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Plan your visit to Palma Cathedral

Palma Cathedral (La Seu) is a Gothic seafront cathedral in central Palma de Mallorca, known for Europe's largest rose window and Antoni Gaudí's early 20th-century interior work. The self-guided interior takes about an hour; add the panoramic terraces (open April to October , 200 stairs) and allow up to two hours. The detail most visitors miss: the cathedral closes entirely on Sundays and reduces its hours from November. This guide covers getting there, choosing the right ticket, and what to see once inside.

Palma Cathedral at a glance

  • When to visit: Monday to Saturday. April to October: 10am to 5:15pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 2:15pm Saturday. November to March: 10am to 3:15pm daily. Closed Sundays.
  • Getting in: From €11 for a skip-the-line ticket. Walk-up tickets available at the door, though a queue builds at the ticket window on summer mornings.
  • How long to allow: 1 to 1.5 hours for the interior and Museum of Sacred Art. Add 45 to 60 minutes for the terraces.
  • When to go: 10am on a weekday. January to March and November are the quietest months; July and August draw the largest crowds.
  • What most people miss: The Barceló Chapel, halfway along the left side of the nave, contains a floor-to-ceiling 2007 ceramic mural that most visitors walk past quickly. The terraces are also easy to skip without realising they offer the only view of the rose window from above.

Jump to what you need

Where and when to go

Which ticket is right for you?

TicketWhat's includedBest forPrice

Skip-the-line entry

Direct access to the cathedral and Museum of Sacred Art; flexible timing within opening hours

Visiting April to October when a walk-up queue has formed at the ticket window

From €11

Entry with terrace access

Cathedral, Museum of Sacred Art, and access to the panoramic rooftop terraces

Visiting April to October and wanting the only view of the rose window from above, across the Balearic Sea (requires climbing 200 stairs)

From €30

Cathedral and Old Town Guided Tour

Cathedral entry and a 1.5-hour expert-guided walk through Palma's Old Town, available in English, Spanish, French, and German

A first visit where Gaudí's interior changes and the medieval Old Town benefit from a guide's explanation

From €26

Hop-on Hop-off Bus and Cathedral Combo

24-hour bus pass (17 stops, Red Route) and cathedral skip-the-line ticket; closest bus stop is Antoni Maura

Covering several Palma sights in one day without managing public transport between them

From €38

How do you get around Palma Cathedral?

Palma Cathedral follows a single-nave Gothic layout and can be covered end to end without backtracking. From the Plaza de la Seu entrance, the main nave runs the length of the building towards the altar; the side chapels line both walls. The Museum of Sacred Art (MASM) is accessed through the cloister to the right of the nave.

Audio guides: Available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, and Catalan at the entrance. Included with some ticket types.

💡 Pro tip: Visit the Barceló Chapel before the main altar area. Most visitors enter and walk directly to the rose window end, meaning the chapel is less crowded in the first 20 minutes after opening.

What are the most significant spaces in Palma Cathedral?

Colourful stained glass Rose Window in Palma Cathedral, Mallorca.
Interior of Palma Cathedral with stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings.
Renovated Chapel of the Most Holy Sacrament in Mallorca Cathedral, Palma, Spain, showcasing intricate architectural details.
Palma Cathedral interior with ornate altar and stained glass windows.
Bell Tower in Mallorca with turquoise tiles against a clear blue sky.
Statue in courtyard of Museu Diocesà, Museum of Sacred Art of Mallorca.
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The Rose Window (Eye of the Gothic)

The west-facing rose window is one of the largest Gothic rose windows in Europe, measuring nearly 14 metres in diameter and made from over 1,236 pieces of stained glass. It gives the cathedral its unofficial name, the "Cathedral of Light." Morning light between 10am and noon makes the colours most vivid.

Where to find it: The west wall at the far end of the nave from the entrance.

The Festival of Light

Twice a year, on 2 February and 11 November, the morning sun aligns with the cathedral's rose windows to project a luminous figure-eight pattern across the nave floor. The event begins shortly after 8:30am and lasts around 30 minutes. It draws visitors specifically for these two dates; arrive at opening to see it before the building fills.

Where to find it: The main central aisle of the nave.

Barceló Chapel (Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament)

In 2007, Mallorcan artist Miquel Barceló transformed this chapel with a floor-to-ceiling ceramic mural depicting the miracle of the loaves and fishes, intertwined with marine motifs. The scale and colour contrast sharply with the Gothic stonework around it.

Where to find it: Left side of the nave, approximately halfway along, before the altar.

Gaudí's Interventions

Between 1904 and 1914, Antoni Gaudí undertook a major restoration: he relocated the choir from the nave to behind the altar, added stained glass windows, and designed the wrought-iron baldachin above the altar, which resembles a crown of thorns hung with oil lamps. This intervention is now central to Gaudí Year 2026 events marking the centenary of his death.

Where to find it: The altar area at the centre of the nave.

The Terraces and Bell Tower

The terraces give views across Palma's old town and the Balearic Sea from above the nave roof. The bell tower houses nine bells; the largest, N'Eloi, weighs over 4,500kg. Open April to October.

Where to find it: A signed staircase inside the building; requires a terrace-access ticket.

Note: The terraces require a ticket that specifically includes terrace access and are open April to October. After seeing the rose window from inside at floor level, the rooftop view back across the nave and out to the Balearic Sea is the one addition worth planning for.

Museum of Sacred Art of Mallorca (MASM)

Accessible through the cloister, the museum holds liturgical artifacts and paintings spanning several centuries, including the Gothic and Baroque Chapterhouses and the Sacristy of the Vermells.

Where to find it: Through the cloister, reached from the right side of the main nave.

💡 Don't leave without seeing

Gaudí's baldachin directly above the altar. Many visitors focus on the rose window at the far end and look past this close-up piece of ironwork above the altar table. And the Barceló Chapel — the placard outside is easy to miss, and most visitors who do not read it walk straight past.

Facilities and accessibility

Rules and restrictions

⚠️ Dress code is enforced at the entrance with no exceptions. Shorts are the most common reason visitors are turned away in summer. A lightweight scarf in your bag satisfies the requirement for both men and women.

Practical tips

  • The dress code applies the moment you enter the building. If your clothes do not cover your shoulders and knees, you will be refused entry at the door. A lightweight scarf in your bag costs nothing and solves the problem instantly.
  • If you have a terrace-access ticket, wear footwear with grip. The approximately 200 stairs are stone, uneven in places, and steep in sections. Smooth-soled sandals and flip-flops make the descent harder than it needs to be.
  • Visit at 10am on a weekday to catch the best light through the rose window and encounter the smallest queues. The cathedral faces west, so morning light fills the nave from the rear, making the rose window colours most vivid between opening and noon.
  • If visiting in July or August, book your ticket at least two to three days ahead to secure your preferred slot. At other times of year, same-day booking is generally fine.
  • Large suitcases and bulky bags are not allowed inside and there is no on-site storage. If you are travelling with luggage, leave it at your accommodation or a luggage storage service in the city before visiting.
  • The cathedral is closed to tourists on Sundays. If you arrive on a Sunday, you can attend Mass (see times in the FAQs below), but the self-guided tourist visit is not available.
  • If you are a resident of Mallorca, bring your residency card to visit free every Friday.

What else is worth visiting nearby?

✨ The Palma Cathedral and Old Town Guided Tour combines the cathedral and Palma's Old Town in one 1.5-hour itinerary with an expert guide, without any extra logistics. It covers the cathedral and gives context for the architecture outside it.

Narrow street in the shopping district of Palma de Mallorca with colorful buildings and people walking.

Eat, shop and stay near Palma Cathedral

Frequently asked questions about visiting Palma Cathedral

Summer hours (April to October): Monday to Friday 10am to 5:15pm, Saturday 10am to 2:15pm, closed Sundays. Winter hours (November to March): Monday to Saturday 10am to 3:15pm, closed Sundays. The cathedral is also closed on several public holidays; see the "Where and when to go" section for the full list.

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