Seville, the capital of Andalusia, is a destination where art, history and tradition collide. Unsurprisingly, its popular Holy Week and April Fair attract thousands of visitors every year, while its beautiful historic centre is home to numerous monuments, among which the Cathedral is an undoubted highlight.
Have a free weekend? Then read on, because in this guide we’ll share some practical information on how to visit Seville Cathedral and the other unmissable monuments in the city, such as the Royal Alcázar palace and the Torre del Oro watchtower.
History of Seville Cathedral
As with other monuments in Andalusia, Seville Cathedral has its origins in an old Muslim mosque, built in the 12th century in the reign of Abu Ya’qub Yusuf during the Almohad Caliphate.
After the caliph’s death, the mosque was converted into the Church of Santa Maria, although it was not until 1401 that work began on the construction of Seville Cathedral itself. The works, initially directed by the architect Alonso Martínez, lasted for more than a century and were completed in 1507, the year in which Seville Cathedral was consecrated.
Today, at 76 metres wide and 116 metres long, Seville Cathedral is not only one of the most visited monuments in the city, but also one of the three landmarks that (together with the Royal Alcázar and the General Archive of the Indies) make up a monumental complex that has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Visits inside Seville Cathedral
Despite the fusion of architectural styles (Almohad, Mudejar, Renaissance, Baroque, etc.) on show inside Seville Cathedral, it’s considered the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, boasting decorative features and artistic heritage of incalculable value.
It would be almost impossible to mention all of the sites you can visited inside Seville Cathedral, given its impressive array of architecture, chapels and works of art. For this reason, we’ll recommend the ones we consider essential on any first visit inside the Cathedral:
- The Central Nave, the Main Chapel and the Choir.
- The High Altar.
- The Cathedral’s stained glass windows. There are 138 different ones!
- The chapels. These are also numerous, although our favourites are the Chapel of the Virgen de la Antigua, the Chapel of Santiago and the Chapel of Santa Bárbara.
- Christopher Columbus’ Tomb.
As well as all the above, other must-see places in Seville Cathedral are:
- The Patio de los Naranjos courtyard and the Biblioteca Colombina library.
- The Giralda bell tower.
- The Royal Chapel, the Chapter House and the Main Sacristy, all in the Renaissance style.
- The Tabernacle, which has an exuberant Baroque decoration.
- The Office Pavilion, which houses a large exhibition room full of cathedral art.
How to visit Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral can be visited alone or as part of a guided tour.
In our opinion, the best option is to visit Seville Cathedral with a guided tour, for three reasons:
- You save time by not having to wait in the long queues at the Cathedral entrance.
- If you book a guided tour, you’re guaranteed entry to the monumental site, which has limited capacity.
- In addition to the entrance ticket, the guided tour includes an accompanying expert guide, who explains the lesser-known curiosities and facts about the history and artistic heritage of Seville Cathedral.
However, if you prefer to visit Seville Cathedral on your own, you should bear in mind the following:
- Book your tickets as soon as possible. Seville Cathedral is one of the most important monuments in Andalusia and also one of the most visited, so the queues at the ticket office are quite long.
- Try to get to Seville Cathedral early in the morning to avoid waiting in line at the ticket office and/or entrance under the scorching midday sun.
- During liturgical ceremonies, visitors are not permitted inside the Cathedral. You should also dress modestly and keep quiet, as this is a place of prayer.
Tickets for Seville Cathedral
Tickets for Seville Cathedral can be purchased in person at the ticket office or online (our recommended option).
The entrance fees are as follows:
- General admission: €11 (online) and €12 (at the ticket office)
- Concessions: €6 (online) and €7 (at the ticket office). Applicable to pensioners over 65 years of age, students up to 25 years of age and people with a 33% degree of disability or more.
- Free admission: Applicable to people born or residing in the Archdiocese of Seville, the unemployed, children under 13 years of age and people with a 65% degree of disability or more.
Seville Cathedral Opening Hours
Seville Cathedral is open to tourists:
- Monday to Saturday, from 11am to 7pm.
- Sunday, from 2.30pm to 7pm.
Where is Seville Cathedral?
Seville Cathedral is located in the city centre, on the popular Avenida de la Constitución. The best way to get there is on foot, although the following are also options:
- Metro: Line 1. Puerta de Jerez station.
- Tram: Archivo de Indias station.
- Bus: Lines C4, C3, 5, 41, 42, C1 and C2. Jardines de Cristina station.
Other monuments to visit in Seville: the Alcázar palace and the Torre del Oro watchtower
While Seville Cathedral is a spectacular site, there are many other monuments in the Andalusian capital worth visiting. Two of the best known and most popular (as well as being our favourites) are the Royal Alcázar palace and the Torre del Oro watchtower.
The Royal Alcázar in Seville is one of the oldest functioning royal palaces in the world, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Torre del Oro watchtower, meanwhile, is an iconic part of the Seville skyline, as well as the current home of the Naval Museum.
After everything we’ve told you in this guide about visiting Seville Cathedral, we’re sure you’ll now be even keener to discover the capital of Andalusia. Book a flight to Seville and discover this World Heritage Site for yourself!
