Seville

If Spain is your main destination, the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar issues the visa on Spain's behalf. Book an appointment online with VFS Global and attend in person at the embassy premises to give fingerprints. Fee €90 (ages 6–11 €45, under 6 free) plus a 100,000₮ VFS service fee. Apply between 6 months and 4 weeks before travel; processing takes at least 15 days.

Tip: Connecting via Istanbul on Turkish, you first enter Schengen in Seville — name Spain as your main destination on the application.

Medical insurance of at least €30,000 valid across Schengen is mandatory. Attach a return ticket, hotel bookings, bank statements and an employment letter. On first entry to Schengen the EES system records your fingerprints and face; ETIAS does not apply to visa holders.

In 2027 Holy Week (Semana Santa) runs 21–28 March and the April Fair 13–18 April — hotels cost several times more, so book months ahead. Alcázar tickets are capped per day, so buy them on alcazarsevilla.org, and Córdoba's Mezquita on its official site, in advance.

Tussam's EA airport line leaves from level 0 outside arrivals and runs to Santa Justa station, Puerta de Jerez and Plaza de Armas; the city is about 35 minutes away. A single is €6 and a return €8, paid on board. It runs from about 5:20 until about 1:00.

Tip: A return ticket saves money on the way back.

Official white taxis wait outside arrivals and charge a fixed fare to the city centre — ask the driver the price before you get in. Easier than the bus for families with lots of luggage. Uber, Cabify and FreeNow also operate.

If you land in Madrid, Renfe AVE, Iryo and Ouigo high-speed trains run from Atocha station to Seville Santa Justa in about 2 h 40. Booked early, Ouigo and Iryo fares start around €9–26; last-minute fares can top €60.

If your phone supports eSIM, buy and install a travel eSIM from Airalo, Holafly or similar before you leave: it works as soon as you land in Frankfurt, Istanbul or Seville. Pick a Europe-wide plan and it works in your connecting city too.

Tip: Download Seville and Córdoba in Google Maps and Spanish in Google Translate for offline use.

Buy a SIM at a Movistar, Vodafone or Orange store with your passport — registration is required by law. Budget brands (Lowi, Digi) exist too. You'll find stores on Calle Sierpes and Calle Tetuán in the centre.

A single ticket on Tussam buses and the Metrocentro tram is €1.40. The tourist card costs €5 for 1 day or €10 for 3 days (+€1.50 deposit) for unlimited city buses. The single metro line runs to the suburbs, so tourists rarely need it.

Renfe AVE and Avant high-speed trains from Santa Justa reach Córdoba in about 45 minutes, many times a day. Avant tickets are about €18–22, cheaper booked early. From Córdoba station the Mezquita is about a 25-minute walk.

The city has the Sevici bike-share and plenty of rental shops — the flat city and riverside paths suit cycling. For Itálica, take the Damas company's M-170 bus from Plaza de Armas station.

Almost everywhere takes cards and phone payments; small tapas bars and market stalls may want a little cash. Withdraw euros from bank ATMs; independent ATMs at tourist spots charge high fees. Tipping is optional — round up for good service.

Tip: If the ATM or card reader offers to charge you in tögrög, say no — choose euros.

Seville has proposed a tourist tax, but the Andalusian government hasn't allowed it, so the room price is the final price. To use children's discounts at the Alcázar, the cathedral and museums, carry your children's passports and any student card.

Spain has no minimum purchase for Tax Free for non-EU visitors. Show your passport in the shop to get a DIVA form and scan it at a DIVA kiosk at the airport where you leave the EU.

Cold tomato salmorejo soup, crispy shrimp tortillitas de camarones, fried fish (pescaíto frito), jamón, espinacas con garbanzos (spinach with chickpeas) and sweet torrijas. El Rinconcillo, the oldest bar, plus the bars of Triana and the Alameda de Hércules are the famous spots.

Tip: Standing at the bar is usually cheaper than a table.

Spaniards eat lunch in the afternoon and dinner very late; turn up early and restaurants may be closed. The weekday 'menú del día' is a cheap set meal. Book flamenco ahead at the Museo del Baile Flamenco, Casa de la Memoria or a small bar in Triana.

Triana market, the Calle Feria market and the Encarnación market under the Setas are cheaper and used by locals. Buy groceries at Mercadona, Carrefour Express, Día and Lidl. Seville's tap water is fine to drink; drink plenty in the summer heat.

In Andalusia police, ambulance and fire all answer on 112 — 24 hours, free, in Spanish, English, French, German and Arabic. National Police 091, city police 092. The emergency department is 'Urgencias'; the children's hospital is Virgen del Rocío.

In July–August the afternoon heat is dangerous: go out early and in the evening, and give children hats and water. Watch for pickpockets in the cathedral and Alcázar queues and in procession crowds. Near the cathedral, refuse the women who press rosemary into your hand to 'tell your fortune'.

If you lose your passport, report it to the Policía Nacional and contact the Embassy of Mongolia in Madrid — check contact details on consul.mn. Keep a copy and a photo of your passport on your phone.

Friends greet with a kiss on both cheeks; a handshake is usual on first meeting. Saying 'Hola, buenas' when entering a shop or bar is polite. You ask for the bill — 'La cuenta, por favor'.

Cover shoulders and knees in churches and the Mezquita; tourist visits are limited during services. Holy Week processions are religious rites — don't block their route, don't cut through the lines of people walking with the floats, and stay quiet.

Many small shops close on summer afternoons, and most close on Sundays. At the Feria most tents (casetas) are private and invitation-only; look for the ones open to the public.

Google Maps covers Seville's buses and tram well; the Tussam app shows timetables and tourist-card information. Use the Renfe, Iryo or Ouigo apps for Córdoba and Madrid. Book taxis with FreeNow.

Bookmark the official sites: alcazarsevilla.org, catedraldesevilla.es and mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es. Reseller sites use look-alike names and charge more. Google Translate's camera mode translates Spanish menus on the spot.

The EA bus runs from around Plaza de Armas and Santa Justa to the airport from 4:30 until late evening, for €6. The airport is small, but arrive 2–3 hours before an international flight: the EES exit check, DIVA Tax Free and security can be slow.

Leave the Schengen area no later than the date on your visa — EES records your exit day automatically, and an overstay will hurt your next application. If you connect via Frankfurt or Madrid, you exit Schengen there. Carry Tax Free goods in your hand luggage.