Follow these Seville bullfighting tips and you will experience the event just like a local would do. Thanks to this practical advice you will have an awesome experience and create everlasting memories.
As a rule of thumb, bullfights in Seville are very popular. So as soon as the official season dates are announced, people get their tickets.
Why is that? Because they know it is the only way to get tickets for the bullfight(s) they want to attend and to secure the best seats.
Therefore, you should do the same: purchase your tickets as soon as you know your travel dates.
However, securing coveted seats to a bullfight can be a confusing process. But with a little planning in advance, it is actually easier than ever.
You have 3 ways of buying bullfight tickets:
That’s why the 3rd option is the one I always recommend. Buy your bullfight tickets online and forget about the hassle long lines, the language barrier at the ticket office, and the risk of not having tickets.
Here is a complete guide to help you get your Seville bullfight tickets in a few minutes.
All bullrings are open spaces and almost all seats are uncovered. So you will not have the luxury of a roof to protect you from the wind, the sun or the rain.
In Seville, the weather in spring is completely unpredictable. Thus, my advice is to wear clothing appropriate for any eventuality.
Here is what I consider the most practical and useful bullfight aficionado kit:
Obviously, none of this is mandatory, but it will make your experience much more pleasant.
It is always a good idea to arrive to La Maestranza about an hour before the bullfight actually starts.
The atmosphere around the bullring before a bullfight is electric, and I consider that enjoying it is part of the experience of attending a bullfight. Actually, once you get there, you will see that lots of locals are there too.
And this is for a number of reasons:
Your Seville bullfight ticket is crucial, not only to enter the bullring but also to find your seat on your own.
The 4 main pieces of information on your ticket related to your seat are:
If you don’t speak Spanish, or don’t feel confident of understanding the bullring staff member, don’t panic. You will find your seat on your own. It may take you a few minutes but you will make it. It is a matter of patience and having a bit of time.
That is why you need to get to La Maestranza at least one hour before the bullfight begins.
Just as you would do when going to a concert or to a sports event, make sure you get to the bullring well in advance.
La Maestranza is a big bullring, with 13 entrance gates, many corridors inside and the seats grandstands are divided into several sections (e.g. tendido alto, tendido bajo,…).
It is very easy to get lost and even if you don’t, it will take you a while to get to your seat.
Just make sure that you don’t get there late, because if you do, you won’t be allowed to access the tendido (seating section) once the first bull has entered the arena. In that case, the staff will forbid you to enter and you will have to wait in the corridor until the first fight is over.
Here is what I suggest you to do:
La Maestranza is a very big venue – there are many access gates and inside, it is full of corridors and doors. Unfortunately, it is very easy to get lost.
That is why you should always anticipate that it will take you a while to get to your seat.
Locals are fully aware that it can be tricky for a foreigner and they are always happy to help. printed on your ticket
The first thing you need to know is where is the gate you need to use to access the bullring.
Now that you are inside La Maestranza, look for the information signs on the walls. You should find out where the bullring section, also called tendido (bajo or alto), printed on your ticket is.
Can’t find what you are looking for? No problem! Show your ticket to someone and ask for directions.
Navigate throughout the corridors until you find the inside gate leading to the tendillo where your seat is.
Finally, now that you are in the grandstands, look for your row (or “fila“) and your seat number (“número” or “nº“). The rows are very narrow, and the seats’ labeling is usually hard to find.
So, here again, ask for help showing your ticket. People are very nice and they will point you in the right direction. Just make sure that you seat at your actual seats. The space is limited and if you make a mistake it will be hard to move around once the bullfight starts.