Sevici is a self-service bike sharing system operated by the Seville City Hall (Ayuntamiento) since July 2007.

It offers thousands of 3-speed unisex bikes at 250+ stations or service points scattered around the city.

It’s a great service because you can pick up a bike at any Sevici station and return it at any other. The service is very well used and you’ll see people all over Seville on them.

You can rent Sevici bicycles using your travel debit card.

Alternatively, you can go to a bike rental shop and hire one.

Whether you’ve used them before or are a first-timer, here is all the information you need on how Sevici works, the different subscription plans, and how to rent and return a bike. But how to get the most from it? Below is my extensive guide.

Table of Contents

How does Sevici work?

With Sevici, you can rent a bike for a certain amount of time.

It’s super easy to use, but you need a travel sim card:

Download the Sevici app (iOS or Android) and create an account.
Select a subscription plan.
Go to a Sevici parking station.
Open the app and select the bike to unlock it.
Start exploring the city!

There are different subscription plans, depending on how often you plan to use a Sevici bike:

Short term (1 week).
Long term (1 year).

How much does Sevici cost?

Have a look at the Sevici website to check the official fares.

There is registration fee that you have to pay with your travel debit card. At the end of the period, a new registration fee will be charged to your card if you want to renew it.

Sevici short term subscription plans

You have 2 short term options:

Daily Pass. This subscription lasts for 24 consecutive hours and you have unlimited journeys, with the first 30 minutes free.
Short Term Pass. This subscription lasts for 7 consecutive days and you have unlimited access to the bicycles during that time, with the first 30 minutes free.

Sevici long term subscription

If you plan to stay for a while in Seville you should sign up for a Long Term Pass. It lasts 1 year (ie. 365 consecutive days) and you have unlimited bike rentals for this period, with the first 30 minutes free.

The Long Term Pass doesn’t require a deposit.

Taking a bike

Everything is done through the Sevici app (iOS or Android), so you must have a travel sim card.

Renting a Sevici bike is super easy. Follow these steps:

Open the Sevici app (iOS or Android) and navigate through the map to look for a station with available bikes.
Tap the station icon to display the information related.
Before picking a bike, check the feedback previous users left to ensure it’s in good condition. Look for key features like the saddle, pedals, basket fastening, bell, brakes, and tire condition.
Once you’ve chosen a bike with good ratings, swipe to the left to display the “release this SEVICI” red button.
Tap the red button to release the bike. Then, you’ll have 60 seconds to actually unlock it.
And now… Start pedaling!

Apart than using the app, you can also check an updated map with the current situation at each Sevici parking station on the website.

And here is a map of Seville’s bike paths network.

Returning a bike

In similar fashion, you’ll need the Sevici app (iOS or Android), so you must have a travel sim card.

Returning a Sevici bike is also very easy, so follow these steps:

Open the Sevici app (iOS or Android) and navigate through the map to look for a station with empty docks.
Go to the station and to an empty dock.
To return your bike, lift it by the saddle and push the contact strip into the docking point until you hear a double beep, confirming the bike is securely docked.
Make sure that you’ve followed the procedure correctly! Apart from pulling the bike to check that it’s locked, always check that the bike has been properly returned using the Sevici app.

I can’t stress enough that you double check that the bike is securely docked.

Sometimes the traffic prevents you from hearing anything, especially the double beep. So check twice that you have locked it correctly at the dock. Otherwise, the system won’t register it and it will assume that you’re still using the bike… charging you an additional fee and even a penalty!

If you want to return a bike and the parking station is full, use the Sevici app to find the nearest station with available docks. You have 15 minutes to reach another station to return your bike without additional fees.

How does a Sevici parking station looks like?

Insider tip: Even though you must have a travel sim card to use it, I strongly recommend you to always use the Sevici app (iOS or Android) – it’s faster and much more user friendly that the terminal at the parking station.

Each station has a System Access Terminal and several bike docks.

The number of docks depends on the location, the surroundings and the frequency of use of every station. Use the dock to either lock or unlock a bicycle.

At the System Access Terminal you can carry out several tasks.

Select and rent a bike.
Purchase a Daily or Short Term Pass.
Get a printed receipt with your chosen route.
Check on a map the closest taking or returning posts.
Top up your Sevici credit with your credit card.

You don’t understand Spanish? No problem. Each terminal offers you on-screen instructions in several languages.

How are the Sevici bikes?

The bicycles are unisex, so you can use them regardless of your size and height (the seat height is adjustable).

All have a very easy gear change, although you’ll probably not need to use it in Seville since the city is completely flat. And they also have a large capacity front basket.

The main drawback is that the bikes are quite heavy. And because so many people use them every day, some of them might not be in perfect shape: you may find them with faulty gears, missing peddles, loose breaks, or simply battered beyond use.

Check the seat, tires and breaks of the bike you’ve selected before actually paying for it and unlocking it.

Should you use Sevici?

Seville’s compact city center is perfect for exploring on foot, with most attractions reachable within a 45-minute walk. But when your feet need a break, the city is one of the most bike friendly cities in Spain.

I believe that apart from walking, a bicycle is the single best means to discover this beautiful city. It’s definitely more efficient and it allows you to cover more ground and material than walking.

However, there are downsides associated with using Sevici to get around the city.

Advantages:

You can reach your destination faster, not depending on public transport.
The Sevici bikes are freedom to reach almost any corner of the city in less than half an hour.

Drawbacks:

The bikes are limited in number, and their docking ports are too, making them harder to find in places and times where everyone wants them, and harder to park wherever everyone wants to go.
Cycling in a city can be dangerous, especially down certain roads, especially over certain intersections, especially where the bike lanes have been ill-considered and everyone ends up breaking the rules.

This article is part of a complete tutorial about exploring Seville on bike where you can read all the information you need to enjoy the city on a bicycle.

Here is a complete summary of all the guide:

1. Cycling in Seville: should you walk instead?
2. Riding a bike: Seville rules and recommendations
3. 7 cycling tips to safely ride around Seville
4. Sevici: Seville’s municipal bike rental
5. The best bike rental Sevilla shops
6. The best Seville bike tours

Sevici: A comprehensive guide to Seville’s bike share system