Fast Facts

Babysitters If you need a babysitter, ask the concierge or reception desk of your hotel. You will not always get an English-speaker, however.

Bookstore The Beta Librería, Av. de la Constitución 27 (tel. 95-456-07-03), sells books in Spanish and to a lesser extent, English and French. It's the most centrally located of a large chain of bookstores with other branches throughout the city.

Consulates The U.S. Consulate is at Plaza Nueva 8 (tel. 95-421-85-71) and is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm. The nearest British Consulate is in Málaga, and an Australian Consulate is at Federico Rubio 14 (tel. 95-422-09-71), open Monday to Friday from 10am to noon.

Currency Exchange Many of these offices are scattered within the neighborhood around the Seville Cathedral, but some of the biggest and busiest lie immediately adjacent to the post office. As for ATMs, there are dozens around Seville, especially near the cathedral.

Dentists If you have an emergency, check at the reception desk of your hotel. There's also a large dental clinic with extended hours for emergencies. It's the Centro Dentaire La Macarena, Rondo Capucinos 8-10 (tel. 95-441-32-02).

Doctors Your hotel can provide you with the names of doctors, but in an emergency you should dial tel. 112 from any phone. Otherwise, contact the Clínica Triana, Av. Ronda de Triana 14A (tel. 95-433-48-28).

Emergencies For the police or fire department, call tel. 112. For an ambulance, dial tel. 112.

Hospitals The city's biggest and best equipped is Virgen del Rocío, Av. Manuel Siurot s/n (tel. 95-501-20-00), about 2km (1 1/4 miles) from the city center.

Internet Access The most convenient place is the Sevilla Internet Center, Calle Almiraantazago 2 (tel. 95-450-02-75). It's open Monday to Friday 9am to 10pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 10pm. Charges are 3€ ($4.80) per hour.

Newspapers Newsstands in the center of the city as well as many first-class and deluxe hotels have kiosks selling English-language newspapers and magazines. Two locally edited daily newspapers of note are the somewhat to-the-right-of-center ABC, selling at newsstands for around 1€ ($1.60), and the Andalusian edition of El País, a centrist to slightly left-of-center publication, selling for 1€ ($1.60).

Pharmacies One of the biggest is the Farmacia Puerta de la Carne, Calle Demetrio de los Ríos 3 (tel. 95-441-44-53). Check any pharmacy window for the name and address of an all-night pharmacy -- pharmacies rotate that duty. You can also call Farmacias de Guardia at tel. 90-252-21-11 for the night-duty schedule.

Police The police station is on Paseo de las Delicias (tel. 95-428-94-44).

Post Office The post office is at Av. de la Constitución 32 (tel. 95-422-47-60). It's open Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 10pm, and Sunday and holidays noon to 10pm.

Safety With massive unemployment, the city has been hit by a crime wave in recent years. María Luisa Park is especially dangerous, as is the highway leading to Jerez de la Frontera and Cádiz. Dangling cameras and purses are especially vulnerable. Don't leave cars unguarded with your luggage inside. Regrettably, some attacks occur when passengers stop for traffic signals.

Toilets You'll find a few of these in Seville, including a much-overused cluster on the Paseo Colón. Each requires a deposit, in coins only, of around .25€ (40¢). You'll be better off doing as the locals do and ducking into a bar or cafe and buying a bottle of mineral water, coffee, a drink, or snack.