Granada Cathedral & Royal Chapel Visit Guide

Why this stop matters

1492 is the most important year in Spanish history. The Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella took Granada from the last Nasrid sultan, completed the Reconquista, funded Columbus and expelled the Jews. The Royal Chapel is where they chose to be buried, in the city that symbolized their greatest triumph. Walking past it on the way to tapas without visiting is missing the point of Granada.

Royal Chapel: what to see

• The tombs: Four marble sarcophagi: Ferdinand, Isabella, their daughter Juana la Loca and son-in-law Philip the Handsome.
• The crypt: Under the marble tombs, the actual lead coffins are visible through a grate.
• The main altarpiece: Gothic polychrome wood depicting the fall of Granada.
• The sacristy museum: Isabella crown, her personal sword, Ferdinand scepter, Flemish paintings from her private collection including a Memling.
• The grille (reja): Iron grille separating the chapel, one of the masterpieces of Spanish Renaissance metalwork.

Granada Cathedral: what to see

• The main nave: 115 m long, 67 m wide, Renaissance with Gothic elements, massive.
• The Capilla Mayor: Domed, with huge paintings by Alonso Cano.
• The choir: Baroque wooden stalls, and the mausoleum of Queen Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg.
• The golden organ: 18th century, one of the largest in Andalusia.
• Side chapels: 15 of them, each with different artwork and styles.

Tickets and opening hours

How to fit it in your Granada trip

• Day 1 afternoon: After Alhambra morning, Cathedral + Royal Chapel make a perfect 3 PM visit.
• Day 2 morning: If you are doing a 2-3 day trip, this is a great slower morning.
• Rainy day backup: Both buildings are indoor, perfect if the weather turns bad.
• Walking combo: Cathedral + Royal Chapel + Alcaiceria bazaar + Corral del Carbon in one 2 hour loop.

Practical tips

• Dress respectfully, shoulders covered, no short shorts.
• No photos at all inside the Royal Chapel, including phone cameras.
• Audio guides in English are 4 EUR extra, worth it for the Chapel.
• Avoid Sunday mornings, both are closed for mass.
• Combine with lunch at Chikito on Plaza del Campillo, 10 min walk.
• Alcaiceria silk market next door is open 10-20, great souvenirs.

Near the Cathedral

The Cathedral is the center of Granada life. Around it: Plaza Bib-Rambla (flower market, ice cream), Alcaiceria silk bazaar (former Moorish market), Corral del Carbon (14th century Nasrid caravanserai), and the start of Calle Navas tapas street. A full afternoon easily fills itself.

Frequently asked questions