Seville, Spain

Seville is the capital of Andalusia in Spain, about 215 km north-east of Faro, and is a long but possible excursion from the Algarve region of Portugal. Coaches run from the Faro bus terminal on Avenida da Republica, with Eva Transportes, FlixBus and ALSA among the operators, and the journey takes about 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours each way for typically EUR 15 to 25 one way. Spain is one hour ahead of Portugal, so a departure and a return coach time must be read carefully. A hire car on the A22 and A49 takes roughly 2 hours 30 minutes. Because a same-day return leaves only about 4 to 5 hours in the city, most visitors choose to stay overnight, but a focused plan is workable. Coaches arrive at the Estacion de Autobuses Plaza de Armas, a short walk from the Guadalquivir river and the centre. The Real Alcazar, a royal palace with Mudejar patios, gardens and tilework, is the main monument and is best booked in advance. The nearby Catedral de Sevilla, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus and the Giralda bell tower, which can be climbed by ramp. The Santa Cruz quarter, the former Jewish district, offers narrow lanes, small squares and orange trees, and suits an unhurried walk between the sights. A realistic plan is to go directly to the Alcazar, walk through Santa Cruz to the cathedral, and have a late lunch of tapas such as jamon, salmorejo and fried fish. Other options in the time left include a stroll along the river or the Plaza de Espana. Summer heat can exceed 40 degrees Celsius, so October to May is the best period. The return coach should leave with enough margin for delays. Tourist information is at visitasevilla.es. The day involves a lot of walking and little rest time.