalusia has only recently been equipped with a metro network, the fifth in length and in passenger numbers in Spain. In this article I will offer some advice on how, when and why to use the subway in the city, answering the most frequently asked questions we receive and providing a map showing the stops of the Seville metro.
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How many lines does the Seville metro have?
Easy! At the moment the Seville metro has only the Line 1, which cuts the city from east (Montequinto) to west (Mairena del Aljarafe). In future the metro network will be extended and the lines will become four.
Line 2, for example, is expected to provide direct access to Santa Justa railway station, which is not currently served directly by the metro network and can only be reached via a connection.
How does the Seville subway work?
Line 1 is divided into three zones (tramos).
- Tramo 0: Ciudad Expo-Blas Infante
- Tramo 1: Blas Infante-Pablo de Olavide
- Tramo 2: Pablo de Olavide-Montequinto
Most likely you will use only the tramo 1, the longest segment of Seville’s metro, on which all the stations serving the city’s main tourist areas are located.
Seville Metro map with stops
What are the metro fares?
The price of metro tickets varies according to the number of zone changes (saltos), meaning the transitions between the sections into which Line 1 is divided.
- If your entire metro journey takes place within a single section, you will pay the basic fare.
- If, on the other hand, your journey involves 1 or 2 zone changes at the two boundary stations (estaciones frontera) — Blas Infante (0–1) and Pablo de Olavide (1–2) — you will pay a slightly higher fare. This is unlikely to happen, especially if you are visiting the city for only a few days and plan to focus mainly on Seville’s main attractions.
Always remember to check the updated fares on the official website — I point out the prices of metro tickets and passes at the present time (February 2018):
Single ticket
- No zone changes: 1.35 €
- 1 zone change: 1.60 €
- 2 zone changes: 1,80 €
Return
- No zone changes: 2.70 €
- 1 zone change: 3.20 €
- 2 zone changes: 3.60 €
24-hour ticket
- Unlimited journeys and zone changes throughout the day: 4.50 €
Rechargeable card (Bonometro)
This is a rechargeable card that allows you to save on Metro fares. By topping up the card with a minimum of 10 € and a maximum of 50 €, you will be entitled to the following fares:
- No zone changes: 0,82 €
- 1 zone change: 1,17 €
- 2 zone changes: 1,37 €
For travellers planning to rely heavily on public transport, there are also several rechargeable travel cards available. One of the most convenient options is the 3-day Tarjeta Turística — ideal for a short stay in Seville — which offers unlimited travel on the city’s public transport network, including buses, the tram and the metro.
And the timetables?
- Monday–Thursday: 6:30 am – 11:00 pm
- Fridays and special public holidays: 6:30 am – 2:00 am
- Saturdays: 7:30 am – 2:00 am
- Sundays and public holidays: 7:30 am – 11:00 pm
Is the metro useful for getting around Seville?
For Sevillians, certainly. But – to be honest – for tourists who want to limit themselves to seeing the main sights, the metro isn’t particularly useful. Basically, there are only two stops that can get you close to the centre from the outskirts:
- Prado San Sebastian: for Plaza de España and Parque de Maria Luisa
- Puerta de Jerez: for Alcazar, the Cathedral, the Barrio Santa Cruz and the other central areas of Seville
If you’ve found accommodation outside the centre, make a note of them and use them to reach those areas. But in the very likely—and advisable—case that you’ve decided to stay in the centre of Seville, these two metro stations will be of little use to you because you’ll be able to get around on foot.
Can you reach Seville Airport by metro?
Although the airport where flights to Seville land is fairly close to the city centre, the answer is no. At the moment, there is no metro line covering this route, although a future rail connection to Santa Justa Station is planned. The only problem is that, as mentioned earlier, the metro does not even reach Santa Justa yet…
How to get there?
At present, to get from the airport to the city centre or the station (and vice versa) it’s best to use a taxi, the Seville airport–city centre bus or these useful private or shared shuttle services.
So why use the metro, then?
For several important reasons:
- As mentioned earlier, the subway can be useful if you are staying outside the city centre. Be aware, however, that the neighbourhoods to the north and south of the centre are not (yet) covered by the metro network.
- Section 1 of the metro line includes the Triana neighbourhood. If you would like to visit this characteristic Sevillian district and do not feel like walking under the intense summer sun, you can take the metro and get off at Plaza de Cuba station.
- If you are planning to watch a Sevilla FC match at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium, it is best to take the metro and get off at Nervión station (with no zone changes if travelling from the city centre or Triana).
- If you need to reach Santa Justa railway station, you can do so by getting off at San Bernardo station, which connects to the underground Cercanías commuter trains.
- If you happen to be in Seville during the magnificent Feria de Abril, you can also use the metro to get there. The fairground (recinto ferial) can be reached with a short walk through the Triana neighbourhood from Plaza de Cuba, Parque de los Príncipes and, further west, Blas Infante station, right at the connection with Section 0. During this week, metro services run more frequently and operating hours are extended to 24 hours a day.
