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Seville Cathedral and the Giralda: visitor guide and tips

Visiting Seville Cathedral and the Giralda: opening hours, ticket prices, what to see inside (Columbus's tomb, the altarpiece), the Giralda climb and roofs.

By Andalusia Base teamReviewed by Andalusia Base teamUpdated: September 2026

The Baroque marble retrochoir inside Seville Cathedral, beneath its soaring Gothic vaults

Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trascoro,_Catedral_de_Sevilla,_Sevilla,_España,_2015-12-06,_DD_109-111_HDR.JPG)

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The short answer

Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, built on the site of the city’s great mosque. Its bell tower, the Giralda, was the mosque’s minaret. Inside are the tomb of Christopher Columbus and one of the largest altarpieces ever made.

  • Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours, including the Giralda
  • Price: about €13 for general admission, which includes the Giralda and the Iglesia del Salvador
  • Book ahead: recommended from March to June and in October, to skip the ticket queue
  • Best time: at opening, or in the last two hours of the afternoon
  • Where: the visitors’ entrance is the Puerta de San Cristóbal, on Avenida de la Constitución (south side)

Opening hours and prices
Monday about 10:45 to 16:00
Tuesday to Saturday about 10:45 to 17:00
Sunday afternoons only, about 14:30 to 18:00
General admission about €13 (Giralda and Iglesia del Salvador included)
Reduced (students under 26, over 65) about €7
Free Children under 14, residents of Seville
Rooftop tour (Visita a las cubiertas) about €19, guided, at set times

Hours change for religious services and holidays, and the building closes to visitors on some days during Semana Santa. Check the official website, catedraldesevilla.es, before you go. Compare all ticket options in our cathedral tickets guide.

Tickets: official or guided?

The official ticket (with the optional audio guide) is enough for most visitors. A guided tour helps you make sense of a building this big, and the combined tours with the Alcázar are the easiest way to see both in a morning.

What to see inside: the best route

  1. Tomb of Christopher Columbus. Just inside the south door, the explorer’s remains are carried by four giant figures representing the kingdoms of Castile, León, Aragon and Navarre.
  2. The Capilla Mayor. Behind its iron screen is the main altarpiece, about 20 metres high and covered in gold leaf, with dozens of carved scenes from the life of Christ. Its carving took more than 80 years.
  3. The choir and the organs. In the centre of the nave, facing the Capilla Mayor.
  4. The Sacristía Mayor and the treasury. Silverwork, relics and the keys given to the city at the Christian conquest in 1248.
  5. The Chapter House (Sala Capitular). An oval room with a Murillo Immaculate Conception in the dome.
  6. The Giralda. Climb 35 ramps (and a few steps at the top) to the bell chamber, about 70 metres up. The ramps were built so that a rider on horseback could reach the top. The view over Santa Cruz, the Alcázar and the rooftops is the best in Seville.
  7. Patio de los Naranjos. The orange-tree courtyard of the old mosque, with its fountain. You leave through here and the Puerta del Perdón, the mosque’s original gate.

The rooftop tour

The guided Visita a las cubiertas takes you across the cathedral’s roofs, between flying buttresses and above the vaults, with views you can’t get from the Giralda. It lasts about an hour and runs in Spanish and English at set times. It isn’t suitable if you have vertigo or reduced mobility.

Tips for your visit

  • Dress code: it is a place of worship. Shoulders and knees should be covered. Carry a scarf in summer.
  • The Giralda climb is easy (ramps, not stairs) but gets hot and crowded in the afternoon. Climb it first.
  • Mass: you can attend mass for free at the times posted on the official website, but you can’t tour the building during services.
  • Keep your ticket. It also gets you into the Iglesia del Salvador, ten minutes’ walk north, within the dates shown on it.
  • Rosemary sellers work around the cathedral doors. Politely decline and walk on.

Nearby: combine it with

  • The Real Alcázar: across Plaza del Triunfo. See the Alcázar guide.
  • Archivo de Indias: free, next door.
  • Rooftop bars with Giralda views: the hotels around the cathedral, such as EME Catedral Mercer and Hotel Doña María, have terraces open to non-guests.
  • Where to stay nearby: where to stay in Seville.

FAQ

How long does it take to visit Seville Cathedral?

About 1.5 to 2 hours including the Giralda. Allow an extra hour for the rooftop tour.

Is Seville Cathedral worth it?

Yes. The scale of the building, Columbus’s tomb, the golden altarpiece and the view from the Giralda make it one of Spain’s great monuments.

Can you climb the Giralda?

Yes, it is included in the cathedral ticket. You walk up 35 gentle ramps, then a few steps, to the bell chamber at about 70 metres.

Is Christopher Columbus really buried in Seville?

DNA studies of the remains in the cathedral, in 2006 and again in 2024, concluded that they belong to Columbus, at least in part. The Dominican Republic also claims to hold his remains.

Is there a free entry time?

There is a limited free slot on some afternoons that must be booked online, and residents of Seville enter free. Check the official website; free places go quickly.