Palma Cathedral Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket Mallorca

Palma Cathedral (La Seu) and its Gothic architecture

La Seu was begun in the thirteenth century soon after the Christian conquest of the island and took several centuries to complete. Its golden sandstone walls rise above the seafront, and inside, the main nave is among the tallest of any Gothic church, held up by slim octagonal columns that let light flood the interior. Visitors search for Palma Cathedral tickets because it is the city's defining landmark.

On the south side you can admire the Portal del Mirador with sculptures by Guillem Sagrera, while the Gothic Eye, one of the biggest rose windows in the world, fills the east end with coloured light in the morning. The royal chapel holds the tombs of two kings of Mallorca.

Gaudí and Barceló inside the cathedral

In the early twentieth century, the architect Antoni Gaudí was invited to reorganise the interior. He removed the choir stalls from the centre of the nave and designed the huge wrought-iron canopy above the high altar, along with new lighting, which is why many people book a Gaudí cathedral visit in Palma.

The contemporary artist Miquel Barceló, a Mallorcan, later covered the walls of the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament with a ceramic relief inspired by the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Seeing medieval Gothic next to modern art is one of the joys of the visit, and most people spend about an hour inside.

The terraces of Palma Cathedral

The terraces option opens a route up more than two hundred steps to the roof, where you walk beside the flying buttresses, look closely at the rose window and the bell tower and enjoy wide views over the Bay of Palma, the port and the old town. It is a highlight for photographers and for anyone who likes a different angle on a landmark.

Terrace ascents run on the hour and half hour, with the last one in the late afternoon, and in bad weather the terraces may close. Children under nine cannot go up, and the climb is not suitable for people with vertigo, claustrophobia or mobility problems.

Planning your visit: opening hours, dress code and best time

Palma Cathedral opening hours change by season and are shorter on Saturdays, and the cathedral is closed to visitors on Sundays and during services, so choose your date and time slot when you book. The best time to visit is early in the morning or late in the afternoon when it is cooler and quieter, and the morning light on the rose window is superb.

Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, because it is a working place of worship. Swimwear, short skirts, food, drinks and large bags or luggage are not allowed, and there are no lockers. The cathedral is close to the Almudaina Palace and the Parc de la Mar, so it combines easily with a walk through Palma old town.