Barcelona Cathedral: how to see it, and whether to go inside
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulàlia is the Gothic heart of the old town, with a cloister where thirteen white geese live and a rooftop you can walk on. The square in front is free; the visitor ticket costs €16 and takes about an hour or more. Our bike tour stops here first, and our Gothic Quarter walking tour starts right in front of it.
Barcelona Cathedral at a glance
- What it is
- Barcelona's Gothic cathedral, built mostly between the late 13th and mid 15th centuries, dedicated to the Holy Cross and Saint Eulàlia
- Address
- Pla de la Seu, Gothic Quarter
- Metro
- Jaume I (L4)
- Ticket
- €16; €14 for students up to 25 and large or single-parent families
- Visiting hours
- Monday to Friday 9:30 to 18:30 (last entry 17:45); Saturday 9:30 to 17:15; Sunday 14:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- On our tours
- Barcelona Bike Tour (first stop) and the Gothic Quarter Walking Tour, which starts on Plaça Nova in front of it
Prices and hours checked on catedralbcn.org on 10 November 2026. They change, so check again before you go.
What you see with us
The Barcelona Bike Tour sets off from our meeting point in the Gothic Quarter, and the Cathedral is the first stop. We stop at the spot with the best view of the façade, not just the nearest corner, and always leave time to take photos and look around on your own.
While you look, your guide tells the story of the place: why the grand front is centuries younger than the church behind it, who the thirteen geese are for, and the facts and anecdotes that bring the old town to life.
We don't go inside: entry isn't part of the tour. Seeing it with a guide first is a good way to decide whether you want to, and to know what you're looking at when you do.
- Carrer de Cervantes
- Cathedral
- Passeig de Gràcia
- Casa Batlló
- Casa Milà
- Sagrada Família
What our guides tell you here
Thirteen geese in the cloister
Thirteen white geese live in the cloister, one for each year of Saint Eulàlia, the young patron saint of Barcelona who, the story says, was martyred at thirteen. Her tomb lies in the crypt below the high altar.
A front 500 years late
The church was built over about 150 years in the Middle Ages, but the main façade stayed bare for centuries. The neo-Gothic front you see today was only added at the end of the 19th century, paid for by a local banker, and the central spire came even later.
Built on top of history
The Gothic cathedral stands on the site of a Romanesque church and, before that, an early Christian basilica, all inside the walls of Roman Barcino. Walk around the outside and you are following the old Roman town.
A walk on the roof
A lift takes visitors up to the rooftop, where you walk among the pinnacles with the old town at your feet. It is one of the closest views of the Gothic Quarter's rooftops you can get.
A square that dances
On weekends, people in Barcelona often gather in the square in front to dance the sardana, the Catalan circle dance. Anyone can join the circle.
Visiting the inside
- One ticket, €16. The visitor ticket covers the church, the cloister, the choir and the rooftop. Students up to 25 and large or single-parent families pay €14 with proof at the ticket office.
- Check the day. Visiting hours are 9:30 to 18:30 on weekdays, 9:30 to 17:15 on Saturdays and only 14:00 to 17:00 on Sundays and religious holidays.
- Allow an hour or more. Add time for the rooftop, where a lift takes you up.
- Dress respectfully. It is a working church, with services through the day.
- Accessibility. The Porta de Santa Eulàlia on Carrer del Bisbe is the entrance for visitors with reduced mobility.
Combining it with our tours
The Cathedral is a few minutes' walk from our meeting point, so it's easy to fit in before or after a ride.
- Morning bike tour at 10:15: go in after you get back at 13:15.
- Afternoon tour at 14:30: visit in the morning, from 9:30.
- On the Gothic Quarter Walking Tour you meet in front of it, on Plaça Nova.
“Our guide this morning was brilliant. Friendly, energetic and full of knowledge. Such a good way to familiarise yourself with the city and get some great tips”
Barcelona Bike Tour
Three hours, from the Gothic Quarter to Gaudí's houses, the Sagrada Família, Ciutadella and El Born. Small groups, guides in English, French, Dutch or German. ★ 4.8 from 1,017 reviews on GetYourGuide.
About Barcelona Cathedral
How much does it cost to visit Barcelona Cathedral?
The visitor ticket costs €16, or €14 for students up to 25 and large or single-parent families. It covers the church, the cloister, the choir and the rooftop.
When can I visit?
Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 18:30 (last entry 17:45), Saturdays from 9:30 to 17:15 and Sundays and religious holidays from 14:00 to 17:00.
Why are there geese in Barcelona Cathedral?
Thirteen white geese live in the cloister, one for each year of Saint Eulàlia, the young patron saint the cathedral is dedicated to, who according to tradition was martyred at thirteen.
Is Barcelona Cathedral the same as the Sagrada Família?
No. The Cathedral is the medieval Gothic church in the old town. The Sagrada Família is Gaudí's basilica in the Eixample, about 20 minutes away by metro. Our Barcelona Bike Tour stops at both.
Can I see the Cathedral on a tour?
Yes. It's the first stop on our Barcelona Bike Tour, and our Gothic Quarter Walking Tour starts on Plaça Nova right in front of it. Entry is not included in either tour.
Last updated 10 November 2026.