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Feria de Abril (Seville Fair)

Bits of advise

Arriving and leaving the feria

The massive crowds of thousands of people attending the Feria is similar to daily crowds found in any large urban center. This is indeed a test of the city's capacity of organization. During this seven day period normal communication systems are transformed. The result of years of experience has established a network of entry points to the Feria grounds. The opening of new roundabouts and bridges have contributed enormously to the daily flow in and out of the fairgrounds. In short, this is all about spending more time enjoying the Feria and not in getting there and leaving.

Advise on how to arrive and leave the Feria

By bus. This is without doubt the most economical option and also most entertaining way to see the set up of the fair before actually reaching it. A special regular service runs from the Prado de San Sebastián, with stops made at the entrance.
By Taxi. The most expensive option, thought also the most comfortable, especially when its time to return home. The struggle to get a taxi during the early morning hours seem to be of something of the past; people now line up in organized lines at the taxi stands.
By car. It is important to decide before heading out which parking lot, and what roads and roundabouts will be used. Having to get behind the wheel can and should determine the number of sherry's the driver will have.

Public Feria vs. Private Feria

The Feria de Abril has always suffered being labled as closed and exclusive. Under this perception there has always been an error of approach: the casetas must not be mistaken as bars and establishments, but understood instead as a home that local families and firms set up during the duration of the fair. And, normally no home is usually ever open to the general public. Nonetheless, the chances of spending a full day at the fair without being able to enter any of the thousand plus striped color canvas tents is next to none. In the first place because there are at least 15 public casetas which are free to enter, including those set up by local municipalities. Secondly, Sevillians don't only invite friends and acquaintances into their tents. It could also be that because one is from abroad, one doesn't know anyone in Seville, or at least someone who has their own caseta. Even so, a good number of foreigners out of the blue find themselves being kindly invited to enter a caseta in order to get to know the real atmosphere of the Feria.

In short, the Feria offers many different ways to enjoy oneself, from the local fair-goer who for years has had his own caseta, to the visitor who attends for the first time. Everyone is guaranteed to have a good time.

Advise on how to enjoy the feria without having one's own caseta

First off, accept unconditionally your position as a fair-goer without a caseta. Going around trying to sneak in can be more frustrating than anything. A sound attitude to follow as a visitor without a caseta, as the anthropologists say, is to become a participating observer.

Visit those tents that are free to enter. Its true that the environment in these tents is different than the small familiar casetas. Remember they'll always be sevillanas to dance to, typical dress (trajes de gitana), clapping of hands and things to drink and eat at a good price.

The amount of time one spends at the Feria is different than the time spent by professional goers. This means that its hard to stay at the grounds from midday until dawn if you don't have a caseta to go to. Yet the fair is more than just walking around the fairgrounds:

Bullfights: One cannot understand the Feria de Abril without bullfights. Regardless of the success of the bullfighter, an afternoon in the Maestranza (with its opening and closing ceremonies) is an experience enough in itself for many to justify visiting Seville.

El paseo de caballos (Passage of horses): Enjoy seeing the best carriages, horses and riders. Participate by renting a horse driven carriage with rider; its something that most fair-goers can afford.

La calle del Infierno (Hell's Street): With its countless attractions and traditional area of cheap restaurants, this street seems to be especially set up for people who want a change of environment, to experience something totally different.

Don't forget that on the other side of the river a permanent Seville is always standing. Many Sevillians who aren't big fair-goers, believe that Feria time is the best moment to wander through the city. A Seville without Sevillians, no traffic nor the daily shuffle. Seems more timeless than ever.

Tel: 954595288/954221714 Fax: 954595295/954229566 Email: laredo.turismo@sevilla.org / barranco.turismo@sevilla.org turismo@sevilla.org