Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar

Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar

Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar
4.5
Historic SitesArchitectural BuildingsChurches & Cathedrals
9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
About
A jewel of the La Ribera neighborhood, this is Barcelona's last remaining Catalan Gothic-style church, with majestic naves and beautiful stained glass windows.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Plan your visit
The area
Address
Neighborhood: El Born / La Ribera
The labyrinth that is El Born becomes most apparent the moment you turn down one of its side streets. But this is one of the few labyrinths you might actually enjoy losing your way in. After all, there are few places that live and breathe such exciting energy regardless of the time of day. This neighborhood seamlessly transcends the old and new parts of the city, reflected in its vast array of restaurants ranging from fancy Michelin-star establishments to trendy fusion restaurants. Here you'll find historical and cultural attractions such as the popular Picasso Museum and the Gothic cathedral La Santa Maria del Mar, where you just might be able to catch a traditional Catalan wedding.
How to get there
  • Jaume I • 4 min walk
  • Barceloneta • 4 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travelers are saying
  • permia
    40,931 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A wonder in stone
    Looked forward to seeing what is regarded as the best Gothic church in the city. Anticipation that was fulfilled. Approaching the vast stone edifice was rewarding, seeing the expanse of stone and fine belfry. Inside is a wonder in stone. Soaring unadorned slender columns reach for the beautiful vaulted ceiling. A fine Rose Window is here. Pews of a deep reddish hue are accompanied with a red carpet. A main altar impressive in its relative simplicity had a Sunday evening mass beginning not long after arriving. Stayed for this, which lasted around 45 minutes. Another memorable experience.
    Visited February 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 1, 2023
  • gringottsgoblin
    369 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Peoples Cathedral
    This is an enormous great Gothic pile of a church located near the port. It is dubbed the Peoples Cathedral as it was funded entirely by the working classes and unlike the main Barcelona Cathedral lacked rich patrons so you don’t get this crazy over the top embellishments that you get there. It’s enormous of course and is a basilica. There is raw austerity about the place that is very pleasing. It is very beautiful and again something quite different to those other great Barcelona churches Barcelona Cathedral and Sagrada Familia. Well worth a visit and deep and profound history
    Visited May 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 21, 2023
  • Atlas Adventured
    Orange County, California62 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Another Great Basilica to visit in Barcelona
    Big beautiful building. Perfect for cooling down on a hot day! Huge vaulted ceilings and intricate stained glass windows. If you arrive before 1:00 pm or after 5:00 pm, the entrance is free. In between those hours the fee is 5 euros. There is no dress code, but please be respectful and cover shoulders and knees.
    Visited June 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 27, 2023
  • Georgie T
    Sunbury, United Kingdom326 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very Different - in a a good way - From Barcelona Cathedral
    It's not that gorgeous from the outside but inside it's simple and light with soaring pillars holding up the domed roof. It also lacks the heavy baroque decor that so many Catholic churches have. It was so lovely that we just sat for a while enjoying the peace.
    Visited April 2023
    Written May 7, 2023
  • BellaO6
    Dallas, Texas171 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth popping in!
    I really enjoyed our quiet visit to this church. Soaring ceilings and simple beauty. When in the area it is worth the euros to take a look around. I also had a quiet, contemplative prayer in this beautiful basilica
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 28, 2023
  • manjusriKolkata
    44 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good vibes
    Lovely little plazas and alleys to wander around and explore. The church is serene. Great cafes and tapas bars. The square in front of the Chirch had a wonderful farmer's market with great local produce.
    Visited June 2023
    Written July 7, 2023
  • AnnaN732013
    Stockholm, Sweden284 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful cathedral
    Beautiful medieval cathedral in the middle of the El Born district, Barcelona. You come in from the hustle and bustle of the city, and you find yourself in an oasis of peace and calmness. The high ceilings, the arches, the stained glass windows, everything is so beautiful and awe inspiring. When we visited a woman was singing, very beautifully, from the pew. Added a lot to the experience. Free entrance. Can really recommend.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 17, 2023
  • phat_dawg_21
    Alpharetta, Georgia13,464 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Medieval Church
    This is a large Medieval Cathedral built in the gothic style. It is unique in its simplicity, characterized by high ceilings and tall windows. Despite the windows, it is very dark. Part of its simplicity may be due to the fact that most of the Baroque altars and decorations were destroyed by a fire set by anti-clerical rioters at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
    Visited June 2023
    Written July 17, 2023
  • digitalroc
    Calgary, Canada1,869 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Catalan Gothic Style Architecture
    Had an opportunity to go in for a few minutes as we were on our group orientation of Barcelona. It is the only surviving church built in Catalan gothic style architecture in all of Barcelona. In the Middle Ages, on average, it would normally take more than a century to build a church like this, however, this church was built in 55 years. There are two beautiful stained-glass features in the church that are a must to see. We arrived here at 6PM, during one of the two free admission timeframes of the church.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 22, 2023
  • ANGELO V
    Milan, Italy2,939 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Santa Maria del Mar
    This church was built between 1329 and 1383, and it is an outstanding example of pure Catalan Gothic. I bought the full entrance, that gives access to the church, the crypt, the balconies and the roof, and the upper gallery. All parts were very beautiful, except the crypt, which is totally naked. From the balconies and roof there is a spectacular view over Barcelona (158 steps, no lift).
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written December 5, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles13,972 reviews
Excellent
9,084
Very good
4,058
Average
712
Poor
72
Terrible
47

Purnima Jain
Bengaluru, India1,795 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
It's free to enter the church. The outside of the Basilica is misleading as inside one discovers a marvel of gothic architecture , with high ceilings and beautiful stained glass windows.
Located in the Jewish Quarter area, it's free to enter the church. To do the Towers + rooftop visit you need guided tours which start at 2 PM.
The outside of the Basilica is misleading as inside one discovers a marvel of gothic architecture, with high ceilings and beautiful stained glass windows. The ceilings tower above you once inside and the stained-glass windows are incredible.
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00am to 1:00pm and 5:00pm to 8:30pm; Sunday: 10:00am to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 8:00pm.
Metro Underground: L3 Jaume I or L4 Barceloneta.
A gothic church and not as lavish as Barcelona Cathedral but still worth doing if you have time, but will not prioritize it over Barcelona Cathedral which is simply splendid.
For a more detailed itinerary and reviews feel free to visit my page mentioned on my profile.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Susan V
16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Grand church in scale & design. Parts are being restored but the true essence remains in its beauty. One gains a sense of reverence when entering; its beautiful stained glass, arches, high ceilings gives one (at least me) time for quiet contemplation & moments of being truly present. Worth a visit!
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sama
Terrassa, Spain49 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Santa Maria del Mar is a hidden gem in Barcelona. Despite not being the Cathedral or, of course, the Sagrada Familia, it's a very beautiful church with tons of history, a very good example of Catalan Gothic style.

The guided tour - in catalan, spanish or english - is very worth its price. You get to know this little piece of Barcelona's history and all its secrets, and even better, you visit the crypt and the terrace, with some of the most amazing views of the city. Our guide, Anna, was very nice and helpful, and she explained everything perfectly. Very reccomended!
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wireless_in_CA
United States4,994 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
There were two admission options to see the church. The basic entry ticket was just to see the inside of the church and the crypt while the other option allowed a visitor to climb up to the rooftop.

The inside of the church was a bit on the dark side even with the beautiful stained glass windows up high. It was quite impressive with the towering ceiling above. I liked the fact that most of the small side altars could be seen up close without any gates blocking access like at the Barcelona Cathedral.

I recommend skipping the crypt since it was empty save for some tables and chairs. A couple of doors led to other parts of the church that seemed to be storage or an office. A small gift shop was near the admission entrance but not manned.

There was minimal signage inside except for one area where a comprehensive description of the church construction was posted. We could understand many of the key descriptions without needing a translator app.

We spent around 20 minutes inside for our 5 Euro admission.

If you skip going inside then the outside of the church would still be good to walk around. The setting sun seemed to turn the upper portions a golden color. We also saw the Fossar de Les Moreres where the eternal flame constantly burned in memory of those Catalans who fought and died in the Spanish War of 1714.
Written January 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ryszard_Polska
Katowice, Poland2,750 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Our favorite church in Barcelona, probably one of the most beautiful, and there is always something interesting going on here.
This Christmas we could take part in an unusual show organized by the faithful from South America.
There were songs, dances and a great Christmas fiesta.
Majka and Ryszard from Poland

Nasz ulubiony kościół w Barcelonie, chyba jeden z najładniejszych, i zawsze się tutaj coś dzieje ciekawego.
W te Święta Bożego Narodzenia mogliśmy brać udział w niecodziennym pokazie zorganizowanym przez wiernych z Ameryki Południowej.
Były śpiewy, tańce i wspaniała fiesta bożenarodzeniowa.
Majka i Ryszard z Polski
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JRMADA
United States3,377 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
This basilica has a very unusual and beautiful altar. There are 8 pillars behind it. One of the things we like the most here is that the chapels are not behind bars like jail cells. This is a humble and simple church with some renovation going on at the moment. There is nothing spectacular in here, so if you are pressed for time, you can skip it. Entry is €5.00 or €10.00 depending on what you want to do. Tickets can be obtained onsite (cash or card) or online.
Written December 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

raypask
Melbourne, Australia57 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The huge spacious interior of the gothic Basilica and soaring interior columns creates a grand but peaceful environment. Just wandering around and resting and contemplating is so worthwhile. The tower climb is worth it for the view: narrow surrounding streets and lanes with 4.6 storey buildings, some draped with clothes drying, plants and Catalunya flags. Worth the climb.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

journeymaid48
Fairport, NY1,091 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
Absolutely amazing! This is a must see for history fans. The story of the building of Santa Maria del Mar was carrying stones from the mountain to the ship on their necks and backs out of duty to God. The vastness of the Basilica and numerous side chapels as well as the ceiling and high altar is a testament to faith in the 14th century. This was a highlight of our trip in Barcelona.
Written August 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul S
Bristol, UK10 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Whyvare they charging for visits when internal construction is going on. The basilica is very nice and the 6 euro entry fee would be okay if no construction was going on. It was very noisy inside with ladders banging, noisy builders shouting and work going on. Not somewhere to catch your thoughts and say prayer. Ask at the entrance if construction still ongoing and if so walk away and come back.
Written August 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JJJC_Family
Virginia810 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021
A somewhat spare, but still reasonably grand church. Getting there at night was a mistake, as it was pretty dark inside and made it harder to distinguish features that might be of interest when they could be better seen. Plus we were very tired when we got there and unless it was going to be really special, we had little desire to extend our stay. So we took a quick look and we were gone. I know the first time we went, during daylight, we liked it better. Although, even then it was not spectacular. If you are close by and you have the time, sure, go see it. If not, you won’t be regretting it for the rest of your life.
Written January 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona

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