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This colorful and vibrant Andalucian city has been luring students with all its wonders for many years. Located in southern Spain and the capital of Andalucia (southern region of Spain) Seville is not just a pretty city. It is also the cultural and financial center for Spain. With a little over 1.6 million people living here, this city rounds out the top four largest in the country. The orange tree-lined streets are filled with businessmen, college, students, and tourists looking for a good time. A myth is that Hercules himself founded Seville and it was at a time ruled by Romans, then later the Moorish. But this isn’t all that interests those looking to come here for a semester. The history alone is fascinating, however the sights and attractions will blow you away. And the coast is to die for. See why thousands of students come here every year for a semester of culture and history and visit Seville.

Seville Pictures

Things to do in Seville

Seville is bustling with a wealth of attractions and fun activities. It isn’t the cultural center of the country for nothing. A Seville card will enable you to explore the city more easily. This card grants you access to most museums and monuments as well as free access to the public transportation system, unlimited sightseeing buses, and a free boat ride on the Guadalquivir River. It is an excellent deal and you may be interested in purchasing one at the same time as your friends so you can all experience this incredible city together. The Cathedral of Seville is a very old and magnanimous church in the heart of the city. Once considered the top three largest cathedrals, second to St. Peter’s in Rome, it is now arguably the largest church in volume. The total area of 11,520 square meters is quite magnificent. This is also the resting place of the explorer Christopher Columbus. If you are looking for Moorish style architecture, The Real Alcázar is an exquisite palace. It was built in the XIV Century by Pedro I the Cruel. In it you will find many rooms with extravagant architecture, paintings, gardens, and courtyards. There is even the room here where Christopher Columbus planned his journey to the Americas. The Jewish Quarter aka Barrio Santa Cruz is considered the most beautiful area in the city and very well kept, with winding roads and quaint buildings and shops. This is a major tourist area as well. The Hospital de los Venerables is very interesting and quite unique. It was a seventeenth century hospital and resting area for retired priests. Now it is a well preserved building with a museum room and baroque chapel. The Museo de Bellas Artes is considered the most important museum in Spain, second only to the Prado in Madrid. There are fifteen exhibition rooms that illustrate a detailed look into seventeenth century Seville to present day.
There are many festivals and holidays here depending on when you go that will be of interest. Feria de abril is a huge party of a holiday in which the inhabitants of the city take a week or so off from work and plan parties, food, and marquees. There are several private parties that require an invitation, however the public ones are just as much fun and exciting. Make sure to plan well ahead and get your student airfare and hotels in order for friends if they are coming to visit during this time. Easter week is also very exciting to take part in here. Although many shops are closed during this week, there are parades and city parties that will keep you entertained. If you are studying abroad here however, you may want to travel during this week.

Nightlife in Seville

La Marcha as the locals call it. Nightlife in Seville is exotic and chaotic while at the same time feeling oddly familiar and satisfying. The adrenalin rush of the loud music, your second helping of sweet sangria, and a group of friends to share the night; this is the scene of Seville you will be enjoying. Flamenco is the traditional dance here and can be found bumping at bars and clubs around the city.The sangria is served by the pitcher with lots of fresh crisp fruit in it and tastes delicious. If you think you’ve had sangria before, it will seem like nothing when you try Seville sangria. There is of course Spanish beer for those who are more interested in that. College students flock these flamenco clubs because it is something new and unusual, surely not something you would find back home. El Tremendo is a good pregaming place to start off your night. The drinks here are cheap and the atmosphere is casual and laid back. You can stand outside at tall tables with your friends and order tapas too. La Bodeguita Antigua and Los Soportales are in the Plaza Salvator. They are college student favorites because you can get a cold beer and some snacks. This also makes an excellent pregaming local. The clubs are even more memorable in this city. Keep in mind that the dancing doesn’t end until 6 or even 7 in the morning, so get ready for a crazy fun night that will never end. We suggest Antique. It’s known to have some local celebrities gracing it from time to time. This club is a little more upscale and the drinks are somewhat costly to the college student budget. Boss is one of the largest nightclubs (discos) in the city with four dance floors, bars located on each of four floors, and a stadium-like dance floor in the center. Dress well before heading here and go in small groups. It is a bit exclusive for letting people in so be prepared to wait. But it is well worth it once you’re in! Weekend House club is another place to hit up while spending a semester here. It is relatively new to the scene and is therefore somewhat easy to get into. You will still want to leave the sneakers and baseball caps at home before going to this one though.

Colleges and Classes in Seville

There are many colleges in Seville and most specialize in a one or a few areas. For example there are several art schools, cooking schools, specialized trade schools, and various others. The best bet for you is to look into a larger school program that will fulfill all of your requirements. Check with your home university first before applying. Many home institutions have a relationship with one or more schools abroad and you will be required to use that school. Otherwise look into CEA, AIFS, IES, and CIEE (Business school) in Seville. While in Seville you may want to look into taking a Spanish language course (you may also be require to do so), Spanish culture and/or history course, and perhaps an art course. You are only abroad once in your life, you might as while take advantage of as much as you can while here. Remember to book your student airfare and hotels early also as they can book up fast for the semesters.

Travel From Seville

One of the best parts of studying abroad anywhere is the ability to see other incredible places nearby. This can also help with gaining a perspective on other cultures and learning some valuable cultural and ethnic ideas and values. From Seville the options are limitless. Plan ahead, as with anything, so that you aren’t stuck paying higher airfare and hostel fees. Buses will take you from the city center to most cities within Andalucía, including Córdoba, Granada, and Algeciras. You can do these either in day trips or quick weekend getaways. Granada will probably make a better overnight trip since there is so much to see. Sierra Norte is really pretty and is also a nice alternative to Seville. There are luscious landscapes and olive groves lining the roads and fields. There are wild animals here and you can see them from your car. There are ferries to Morocco daily if you are looking to go a bit further. A nice long weekend or week trip includes a must stop in Madrid and Barcelona or Valencia. Madrid will take a minimum of 2 – 3 days to truly see the city. Buy your student airfare and hostel bookings ahead of time to get that out of the way. Studentuniverse.com sells cheap tickets just for students and is very helpful for when studying abroad.

Seville Study Abroad Tips

• The currency in Seville is the euro.
• People who live in the city are known as Sevillanos.
• The language here is Spanish, although there are several versions and dialects.