Museum + Pórtico
Cathedral Museum + Pórtico da Gloria
€24
- Cathedral Museum entry
- Pórtico da Gloria (timed slot)
- Skip-the-line priority queue
Stand where the Camino ends — and climb higher
Santiago Cathedral skip-the-line — Museum, Pórtico da Gloria, and the rooftop ascent. Peak-pilgrimage dates sell out weeks ahead.
See ticket options- UNESCO World Heritage since 1985
- 1075 cathedral construction began
- Camino endpoint of every major route
- 2 M / yr visitors to the cathedral complex
Choose your ticket
Full Combo
Museum + Pórtico + Rooftop + Tower
€38
- Museum + Pórtico da Gloria
- Rooftop ascent + Tower of Clocks
- All four paid sections in one ticket
Pilgrim / Reduced
Compostela holders, 65+, student, unemployed
€20
- Museum + Pórtico da Gloria
- Skip-the-line priority queue
- Valid with Compostela / student / senior ID
Rooftop Only
Cathedral's Decks + Tower
€25
- Cathedral's Decks + Tower of Clocks
- Skip-the-line priority queue
- 45-minute guided ascent
Munich, Germany
“Arrived after walking 500 km of the Camino Francés. Cathedral itself is free, but the Pórtico da Gloria + rooftop was the best €38 of the whole trip. Standing on the roof looking back down the pilgrim routes — unmatched.”
São Paulo, Brazil
“Booked two weeks ahead for July — already the rooftop slots at 10:00 and 11:00 were gone. The concierge got us a 16:30 slot which turned out better anyway (sunset light on the stone).”
Melbourne, Australia
“The Pórtico da Gloria is incredible — colours restored to the medieval original. My 12-year-old listened to the full 40-minute guided section without complaint. Rare.”
- Refund if we can't deliver Full money back if your slot can't be secured
- Real humans, not bots English-speaking concierge, not AI
- Pay in your local currency Same price at checkout · no FX surprise
- No hidden fees Total shown upfront · what you see is what you pay
About Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is the endpoint of the Camino — every major pilgrim route in Europe ends in this square. Construction began in 1075 over the reputed tomb of the apostle Saint James, and it's been the third-holiest site in Christianity (after Jerusalem and Rome) for nine hundred years. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985.
The cathedral itself is free to enter — and 2 million people each year walk through the main doors. What's paid: the Museum (treasury, chapter rooms, cloister), the Pórtico da Gloria (Master Mateo's 12th-century carved portal, restored to its original colours in 2018), the rooftop ascent with views across Galicia, and the Tower of Clocks. The combo ticket covers all four.
The Botafumeiro — the 80-kilo silver censer that swings on pulleys the length of the transept — is operated at certain Masses. If your dates align, attend the 12:00 Pilgrim's Mass and stand in the nave.
Practical information
- Opening hours
- Museum + Pórtico: daily 09:00 – 20:00 (Apr–Oct); 10:00 – 20:00 (Nov–Mar). Rooftop: daily 10:00 – 20:00, guided timeslots only. Last entry 1 hour before close.
- Closed
- 25 December, 1 January, 6 January, 25 July (Festa de Santiago — cathedral still open but paid areas adjusted).
- Address
- Praza do Obradoiro, 15704 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Getting there
- Fly into Santiago Airport (SCQ), 20-min taxi to the old town. By train from Madrid: Alvia (5h) or AVE (3h30 via Ourense). From Porto: 3h30 drive or direct coach. Old town is pedestrian — pull up as close as you can.
- Time needed
- Museum + Pórtico: 90 minutes. Full combo with rooftop: 2.5 hours. Add the free cathedral interior + Pilgrim's Mass for a full half-day.
- Pilgrim's Mass
- Daily at 12:00 and 19:30. Free. The Botafumeiro swings at some Masses (schedule varies) — arrive 30 minutes early to get close.
- Rooftop safety
- The rooftop tour is guided for safety — the stone roof pitches steeply. No children under 6, no flip-flops, no dizziness issues.
- Photography
- Permitted in the paid areas (no flash inside the Pórtico). The cathedral interior during Mass: discouraged.
- Accessibility
- Cathedral interior fully accessible. The Museum has lifts for most floors. The rooftop ascent is NOT wheelchair-accessible (steps + pitched stone). Contact us for reduced-mobility routes.
About our service
Santiago Cathedral Tickets acts as a facilitator to assist international visitors in purchasing timed-entry tickets directly from the Fundación Catedral de Santiago, the official operator of the cathedral's paid visitor areas. We do not resell tickets — we provide a personalised booking and English-language support service. Our concierge service fee is included in the displayed price. For those who prefer to purchase directly, the official site is catedraldesantiago.es.
Frequently asked
Isn't the cathedral free?
Yes — the cathedral interior itself is free to enter. The paid sections are the Museum, the Pórtico da Gloria (medieval portal), the rooftop ascent, and the Tower of Clocks. Our tickets cover these plus skip-the-line access. The Pilgrim's Mass at 12:00 is free for all.
What's the difference between the tiers?
Museum + Pórtico is the base combo — most visitors stop there. Full Combo adds the rooftop + Tower of Clocks, which is the memorable section most pilgrims miss. Reduced is for Compostela-holders (pilgrims), 65+, students, unemployed. Rooftop Only skips the museum if you just want the view.
When do slots sell out?
Rooftop slots: 2+ weeks ahead in July, August, and during Holy Years (2027 next). Museum-only: usually available 24 hours ahead. Pórtico da Gloria: 1 week ahead in peak. Book early if your dates are fixed.
Can I see the Botafumeiro?
Sometimes — it swings at some Masses but not all. Schedule varies. Your best shot is the 12:00 Pilgrim's Mass on feast days, but even then not guaranteed. Private bookings to have it swung cost €400+.
When should I arrive?
15 minutes before your timed slot. For the Pilgrim's Mass: 30 minutes early (the nave fills). Morning slots are coolest in summer and quietest overall. Sunset rooftop slots have the best light.
Is the rooftop safe?
Yes, but it's a guided ascent — steep pitched stone, no barriers on the inside edges. No children under 6, no flip-flops, no vertigo issues. Running shoes mandatory.
What's your refund policy?
Two situations trigger a full refund: (a) we cannot secure your chosen slot, or (b) the cathedral closes the section. Outside those, tickets are non-transferable. Holy Year slots are especially competitive — if you need to change, email us fast.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs?
Cathedral interior fully accessible. Museum has lifts for most (not all) floors. The rooftop is NOT accessible — steps + pitched stone. Contact us for the alternative routes we can arrange.