After you’re done visiting the famous Catedral de Barcelona and the mountains at Montserrat National Park, you may be asking yourself what else there is to see in northern Spain.
What many tourists don’t know is that Barcelona has another medieval church by the name of Basilica De Santa Maria Del Mar, and you can visit it for free at certain times of the day.
I don’t know if I enjoyed this one quite as much as other stuff in the area, but it’s easy to tack onto any Barcelona itinerary and the architecture is still pretty great.
This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!
The Santa Maria Del Mar – Facts & History
Santa Maria Del Mar is a 14th-century Gothic style catholic church in Barcelona. It was built by the Kingdom of Aragon between 1329 and 1383.
Over the years, the building has been damaged by fires, earthquakes, and wars, but steady restoration work has kept it looking as grand as ever.
Visiting Santa Maria Del Mar
It’s worth taking a stroll around the outside of the building before going inside, but it’s honestly very hard to take pictures of the outside of this church since it’s surrounded by buildings on all sides and the streets are narrow.
The good news is that the inside is better than the outside. The Gothic ceilings and pillars are massive, and you feel tiny when you first step inside and look up.
Of course, you also have the usual fancy chandeliers and stained glass windows that are typical in these kinds of cathedrals.
Compared to the Barcelona Cathedral, I thought this one was better lit on the inside and that made it easier to see what you’re looking at (also easier to take photos).
Speaking of photos, there’s no restriction on taking them inside. There’s also a guided tour available that includes visiting the rooftop, and it gives you a great 360-degree view of the city.
I would budget about 45-60 minutes for visiting Santa Maria Del Mar, although it would be possible to stay longer, especially if you want to explore the rooftop.
Entrance Fees
Entry is free before 1:00 PM or after 5:00 PM, otherwise, the entrance fee is €5.
The guided tours to the rooftop are €8.50.
How To Get To Santa Maria Del Mar
The church is located in the Ribera/El Born area of Barcelona, Spain.
You can get there by rail or taxi, or you can walk to it from some nearby hotels.
I stayed in the Gothic Quarter at a guesthouse that was just a 5-minute walk to either this church or the Catedral de Barcelona.
Where I Stayed
I stayed at Guesthouse Barcelona Gotic in a private room for $54 USD per night. The hotel is located in the Gothic district of Barcelona, just a short walk from the cathedrals, restaurants, beach, and Plaza Cataluña Square.
The famous Catedral de Barcelona and Santa Maria Del Mar were just a 5-minute walk from the hotel! Barcelona is not the cheapest city to travel to, so I think you’ll find this hotel is one of the best ‘ bang for your buck options in this area.
Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.
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