Palma’s cathedral was begun in 1230 and built over several centuries. Its Gothic buttresses rise above the water, with one of the world’s largest rose windows and an altar canopy by Antoni Gaudí inside.
La Seu
La Seu in 30 seconds
The essentials at a glance
- Worth visiting for
- A short visit
- Best for
- You’re visiting Palma, even just once.
- Best months
- January–May, September–December
- Time to allow
- One to two hours.
- Without a car
- Better without a car
- Parking
- Paid car parks at Parc de la Mar and Via Roma.
- Keep in mind
- You find crowds difficult.
- Access
- Pushchairs: Manageable inside, with help at the entrance. · Wheelchairs: Largely accessible.
Get a feel for Mallorca. Find your kind of place.
Stand beneath the entrance and the scale of the building becomes unmistakable.
The flying buttresses support the high walls from outside.
On bright mornings, the windows cast colour across the sandstone. It’s a reason to return.
Getting to know La Seu
Does La Seu suit your plans?
What to expect and what to know before you visit.
Who it suits
- You’re visiting Palma, even just once.
- You enjoy Gothic architecture or Gaudí’s work.
- You want an impressive indoor visit on a rainy day.
- You enjoy photography, particularly in the morning or at blue hour.
Things to bear in mind
- You find crowds difficult.
- You plan to arrive at midday in high summer.
- You want free admission.
- You don’t want to queue.
Drive from the airport
20 minutes
10 km
Bus connections
Numerous EMT routes
Region
Palma
Nearest beach
Can Pastilla
7 km
Elevation
15 m
above sea level
Season guide for La Seu
November Worth a visit
Quiet Open
Worth visiting in January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November and December.
Location
Location of La Seu
- Region
- Palma
- Municipality
- Palma
- Elevation
- 15 m above sea level
- Airport
- 10 km , around 20 minutes
- Hire car
- more hindrance than help
- Worth visiting for
- a brief stop
- Coordinates
- 39.5675,2.6481
About La Seu
Palma’s cathedral is commonly called La Seu, Catalan for the bishop’s seat.
Its foundation stone was laid in 1230, on the site of a mosque, shortly after Jaume I of Aragón conquered the island. Work continued from the apse in 1306.
The rose window
The round window in the apse was built in 1370 and glazed in 1599. It measures around 12.5 metres across, with about 97 square metres of glass.
Its position is as unusual as its size. Most cathedral rose windows sit above the entrance rather than in the choir end.
Gaudí and Barceló
Between 1904 and 1914, Antoni Gaudí remodelled the cathedral for Bishop Campins, moving the choir and adding the altar canopy in 1912.
In the 21st century, Mallorcan artist Miquel Barceló redesigned the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in the right-hand aisle.
Planning your visit
Admission is charged, and prices and opening times change, so check ahead. It’s quietest just after opening.
Cover your shoulders and knees inside.
When to come
Choose January or February for fewer visitors, and March or October for a good all-round visit.
On summer cruise-ship days, morning queues are long and the forecourt has no shade.
Photographs
La Seu in Mallorca
How much time do you have?
Things to do in La Seu
Three hours
Visit the cathedral, then neighbouring Palau de l’Almudaina and walk around the old town.
Half a day
Add Banys Àrabs, Sa Llotja and the harbour.
A full day
Explore Palma’s old town, cathedral, Almudaina, Santa Catalina and harbour.
On a rainy day
A good choice. The interior is dry, and the windows stand out against an overcast sky.
Practical details
- Parking
- Paid car parks at Parc de la Mar and Via Roma.
- Public transport
- Numerous EMT routes, with stops by Parc de la Mar.
- Time to allow
- One to two hours.
- Good to know
- Admission is charged. Prices and opening hours change, so check before visiting. Arrive at opening time for the quietest visit. Cover your shoulders and knees inside.
- Bus
- Numerous EMT routes, with stops by Parc de la Mar.
- Access
- Level stone flooring, with a few entrance steps. · Pushchairs: Manageable inside, with help at the entrance. · Wheelchairs: Largely accessible. · Dogs: Not allowed.
- What you will not find
- Free admission · Quiet in high season · Shade on the forecourt · Easy parking nearby
- Coordinates
- 39.5675,2.6481 Google Maps Apple Maps
Within reach
Places to visit
Nearby
An 11th-century brick chamber in an old-town garden, with twelve columns, horseshoe arches and a dome pierced by …
The royal palace beside Palma cathedral began as a Moorish alcázar, later converted into a residence for …
The March family's city palace between the cathedral and the Almudaina: a terrace filled with 20th-century …
The Balearics' largest harbour sits in the city, in front of the old town. Cargo quays, cruise terminals, marinas …
Palma's grand promenade between Plaça de la Reina and Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I. It follows the bed of a torrent …
Sant Pere bastion, built in the late 16th century on the western edge of Palma’s old town, became home to a …
A striking circular Gothic castle, built above Palma between 1300 and 1311. Inside is a two-storey round …
A large aquarium on Playa de Palma, with Europe's deepest shark tank. Open all year, it is a reliable option for a …
Distances without a driving time are measured in a straight line. The road journey can be much longer; known driving times are shown alongside.
Where to swim nearby
Beaches and swimming nearby
At the western end of Playa de Palma, ten minutes from the airport by car: a marina, a rocky waterfront promenade …
Broad sandy bays with pale, shallow water, right beside Magaluf but with a different feel. The quieter neighbour …
Places to stay within reach
Explore from here
Your questions answered
Your questions about La Seu
How old is the cathedral?
Its foundation stone was laid in 1230 on the site of a mosque, shortly after Jaume I of Aragón conquered Mallorca. Work continued from the main apse in 1306. Construction took centuries, leaving several architectural styles alongside one another.
What makes the rose window special?
Built in 1370 and glazed in 1599, it measures about 12.5 metres across and has around 97 square metres of glass. Its location is unusual too, in the apse rather than above the main entrance.
What did Gaudí do here?
Between 1904 and 1914, Antoni Gaudí remodelled the cathedral for Bishop Campins. He moved the choir and added the canopy above the altar, completed in 1912.
Is there an admission charge?
Yes. Prices and opening hours change regularly, so check before visiting. It’s quietest just after opening.
Practical questions
When is the best time to visit La Seu?
Recommended months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December. The quietest month; you may have the nave almost to yourself.
Is La Seu worth visiting in July and August?
July: worth considering with some reservations. Usually busy. Cruise-ship days bring long morning queues, with no shade on the forecourt. August: worth considering with some reservations. Usually busy.
How far is La Seu from Palma airport?
About 10 km from Palma airport. Allow roughly 20 minutes by car. In the heart of the old town. Driving here is awkward; the paid car parks at Parc de la Mar and Via Roma fill in summer. Buses are a quicker option from the harbour and airport.
Do I need a hire car for La Seu?
A car can be more trouble than it’s worth Numerous EMT routes, with stops by Parc de la Mar.
Where can I park in La Seu?
Paid car parks at Parc de la Mar and Via Roma.
Can I visit La Seu with a pushchair or wheelchair?
Level stone flooring, with a few entrance steps. Pushchairs: Manageable inside, with help at the entrance. Wheelchairs: Largely accessible.
Are dogs allowed at La Seu?
Not allowed.
La Seu features in our Mallorca highlights
Words and photographs: Friedhelm Fischer. Exploring Mallorca since 2013 — by bike, on foot and with a camera.