Travelling to and from Seville: The Complete Guide

Aug 25

9 min read

Seville is one of the most beautiful cities in southern Spain and, thankfully, relatively easy to reach.

Whether you are flying in for a weekend, starting a longer journey through Andalusia, joining a photography workshop or simply using Seville as part of a wider Spanish adventure, there are several good ways to get there.

Flying directly into Seville is naturally the easiest option, but it is certainly not the only one. Madrid and Málaga can both work well with Spain's high-speed rail network, while Jerez and Faro can occasionally offer useful alternatives.

In this guide, we cover the main ways to travel to and from Seville, how to get between the airport, railway station, and city centre, and a few practical tips to know before you travel.

Getting to Seville
Flying directly to Seville
Getting from Seville Airport to the city
Alternative airports for Seville
Travelling to Seville by train
Driving to Seville
Public transport in Seville
Taxis and private transfers
Practical travel tips
Choosing the best option

Getting to Seville

Seville is the capital of Andalusia and one of southern Spain's main cities.

Although it sits relatively far south, its transport connections are excellent. Spain has an extensive motorway system, a strong high-speed railway network, and frequent domestic and international flights.

This means you don't necessarily need a direct flight to Seville.

Madrid, for example, is more than 500 kilometres away, yet high-speed trains can reach Seville in around two and a half hours. Málaga is approximately 200 kilometres away and also has good rail connections.

For international travellers, this flexibility can be extremely useful.

Someone travelling from the United States or Canada may find a much better flight into Madrid, while travellers from the UK and northern Europe can sometimes find more convenient or cheaper flights into Málaga.

The best option therefore depends on where you are coming from, how much luggage you have and whether you prefer the fastest journey or the simplest one.

Flying Directly to Seville

Seville Airport

For most visitors, flying directly into Seville is the easiest option.

Seville Airport, officially Aeropuerto de Sevilla (Here), is approximately 10 kilometres from the city centre.

Compared with airports such as Madrid, Heathrow, Frankfurt or Amsterdam, Seville Airport is relatively compact. This generally makes arriving, collecting luggage and finding your onward transport pleasantly straightforward.

The airport connects to destinations throughout Spain and Europe, including regular services from several UK airports.

If you can find a convenient direct flight at a sensible price, there is usually little reason to make your journey more complicated.

A small tip for photographers

If you are travelling with a large camera bag, tripod and suitcase, convenience becomes particularly valuable.

Saving a little money by adding several train or bus connections may look attractive when booking, but it can feel rather different after several hours of travelling with 15 or 20 kilograms of equipment.

Getting from Seville Airport to the City Centre

Seville Airport currently has no railway or metro station, but getting into the city is still very easy.

You have three main choices:

Airport Bus (Here)

The EA airport bus connects Seville Airport with the city.

It stops at several useful locations, including Sevilla Santa Justa railway station, before continuing towards central Seville.

This is normally the cheapest and simplest public transport option.

If you are travelling light and your accommodation is close to a stop, it works very well.

Taxi (Here)

For many travellers, a taxi is the easiest option.

There is an official taxi rank immediately outside the airport terminal and Seville uses a special airport fare for journeys between the airport and the city.

The journey into central Seville normally takes around 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic.

If you have a suitcase, photography equipment or simply want to reach your accommodation without navigating buses after a long flight, the additional cost can be well worth it.

Ride hailing apps such as Uber (here), Cabify (here) and Bolt (here) also operate in Seville and can be a convenient alternative to a traditional taxi, particularly if you already use one of these apps at home.

Private Transfer

You can also arrange a private transfer in advance.

This is generally more expensive than a normal taxi, but you know someone will be waiting for you when your flight arrives.

It can be particularly useful for families, small groups or travellers arriving late in the evening.

Joining an organised tour or workshop?

Always check what your tour operator provides before arranging your own transfer.

For example, participants joining our Andalusia photography workshop (here) who arrive in Seville on the official arrival day will receive collection information before the trip, so they don't need to arrange a separate airport transfer.

Alternative Airports for Seville

Sometimes the best flight to Seville does not actually land in Seville.

Several airports are worth checking, especially if you are travelling internationally.

Madrid Airport

Madrid Barajas Airport (Here) is Spain's largest international airport and a strong alternative for reaching Seville.

It is particularly worth considering for travellers arriving from North America, South America or other long-haul destinations.

Madrid offers a huge selection of international flights, and from there you can continue to Seville by Spain's high-speed rail network (here).

The fastest trains between Madrid and Seville take around two and a half hours.

You will need to travel from Madrid Airport into the city before catching your train south (here), so make sure you allow plenty of time to connect.

International arrivals can involve immigration, baggage collection and possibly moving between airport terminals before you even begin travelling towards the railway station.

Avoid booking a train connection that leaves very shortly after your flight is scheduled to arrive.

A slightly longer connection and a relaxed coffee in Madrid is far preferable to running through a railway station carrying your luggage.

Málaga Airport

Málaga Costa del Sol Airport (Here) is another very good alternative.

It has a large number of international flights, particularly from the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and northern Europe.

The airport is connected by local train to Málaga María Zambrano railway station (here).

The train journey between Málaga Airport and the main station takes only a few minutes, making the transfer relatively simple.

From Málaga María Zambrano, you can continue towards Seville by train (here).

The full journey takes longer than flying directly into Seville, but if Málaga offers a much cheaper flight or better departure times, it can be an excellent choice.

Jerez Airport

Jerez Airport (Here) is considerably smaller but deserves a quick look when comparing flights.

Jerez sits south of Seville towards Cádiz and the airport has railway connections.

Some regional trains run between Jerez Airport and Seville, meaning you can occasionally travel directly from the airport railway station to Sevilla Santa Justa (here).

The disadvantage is frequency.

There are fewer flights and fewer convenient rail connections than you will find in Madrid or Málaga.

However, if the timings happen to work for your journey, Jerez can be surprisingly convenient.

Faro Airport, Portugal

Another possibility is Faro Airport (Here) in southern Portugal.

Faro sits on the Algarve coast approximately 200 kilometres west of Seville.

Coach services connect Faro and Seville, including services that operate from or near the airport (here)

This can sometimes work well if flights into Faro are considerably better than those into Seville.

Remember two important things.

You are travelling between Portugal and Spain, and the two countries use different time zones.

Mainland Spain is one hour ahead of Portugal.

Make sure you check carefully whether bus departure and arrival times are shown in Spanish or Portuguese local time.

For most visitors, we would look at Seville, Madrid and Málaga before Faro, but it is still a useful option to know about.

Travelling to Seville by Train

One of the nicest ways to reach Seville from elsewhere in Spain is by train.

Spain has an excellent high-speed rail network, and Seville was actually one of the country's earliest high-speed rail destinations.

The city's main railway station is:

Sevilla Santa Justa (Here)

It is located just outside the historic centre and is the main arrival point for long-distance and high-speed trains.

You can reach Seville directly or with relatively simple connections from cities including Madrid, Córdoba, Málaga and Barcelona.

The Madrid to Seville route is particularly useful, with the fastest services taking around two and a half hours.

Several different train operators now use Spain's high-speed rail network, so it is worth comparing times and prices rather than automatically choosing the first train you find.

Getting from Santa Justa into Seville

Once you arrive at Santa Justa, reaching your hotel is easy.

Taxis and local buses are available immediately outside the station.

If your accommodation is in the historic centre, a taxi is often the simplest option, particularly if you have luggage.

The station is not especially far from central Seville, but dragging a suitcase across cobbled streets in summer heat is perhaps not the introduction to Andalusia you had in mind.

Driving to Seville

Spain has a good motorway network, and Seville connects easily with the rest of Andalusia as well as Madrid and Portugal.

Driving makes particular sense if Seville is part of a longer road trip.

You could, for example, combine the city with Córdoba, Granada, Málaga, Cádiz, Ronda or some of Andalusia's smaller towns and villages.

Having your own vehicle gives you much more freedom once you leave the major cities.

Public Transport in Seville

Seville is a very pleasant city to explore without a car.

The historic centre is relatively compact, and many of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other.

Public transport includes buses, trams and the Seville Metro.

For most visitors spending a few days in the centre, however, walking, with the occasional taxi, is often all that is required.

Places such as the Cathedral, Giralda, Real Alcázar, Plaza de España, Barrio Santa Cruz, and the riverside can easily fill a day of walking.

This is particularly enjoyable for photographers.

Some of Seville's most interesting images appear when walking between the famous locations rather than standing directly in front of them.

Taxis and Private Transport

Taxis are easy to find throughout Seville.

You will find official taxi ranks outside the airport and railway station as well as at various locations throughout the city.

Official Seville taxis are white with a distinctive yellow diagonal stripe.

You can also arrange private transfers in advance.

A private transfer may make sense when several people are travelling together, you have a lot of luggage, or you simply prefer to have your journey organised before arrival.

For a normal journey within central Seville, however, a regular taxi is usually perfectly adequate.

Uber, Cabify and Bolt are available in Seville. If you already use one of these apps at home, they can be a very convenient option because you can see the estimated fare, pickup point and vehicle details before travelling. Availability and prices can vary with demand, so it is worth comparing the app price with a regular taxi, especially for airport journeys.

A Few Practical Travel Tips

Give yourself enough connection time

If you are combining a flight with a long-distance train, do not make the connection unnecessarily tight.

Flights can be delayed, luggage can take time to arrive, and airports rarely follow our perfect travel plans.

Book long-distance trains in advance

Popular high-speed services can become considerably more expensive closer to the travel date.

If your itinerary is fixed, booking ahead can save money.

Think about your luggage

A journey that looks simple on Google Maps may feel very different with a 20-kilogram suitcase, camera backpack and tripod.

Sometimes the slightly more expensive transport option is worth every cent.

Be prepared for the heat

Seville can become very hot during the warmer months.

If you are arriving in summer, particularly around July and August, avoid planning a long walk from the station to your accommodation while carrying all your luggage.

Consider arriving one day earlier

This is particularly useful if you are joining a tour, cruise, workshop or other organised trip with a fixed starting time.

Flights get cancelled, and connections occasionally go wrong.

Arriving the previous day removes much of that stress and gives you a chance to enjoy Seville before your main trip begins.

It is even more useful if you are arriving from North America and dealing with a significant time difference.

So, What Is the Best Way to Reach Seville?

For most travellers, we would recommend checking the options in this order.

1) Seville Airport is the easiest.

If you can find a convenient direct flight, take it.

2) Madrid is probably the best alternative for long-haul international travellers thanks to the enormous choice of flights and excellent high-speed train connection.

3) Málaga is particularly useful for travellers coming from the UK and northern Europe, where there is often a much wider selection of flights.

4) Jerez is worth checking when the flight and railway timetable work nicely together.

5) Faro can occasionally offer a useful alternative, particularly from Europe, but the onward journey is longer.

And if Seville forms part of a bigger journey through Spain, arriving by train or car can be just as enjoyable as flying.

The good news is that you have plenty of choices.

Find the combination that best balances price, travel time, and convenience, then start looking forward to Seville itself.

Because once you arrive, getting there will very quickly become the least interesting part of the trip.