Visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
A destination for pilgrims from all over the world, the interior of the Cathedral of Santiago is well worth a visit - don't just look at the façade!
Detail of the Portico de la Gloria | ©Tom Parnell
The city of Santiago de Compostela is inconceivable without its cathedral. Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque in style, the temple that houses the mortal remains of the Apostle is the most famous pilgrimage site in Spain and the main place of interest in the Galician capital. Read on and I will explain the best options for visiting it.
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Guided Tour
Discover the amazing Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela with an expert guide
A visit to Santiago de Compostela will never be complete without seeing the cathedral. With this 2-hour tour you will see the entire sanctuary including the choirs, the Great Altar, the botafumeiro and the Cathedral Museum.
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Take a tour of the interior of one of Spain's most important cathedrals, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with this guided tour of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. As a religious and cultural symbol of the city, this Christian temple deserves the explanations of an expert guide who will explain its great heritage value.
From the tomb of the apostle St. James, through the Great Altar, the Museum or its chapels, you will make a complete tour of the cathedral and discover the famous botafumeiro (incense burner). In addition, this guided tour includes a visit to the famous Portico de la Gloria, a masterpiece of universal art that crowned the cathedral.
Recommended if... You prefer to be told the history and symbolism surrounding this Romanesque cathedral to understand why it is a place of worship for thousands of pilgrims from all over the world.
How much does it cost to visit Santiago Cathedral?
Tickets to Santiago Cathedral can be purchased individually on the official website from 12€. You can select a specific time and day. The price to see the whole complex is around €20 without a guided tour.
To make sure you don't miss anything and, above all, to understand the importance of this architectural jewel, I recommend booking a guided tour of Santiago Cathedral. For only around €25 you get the full tour plus a tour of the historic city centre.
Bear in mind that more than 10,000 tourists enter Santiago de Compostela Cathedral every day. Although the entrance to the main nave of the temple is free, the complete visit to the Cathedral of Santiago includes the museums, the tribune and the ascent to the roofs. Without a doubt, it is essential to see the Cathedral in its entirety when you visit the city for the first time.
This is what a guided tour of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is like
When visiting a place as significant as the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, my recommendation will always be to do it, at least once, as part of a guided tour that includes the Cathedral and the surrounding area.
The Cathedral means one thing to architecture lovers, another to locals, another to historians and another to pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago; a specialised guide will explain all these meanings to you, giving you a complete and authentic view of this monument. He will also take you around the historic centre and tell you curiosities and legends about the city that do not appear in the guidebooks and textbooks.
Itinerary
- Piazza del Obradorio: the most famous square in the city. Here, in addition to the Cathedral, you will find emblematic buildings such as the Hotel de los Reyes Católicos, the Colegio San Jerónimo and the Palacio de Rajoy.
- Plaza de la Quintana: with buildings such as the clock tower, the Puerta Santa (Holy Gate) or the Cathedral Closing.
- Plaza de las Platerías: the square south of the Cathedral. It is named after the goldsmiths' workshops that were located there in the Middle Ages.
- Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela: during the visit the guide will walk around the interior of the Cathedral and the Corticela Chapel with the group explaining the works of art that can be seen inside and, of course, their significance.
- Mercado de Abastos: the most visited place after the Cathedral.
- Alameda Park: one of the largest green spaces in the city from where there is a panoramic view of the Cathedral.
How to book a guided tour of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
This complete tour available on the Hellotickets website includes the services of the guide and the entrance tickets to the Cathedral. It is available in English and Spanish and you can book it online knowing that if your plans change you can cancel 24 hours before your visit. Once you have made your booking, you will receive an email as a receipt with the meeting point to start the tour (it will always be in a central point of the city, easy to find).
Practical information to visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela by yourself
How to get there
You can't get lost in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. It is located in the city centre and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. The city of Santiago is accessible on foot, so even if your accommodation is far from the historic centre, you can probably walk there without having to look for any transport, although there is also an urban bus network at your disposal.
When to go
The city's climate is good for year-round travel, but there is one thing to bear in mind: it rains a lot in Galicia, both in summer and winter. Apart from the weather, the Cathedral is open to the public all year round, but bear in mind that if you spend Christmas in Galicia on public holidays it will be closed.
Opening hours
Normally, the Cathedral is open from 7am to 8.30pm and whether you go at one time or another will depend on whether you want to see the Cathedral without people or with the arrival of the pilgrims who arrive in Santiago mid-morning. What I do recommend is that you visit it both during the day and at night, as the image changes a lot.
Organisation of the visit
The most important thing to know is that at the ticket office you can only buy tickets to visit the museums and roofs of the Cathedral on the same day. If you arrive early you will avoid queues. On the other hand, there is no specific dress code, but remember that it is a place of worship and many visitors have great respect for it.
Free admission
You can enter the Cathedral free of charge, but a full visit also includes climbing the roofs, entry to the museums, the cloister, the Portico of Glory, the library and the Treasure Room. For all of these you will have to pay an entrance fee of approximately 15 euros.
Where to eat
In Galicia you will find excellent food and wine, but if you look for a restaurant near the Cathedral it will always be more expensive than if you wander around the centre. Steer clear of places aimed at tourists, with their menus displayed on big signs in English, and opt for small, local places to sample authentic Galician cuisine. If you're going on a guided tour during your stay, don't hesitate to ask your guide for restaurant recommendations.
The best views
You will see the Cathedral from different viewpoints throughout your stay in Santiago, but one of the best views is from the Alameda Park.
A tip: if you visit the Cathedral on Friday at 19:30 you will be able to see the famous botafumeiro, one of the largest censers in the world , in action.
What to see in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
If this is your first visit to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, you will probably be puzzled by the fact that you can enter for free, although there is a ticket office where you can buy tickets. This is because you don't have to pay to see the main nave, but you do have to pay to go up to the roof or to see the museums.
- The main nave: free of charge. This is where the masses are celebrated and where you will find the baroque style High Altar and also the famous botafumeiro, a symbol of the city. Behind the High Altar is the crypt where the remains of the apostle St. James rest.
- The Cathedral Museum: here you will find relics such as the original bells from the Berenguela tower and the original cloak of the apostle. You will also be able to contemplate tapestries and works of art that are fundamental to the city's historical heritage.
- The Portico de la Gloria: a set of Romanesque-style arches and sculptures presided over by the image of Christ and the four evangelists.
- The roofs of the Cathedral: there are a series of "passes" throughout the day to go up to the roofs of the Cathedral, so it is advisable to book tickets in advance. The views of the city from there will be one of the most beautiful images of Santiago de Compostela that you will take home as a souvenir when you return from your trip.
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The Cathedral is the most famous building in the whole city, but it is a mistake to think that it is the only thing the city has to offer its visitors. Santiago de Compostela has hidden treasures in many of its streets and often the grandeur of the Cathedral makes them go unnoticed. For this reason my recommendation is that, if you have already seen the Cathedral of Santiago, you should take this guided tour of the city.
With the help of a guide, you will visit the most famous places of the Galician capital while you delight in its stories. This walking tour is ideal for those who are interested not only in seeing the city but also in learning about it. If you want more information about the tour, I recommend you to read this post on Best Tours and Day Trips from Santiago de Compostela.