St. Stephen's Cathedral
- from EUR 5
Open today 15:30–18:00
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Why go
- The catacombs, which hold the remains of over 11,000 people, on a guided tour
- The stone pulpit, a masterwork of late Gothic sculpture, now thought carved by Niclaes Gerhaert van Leyden
- The roof, 111 metres long, covered by 230,000 glazed tiles laid in linear patterns on the diagonal
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart married Constance Weber in the cathedral in 1782
Plan your visit
Opening times
From the venue's website · checked 27 Oct 2026
Don't miss
- South tower, called StefflBuilt from 1368 to 1433, a 65-year build. At 136.4 metres, it is the tallest of the cathedral's towers.South tower, on Stephansplatz On the map
- Wiener Neustädter AltarOrdered in 1447 by Emperor Frederick III, a huge Gothic carved altar at the head of the north nave.Head of the north naveOn the guided tour On the map
- PummerinThe largest bell in Austria, weighing 20,130 kilograms. It can be seen from the plateau of the unfinished north tower.North tower On the map
- High AltarA Baroque panel shows the stoning of St Stephen, the church's patron and the first Christian martyr.Main altar of the church On the map
- Tomb of Emperor Frederick IIIThe body of the tomb has 240 statues. The lid, carved by Niclaes Gerhaert van Leyden, shows the emperor in coronation regalia.Apostles' ChoirThe guided tour shows the red marble sepulchre On the map
Know before you go
- Visitors can tour the cathedral on their own or join a guided tour.
- From 1 August to 31 October the cathedral keeps shorter hours, given in the table below.
- The Wiener Neustädter Altar can only be seen on the guided tour, which also shows Emperor Frederick III's tomb.
- The guided tour covers the cathedral and its treasury.
- The underground route runs through a labyrinth of passages.
- An all-inclusive ticket offers a comprehensive look at the cathedral.
- Private groups and school classes can book tours led by a dedicated cathedral guide.
- Confession is offered in the rear part of the cathedral, on either side of the entrance.
- The south tower can be visited on your own, and the plateau of the unfinished north tower is open to visitors.
- The cathedral's phone number is +43 1 515523530.
Legends and hidden details
- After reports of tears, Emperor Leopold I ordered the icon brought to the cathedral in 1696. It stood near the High Altar from 1697 until 1945.
- Legend has it that a copy of the icon wept, so its village was renamed Máriapócs and became a pilgrimage site.
- The Towers of the Heathens possibly take their name from two fertility symbols, a phallus and a vulva.
Services and visiting hours
- Monday to Saturday
- 06:00 to 22:00 opening hours
- Sunday
- 07:00 to 22:00 opening hours
- 1–31 August
- 10:00 to 12:00 opening hours
- 1–30 September
- 10:00 to 11:00 opening hours
- 1–31 October
- 15:30 to 18:00 opening hours
- Saturday, English service
- 19:00 for visitors interested in Mass; visitors are invited to join
Interesting facts6
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1443
The Giant's Door may be named for a mammoth thighbone unearthed in 1443.
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna - Wikipedia -
A stone self-portrait of the sculptor, called the Fenstergucker, peers from a window beneath the pulpit stairs.
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna - Wikipedia -
The pulpit stands against a pillar in the nave so sermons could be heard before microphones.
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna - Wikipedia -
Hundreds of relics are kept in St. Valentine's Chapel, including a piece of the tablecloth from the Last Supper.
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna - Wikipedia -
Prince Eugene of Savoy is buried in the Chapel of the Cross under a massive stone slab.
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna - Wikipedia -
78 bronze
The Ducal Crypt under the chancel holds 78 bronze containers with remains of 72 Habsburg dynasty members.
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
Duke Rudolf IV largely started the present Romanesque and Gothic form of the church. A collegiate chapter founded in the Hofburg moved into the church in 1365. A domed cap was placed on the unfinished north tower in 1578. Until 1955, watchmen manned the tower at night and rang the bells if they spotted a fire. The cathedral was badly damaged in the war. It reopened in limited form in 1948 and fully in 1952. After the 1945 fire, a new organ with 125 stops was finished in 1960. Benoît XVI visited the cathedral in 2007.
- 1137The church is founded, following the Treaty of Mautern.
- 1258A great fire destroys much of the church; a larger replacement is consecrated in 1263.
- 1304Work on a three-nave Gothic choir east of the church is thought to have begun in 1304.
- 1433The south tower is completed under master builder Hans Prachatitz, after 65 years of building.
- 1469The Diocese of Vienna is founded, with the cathedral as its mother church.
Show all
- 1511Work on the north tower stops, and it is left unfinished.
- World War IIWehrmacht captain Gerhard Klinkicht disobeys orders to destroy the cathedral.
- 1945A fire destroys the roof frame, the organ and many bells; the great bell Pummerin is destroyed.
How to get there
- TrainTake the U1 or U3 metro to Stephansplatz station. The cathedral is at Stephansplatz 3.
Sources: St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna - Wikipedia · Vienna/Innere Stadt - Wikivoyage (see) · Domkirche St. Stephan · Geschichte - Domkirche St. Stephan · Besichtigung - Domkirche St. Stephan · Stephansdom - Wikipedia · Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Vienne - Wikipedia · checked 17 Oct 2026
- Website
- stephanskirche.at/
- Phone
- +43 1 515523530
Questions and answers
Can you visit St Stephen's Cathedral on your own or with a guide?
Yes. You can tour the cathedral on your own or join a guided tour. Private groups and school classes can also book a tour with a dedicated guide.
Is there a route planner for St Stephen's Cathedral?
Yes. The cathedral's website has a route planner that finds the most convenient way to get there.
Can you climb the towers of St Stephen's Cathedral?
Yes. The south tower, 136.4 metres high, can be visited on your own, and the plateau of the unfinished north tower is open to visitors.
Are there English tours at St Stephen's Cathedral?
Yes. Public tours run in German and English, and an audio guide is available in your own language.
Can you visit the catacombs of St Stephen's Cathedral?
Yes. Guided catacomb tours take you through an underground labyrinth of passages and explain the burial rituals of the Habsburgs.
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