How about a nice cycle around the capital on Andalusia?
Seville on Two Wheels
02/2022 - Sahar Saini
Cycling is a perfect pastime for getting around Seville. The city is flat, with kilometres of marked bike lanes so that you can ride safely in most areas. In my opinion, it’s the best way to see a large section of the city quickly, much more than you can cover on foot, all while looking after the environment and getting gentle exercise.
Several routes give you a tempting taste of Spain’s largest southern city, passing some of Seville’s magnificent architectural jewels. I love getting by on a bike in a new town as it comes in handy to see which places appeal and where I’d like to return to, so I can explore them in greater depth. So, where can you find a bike to take you on your journey? There exist tons of bike hire shops around the centre and Santa Cruz.
The Monumental Centre
You want to start near Puerta de Jerez and head up Avenida de la Constitución, past the impressive Expo 1929-era brick tiled buildings. Keep an eye out for little metal disks with a bike on to indicate where the lane is. Usually, the cycle lanes in Seville are coloured green or red, apart from this one. And obviously, I don’t have to warn you about the cyclist-pedestrian war in almost every city heavy on cycling. So do ring your bell to let them know you’re coming. This route will take you past two main historical monuments, the Cathedral and the Archivo de las Indias, to Plaza Nueva, at the very heart of Seville. As you go on, the iconic and mighty basilica, the third-largest in the world, soars up in front of you, an unforgettable sight.
The River
Another excellent area to cycle is along the river. You can start from the Torre del Oro, the Moorish defensive tower, with the picturesque houses of Calle Betis along the opposite bank. It’s more Amsterdam than Andalucia. This path continues next to the river, under Triana bridge, and past Plaza de Armas bus station. After this, you pass under the Santiago Calatrava bridge, La Barqueta, which links the Expo 1992 site with Seville and the Puente del Alamillo. Here, there’s also an option to cross the river into the park of the same name, which is a favourite of families at weekends and perfect for children.
The Park
If you wish to visit a park a little closer to the centre while on your bike, head down Calle San Fernando, past the old cigarette factory immortalised in the opera Carmen, now the University, to Maria Luisa Park. Wide, shady avenues and charming tiled benches and fountains await, along with some impressive Expo 1929 buildings, including Plaza de España and the Bellas Artes Pavilion, now the Archaeological Museum. You can also rent go-karts and rowing boats, though be sure to secure your bike if you leave it!
Cycling in Seville is a delight at any time of year, with plenty of traffic-free options and accessible routes perfect for all levels of cyclists. So get on your bike – en tu bici!
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