Getting to Seville for the football

Seville has direct UK flights, so there is no hub detour. Fly Manchester or London Gatwick straight to Seville (SVQ), take the EA airport bus into town, then Metro Line 1 to Blas Infante and the free Betis shuttle to La Cartuja. Away fans are allocated the north-east corner. Betis play at La Cartuja, not the Villamarin, for 2025/26 and 2026/27 (Seville Traveller, LiberoGuide).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Seville has its own airport, so most fans fly straight in. The catch is that the direct flights are thin: Ryanair from Manchester runs only a handful of days a week, so if your matchday falls wrong or the fare spikes, the real alternative is to fly cheaply into Malaga or Madrid and come the last leg overland by train or coach. London Gatwick has the most frequent and quickest direct service. Malaga is usually the cheapest way in, Madrid the fallback (FlightsFrom, Travel And Tour World).

Costs are estimates and swing hard with dates. If the direct Seville fare is reasonable, take it. The Malaga and Madrid routes only win when the direct flight is expensive or does not run on your days.

Where the game actually is (2025/26 and 2026/27)

Betis are not at the Villamarin for these two seasons. The ground is undergoing a major redevelopment, adding a roof over all seats plus new hospitality, with demolition of the Preferencia/West Stand started in summer 2025 (Seville Traveller).

Home games are at Estadio de La Cartuja in the north of the city. The target is to return to the Villamarin for around the 2027/28 season, but the rebuild is reported to be slipping, so a longer stay at La Cartuja is possible. Plan around La Cartuja (StadiumDB).

La Cartuja sits on Isla de la Cartuja, north of the historic centre across the Guadalquivir, roughly 4 km (2.5 miles) from the centre. It opened in 1999, has a permanent roof over all seats, and is a confirmed host venue for the 2030 World Cup (Seville Traveller, Wikipedia).

Getting into Seville: airport and train

From Seville Airport (San Pablo, SVQ), the EA Airport Express bus (Especial Aeropuerto), run by TUSSAM, is the only bus line between the airport and the centre. A single is €6 and a same-day return €8, bought from the driver by cash or card, or online (Aeropuerto de Sevilla).

The EA bus runs roughly every 12-20 minutes by day and every 30-35 minutes at night, from about 05:20 to 01:00 into the city. It stops at Santa Justa rail station before terminating at Plaza de Armas bus station, and takes about 35 minutes (Aeropuerto de Sevilla).

If you are coming by train, Sevilla Santa Justa is the city's single mainline hub, opened in 1991. Renfe AVE high-speed trains from Madrid Puerta de Atocha take about 2h20-2h30 nonstop (Seat61). Santa Justa is about 15 minutes by taxi from the historic centre, and is a stop on the EA airport bus and on Cercanias local trains, so it connects onward to both the centre and the stadium area.

Getting out to the stadium on matchday

The most reliable matchday route to La Cartuja is Metro Line 1 to Blas Infante, then the free Lanzadera Betis shuttle buses that run direct to the ground roughly every 5 minutes on matchdays. Total journey is about 15-20 minutes (Seville Traveller).

Alternatives are the TUSSAM C1/C2 circular bus lines, or the Renfe Cercanias C-2 train from Santa Justa to the Estadio Olimpico stop, about 15 minutes, running every 20-30 minutes from two hours before kick-off (Seville Traveller, LiberoGuide). Parking near the ground needs pre-registration and is not recommended due to congestion.

Gates typically open 90-120 minutes before kick-off. Post-match shuttles back to Blas Infante are free of charge to help the crowds disperse (Seville Traveller). On foot it is roughly a 30-45 minute walk from the Alameda area across the Barqueta Bridge, a popular pre-match approach for fans drinking in the centre.

When Betis eventually return to the Villamarin, the ground is on Avenida de Heliopolis in south Seville, away fans go in the southern section, and it is served by buses along Avenida de la Palmera (Football Ground Guide).

Inside the stadium and allocation

Visiting supporters are allocated the north-east corner of La Cartuja: sections 121-125 closest to the pitch, 121B-225 in the middle tier, and 221B-225A above, with the exact spread depending on how many away fans travel (LiberoGuide). All seats are under the permanent roof.

Only non-alcoholic beer is sold inside the ground, so have your proper drink at Parque del Alamillo or a bar in town before you go in (Seville Traveller). Bag searches are standard, and it is worth arriving well before kick-off to clear the shuttle queues.

Getting around Seville

City buses and the tram are run by TUSSAM. A single on-board ticket is €1.40, and a single tram ticket is also €1.40 (Megapass).

A Tarjeta Turista tourist pass gives unlimited TUSSAM bus and tram travel: 1-day €5 or 3-day €10, plus a refundable €1.50 card deposit you get back on return (Introducing Seville). The rechargeable bonobus multi-trip card drops the per-trip cost to about €0.69. The Metro is a separate system, with single tickets around €1.35-€1.80 depending on zones crossed (Megapass).

The centre is compact and largely walkable, with most sights and the Alameda drinking area within a 15-20 minute walk of each other.

Where to stay

Barrio Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter by the Cathedral, Giralda and Alcazar, is the most central base for first-timers, though it is the most touristy and priciest. Alameda de Hercules is the more affordable option and a popular pre-match gathering spot, a tree-lined plaza ringed with tapas bars and terraces, a walk or shuttle across the Barqueta Bridge to La Cartuja (Seville Traveller). Triana, across the river, offers a cheaper neighbourhood feel with flamenco, ceramics and tapas, and is still a 15-20 minute walk to the Cathedral.

Where to drink

A caña (small draught beer) runs about €1.50-€2.50 in the centre, cheaper than most UK away days (Sevilla Tapas Tour).

• Kiosco El Naranjal, beside Parque del Alamillo, is the main pre-match stop nearest the ground, serving beer and gin and tonics to fans walking in (LiberoGuide).
• Bar Antojo, Calle Calatrava, sits on the mainland near the Barqueta bridge, an inexpensive tapas spot with a big wine list on the walking route to La Cartuja (LiberoGuide).
• El Tremendo, in the Old Town near Alfalfa, is an old-school corner bar with some of the best-pulled canas in the centre, standing room and cheap.
• Alameda de Hercules terraces, the tree-lined plaza where beers are €1.50-€2.50 and the crowd is local and relaxed, a natural gathering point before heading over the bridge (Sevilla Tapas Tour).
• Bar Eslava, Calle Eslava near the Alameda, a well-known tapas bar within walking distance of the stadium area, good for a sit-down before kick-off (Seville Traveller).

Avoid drinking colours in Nervion around the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, home of rivals Sevilla FC, especially on or near a derby weekend. Seville is otherwise easy-going for away fans.

Where to eat

Seville is a tapas city, so you order several small plates and share. Local dishes worth trying: salmorejo (a thick, creamy cold tomato and bread soup topped with jamon and egg), espinacas con garbanzos (spinach with chickpeas), fried fish (pescaito frito), and caracoles (snails) in season (Inside The Travel Lab).

• Triana Market, across the river, a covered market of stalls doing jamon, cheese, oysters and cold beer for a quick, cheap grazing lunch.
• La Fresquita, near the Cathedral, a tiny local favourite for classic tapas including caracoles and salmorejo, standing room and budget prices (Inside The Travel Lab).
• Casa Cuesta, Triana, a historic Andalusian tavern serving tapas, stews and seafood since 1880, sit-down and reliable.
• Blanca Paloma, Triana, a locals' spot known for aubergine stuffed with prawns and lemon-dressed boquerones (anchovies).
• Bar Eslava, near the Alameda, one of the city's best-regarded tapas kitchens, worth a table if you have time.
• Bodega Santa Cruz (Las Columnas), in the old quarter, a busy, cheap standing bar handy if you are based near the Cathedral.

What to do

• Seville Cathedral and La Giralda, the world's largest Gothic cathedral; the ticket includes climbing the 104-metre Giralda tower for city views (Seville City Guide).
• Royal Alcazar, a Mudejar royal palace and gardens, the one sight you should book ahead for.
• Plaza de Espana, the vast tiled semicircle in Parque de Maria Luisa, free to wander.
• Metropol Parasol (Setas de Sevilla), the modern wooden mushroom structure with a rooftop walkway and viewpoint.
• Barrio Santa Cruz, the whitewashed lanes and jasmine-scented squares of the old Jewish quarter.
• Triana, the ceramics-and-flamenco neighbourhood across the river, plus its market and riverside bars.
• A flamenco show, best caught in a small Triana or Santa Cruz tablao for the real thing.

Money and safety

Spain uses the euro, and cards are widely accepted on the EA airport bus, for TUSSAM tickets and in most bars, but carry some cash for small tapas bars.

Seville is generally safe with little violent crime. The main risk is pickpocketing in tourist-heavy zones like Santa Cruz, around the Cathedral and Plaza de Espana. Keep bags to your front in crowds and leave your passport in the hotel (Seville Traveller). Avoid the peripheral Poligono Sur (Tres Mil Viviendas) district, and take care late at night in outlying areas such as parts of Los Pajaritos and Torreblanca. None are places tourists have reason to go (Travel Safe Abroad).

Betis's fierce rivals are Sevilla FC, based at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan in Nervion. On derby days it is sensible for visiting fans to steer clear of Sevilla/Nervion territory.

Common questions

How do I get from Seville airport to the stadium?

Take the EA Airport Express bus from SVQ into the centre (about 35 minutes, €6 single), then Metro Line 1 to Blas Infante and the free Betis shuttle to La Cartuja. There is no single direct link, so allow about an hour and a quarter airport to ground, more on a busy matchday (Aeropuerto de Sevilla, Seville Traveller).

Which airport do I fly to for Real Betis, and is there a direct flight?

Fly to Seville (San Pablo, SVQ), which has direct UK flights from Manchester, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Bristol, so no hub is needed. If your dates have no direct option, Madrid is the fallback: fly there, then the AVE to Sevilla Santa Justa takes about 2h20-2h30 (Travel And Tour World, Seat61).

Where do away fans sit at La Cartuja?

Visiting supporters are put in the north-east corner: sections 121-125 nearest the pitch, 121B-225 in the middle tier and 221B-225A above. The exact spread depends on how many away fans travel, and all of it is under the permanent roof (LiberoGuide).

What is the away allocation?

There is no fixed away figure at La Cartuja; the visiting section is scaled to demand within the north-east corner. For a normal La Liga fixture expect a modest block; for a big European away it can be extended across the mid and upper tiers of that corner (LiberoGuide).

What time should I get to the ground?

Gates open 90-120 minutes before kick-off. The Blas Infante shuttle and the Cercanias train both fill up close to kick-off, so aim to be at Blas Infante at least an hour before the game. Arriving early also clears the bag searches without a scrum (Seville Traveller).

Can I drink beer inside the stadium?

Only non-alcoholic beer is sold inside La Cartuja, in line with Spanish rules on alcohol at football grounds. Have your proper drink beforehand at Parque del Alamillo, the Kiosco El Naranjal, or a bar in the centre before you head over (Seville Traveller).

How much is a beer in Seville?

A caña, the standard small draught, is roughly €1.50-€2.50 in the centre and around the Alameda, cheaper than most UK away days. A larger measure or a tourist-strip terrace will cost a bit more (Sevilla Tapas Tour).

Is Seville safe for away fans?

Yes. Violent crime is low and the city is relaxed about visiting supporters. The real risk is pickpocketing in the tourist zones around the Cathedral, Santa Cruz and Plaza de Espana, so keep your bag in front of you in crowds (Seville Traveller, Travel Safe Abroad).

Which areas are good for away fans, and which to avoid?

Alameda de Hercules and the old centre are the friendly, easy areas to drink and eat, and Triana across the river is relaxed too. Avoid Nervion around Sevilla FC's Sanchez-Pizjuan on derby weekends, and the peripheral Poligono Sur, which tourists have no reason to visit (Travel Safe Abroad).

Does my match ticket include free public transport?

No. Unlike some European clubs, a Betis ticket does not cover TUSSAM buses, the tram or the Metro, so buy those separately. The one free leg is the Lanzadera Betis shuttle between Blas Infante metro and the ground, and the post-match shuttles back (Seville Traveller).

How far is La Cartuja from the city centre?

About 4 km (2.5 miles) north of the historic centre, across the Guadalquivir on Isla de la Cartuja. That is a 15-20 minute Metro-plus-shuttle hop, roughly 15 minutes on the Cercanias C-2 train, or a 30-45 minute walk from the Alameda over the Barqueta Bridge (Seville Traveller).

Where should I stay for a Betis away day?

Barrio Santa Cruz is the most central and atmospheric base, close to the Cathedral and Alcazar but priciest. Alameda de Hercules is cheaper, lively and on the natural walking route to the ground. Triana across the river is cheaper again with a strong local feel and good tapas (Seville Traveller).

How long is the train from Madrid if I can't fly direct?

The Renfe AVE takes about 2h20-2h30 nonstop from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Sevilla Santa Justa. It is the sensible fallback if your dates have no direct Seville flight, and Santa Justa is on the EA airport bus route and the Cercanias line out to the stadium (Seat61).