Seville Cathedral

The world’s largest Gothic cathedral, built on the site of the Almohad mosque in Seville. Its official name is Cathedral of Santa María de la Sede, and it is also known as Magna Hispalensis. The Giralda was its minaret.

Price, opening hours and the five must-see attractions inside.

💶 Price and tickets

From 1 January 2026:

• General admission: €20 online, €21 at the box office. Buying it online saves you one euro, plus a €1 administration fee per ticket.
• Concession: €7 online, €8 at the box office. People aged 65 and over, students up to the age of 25, people with a disability rating of between 33 and 65%, and adults from large families.
• Free: residents of the Diocese of Seville, children under 13 accompanied by an adult, people with disabilities as defined under 65% and the unemployed.

And the most searched-for piece of information: there are Free public viewing on Sundays (excluding public holidays), from 4.30 pm to 6.00 pmwith advance online booking and limited capacity. It sells out quickly, so you’ll need to keep an eye on it.

The ticket includes entry to the Giralda, which is not charged separately.

Please note the closing times: the entrances and the tower close at 6.00 pm.

⏱️ How long does it take?

The cathedral itself estimates 75 minutes. If you take your time climbing the Giralda, it takes an hour and a half.

And a word of warning: the timetables may be subject to change without prior notice due to religious services. It is an active place of worship, so it is advisable to check the official calendar for the specific day.

History: from mosque to cathedral

In the late 12th century, the Almohad Caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf He ordered the construction of the Great Mosque of Seville. The city was conquered on 23 November 1248, and for a century and a half the mosque was used as a Christian church.

In 1401, the town council decided to build something new, and the following parts of the mosque have been preserved just two elements: the minaret —today the Giralda— and the Patio de los Naranjos.

A detail that explains the layout: the cathedral it does not have the typical Gothic apse, because their Five buildings stand on the exact site of the mosque. It measures 116 metres long by 76 metres wide.

It has been a World Heritage Site since 1987next to the Royal Alcazar and the Archivo de Indias —all three of them, not just the cathedral—. And in 2010 the complex was declared Site of Outstanding Universal Value.

What to see inside

1. The high altarpiece

It is the largest altarpiece in Christendom. Over twenty metres high and featuring dozens of gilded reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary.

Work continued for almost a century, between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. It can be seen through the grille of the High Chapel.

2. The tomb of Christopher Columbus

Next to the Puerta del Príncipe, in the south arm of the transept. The coffin is held aloft by four figures representing the kingdoms of Castile, León, Aragon and Navarre.

The tomb dates from the 19th century, much later. The remains passed through Seville, Santo Domingo, Havana and back to Seville, and DNA tests confirm that the ones here are his, although Santo Domingo maintains its own claim.

3. The Royal Chapel

Fernando III is buried here, the king who conquered Seville, and Alfonso X the Wise. It is the royal crypt of the church and is often overlooked.

4. The Orange Tree Courtyard

It was the mosque’s ablution courtyard, and it is one of only two remaining parts of the Islamic building. It still retains the irrigation channels which distributed the water amongst the rows of orange trees, and a central fountain of Visigothic origin.

The Giralda can be accessed from here.

5. The art gallery

It is regarded as one of the finest collections of paintings in Spainwith more than 500 works from the 16th to the 21st centuries: Murillo, Zurbarán, Goya, Alejo Fernández, Pedro de Campaña and Luis de Vargas.

Two places to look: the Main Sacristy, with its Greek cross plan and the cathedral treasury, and the Chapter House, with an elliptical floor plan and designed by Hernán Ruiz, featuring paintings by Murillo.

And here’s a little-known fact: in the Granada Chapel are preserved Visigothic capitals, the last remaining parts of the temple dating from before the Arab conquest.

🔔 The Giralda: you go up via ramps, not stairs

The Giralda is not a separate monument: it is the cathedral’s bell tower and admission is included. It was the minaret of the mosque.

And here’s the most surprising detail: you go up via 34 inclined ramps, not by steps. They were made this way so that the muezzin could mount his horse all the way to the top.

That makes it much more accessible Unlike other towers: there are no steps, although the climb is long.

• It is around 100 metres high, depending on whether or not the Giraldillo, the bronze weather vane that crowns it and gives it its name.
• The bell tower was added in the 16th century.
• It was built on the model of the Koutoubia minaret in Marrakesh.

It has inspired similar initiatives across half the world, from Kansas City to L’Arboç del Penedès. Full details at the Giralda of Seville.

How to get there and tips

Avenida de la Constitución, right in the centre, next to the Royal Alcazar and just a stone’s throw from Santa Cruz.

• There is no convenient parking. It’s best to walk or use public transport.
• Go first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon. By mid-morning, the queues are long.
• Buy your ticket online: you save a euro and avoid the queue.
• Dress code: It is a place of worship, where shoulders and knees must be covered.

An interesting fact for walkers: the Camino de Santiago, following the Vía de la Plata route, starts at the Cathedral.

Travelling from Málaga

We are a local tour operator based in Málaga with over 50 years’ experience organising trips around Andalusia. Seville is best explored in a day:

Check whether the ticket you’re booking includes entry to the Cathedral, because with a €20 entrance fee, the difference is noticeable.

For the rest of the day: what to see in Seville, Seville in a day, its places y the Plaza de España.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to visit Seville Cathedral?

Twenty euros online and twenty-one at the ticket office, with a one-euro booking fee per ticket for online purchases, according to the rates in force from January 2026. The reduced-rate ticket costs 7 or 8 euros for those aged 65 and over, students up to the age of 25, people with a disability rating of 33 to 65%, and adults from large families. Entry to the Giralda is included.

When can you visit Seville Cathedral for free?

On Sundays (excluding public holidays), from 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm, subject to prior online booking and limited capacity. Admission is also free for residents of the Diocese of Seville, children under 13 accompanied by an adult, people with disabilities holding a 65% card, and the unemployed.

Is Seville Cathedral the same as the Giralda?

They are not separate monuments: the Giralda is the cathedral’s bell tower and admission to it is included in the price of a ticket to the cathedral. It was the minaret of the Almohad mosque and was preserved when the cathedral was built, with the bell chamber added in the 16th century.

Do you have to climb the stairs to get to the top of the Giralda?

No, because of the 34 sloping ramps. They were designed this way so that the muezzin could ride his horse right to the top of the tower. That makes it more accessible than other bell towers, although the climb is a long one.

How long does it take to visit Seville Cathedral?

The cathedral itself estimates 75 minutes, although if you take your time climbing the Giralda, it can take closer to an hour and a half. It is advisable to check the official timetable for the specific day, as opening hours may be subject to change without notice due to religious services.

What is the name of Seville Cathedral?

Its official name is the Cathedral of Santa María de la Sede, and it is also known as the Magna Hispalensis. The full name refers to the Virgin of la Sede, whose image presides over the high altarpiece.

What remains of the original mosque?

Just two elements: the minaret, which is the present-day Giralda, and the Patio de los Naranjos, the former ablution courtyard with its irrigation channels. The cathedral’s floor plan, lacking the typical Gothic chancel, is precisely because its five naves occupy the site of the mosque.