# The Giralda, Seville > The Giralda is Seville Cathedral's bell tower and the city's great symbol. It was built as the minaret of Seville's main mosque and later crowned with a Renaissance belfry; with its weathervane it stands 104.5 metres tall. Inside, gentle ramps replace stairs, so the climb is easy. You enter through the cathedral on the same ticket; allow 30–40 minutes for the tower. Web page: https://yesgo.io/spain/seville/giralda - City: [Seville](https://yesgo.io/spain/seville), Spain - YesGo score: 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 40 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: With the cathedral ticket - Hours: Same as the cathedral - Height: 104.5 m with the weathervane - Climb: Gentle ramps, no stairs - Time needed: 30–40 minutes - Location: Corner of the cathedral, central Seville - Coordinates: 37.38614, -5.99238 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **104.5 m** — height including the weathervane (source: English Wikipedia) - **12th c.** — the minaret was built under the Almohads (source: English Wikipedia) - **1987** — UNESCO-listed with the cathedral (source: UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 383) - **Ramps** — instead of stairs inside the tower (source: English Wikipedia) ## About the Giralda The Giralda is the bell tower of [Seville Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/spain/seville/seville-cathedral), visible from almost anywhere in the old town. Its lower, larger part is the former **minaret** of Seville's main mosque, built in the **12th century** under the Almohad dynasty. It's one of Spain's most famous monuments of Moorish architecture and a refined example of the Almohad style. When the mosque became a cathedral, the minaret was kept as a bell tower and topped with a pale **Renaissance belfry**. With its weathervane it reaches **104.5 metres**. Since the Middle Ages the Giralda has been the symbol of Seville, and architects around the world have copied its silhouette. ## How the climb works The Giralda's most unusual feature is its **ramps** instead of stairs. You wind up the tower along gently sloping passages, so it's an easy walk even if you're not especially fit. The ramps are said to have allowed riders to go up on horseback; for visitors, what matters is that the climb takes 10–15 minutes and is hardly tiring. Small windows along the way look over the Orange Tree Courtyard and the cathedral roofs. At the top, a viewing gallery sits beside the bells, with a panorama of the old town, the [Alcázar](https://yesgo.io/spain/seville/alcazar-of-seville), the Guadalquivir river and the modern towers beyond. The bells may ring at noon, so be ready for the noise. ## What to see from and on the tower - **The Seville panorama** — rooftops, domes and the river. - **The cathedral roofs** — Gothic pinnacles and flying buttresses from above. - **The Orange Tree Courtyard** — neat rows of trees below. - **The bells** — on the belfry's upper gallery. - **The façade carving** — brick patterns by Almohad craftsmen. - **The Giraldillo weathervane** — the figure at the very top. > **When to climb** Climb at the start of your cathedral visit, while the ramps are quiet; by midday the narrow passages get crowded. The best light for photos is in the morning and towards evening, when the sun isn't shining straight into your lens. There's no separate ticket; the climb is part of the cathedral visit. ## The Giralda from outside To see the whole tower, stand in **Plaza Virgen de los Reyes** by the fountain: from here you take in its full height, from the Moorish carving at the bottom to the white belfry at the top. The brick walls are decorated with lacy patterns of interlaced arches, a hallmark of Almohad craftsmen. The tower takes its name from the **Giraldillo**, the bronze weathervane figure at the top that turns with the wind. The original was taken down for restoration, and a copy stands by the cathedral entrance. At night the Giralda is floodlit and looks especially fine from nearby café terraces and hotel rooftops. ## How to get up the Giralda 1. Buy a cathedral ticket online or at the desk. 2. Enter the cathedral and follow the 'Giralda' signs. 3. Walk up the ramps, about 10–15 minutes. 4. Come down and leave through the Orange Tree Courtyard. ## Tips for the climb Bring water: it can be stuffy inside the tower in summer, though the thick walls keep it fairly cool. Comfortable shoes help, as the ramps are long and the floor is uneven in places. If you dislike enclosed spaces, the passages are narrow but have windows and no sharp turns. Children can make the climb: the ramps are safe, and kids enjoy counting the turns and spotting roofs and domes through the windows. It's awkward with a buggy, so carry little ones or use a carrier. For a photo of the whole tower, walk to Calle Mateos Gago, which has one of the best views of the Giralda, especially in the evening once the lights come on. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Buy a cathedral ticket - [ ] Climb at the start of your visit - [ ] See the bells - [ ] Spot the Alcázar in the panorama - [ ] Photograph the tower from the square ## Places in Seville: compare and choose Places in Seville rated by YesGo. - [Giralda](https://yesgo.io/spain/seville/giralda) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · With cathedral ticket - [Metropol Parasol](https://yesgo.io/spain/seville/metropol-parasol) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Paid ## Don't mix it up The Giralda is the cathedral's bell tower, not a separate museum; the Torre del Oro is a different old tower on the riverbank. ## Tips - Ramps, not stairs. - Enter through the cathedral. - Fewer people in the morning. - Views of the Alcázar and river. ## Questions ### How much does it cost to climb the Giralda? It's included in the Seville Cathedral ticket. ### How many steps does the Giralda have? Hardly any: gentle ramps lead to the top. ### How tall is the Giralda? 104.5 metres including the weathervane. ### How long does the climb take? 30–40 minutes including the descent and the viewing gallery. ### Can you climb the Giralda with kids? Yes, the ramps are safe; it's awkward with a buggy. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia and UNESCO. Hours and prices weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Giralda - UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 383 - Official website, catedraldesevilla.es --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.