The Seville Cathedral dominates the historic center of the city and sits right next to the Real Alcazar and Archivo de Indias. Together, they form a UNESCO World Heritage listing. Once you step inside this largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, its historical significance and impressive structure immediately make you understand why.
This guide covers everything you need to know before visiting Seville Cathedral from tickets, timing and what not to miss inside to climbing La Giralda and how to plan your visit properly.
For incorporating the Seville Cathedral into your itinerary, see my guide to 1 day in Seville.
- The Brief History of Seville Cathedral
- Is Seville Cathedral Worth Visiting?
- When to Visit Seville Cathedral
- Seville Cathedral Tickets: Book in Advance
- How to Purchase Seville Cathedral Tickets
- Official Website
- Tickets via Third Parties
- Seville Cathedral Guided Tours
- Ticket Office
- How Much Time Do You Need at the Seville Cathedral
- Other Practical Tips for Visiting Seville Cathedral
- How to Get to Seville Cathedral
- Don’t Be Late for Your Time Slot
- Bring Your ID
- Dress Code at the Seville Cathedral
- Security Checks
- Photography at the Cathedral
- Accessibility of the Seville Cathedral
- Toilets at the Seville Cathedral
- What to See at the Seville Cathedral
- The Golden Altarpiece (Retablo Mayor)
- The Choir (Coro)
- Christopher Columbus Tomb
- The Chapter House
- Capilla Real (Royal Chapel)
- Chapels along the Nave and Sides
- Orange Courtyard (Patio de los Naranjos)
- La Giralda
- Climbing La Giralda
- How Seville Cathedral Fits into Your Itinerary
The Brief History of Seville Cathedral
Like so many churches and cathedrals in Andalusia, Seville Cathedral was built on the site of a former mosque. The mosque that once stood here dated back to the 9th century, when Seville was under Islamic rule.
After the Reconquista, when Christian forces retook the city, the decision was made to build something so grand that it would reflect power, wealth and dominance. In fact, there’s a famous phrase often quoted by Seville guides that the founders of the Cathedral wanted to build a church so magnificent that future generations would think they were mad. Whether or not those words were ever spoken, the result certainly feels ambitious.
The construction of the cathedral you see today was completed at the start of the 16th century. It was meant to demonstrate Christian power after centuries of Islamic rule. And it absolutely does just that, showcasing Spanish grandeur and, very clearly, access to the riches flowing in from overseas colonies.
What makes it even more fascinating is that the cathedral still preserves elements of the former mosque. La Giralda, for example, was originally the mosque’s minaret before being converted into a bell tower. The Patio de los Naranjos was once the mosque’s courtyard. So while the building is overwhelmingly Gothic today, its layers of history are still visible if you know what to look for.
Is Seville Cathedral Worth Visiting?
While I normally wouldn’t question, if a UNESCO site is worth visiting, depending on how long you spent in Spain, you might have already seen a number of cathedrals. So you may consider yet another one on your list daunting. But even if you aren’t a fan of visiting religious sites, Seville Cathedral is the one you shouldn’t miss.
I have seen hundreds of cathedrals during my travels, but Spanish ones are definitely another level. Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, and you really feel that scale the second you step inside. It’s mind-blowingly massive and intricately decorated. The nave stretches endlessly ahead of you. It’s the kind of ceiling that makes you slightly dizzy if you stare too long.
When to Visit Seville Cathedral
Like most of Seville, spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures. Summers are extremely hot. Even though the cathedral interior is cooler than outside, climbing La Giralda in peak heat can be draining.
There’s not much you can do to avoid crowds. Given that the Cathedral opens later in the morning at 10.45 am, you could have a little bit of wiggle room, if you book the very first spot. But any other time, up to its closure, is very crowded.
Actually, I wouldn’t worry too much about crowds at the Cathedral itself. When I visited it was extremely crowded, but because of its vast space, I didn’t really feel that was a problem for me to explore everything, as I liked.
On the other hand, La Giralda can certainly be more prone to being overcrowded. So if you have the first time slot of the day, head to the tower first, before exploring the Cathedral itself.
Seville Cathedral Tickets: Book in Advance
Ticket price for the Seville Cathedral, Giralda and Iglesia San Salvador: 13 EUR.
Children, students, PWDs and people aged 65+ get discounts.
Ticket prices with audio guide: 18 EUR.
Free visit: On Sundays from 4.30 to 6 pm entries are free, if you manage to book online in time. This should be done over 2 months before the visit.
Opening times: 10.45 am -6 pm daily, Sundays 2 -6 pm.
If you’re interested in special access options like rooftop tours, those sell out even faster.
You don’t need to book quite as far ahead as the Real Alcazar, but during busy periods booking 2 weeks in advance is still a good idea. I recommend even earlier to make sure that you are getting the time slot you want.
How to Purchase Seville Cathedral Tickets
Official Website
Use the official website for tickets whenever possible. Make sure that you are on the correct website, as there are dozens of similarly named ones, which belong to possibly unreliable third parties.
Tickets via Third Parties
If you prefer booking with third parties to have all tickets in one place, make sure that you are booking with a reputable third party, like GetYourGuide or Tiqets, for instance. Note that these ticket will have a surcharge compared to the official website.
Seville Cathedral Guided Tours
If you prefer context while exploring such a vast space, a guided tour can also help structure the visit. Otherwise, you may find yourself somewhat overwhelmed. I had a map in hand and had done my research on exactly what I wanted to see and where, and still I had a hard time finding some parts.
Ticket Office
While I would not recommend leaving it to last minute, tickets can be purchased at the ticket office near Puerta del Principe.
I also cover what else you should book ahead in Seville in this guide.
How Much Time Do You Need at the Seville Cathedral
I recommend about 2 hours in order to see the main highlights and climb La Giralda without feeling too rushed.
If you are in a time crunch, you could see main highlights in an hour, but the cathedral is vast. Trust me it’s bigger than you might imagine with a maze of chapels, tombs, artworks and architectural details. Unless you have a guide, which brings you to exact spots, an hour can feel rushed.
Other Practical Tips for Visiting Seville Cathedral
How to Get to Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral sits right in the middle of the historic centre, next to the Real Alcazar. If you’re staying anywhere central, chances are you’ll simply walk there.
I stayed near Alameda de Hercules, and it took me about 20 minutes on foot. The walk itself is part of the experience with narrow streets, small plazas, little cafes and hustle and bustle.
If you’re coming from farther away, Puerta de Jerez is the closest metro and tram stop. From there, it’s only a short walk to the Cathedral.
Arriving at Sevilla Santa Justa by train? The Airport Express (EA) bus takes you toward the centre. Otherwise, you’ll need to connect to metro or tram after a bus. There have been discussions about extending the metro to the train station, but that doesn’t seem likely any time soon.
For full details on where to stay, how to get around and practical planning tips, see my complete Seville travel guide.
Don’t Be Late for Your Time Slot
You will likely have to purchase your ticket in advance, and these tickets are always for the set time slots. Entry is organised in short time windows. Once that time passes, you will likely not be allowed to enter. There may be some exceptions, but I would not count on that.
Being 5-10 minutes late might still work, as there are anyways the security queues for each time slot and they allow people to enter once that time comes.
You also can’t enter earlier than your time slot, I tried that, but had to wait until 5 minutes before my set time.
Bring Your ID
Tickets are personalized and according to the rules, you have to bring your original ID. When I visited, I wasn’t asked to show mine, and I didn’t see anyone else being checked either. However, that doesn’t mean they never ask. I’ve seen ID become an issue at other major Spanish sites, so it’s best not to risk it.
Dress Code at the Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral is an active religious site, therefore, as elsewhere in churches and cathedrals you have to follow certain rules.
Technically, you have to have your shoulders and knees covered. However, enforcement of this varies. My skirts were not really covering the knees for instance and that was fine, however, some outfits may not be acceptable.
Either way, the best idea is to carry a scarf with you to quickly cover up in case of need.
Security Checks
As I mentioned all monuments have security checks. You will have to pass your bags through the scanners.
No food and drinks are allowed inside, except water.
While backpacks are allowed, large ones are not – what exactly is considered large is difficult to say. I tried to figure out what exactly isn’t allowed and it seems a backpack over 20L in size may or may not be problematic.
Photography at the Cathedral
Taking photos with any type of camera is allowed, if you don’t use flash. Tripods aren’t allowed though.
Accessibility of the Seville Cathedral
The Cathedral is largely accessible. There are ramps at the entrance and the floor is even.
However, the Giralda, while considered partially accessible, is not for wheelchairs. While you can technically go up with the wheelchair because it’s ramps, not stairs, there are a few stairs at the end. And overall the space for going up is small and the ramps uneven, so it would be highly difficult.
Toilets at the Seville Cathedral
There are toilets at the Patio de Los Naranjos. You don’t have to leave and re-enter for accessing them.
What to See at the Seville Cathedral
You will enter the Cathedral through Puerta del Principe with your tickets purchased online. and exit via Puerta del Pedron after crossing Patio de los Naranjos.
The Golden Altarpiece (Retablo Mayor)
The altarpiece is impossible to miss, it’s right in the middle of the Cathedral with dozens of people in front of it.
The Retablo Mayor is considered one of the largest altarpieces in the world. It was created with the gold that came from the colonies, including modern day Peru and Mexico.
In practice this is an enormous structure depicting scenes from the life of Christ. The details are crazy and extraordinary. I don’t see far too well, so I was not happy that I forgot my glasses to better notice all the little details. One can’t get too close to it otherwise.
After trying to make out all the small details and each and every scene that conveyed a story, my head started to spin. I had to move on and come back later to marvel at it again.
The Choir (Coro)
Right in the centre of the Cathedral, opposite the altarpiece, you’ll see the large, enclosed choir area.
The carved wooden stalls are incredibly detailed with relief carvings depicting religious scenes. Plus, if you look up, there are massive pipe organs positioned above the choir. Even if they’re not playing when you visit, their scale alone is impressive. As everything else here, they are huge and theatrical.
Christopher Columbus Tomb
The tomb is what many visitors come to the Cathedral for. It’s located not too far from the central Altarpiece and will definitely be in your eyesight soon, even if you don’t try to go looking for it.
While I have controversial feelings about Columbus and his historical role, I recognize the symbolic significance of this tomb.
Fun fact: Columbus’ remains were transferred several times between the Americas and Seville. Recently, the DNA analysis was conducted to confirm that his remains are actually in Seville Cathedral. There are still some debates that some of the bones are in Dominican Republic though.
Notwithstanding where Columbus’ actual remains are, this tomb is theatrical and depicts the country’s colonial history.
The tomb was first installed in Havana and by the end of the 19th century moved to Seville. The stone “coffin” is held by four allegorical figures each of which represent a Spanish Kingdom: Castile, Aragon, Navarra and Leon. The figures have characteristic insignia, for instance Leon has lion insignia, while Castile has a castle on its chest.
The Chapter House
The Chapter House is one of my favorite parts of the cathedral. With walls painted red and a golden dome, it feels much more elegant than the rest of the cathedral (maybe because it doesn’t feel doomy in Gothic style), while still very impressive.
There are also paintings here, including works of Murillo.
Capilla Real (Royal Chapel)
At the far end of the cathedral, just behind the main altar, is the Royal Chapel (Capilla Real). It’s the burial place of Spanish royalty, including King Ferdinand III, who reconquered Seville in 1248. He was later called San Fernando and his remains are kept in a silver urn above the altar.
Unfortunately, the Royal Chapel was closed, due to renovation works, when I visited, which was slightly frustrating.
Note that the opening times are different from those of the Cathedral – there is an afternoon break from 2 to 4 pm, while longer on Saturday. So make sure to schedule your visit relevantly, if this is something you specifically want to see.
Chapels along the Nave and Sides
As is common in cathedrals, there are smaller chapels all around you. Each of them dedicated to a saint. Many of them are so intricately carved and gilded in gold, it’s unbelievable.
These chapels also hide some amazing art masterpieces, including Murillo’s Immaculate Conception and Goya’s Saints Justa and Rufina, as well as works of artists, like Zurbaran and Campana.
While I am usually only giving a glance to chapels at churches and cathedrals, I did explore more in depth here, because of their impressive structures. Practically either of them could have been a church altarpiece.
Orange Courtyard (Patio de los Naranjos)
The Patio de los Naranjos was originally the courtyard of the mosque that once stood here. Today, it’s an enclosed space filled with orange trees and fountains.
It’s not as visually striking as the cathedral interior, but historically it’s one of the most important surviving elements from the Islamic period. Although it didn’t stand out to me, if you think of it in that context, it becomes more interesting.
La Giralda
Once you explore the Cathedral, head to climb La Giralda.
If you have a time slot later in the day, it wouldn’t really matter, crowds are the same any time, even at 6 pm – that’s when I completed my visit.
Given that the cathedral is built over the former mosque, the tower used to be its minaret. I actually am happy that they left those minarets all around Andalusia, as the views from them are amazing.
The tower has inspired a number of replicas in Spain and in the US.
Climbing La Giralda
You will likely have to join a small or big queue, depending on the time of day you come. The passage isn’t extremely narrow, but it does get crowded.
The climb isn’t technically difficult. Instead of stairs, you ascend via ramps and the incline isn’t too steep. Original design took into account that horses could ascend.
You don’t have to be fit to climb up the tower. Just take your time and stop at the windows on the way, which have few seats. You can rest there before continuing.
Once you are at the top, you will be rewarded with panoramic views over Seville. You will see Alcazar gardens nearby, the rooftops around the city stretching out in every direction.
How Seville Cathedral Fits into Your Itinerary
Seville Cathedral sits right in the historic centre, next to the Real Alcazar and Archivo de Indias. You can easily combine these three UNESCO sites in your 1-day itinerary and even make it to Plaza de Espana, if you plan a packed day.
For more detailed step-by-step schedule, see my 1-day Seville itinerary.
If you have more time in the city, check out my 2-day Seville itinerary.
If you prefer seeing both the Cathedral and the Alcazar with proper historical context and without managing separate ticket slots, there are combined guided tours that cover both in one go.
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