Seville

Seville is world-renowned for its architecture (especially the astounding Seville Cathedral), as well as activities like flamenco dancing and Sevilla feria. “Tapas culture” is also a big part of life in Seville, with hundreds of tapas bars found throughout the city, and other signature foods in Seville include the Serranito (a pork loin-based sandwich with serrano ham, tomato and grilled green pepper) and Seville oranges! (Although, while they’re great for making marmalade, they’re extremely bitter in taste!)

Seville has excellent public transport links – the bus network covers all the neighbourhoods around the city well, so no matter where you live, there is bound to be a bus that can take you to the city centre. Seville has one metro line that is easy to navigate and probably the most convenient way around. It is particularly helpful to get you to the south of the city and out into the suburbs. Another means of transportation in Seville is the tram, which runs from the city centre to Plaza San Bernardo (very close to our residence), and for next year, the construction works will be completed to extend it to Santa Justa train station.

Seville is mostly flat, which makes it a very walkable city. We would say, though, that riding a bike is an essential part of the Seville experience if you can ride one! There are good bike lanes everywhere, and you can take advantage of Sevici, the city’s bike hire scheme. Note that, while the city itself is very walkable, the Sierra Morena mountains that flank it can present a more interesting challenge, with some hiking trails available to explore.

Seville is not too expensive to live in, especially when compared to other major Spanish cities like Barcelona and Madrid – the cost of living is considered to be 51.5% less expensive than New York, for reference. We believe you should have about €600-800 a month on hand after rent, which will cover your food, social activities and travel expenses. Of course, we recommend budgeting thoroughly before coming to understand how you spend and how much you can realistically afford.

Seville is a great place to live. It has one of the lowest crime rates in Spain, so it is overall a very safe place to study – as long as you’re cautious of pickpockets in crowded tourist areas, there isn’t much to worry about. The people are very friendly, so if you learn basic Spanish, you should have a stress-free experience. It’s a city full of life, with incredible social events around every corner and a vibrant nightlife scene.

Seville is a great place to live, with an interesting history and a wealth of great things to do. If you love culture, Seville keeps on giving with its rich artistic heritage and passion for dancing and music. The universities have fabulous reputations and long histories of academic excellence, and as an international student, you can enjoy exploring hundreds of unique bars, restaurants and cafes in your downtime. The weather in Seville is really good. From April to October, temperatures are high, and it rains very little during these months, which contributes to the typical Spanish lifestyle.