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La Giralda

4.5(27K Ratings)

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La Giralda Tickets and Tours
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How to enter the La Giralda 

The La Giralda is the Seville Cathedral’s 104-meter-tall bell tower, and one of the few in Europe that doesn’t require climbing stairs to get to the top. The quickest way to access the La Giralda is to enter the cathedral via the Puerta del Lagarto entrance (Door of the Lizard), as it’s located right beside the tower.

Access to the La Giralda is included in all tickets to the Seville Cathedral, including skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and combos.

Book Seville Cathedral Tickets

Things to know before booking La Giralda tickets 

  • All your Seville Cathedral tickets include access to the La Giralda. 
  • If you want to explore the cathedral and the La Giralda at your own pace without waiting in long ticket lines, you can book skip-the-line tickets. They let you avoid the long waits, giving you more time to explore the cathedral’s highlights. 
  • Prefer expert commentary? Choose a guided tour.  You’ll get key insights into the tower’s history, architecture, and more. Options include a skip-the-line guided tour and a priority access guided tour of the cathedral and its bell tower. 
  • You can also combine your visit with other notable landmarks. Your options include the entry tickets to the Alcazar & Seville Cathedral, A skip-the-line guided tour of the Alcazar & Seville Cathedral, and one with entry tickets to the Isla Mágica & Agua Mágica. If you also want a glimpse of Spanish culture, you can book a combo that gets you access to the Flamenco Show. 
  • The Seville hop-on hop-off combo tickets are the perfect experience if you want to explore all of Seville’s best highlights. The Seville Cathedral is also one of the stops on this tour, making it easy to visit the cathedral and Seville’s other major landmarks.

The La Giralda in a nutshell

La Giralda tower in Seville, Spain, with intricate architectural details against a clear sky.
  • Must-see highlights: Don’t miss the panoramic views from the La Giralda’s summit, the Giraldillo, a bronze weather vane, and the climb up the tower via 34 gently sloping ramps. 
  • Unique facts: Ever wondered why the tower was designed with ramps rather than stairs? It allowed muezzins to ascend the tower on horseback to issue the call to prayer, which in turn, makes it more accessible to visitors today. 

What can you see inside the La Giralda?

Giralda tower and ornate lamp post at Seville Cathedral, Spain.
La Giralda tower in Seville with intricate architectural details against a clear sky.
Seville Cathedral and Giralda tower with sunlight, viewed from a nearby street.
View from La Giralda tower overlooking Seville's historic architecture and cityscape.
La Giralda bell tower with El Giraldillo statue, Seville Cathedral, Spain.
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An intricate intersection of cultures

The La Giralda began as a minaret for Seville’s Great Mosque in the 12th century and now stands as a proud symbol of both Islamic and Christian heritage. Its lower level is a masterclass in Almohad (a form of Islamic) artistry, while the addition of a Renaissance belfry in the 16th century transformed it into the city’s most famous bell tower.

Architecture that tells a thousand stories

Look closely and you’ll spot delicate brickwork, geometric arches, and sections of ornate tilework—a testament to the tower’s Moorish roots. Each stone and carving in La Giralda tells centuries of stories, reflecting Seville’s history as a vibrant crossroads of culture and faith.

A unique climb–ramps, not stairs!

What makes climbing La Giralda so delightful? Instead of stairs, you’ll ascend via 34 gently sloping ramps. These ramps were cleverly designed so that the muezzin could ride a horse to the top for the call to prayer. Today, you’ll enjoy an easy, winding journey—with anticipation building at every turn as the views get grander.

Views to remember

Reaching La Giralda’s summit is its own reward. From the upper balcony, Seville’s cityscape unfolds below: terracotta roofs, the sprawling Cathedral, the orange-tree-lined streets, and on a clear day, the gentle Andalusian countryside stretching for miles. It is a photographer’s and sightseer’s dream.

El Giraldillo: A symbol that spins

Crowning the tower is the El Giraldillo, a massive four-meter-tall bronze statue and weather vane. Installed in 1568, she stands as a striking emblem, turning with the wind and symbolizing faith’s triumph. Her silhouette is visible across the city, and she’s the reason the tower earned the name La Giralda.

The La Giralda’s historical significance 

The La Giralda holds immense historical significance as a striking symbol of Seville’s diverse past. Originally constructed between 1184 and 1198 as the minaret for the Almohad Great Mosque, it embodies the brilliance of Moorish architecture.

Following the Christian Reconquista in 1248, the minaret was repurposed into the bell tower of the newly built Seville Cathedral, a transformation completed by adding a Renaissance belfry in the 16th century. The tower’s blend of Islamic and Christian architectural elements represents centuries of cultural syncretism and shifting religious identities. Today, the La Giralda stands as an iconic emblem of Seville’s heritage and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site shared by the Cathedral and the nearby Alcázar of Seville.

Seville Cathedral History

Know before you go to the La Giralda

La Giralda viewed from Alcazar Gardens, Seville, Spain.
  • The La Giralda and Seville Cathedral are open from 11am to 7pm from Monday to Saturday. Last access is at 6pm. 
  • On Sundays, the cathedral is open from 2:30pm to 7pm with last access at 6pm. 
  • The cathedral and La Giralda remain closed on January 1 and 6, Good Friday, and December 25.
Seville Cathedral Opening Hours

The La Giralda (and Seville Cathedral by extension) is located in Seville, Spain. Its address is Av. de la Constitución, s/n, Casco Antiguo, 41004 Sevilla, Spain | Find on Google Maps.

You can reach the cathedral via public transport, including by bus, metro, and tram. Alternatively, you can also drive to the venue, but you will need to park your vehicle at a paid parking lot nearby.

Seville Cathedral Directions
No smoking sign
  • You must follow a strict dress code during your visit to the La Giralda. Your clothes must cover your knees and shoulders. Walking barefoot is prohibited, as is wearing hats inside the premises. 
  • Touching and tarnishing the pillars and works of art are forbidden.
  • Smoking, eating, and drinking are not allowed in the Cathedral complex. Water can be consumed outside the building during hot weather.
  • Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Animals, except assistance dogs, are not allowed on the premises.
  • Despite the ramps leading to the top of the tower, wheelchair users are not allowed to scale it as it can be physically demanding.
Plan Your Visit to Seville Cathedral

Frequently asked questions about La Giralda tickets

Is the La Giralda worth visiting on my trip to the Seville Cathedral?

The La Giralda is definitely worth a visit if you’re at the Seville Cathedral. Besides its intricate architecture and the ramped ascent to its summit, the views from the top are second to none.

Do the Seville Cathedral tickets include access to the La Giralda?

Yes, all tickets to the Seville Cathedral include access to its bell tower, the La Giralda. These include skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, combos, and hop-on hop-off bus tours.

Is the La Giralda wheelchair accessible?

Unfortunately, the climb up to the tower’s summit can be physically demanding, despite the presence of ramps over stairs. As a result, access is restricted to wheelchair users.

Do I need to purchase my tickets in advance to visit the La Giralda?

Pre-booking your tickets is the best way to visit the La Giralda. If you decide to book your tickets on the day of your visit, you may have to wait in line for anywhere between 30-90 minutes, depending on when you visit.

Is there a dress code to visit the La Giralda?

You need to follow a strict dress code when entering the Seville Cathedral’s complex. Your clothes must cover your knees and shoulders at all times. Additionally, wearing hats and walking barefoot are prohibited.

How much time should I allocate to visit the La Giralda within the Seville Cathedral?

You should easily set aside about 30 minutes for your climb up to La Giralda’s summit, along with some extra time to relax and soak in the cityscape.

Is skip-the-line access needed to visit the La Giralda?

While you can visit La Giralda with standard entry tickets, a skip-the-line ticket can easily save you between 30-90 minutes at the cathedral’s entrance, giving you more time to explore it at a leisurely pace.

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Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction. This is not the venue's website.