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Domkirche St. Stephan

St. Stephen's Cathedral

4.5 (213 reviews)
Open • 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

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Nancy G.

When in Vienna, this cathedral is a must-see. We started with the tower, which you need to pay for. You enter a narrow, spiral stone staircase that takes you up, and up, and up. 343 steps, to be exact. It doesn't seem like that much, but you're inside what is basically a stone tube with steps made for feet from the 16 and 1700's! By the time you get to the top, you're winded and have had a good workout, but the views are incredible! You can see across the city in every direction, and you get an up close look of the gorgeous cathedral roof. We stayed up there for at least 20 to 30 minutes, just taking everything in (and cooling off). The descent was much easier. We then looked around the outside of the church, taking in all the architectural details. There is a model on the right side of the building as you are facing it, and it gives you a pretty good idea of the layout. Finally, we made our way to the main entrance and entered. St. Stephan's is extremely Gothic in design and it shows, literally everywhere. Pictures will never do it justice. There are just soooo many carvings, frescoes, paintings, and stained glass windows to look at that it can be difficult to take it all in. Of all the churches in Vienna, this is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna. THIS is the church not to miss. 66/2025

Architect
Jim W.

We visited St. Stephen's Cathedral on our last morning in Vienna (a Monday). It is, unsurprisingly, located at the St. Stephansplatz subway station. This is also the closest public restroom, as they do not have one available in the church itself. The church opened at 9 a.m. and we were a few minutes early. We circled around the outside and took some photos. My wife had downloaded Rick Steves audio tour of the church (covering both the interior and exterior) and was fairly interesting. It lasted about 35 minutes. While it is free to enter the church, there are 3 areas where you have to pay: the 2 towers and the main aisle / altar. You can see most of the interior from the free side-aisle, but depending on how up-close you want to get, you may want to pay. I think each area cost about 7 Euros per person, but you could get a combo ticket for 20 Euros. We just did the towers, though. For the smaller north tower, there is an elevator. It only takes 5 people plus the operator so there may be a line (up and down). There are a couple of different platforms at the top along with good views of the church's tiled roof and the surrounding area. I thought it was worth it. No one else was interested in climbing the taller south tower with me. There is no elevator there, and it was 343 steps to get up to a small, enclosed gift shop about 2/3 of the way up the structure. You are still higher than you were on the other side, though. It took about 12 minutes for the climb. As this is enclosed, the views are more restricted here. There are some nice views, though. I'm not sure this is really worth it, but I'd skipped the bell tower in Bruges last year due to what I thought was price-gouging, so I felt due for a tower climb. The cathedral is one of the signature spots in Vienna, so it is definitely worth a visit. I don't think it was quit in the same league as Notre Dame in Paris or St. Peter's, but it was certainly a place I'd recommend.

Sigrid W.

Wow... this cathedral is impressive, even by European standards. You can see it from a large distance already and as you come nearer you can see the expanse of this building. The interior as well as the exterior are well maintained. There are just so many details to look at, you could spend hours in here. The grandeur of the past is almost overwhelming. The super high ceilings may make you feel somewhat insignificant. Definitely a must see if you're in the city.

Bonnie G.

Gorgeous roof on the outside of this church that blasts choral music inside, which I actually love and made the atmosphere celebratory. Turns out Mozart got married here (and I can see why!) Tall stained glass windows. 5 stars!!!

Jo W.

The area around St Stephens Cathedral is very touristy, so I felt safe walking around and taking photos of the cathedral late at night. It is an awe-inspiring, gorgeous, gothic behemoth of a building. The female vocals from Rammstein's "Sonne" plays in my head upon tilting my eyes heavenward so that I can absorb St Stephen Cathedral's majesty and take many, many photos capturing the details of its gothic architecture.

Small view of interior  9/2024
Sabrina S.

Gorgeous cathedral that can be seen above the city limits. Stephansplatz square surrounds the cathedral with shops, restaurants, and entertainment. Horse drawn carriages ready to guide you around were on one side of the church. After taking quite a few pics, we headed inside and mass was in session. Limited access once inside unless you were attending mass, but the beautiful organ was playing and the interior of the church was absolutely amazing to look at. The cathedral has a north and south tower you can go up. We went for the south tower which has amazing views of the entire city. Cost was 6.5 euros each and you'll take 343 steep spiral stairs to get to the top. No easy feat, I felt a little dizzy afterwards....but worth it. Once at top, windows open up views to all of Vienna. A small bench area to rest and gift shop are there as well. After our way down, the harvest festival had started on Stephansplatz with a local band playing that were guided by police through the streets. Happy Sunday!

Sara G.

St. Stephen's Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece. Construction began in the 12th century, and over the centuries, it evolved with various architectural styles. Mozart was married here, and Haydn's funeral was held here. Beautiful and a must see.

A little bit of history since the cashier up here looked like he would push tourists out a window for fun.
Warren D.

Date of visit: June 6, 2024 We purchased All Inclusive Tickets online as we did not have much in the way of Euros and when on site, only cash is accepted for the various "tours." See my separate review of the Dom Museum Wien, too. Here are reviews of the various elements of the cathedral. Catacombs (Katakombenfuhrung) - You gather inside the church and the guide will narrate in English and German. Our guide did not pause long for questions so if you have any, ask 'em quick! No pictures during the catacombs tour--understandable but a bit disappointing as it's difficult to explain what it is that you are seeing! Many parts are quite dark so I did use my phone camera to illuminate some areas a little better. North Tower (Nordturm) - This is where you can "see" the Pummerin, the largest church bell in Austria. The real view here is that of Vienna as the bell is enclosed behind dirty windows. The elevator is small so suck in your guy before and during the ride! The guides are fun and play great music and it's a 20 second ride so it could certainly be far worse. South Tower (Sudturm) - You would think that after climbing over 300 narrow stairs you would be greeted with wonderful sights and people. And you would be wrong; there is a small gift shop and the views are only through small windows. The cashier here looked like he drowns kittens for fun in his spare time, so if you are wary of the stairs, you could definitely skip this one. All in all a mixed bag here. If you want to do just some of these things and skip others to same some time and money, that is definitely the way to go. And the cathedral itself is free to wander through. We could have done the audio tour of the cathedral but we were a bit audioguided out by this point.

Cathy C.

Yelp Review 2023 #13: An Austrian landmark not to be missed. It's a beautiful Catholic Church. Even if you're not Catholic, you'd find this church remarkable from the outside and inside. Sadly, a lot of tourists I've witnessed and encountered here do not have etiquette. Be respectful of church-goers as you would your own place of worship - May it be a mosque, temple or synagogue. You wouldn't want to be praying and wanting some peace and tourists snapping pictures and being loud, right? Take your crying and screaming children out of the church until they've calmed down. This church has been around for centuries. Since the 12th century to be exact. It has not escaped the devastation caused by World War II. The day I visited was the day after Christmas which was also St. Stephen's feast day which means more people came. There's a lot of remarkable features of this church including catacombs that were accidentally discovered only in 2000. (Refer to my catacombs review). The altar is pretty high. The roof is also beautiful. They also have a Christmas market outside the church from November to December.

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Arshad H.

St. Stephen's Cathedral founded in the 12th century is one of the must see highlights when visiting Vienna. Situated in Vienna's historic center at Stephanplatz, this Romanesque church with Gothic additions is quite the site to see. It's listed in the top 10 tallest churches in the world. Admission to the church is FREE, although there are several tours available inside to admire the beauty of this church. One of the unique features of this church are the colorful mosaic roof tiles. A great way to get a closer look at them is to take an elevator (6 euros) up the north tower. You'll also be treated to gorgeous views of Vienna from up there. One can also go up the south tower (343 stairs to the top and no elevator). Overall I enjoyed my visit here and it's one of the must see sites in Vienna. Just a few hundred feet away is another beautiful church worth visiting, St. Peter's (Baroque style).

Mark B.

There is something about these old European churches that really reignites the religious flame within. I wish we had anything like this in the United States, but unfortunately, we do not. Saint Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, while maybe not as gorgeous other cathedrals throughout Europe, is nonetheless fantastic display of beauty and religious expression. When you first enter, you are struck with the sheer magnitude of the interior, as well as the architectural beauty of the building. Admission was free, you could choose to pay for tours if you wanted. highly recommend!

Mary A.

An absolute must see in Vienna. No entrance fee to walk in. The architecture is breathtaking - inside and outside. The stain glass windows are incredible. The tile roof is beautiful as well. I imagine it's gorgeous from an aerial view as well.

John F.

I saw.A LOT of churches on my trip up the beautiful Danube River (back when Americans could go to Europe!). And this one was my favorite. It was as beautiful on the outside as it was from within. There was so much to see and learn about this religious symbol's 700 history. Vienna is an awesome city and this church is located not far from an outdoor mall and many coffee and bakery shops, so you can spend a whole afternoon visiting this site if you would like. What I loved about this church was is ominous gothic appearance. Very dark, yet inspiring if that makes any sense! There much to see and do in Vienna... but be sure to add a stop at this landmark on your visit to this historic city.

Beautiful Interior View

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Domkirche St. Stephan Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Domkirche St. Stephan

“Stephen's Cathedral founded in the 12th century is one of the must see highlights when visiting Vienna.”

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Michaelerkirche - no drip candles

Michaelerkirche

4.5(11 reviews)
0.5 km•Innere Stadt

Michaeler Kirche (St. Michael's Church), is located in Michaelerplatz, a block east adjacent to the…read moreHofburg Palace/Museum complex. On a weekday early evening it was pretty empty, many more tourists were walking around the square and taking pictures outside than inside. In 2021 this church celebrated their 800th year, wild! Its beginnings were as a church founded around 1220, which became a court parish church in 1784, then a parish and monastery of the Salvatorian order of Catholicism in its current form. Its building style is originally Romanesque, with various additions and removals of Gothic, Baroque, Classical elements, though after all the shifts it remains largely Romanesque and considered one of the largest and oldest Romanesque structures in Wien. Not knowing what to expect, entering I was really astounded by the number of figures sculpted in life size surrounding and directly attached to the front altar and apse...my eyes certainly got wider as I stared at all the details. I hadn't recalled the last time seeing such elaborate carved figures in an altar composition like this except maybe at the Toledo Cathedral in Spain. Of course the rest of this building isn't as gigantic as other cathedrals or basilicas, though if I had more time I would gladly come back to admire the sculpture and intricate designs in the rest of the church interior. Free to enter the church building though the crypt is by ticketed tour. Public tours ~45 min long are available in German only: every Friday at 12 pm and 2 pm every Saturday at 10 am and 12 pm Admission: € 10.00 per person / € 5.00 per child Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 7am-10pm Saturday-Sunday: 8am-10pm Easily accessible via public transit U-bahn (metro), buses and trams. For more info: https://www.michaelerkirche.at/en/

Located just outside and behind the Hofburg complex, the Michaelerkircke is a fairly simple looking…read morechurch, compared to many others around Vienna. When you step inside, it doesn't have the same wow factor of the other churches either, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth a visit. This church is beautiful in it's simplicity; white is the dominant color throughout, with gold, red, and brown accents. The alter area is, of course, the fanciest part of the church, and it really is! However, check out the remains of the frescoes on the walls, the artwork, the confessionals, and the sculptures everywhere. Stunning! Check it out. Be respectful, be surprised. I highly doubt you'll be disappointed. 69/2025

Photos
Michaelerkirche - Massive pipe organ upstairs

Massive pipe organ upstairs

Michaelerkirche
Michaelerkirche - St Michael vanquishing Satan

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St Michael vanquishing Satan

Franz von Assisi Kirche am Mexikoplatz - Unique angle

Franz von Assisi Kirche am Mexikoplatz

4.2(11 reviews)
3.0 km•Leopoldstadt

Beautiful architecture church by the Danube river, the Mexico park. Couldn't enter and the…read moresurrounding is not in top condition but the skyline is magnificent. Can find many unique angles for photography.

This review combines our recent experience at this church and the surrounding Mexikoplatz. Gayle…read moreand I walked all around both, and experienced a residential neighborhood vibe. We were unable to enter the church, but did find evidence of a mass schedule (at the side door) and a daycare operation. The main entrances were either a campground for homeless folks or were securely fenced off. Yet apparently, this church is home to the Vienna English Speaking Catholic Community. The St. Francis of Assisi Church is located along the Danube and sports a signature brick Basilica profile. We also used this landmark to to find our way back to our cruise ship. The surrounding Mexikoplatz (Mexico Square), formerly known as Erzherzog-Karl-Platz (Archduke-Karl-Square), commemorates the fact that Mexico was the only country outside the Soviet Union to protest against the Anschluss of Austria to Nazi Germany. The Church and Plaza are also located on the southwestern end of the Reichsbrücke (Empire Bridge). Gayle and I also noted that we were located in the Vienna's Second District, Leopoldstadt, which was also the name of a famous play of that name by Tom Stoppard. Not surprisingly, there was clearly a disconnect between the setting of this play and what we experienced in this District.

Photos
Franz von Assisi Kirche am Mexikoplatz - Front

Front

Franz von Assisi Kirche am Mexikoplatz - Nice at architecture

Nice at architecture

Franz von Assisi Kirche am Mexikoplatz - Church from Danube point of view

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Church from Danube point of view

Karlskirche - Orgel

Karlskirche

4.1(49 reviews)
1.2 km•Wieden

Unique and beautiful 18th-century Baroque architecture church in front of the popular reflection…read morepool. Two 47-meter-tall commemorative columns flank the entrance, featuring spiral reliefs inspired by Trajan's Column in Rome. Bright and more lively ornate interior including a fresco dome and cherish statues. Very different mood visiting interior of this church.

I was very much looking forward to listening to live classical music while visiting Vienna, the…read moreclassical music capital of the world. One of my favorite concerti is Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and I decided to buy a ticket to Karlskirche, aka St Charles Chuch. I'm SO GRATEFUL I got a student pricing for Section I (Section II, the cheaper section, was sold out, but I got a student discount for section I). I'm also so glad I came way earlier than the entrance time, because it was rainy and windy, and the storm was so strong, the staff ended up letting us in early. It was open seating as as long you were within your section, so I sat as close to the front as I could, and chose a spot closest to the aisle. It was an EPIC concert in such a gorgeous location. Whenever I hear Vivaldi's Winter (my favorite of the four seasons), I always think of the Continental Hotel fight scene from John Wick 3 lol. We weren't allowed to record the concert. However, there was a girl sitting the row in front of me who had been recording with her phone, and the entire time, no one came over to tell her to stop recording. There was also a guy further ahead in the VIP section who was recording A LOT. So, I figured, if they can record, then I can too. But then a guy came over and told me to put away my phone. The girl in front of me was recording too, and he also told her to stop. The baroque architecture of Karlskirche is out-of-this-world. I'm not religious, but listening to Vivaldi's Four Seasons here was a visual and sonic feast and a spiritual experience that I will always remember.

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Karlskirche
Karlskirche
Karlskirche - Ornate gold pipe organ and frescoed gallery

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Ornate gold pipe organ and frescoed gallery

Domkirche St. Stephan - churches - Updated October 2026

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