Scheduling Cathedral tours - Mass vs nighttime vs rooftop vs Portico

[SeattleGal]

I tried to search threads for this information, so apologies if it's already been covered. I will have 1-2 nights in Santiago. With limited time, I'd rather have 1-2 meaningful experiences, than spend a few minutes doing 5 different things.

I'd like to visit the rooftop and maybe the Portico de Gloria if there's time. I thought it would be nice to visit the roof at sunset, but realize there's also a 7pm Mass, so I may have to choose. I believe it's: CUBIERTAS Y TORRE DE LA CARRACA and PÓRTICO DE LA GLORIA

Tickets require separate entrance times. The Cathedral suggests at least 90 minutes apart and booking the Portico visit first.

1. Do you recommend booking the rooftop tour during sunset / at the end of the day? Any idea how long after the tour departure I would actually be on the roof - 15 mins? 30 mins?

2. Is 90 minutes sufficient time for the Portico visit? I feel like it might take less, and after days of walking, I don't want to lose all my energy before the rooftop tour.

3. There are also Night Visit tours of the Cathedral. From an architectural / informational perspective, do you have any recommendations about this tour vs. going to Mass? I realize Mass is a communal event, celebrated by centuries of Pilgrims, may have a Botafumeiro, etc. I'm very familiar with Mass. But it's a stationary experience.

Thank you in advance for sharing your expertise! This Camino community is incredibly generous with time and knowledge.

 

[Vacajoe]

You are on the roof 5-10 minutes after the stated start time. Even if you are deeply into it, the actual Portico visit is 30 minutes max, but you have access to the rest of that building so that’s why they say 90 minutes. Finally, you can do Mass AND an interior guided tour. You seem to understand already the difference, so you can appreciate that they are radically different things and not really a “this or that” choice. Both Mass and the tours happen several times a day.

 

[J Willhaus]

Most tours are in Spanish so just to be aware. My husband has done the rooftop. We both did the Portico together (brief) and he did a tour of the catacombs when the church was undergoing some renovations a few years ago. All worthwhile.

 

[Stephan the Painter]

Both the rooftop in the portico tour also include an entrance to the museum, I believe. I think you could do both tours, view the museum, and go to a mass in five or six hours and not be rushed. The tours are relatively short, and both are in Spanish. I don't think that it matters whether you do a sunset for the rooftop tour. Might be dramatic though.

As I recall, you only get to spend about 20 or 25 minutes in front of the portico of Gloria and the rooftop tour was probably about 30- 40 minutes on the roof. Mostly the guide is talking. There are other things that you look at on the way to all those things which makes it take a little longer.

The portico and rooftop are amazing and you should do it, but I found the museum more interesting because there's more to see. I don't know anything about a nighttime Cathedral tour, sorry.

 

[dbier]

Ironically, the only way I saw the Portico was during a nighttime tour. My museum tour and the rooftop tour were separate tickets. This was September 2023.

The night tour of the Cathedral was in English, but the rooftop tour was in Spanish. BTW...that's a pretty steep roof, with a lot of stairs. *Not* ADA accessible.

Well worth it.

 

[Camino24]

I did rooftop, night tour and mass in June
All 3 are very different and wonderful in their own ways.
Rooftop. Not for anyone with even a little fear of heights and it is in Spanish. My guide gave excerpts in English and after weeks on the Camino my Spanish had improved enough to get the gist of what she was saying. the views are spectacular and really the best way to see the various stages of construction and different types of architecture.
Mass- for me, the amazing religious experience I hoped for. But get there early if you want a seat. If you’re not religious it may not be the one for you
Night tour- only down side was it is late and after days of early to bed on the Camino that was different. Also be sure you understand where to enter, it’s on the right side where you enter for mass not the normal tour entrance. it was not hurried and great information. Because the church is not open for services you get to get closer to the altar. We got to give the traditional hug of the st James statue. You get to go up and view the church from the back. Really beautiful. And of course the portico. It was amazing.
If you only have time for one of the three I would probably select the night tour

 

[JerryStroebele]

I just booked the roof top tour for 2 pm October 29. I took it before and it was amazing. And I don't speak much Spanish. I plan on attending the noon Pilgrims Mass and think I have enough time between them. I wasn't wishing to see the sunset. Just hoping for not too much rain that time of year. When you book your tour, use the Cathedral website and find the pilgrim discount. Only 10 euros for the roof top tour. Buen Camino

 

[peregrina2000]

I'd like to visit the rooftop and maybe the Portico de Gloria if there's time

For a short, sweet, and free visit to the Pórtico de la Gloria (which also includes a stroll through a room of the medieval Gelmirez Palace with some beautiful Romanesque carvings) you can sign up for some of the limited slots here.

Ticket sale Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Information of Free visits Pórtico de la Gloria

Official website of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela for the online purchase of tickets for visits to the permanent collection, the Portico de la Gloria and Santa María La Real de Sar.

visitas.catedraldesantiago.es

You can only book 7 days in advance for this freebie, but I was surprised to see there are currently tickets available for Wednesday! Anyone wanting to get one of these should sign up the week before because they frequently are gone soon after they become available.

 

[Stephan the Painter]

Ironically, the only way I saw the Portico was during a nighttime tour. My museum tour and the rooftop tour were separate tickets. This was September 2023.

The night tour includes the portico?

We got to give the traditional hug of the st James statue.

Oh, and they allow you to do the traditional hug?

Next time I'm definitely doing the night tour if this is true. Thanks.

 

[dbier]

As for the hug, you can do that now without a Cathedral tour.

As for access to the Portico, it was definitely only as part of a specific tour. The Portico is not accessible with a regular museum ticket or as part of the rooftop tour, nor is it accessible during Mass.

I defer to those who know more whether *any* Cathedral tour provides access to the Portico. And *no* touching, and *no* flash photography, as I recall.

 

[Camino24]

The night tour includes the portico?

Oh, and they allow you to do the traditional hug?

Next time I'm definitely doing the night tour if this is true. Thanks.

Yes to both questions. They stopped the hug during Covid but it wa back in June

 

[Stephan the Painter]

Ironically, the only way I saw the Portico was during a nighttime tour. My museum tour and the rooftop tour were separate tickets. This was September 2023.

As for access to the Portico, it was definitely only as part of a specific tour. The Portico is not accessible with a regular museum ticket or as part of the rooftop tour, nor is it accessible during Mass.

I just don't understand these seemingly conflicting comments? Or did you mean that you booked the normal Portico tour at night?

I did take the specific Portico tour the last time I was in SdC.

 

[peregrina2000]

The Portico is not accessible with a regular museum ticket

I don’t think that’s correct, @dbier. As far as I can tell, there are two ways to see the Pórtico. Maybe you mean “The Portico is not accessible WITHOUT a regular museum ticket?”

On the cathedral web, there appear to be two tickets for purchase that include the Pórtico. Both include entrance to the museum, the Pórtico, and the Gelmirez Palace. You can do this with or without a guide. The time of your ticket is the time that you must be at the Pórtico entrance - your visit to the Museum and Palacio Gelmirez is not restricted.

The other way to see the Pórtico is to get the “free invitation” that I described a few posts up this thread. This gives you access to the Gelmirez Palace, with unrestricted time for visiting, but you must enter the Pórtico at the time on your ticket. You will have a half hour there with about 20 other people.

The Cathedral ticket system has changed several times over the years, so I would make sure to get on the official website with enough advance time to get what you want.

 

[dbier]

You may be right...but I distinctly remember buying a regular museum ticket, and *not* being able to access the Portico.

I would ask at the museum front desk.

 

[David Tallan]

The Portico is not accessible with a regular museum ticket or as part of the rooftop tour, nor is it accessible during Mass.

I don’t think that’s correct, @dbier. As far as I can tell, there are two ways to see the Pórtico. Maybe you mean “The Portico is not accessible WITHOUT a regular museum ticket?”

On the cathedral web, there appear to be two tickets for purchase that include the Pórtico. Both include entrance to the museum, the Pórtico, and the Gelmirez Palace. You can do this with or without a guide. The time of your ticket is the time that you must be at the Pórtico entrance - your visit to the Museum and Palacio Gelmirez is not restricted.

You may be right...but I distinctly remember buying a regular museum ticket, and *not* being able to access the Portico.

I don't think these necessarily conflict.

The Portico is only accessible with a reserved, timed ticket. That ticket generally also includes access to the Museum (unless it is one of the "free invitation" tickets). But if you just walk into the museum and buy a museum ticket at the entrance, it won't include a visit to the Portico. You won't have that reserved time.

 

[SeattleGal]

Thank you all! I knew I'd hear wonderful perspectives. =)

 

[peregrina2000]

But if you just walk into the museum and buy a museum ticket at the entrance, it won't include a visit to the Portico. You won't have that reserved time.

AHA, that was the missing piece in my faulty logic, thanks, David, and apologies to @dbier! Glad it is all straight now.

So I take it that it is impossible to buy a Pórtico ticket without museum access, but not all museum access tickets include the Pórtico?

 

[Westmalle]

Need a similar piece of advice.
Will arrive to SdC around 2pm.
Leaving back home the morning after. Would like to attend 19.30 mess, give a hug to St.James and see Portico of Glory.
How should I organize my cathedral visit to meet these targets?

 

[J Willhaus]

I would go to my lodging first and drop my pack. You can buy and reserve tickets for the Portico here

Ticket sale Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Information of CATHEDRAL MUSEUM - Portico of Glory

Official website of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela for the online purchase of tickets for visits to the permanent collection, the Portico de la Gloria and Santa María La Real de Sar.

visitas.catedraldesantiago.es

To hug the saint, you just get in line and wait your turn.

Depending on time of year, I would try to get to Mass at least 30 minutes early. In winter we had pretty much the whole church to ourselves. Weekends and high season it may be standing room only.

 

[Westmalle]

I will be in Santiago in 2 weeks..
Pardon my ignorance, but is Portico a part of the Cathedral? I was wondering whether I should get a ticket to Portico, then go with the flow to hug the saint and afterwards sit down for the mess...

 

[J Willhaus]

I will be in Santiago in 2 weeks..
Pardon my ignorance, but is Portico a part of the Cathedral? I was wondering whether I should get a ticket to Portico, then go with the flow to hug the saint and afterwards sit down for the mess...

You don't need a ticket for mass or to hug the Saint or visit the crypt, only to see the Portico since it is closed off now from the rest of the cathedral.

 

[Westmalle]

You don't need a ticket for mass or to hug the Saint or visit the crypt, only to see the Portico since it is closed off now from the rest of the cathedral.

So I'd rather get the ticket to Portico, do the visit, then enter the church, hug the saint and get a seat for the mess, correct?
If I get the ticket to Portico at 5PM, would I be all done for 19.30 mess?

 

[J Willhaus]

I think Portico tickets are only 30 minutes for the tour so that would be plenty of time.

 

[J Willhaus]

Just be aware that Saturday, Oct 12 is a Spanish National holiday so you may want to book ahead if you will be approaching Santiago and on the Camino at this time.

 

[Westmalle]

Just be aware that Saturday, Oct 12 is a Spanish National holiday so you may want to book ahead if you will be approaching Santiago and on the Camino at this time.

I will in SdC on 10th October, but will for sure book it ahead.
Thanks again.