The Segovia Cathedral is a marvel of Gothic architecture, and the icon of Segovia, Spain. It’s stunning from the outside, and holds many treasures inside.

Want to visit for yourself?

This guide has everything you need to know to plan your visit.

Let’s jump right in!

 

the complete guide to segovia cathedral spain

 

The Segovia Cathedral is impossible to miss when you visit Segovia. The huge monument dominates the city skyline, and you’ll see its huge bell tower sticking out above the rooftops from a lot of places around the city. This marvel of architecture is undoubtely one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe.

Whether you decide to visit the cathedral (hint: you really should!) or simply gaze upon the magnificent architecture from the outside, the Catedral de Segovia will be a highlight of your Segovia trip.

 

segovia cathedral in segovia spain

 

In this travel guide about the Segovia Cathedral in Segovia, Spain, you’ll find in the table of contents below everything that we’ll see, from visiting the cathedral & finding the best viewpoints to opening hours, entry fee and more.

Simply click on the table to expand it, then click on any part you’d like to jump to.

 

Where is the Segovia Cathedral?

The Segovia Cathedral is located in the city of Segovia, Spain, north of Madrid.

 

The cathedral is in the north west part of Segovia, in the Old Quarter. It’s on the Plaza Mayor, not far from the famous castle, the Alcázar de Segovia.

 

segovia cathedral from above

 

Interesting facts about the Catedral de Segovia

Are you fond of facts? I know I am! I love learning more about a place and its history with some quick & interesting facts, so I’ve gathered a few about the Catedral de Segovia for you:

  • the cathedral was built in 1577. The construction started in 1525, and took more than 50 years
  • it’s the last Gothic cathedral that was built in Spain
  • the previous Cathedral was built next to the castle; it was destroyed by the Comuneros in the war, in 1520
  • the Catedral de Segovia was built by 2 generations of master stone builders: Juan Gil de Hontañón and his son Rodrigo
  • the bell tower is 88 meters high (295 feet)

 

south view viewpoint of the segovia cathedral

 

Visiting The Segovia Cathedral

After getting off of work on Friday afternoon, I took a cab to the car rental company, to retrieve my car for the weekend. I signed all the necessary paperwork, checked for damages on the car, took photos of the car (always useful!), and then I was on my way to Segovia!

My airbnb for the night was next to the Plaza Mayor, so I drove all the way to there. The first view I got of the Segovia Cathedral was from my car, as I drove on the main square.

 

the catedral de segovia at night

 

The cathedral was lit up by yellow lights, and even if the sky was pitch black, I could see how stunning it really was. The amount of details on the facade and all the towers is just incredible!

When I headed back to the cathedral the next morning, after a good night of sleep, I was able to truly behold the magnificent cathedral under daylight.

 

detail of the facade of the catedral de segovia spain

 

The Segovia catedral is a stunning monument from the outside; is it as stunning inside?

Let’s visit!

 

The 21 Chapels

Inside the Segovia Cathedral, there are 21 chapels (a chapel is a place of individual worship). Each chapel is different, with different ornaments, decorations, and paintings. Each chapel is unique, yet they are all stunning in their own way.

 

segovia cathedral chapel

 

The one thing I loved about these chapels is that they are all equipped with light-sensor. They are dark, but when you approach, the light automatically turns on so that you can truly enjoy the sight of the chapel.

 

one of the chapels in the catedral de segovia

 

The Cloister

After checking out all of the 21 chapels inside the cathedral, I saw light streaming from one of the door. I decided to follow the light, and to explore the next part of the monument.

 

cloister hall of the cathedral in segovia spain

 

The door led to the cloister, a grand Late Gothic style cloister with trees and a small garden in the middle.

 

garden in the cloister of the segovia cathedral

 

One really impressive fact about the cloister is that it was transferred from the old cathedral (destroyed in war) to the new one.

Yep, transferred.

They straight up disassembled the cloister, and rebuilt it in the new cathedral, just like lego blocks. Mind. Blown.

 

The Chapter Hall

By going through the cloister, you’ll access the next room, the Chapter Hall (or Chapter Room).

The Chapter Room is a pretty impressive room, covered in tapestries: there are 11 tapestries in the room

 

chapter hall of the segovia cathedral

 

You’ll also notice the magnificent ceiling, built in the late 16th century. All white and gold, it adds to the overall grandeur of the place.

 

The Cathedral Museum

Not many people know this, but there is a museum under the Segovia Cathedral.

Find the stairs going down (I don’t recall exactly where there are, I think they are next to the Chapter Hall), and they will take you to the underground museum.

 

museum in segovia cathedral

 

I was very surprised to find a museum under the Cathedral, and honestly it made the visit even better. In the museum, you’ll find paintings, depicting various religious scenes; all of the paintings are incredibly well conserved!

 

huge painting in segovia cathedral

 

The museum ends with a spacious room, decorated with one big painting, in 3 parts.

You can’t really tell from the photo above, but this painting is truly massive! When I turned the corner down the hall, and got to this room, I was literally left speechless for a few minutes. The painting is a true masterpiece.

 

The Secret Backdoor

Here’s one tip for you: you can access a private open area in the back of the cathedral, where you’ll have a different view of the monument.

When you’re standing in front of the 3-parts painting (see above), there will be a small door on your left. Simply open the door, and walk outside.

 

bell tower of segovia cathedral from the back

 

Go up the steps, and you’ll be in the secret backyard of the church. I loved the peace and quiet of this space, next to the street but perfect to relax and enjoy the view of the cathedral.

 

backdoor of the segovia cathedral

 

catedral de segovia spain from the back

 

The Bell Tower

The last part of the Cathedral in Segovia is the bell tower: an impressive 88 meters high bell tower (288 feet).

 

catedral de segovia from the sky

 

On fixed times during the day, you can actually go up the tower with a guided tour (check below for hours).

The guided tour will take you up the tower, right under the 10 massive bells. From the top, you’ll have the best view over the whole city of Segovia, all the way to the castle.

 

The 6 Best Viewpoints of the Segovia Cathedral

The Catedral de Segovia is the symbol of Segovia, and it dominates the whole skyline of the city.

As a photographer, I’m always looking for the best views, and Segovia was no exception.

Today I’m sharing with you my 6 best viewpoints of the Segovia Cathedral, all around the city.

 

1 – Plaza Mayor

The most obvious spot to see the cathedral is from the main square in Segovia, the Plaza Mayor.

 

segovia cathedral from the plaza mayor

 

The square offers a nice view up-close, and you can really appreciate all the details of the facade.

As you might expect, the square gets pretty crowded during the day, so you’ll need to wake up early if you want to capture it without anyone in your photo.

 

segovia cathedral on plaza mayor

 

View: :cam: :cam: :cam: :camg: :camg:
Price: :$g: :$g: :$g: :$g: :$g:
Effort: :hikeg: :hikeg: :hikeg: :hikeg: :hikeg:
Location: Plaza Mayor

 

2 – Private Backyard

If you go into the cathedral, you can access the backyard. The private backyard offers a different view of the Segovia Cathedral, from the back.

 

catedral de segovia spain from the back

 

View: :cam: :cam: :camg: :camg: :camg:
Price: :$: :$g: :$g: :$g: :$g: (3€)
Effort: :hikeg: :hikeg: :hikeg: :hikeg: :hikeg:
Location: Private Backyard

 

3 – Mirador Sancti Spiritu

The next viewpoint is down the road, heading south of Segovia.

 

segovia cathedral from mirador sancti spiritu

 

It offers a view of the Catedral de Segóvia from below; as you look up to the cathedral, you see it stick above the fortified walls of the city.

 

segovia cathedral and heart cloud

 

View: :cam: :cam: :camg: :camg: :camg:
Price: :$g: :$g: :$g: :$g: :$g:
Effort: :hike: :hikeg: :hikeg: :hikeg: :hikeg: (7 minutes walk from the cathedral)
Location: Mirador Sancti Spiritu

 

4 – South-West Viewpoint

The South-West viewpoint offers the second best view of the Segovia Cathedral.

 

segovia cathedral from the south west viewpoint

 

Located high on the hill, above the road, you are at eye-level with the cathedral. You can walk all along the hill to have different perspectives of the cathedral.

From there, you also have a nice view over the Alcazar de Segovia.

It’s a nice place to sit down, and enjoy lunch on the bench, with a stunning view over Segovia.

 

side view of the catedral de segovia spain

 

View: :cam: :cam: :cam: :cam: :camg:
Price: :$g: :$g: :$g: :$g: :$g:
Effort: :hike: :hike: :hikeg: :hikeg: :hikeg: (12 minutes walk from the cathedral)
Location: South-West Viewpoint

 

5 – Torre de Juan II, Alcazar de Segovia

The best view of the cathedral, hands down! To get this view, you’ll have to go all the way up the 152 steps of the Juan II tower, part of the Segovia castle.

 

view of the segovia cathedral from the alcazar de segovia spain

 

From the top of the tower, you’ll see the cathedral with the mountains in the background, and you might even get to see the snow-capped mountains!

 

View: :cam: :cam: :cam: :cam: :cam:
Price: :$: :$g: :$g: :$g: :$g: (2.50€)
Effort: :hike: :hike: :hike: :hikeg: :hikeg: (8 minutes walk from the cathedral + 152 steps to climb)
Location: Alcazar de Segovia

 

6 – Mirador Zamarramala

The last spot on this list of 6 best viewpoints of the Segovia Cathedral is the Mirador Zamarramala (try saying this fast lol).

 

I love this viewpoint because it gives you a view over both the castle and the cathedral. The only downside is that it’s pretty far from both, so it’s more a photography spot (bring your zoom lens!) than a viewpoint per sé.

 

View: :cam: :cam: :cam: :cam: :camg:
Price: :$g: :$g: :$g: :$g: :$g:
Effort: :hike: :hike: :hike: :hikeg: :hikeg: (23 minutes walk from the cathedral)
Location: Mirador Zamarramala

 

If you post your photos of the Segovia Cathedral on Instagram, tag them with #kevmrc so that we can see them!

 

Segovia Cathedral Entrance Fee

You have to buy a ticket to visit the Segovia Cathedral.

There are 3 different tickets, depending on if you want to visit the Cathedral only, the Bell Tower only, or both the Cathedral and the Bell Tower.

 

Segovia Cathedral: 4€ / Bell Tower only: 7€ / Cathedral + Bell Tower: 10€
Children under 6 years old: Free entry
Sundays from 9:30am to 1:30pm: Free entry
Buy your tickets here: Official Website

 

aerial view of the segovia cathedral in segovia spain

 

Segovia Cathedral Opening Hours

The opening hours varies depending on the time of year, so make sure to check below. Also, you can only go up the Bell Tower at fixed times, that you’ll find below:

 

Cathedral – November to March: 9:30am to 6:30pm / April to October : 9am to 9:30pm
Bell Tower – 10:30am / 12:00pm / 1:30pm / 4:30pm
See all times here: Catedral de Segovia Horarios

the nave of segovia cathedral

 

How to Get to the Cathedral – Segovia

You can either get to the basilica by car, or by train.

By car

Segovia is a perfect day trip from Madrid, and from other Spanish cities. You’ll find below the driving time from nearby cities:

From Madrid: 1h20 via highway, 1h40 without tolls

From Avila: 1h

From Salamanca: 2h

 

When you’ll reach Segovia, drive straight to the Cathedral: there are a lot of parking lots in the area, you can follow the signs to find one.

 

Bonus: Free Parking 1 and Free Parking 2

 

segovia cathedral in black and white

 

By train

If you don’t have a car, you can get to Segovia by train from Madrid. There is a high-speed train that goes straight from Madrid to Segovia.

 

From: Madrid-Chamartin

To: Segovia AV

Duration: 30 minutes

Cost: 13,90€ (average price)

Book here: Renfe Train

 

You can also take the trains from other cities in Spain (Barcelona, Toledo, …), just click on the link above to see all options.

 

Read more here: How to get from Madrid to Segovia by Train, Bus or Car

 

Where to Stay near the Segovia Cathedral

If you’re visiting the Segovia Cathedral and Segovia, you have several options for where to stay. You’ll find below hotels depending on your travel style:

 

Budget: Hosteria Natura

Cheapest accommodation in Segovia, for around 30€ per night. It comes with private bathroom and free wifi.

 

hosteria natura segovia spain

 

This hostel has the best location, it’s right on the main square Plaza Mayor, and everything is within walking distance. There’s also A/C and heating in each room, for your comfort.

Best Prices: Hosteria Natura

 

Comfy: Hotel Spa La Casa Mudéjar

Very comfy rooms, with private bathroom, for around 65€ per night.

 

hotel spa la casa mudejar segovia spain

 

The two nice bonuses? It’s right next to the Cathedral, and there is a spa, the perfect place to go and relax after a long day of exploring Segovia!

Best Prices: Hotel Spa La Casa Mudéjar

 

Luxury: Hotel Infanta Isabel

If you’re looking for the perfect dreamy place to relax and enjoy your stay in Segovia, look no further.

 

hotel infanta isabel segovia spain

 

The Hotel Infanta Isabel might very well be your favorite place in the city; luxurious hotel, with stunning rooms, and incredible beds. What about the location? Well, you’ll have a view on the Segovia Cathedral straight from your room!

Best Prices: Hotel Infanta Isabel

 

Visit Spain

Planning a trip to Spain? You can find below several other articles about this wonderful part of the world to help you plan your trip:

Segovia Guides:

Alcazar de Segovia, the Walt Disney Castle in Segovia

Acueducto de Segovia, the Roman Aqueduct

Free Walking Tour of Segovia

 

Check all my Spain travel guides here

 

Spain Guides:

Best Sunrise Spot in Mallorca

How to get from Madrid to Segovia by Train, Bus or Car

 

I hope you enjoy your trip to the Catedral de Segovia and to Spain!

If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.