The 15 most beautiful churches in Vienna: which to visit, prices & hours 2026

Right, let’s be clear from the off: in Vienna, you’re going to see churches. Lots of churches. Even if you hadn’t planned on it!

They’re everywhere, on every street corner, and above all they have absolutely nothing in common with one another. Pure Gothic, baroque so gilded it hurts your eyes, neo-Gothic pretending to be a cathedral, and even an entire crypt full of Habsburgs. You’ll read all over the place that there are 200 of them, sometimes 300: in reality there’s no official count for the city of Vienna alone. One thing’s for sure, you’ll never get round them all!

So the real question when you’re planning your trip is knowing which ones are really worth the detour. Because there’s a world of difference between the one that blows you away and the one where you spend all of four minutes.

And the information floating around is often out of date. I still came across articles quoting €8.50 for the Capuchin Crypt, when it’s €15 today. Or ones dangling the Karlskirche lift in front of you, which has been dismantled since 2022. So I re-checked everything on the parishes’ official websites: prices, opening hours, what’s changed, and above all what’s free. And in Vienna, that’s nearly everything!

So here’s my pick of the most beautiful churches in Vienna. First the ones that impressed me most, then the others, the ones that deserve a visit or have an excellent reputation. You’ll also find a walking route to string them all together in a day, and a full table of prices and opening hours at the end of the article. If you’d rather start with the big picture, I’ve also got an article on everything there is to see in Vienna.

Right then, let’s dive in!

Which church in Vienna should you visit? The quick comparison

Before we get into the detail, here’s something to get your bearings in 30 seconds. Because let’s be clear: you’re not going to do them all!

In short: if you’ve only got half a day, do St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Karlskirche, and pop into St Peter’s for 10 minutes on the way. It’s free and it’s right there on the route 🙂

St Stephen’s Cathedral / Stephansdom

How could I start with anything else? Vienna’s cathedral is truly the heart of the city. For several reasons. First of all, it sits right in the middle of the historic centre. Everything revolves around it, it’s the main square and almost every metro line runs there. Suffice to say you can’t miss it! Especially as it’s visible from afar.

It’s magnificent. And good news if you’re going now: the scaffolding that had hidden the south tower for almost 30 years was finally removed in October 2025! So you can see it in its entirety, which hadn’t been possible since 1995. The south side is in fact the most beautiful, but you won’t miss it anyway. Gothic in style and very finely worked, what I liked most from the outside is the roof, with its colourful tiles laid out in diagonal patterns.

The exterior is lovely, but the interior will blow you away. It’s exceptional. Especially as I’d been to St Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest just before, and the contrast is huge. Here it’s magical. The photos speak for themselves (at least I hope so!): pure Gothic style, packed with ornamentation, vast and richly worked.

There are several options for visiting the cathedral (prices checked in August 2026):

• free access to the nave: free
• the central visit with audio guide: €8
• the north tower, by lift, to see the great Pummerin bell: €8
• the south tower and its 343 steps: €8
• the catacombs, by compulsory guided tour: €8
• the Teutonic Order’s treasures: €7
• the “all-inclusive” ticket: €29 — and it’s valid for a year, which nobody ever tells you!

Two things to know before you go:

• On site, the cathedral only takes cash. No cards, it’s spelled out in black and white on their official website. So either bring cash, or buy the all-inclusive ticket online before you come. It would have really helped me to know that :p
• Both towers close at 7pm, but the last climb is at 6.15pm for the south tower and 6.30pm for the north tower. Don’t turn up at the last minute!

In short, a must! There really are lots of things to see in Vienna but you mustn’t miss this cathedral.

St Peter’s Church

A completely different style from the Domkirche we’ve just seen, St Peter’s is a baroque church. And not one of the more restrained ones! Its interior is richly decorated, with stucco and gold-coloured paintwork. It’s an architectural marvel to admire, and it also has a lovely collection of stained-glass windows several centuries old.

We arrived right in the middle of mass, so we couldn’t get close to the altar. But there are lots of paintings, especially the exceptional ones covering the dome! My one small regret is not having been able to go back outside of mass to enjoy it for longer.

You’ll read absolutely everywhere that it’s the oldest church in Vienna. Well, that’s true… and false at the same time, and I’d rather tell you plainly because almost every article gets this wrong.

What to take away:

• St Peter’s really is the oldest place of worship in the city. A first church already stood here in the 4th century, within the Roman camp of Vindobona, and another is said to have been founded later by Charlemagne. That much is true.
• Except that the building you visit today is baroque, built between 1701 and 1733. So there’s nothing ancient left to see on site!
• The oldest church still standing in Vienna is the Ruprechtskirche, whose roots are said to go back to the year 740. It’s the Archdiocese of Vienna itself that says so.

There, that’s settled 🙂

It’s on the city’s central square, just below the cathedral, so it’s impossible to miss, especially as you can see its dome from the surrounding streets. So there’s no reason not to go!

It’s free to visit, from 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

And a great tip that very few people know: there’s free music here every day, at 1.30pm, 3pm and 7pm. Organ or choir, free entry, they just ask for a small donation. Honestly, time your visit around it, it makes all the difference!

• Tip: you can attend a classical music concert in St Peter’s Church, discover it here!

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The Capuchin Crypt

The Capuchin Crypt in Vienna is one of the most intriguing and characterful sites in the city, offering visitors a rich and eventful history. Built in the 17th century by the Capuchin friars, it has been the setting for all sorts of rites and rituals, including of course the one it’s famous for: the burial of influential members of Viennese society. Because in itself the church isn’t necessarily the prettiest, either outside or in. What we’re here for is all those tombs of the Habsburg family, who have rested here for hundreds and hundreds of years.

12 emperors, 19 empresses, including the most famous such as Maria Theresa, Franz Joseph I and his wife Elisabeth, better known by her nickname Empress Sisi.

You don’t come here to pay your respects, but because the whole history of Austria and a good part of Europe rests here (the Habsburgs were seriously powerful back then). In fact, Marie Antoinette, daughter of the hugely influential Maria Theresa, was “sent” to France to marry Louis XVI in the hope of reconciling the two kingdoms and putting a stop to the fighting. Well, not sure that turned out to be a smart move given how it ended.

So, as I was saying, ah yes, you also come for the beauty of the tombs. It’s not morbid, they’re simply superb! Some of them extremely delicate and finely worked, like Maria Theresa’s.

• Visit length: 45 min to 1 hour
• Price: €15 per adult, €13 concession, €8 up to 18 and €34 for the family ticket (prices checked in August 2026)
• Open every day from 10am to 6pm, but last entry at 5.30pm
• Guided tours are included in the ticket, including one in English every day at 3pm. Make the most of it!
• And unlike the cathedral, here cards work without a hitch

Careful, masterpiece ahead (another one, yes, I know!) St Charles Borromeo’s church in Vienna is an architectural and historical gem. This baroque church was built in the 17th century and is known for its interior walls adorned with biblical scenes and for its magnificent frescoes.

The exterior alone is a feast for the eyes, with its striking columns carved in the style of ancient Rome, and even more so when you stand right in front of it, by the pool that gives a lovely reflection.

But that’s nothing compared to what awaits inside. You’ll be struck by the grandeur and the unique atmosphere of this church. There are old paintings and sculptures adorning the walls, and truly exceptional frescoes, especially in the dome. With lots of little details everywhere, mind you don’t get a crick in your neck!

During the visit, you climb on foot via the organ loft (rather lovely in itself) up to a panoramic terrace above the portal. The view over the nave from up there is superb.

Heads up though, something’s changed and it matters: the lift that used to go up beneath the dome was dismantled in November 2022, and has never been replaced. So you can no longer get close to Rottmayr’s frescoes as you once could. Loads of French-language articles still claim otherwise, so you may as well know before rather than be disappointed on the spot!

• The visit takes 45 min to 1 hour (audio guide included in the ticket)
• It costs €9.50 per adult, €6 for students, and it’s free for under-10s
• Opening hours:
  • 9am-6pm Monday to Saturday
  • 11.45am-7.15pm on Sundays and public holidays
• Activity: you can attend a Vivaldi concert in St Charles’s church, more info here!

St Anne’s Church

What a lovely surprise!

We stumbled on St Anne’s Church more or less by chance (right next to a rather good ice-cream parlour, as it happens), and honestly, it’s really, really lovely. Baroque, of course, marble everywhere, pink columns, sculptures, and magnificent ceilings with large frescoes. It’s said the inauguration took place in the presence of Emperor Ferdinand II in 1633.

Entry and the visit are free. The parish doesn’t publish official opening hours, but the church stays open for adoration from 8am to 6pm: in practice, you can pop in during the day without a second thought.

• Music: I’ve just seen that you can attend a classical music concert (Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert) in St Anne’s Church. The perfect setting! Discover it here!

The other churches in Vienna that are worth it

Right, let’s be honest: I didn’t visit all of these. Some for lack of time, others because I only discovered them afterwards (it happens!). But they thoroughly deserve their place here, and I’ve checked the practical details for each one to save you any nasty surprises.

The Augustinian Church (Augustinerkirche)

At the entrance to the Hofburg complex, on Josefsplatz. It’s most famous for having hosted the wedding of Emperor Franz Joseph and Elisabeth of Bavaria, known as Sisi, in 1854.

But its real secret is below: the Herzgruft, the crypt of hearts, where 54 urns containing the hearts of the Habsburgs rest. Yes, really, just the hearts. Quite the atmosphere.

Good to know:

• The church is free. The crypt of hearts, however, can only be visited on a guided tour: on Sundays after high mass, or on weekdays by request (€5 for the crypt alone, €10 with the church)
• On Sundays at 11am, mass is sung with choir, soloists and orchestra. It’s free and it’s probably the finest musical moment in Vienna!

St Michael’s Church (Michaelerkirche)

Right opposite the Hofburg. It’s unassuming from the outside, but the far end is very pretty with its sculptures, and there’s a beautiful organ.

Here too, the best is below: the crypt houses mummified bodies from the 17th and 18th centuries, still dressed in their period clothing. It’s quite striking.

Good to know:

• The church is free and open every day from 7am to 10pm
• The crypt can only be visited on a guided tour for €10: on Fridays at 12pm and 2pm, on Saturdays at 10am and 12pm, and in English on Saturdays at 11am. Allow 45 minutes
• Photos and videos are completely forbidden in the crypt, and they’re strict about it

The Votive Church (Votivkirche)

A magnificent neo-Gothic church that looks very much like a cathedral, with its two 99m spires. Located just above the City Hall. I couldn’t visit it and I really regret it!

Good to know:

• Free entry, but watch the opening hours, they’re really unusual: closed on Mondays, 10am-4pm Tuesday to Friday, 11am-7pm on Saturdays, and only 9am-1pm on Sundays
• A small museum in the oratory (€8) houses a 15th-century Antwerp altarpiece
• There’s also an immersive show, “Light of Creation”, 30 minutes of 360° projection in the nave, between €22 and €27 depending on the seat

The Jesuit Church (Jesuitenkirche)

A magnificent baroque church that would easily make my top list if I’d had time to visit it. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case.

Its showpiece: the trompe-l’oeil false dome by Andrea Pozzo. There’s a disc marked on the floor, stand on it and look up, the illusion is stunning.

Good to know: free entry, open from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and from 8am to 7pm on Sundays. In July and August, there’s organ music every Sunday at 6.20pm.

The Ruprechtskirche

The one I mentioned earlier: the oldest church still standing in Vienna, with roots said to go back to the year 740. Tiny, Romanesque, austere, a stone’s throw from Schwedenplatz. Nothing like the gilded baroque of the rest of the city, and that’s precisely what makes it interesting.

Good to know: free, but it has no fixed opening hours. The parish posts its opening times in a table updated day by day, so it’s a bit of a lottery. The safest bet is Saturday mass at 5pm (6pm in July-August).

The Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity

Very richly decorated (pure Orthodox style), masses of ornamentation, really nice! Its gilded Byzantine façade on the Fleischmarkt looks like nothing else in Vienna. Free entry.

Santa Barbara

A Ukrainian Greek Catholic church, worth visiting above all for its magnificent ceiling frescoes! Free entry.

The Maria vom Siege Orthodox Church

Which I’ve only just discovered (so too late!), a really surprising Orthodox church! A fair way from the city centre, well, two metro stops really. Free entry.

The Guard Church (Gardekirche)

Right next to the Belvedere. A tiny Polish church with a very pretty dome. You just have to manage to get in, which isn’t easy as it’s often closed!

The Rochuskirche

A pretty church with a beautiful altarpiece, in the 3rd district. And what an altarpiece: twisted green marble columns, white statues and the imperial double-headed eagle presiding above. Worth the detour if you’re passing nearby! Free entry.

As we’ve seen, many churches offer the chance to attend classical music concerts. Such as the superb Karlskirche, St Anne’s and Peterskirche in particular. In the following article you’ll find all the information about concerts in Vienna!

And many of Vienna’s churches can also be visited with guides. Ideal for learning more about their history

The walking route around Vienna’s churches in a day

Right, now that we’ve been through them all, how do you string them together? Because the great news is that almost everything fits within the 1st district. We’re talking about 2 km of walking over the whole day, barely 35 minutes of walking in total. Everything else is time spent inside 🙂

Here’s the route I’d do again, in this order:

• 9am — St Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansplatz). Allow 1 hr 30 if you climb the south tower and do the catacombs, 30 minutes if you stick to the free nave. And remember the cash!
• 10.30am — St Michael’s (Michaelerplatz). 5 minutes on foot via the Graben then the Kohlmarkt. On Fridays and Saturdays, this is the time to do the mummy crypt.
• 11.30am — The Augustinian Church (Josefsplatz). 3 minutes, alongside the Hofburg. On Sundays, the crypt of hearts can be visited right after the 11am mass.
• 12.30pm — Lunch break around the Neuer Markt or the Kärntner Straße. You’re right in the middle of the route, nicely done eh :p
• 1.30pm — St Peter’s Church (Petersplatz). 5 minutes. And here’s the clever bit: you land right on the free 1.30pm concert!
• 2.30pm — The Capuchin Crypt (Neuer Markt). 6 minutes. Allow a good hour, there’s plenty to read.
• 3.45pm — St Anne’s Church (Annagasse). 5 minutes. A quarter of an hour, free, and far quieter than everything else.
• 4.15pm — The Karlskirche (Karlsplatz). 10 minutes down the Kärntner Straße. It closes at 6pm on weekdays, so you’ve got plenty of time.

Two little rules all the same:

• Avoid Sunday morning if you want to visit in peace. The cathedral only opens for tourist visits at 1pm that day, and there are masses going on more or less everywhere else.
• St Michael’s crypt is Friday and Saturday only. If it appeals to you, plan your day of churches around one of those two days.

And the budget in all this? If you do absolutely everything: €8 for the cathedral, €10 for St Michael’s crypt, €15 for the Capuchin Crypt and €9.50 for the Karlskirche, that’s €42.50. But if you stick to the naves, the exact same day costs you €0. And honestly, it’s still magnificent!

Underground Vienna: the crypt route

Now this is my little extra, and I haven’t seen anyone else suggest it. Beneath Vienna’s churches lies a whole second city. A city of the dead, yes, but utterly fascinating. And the best part: the four great crypts can be done in the same half-day, they’re all less than a 10-minute walk from one another.

Here’s what’s down there:

• The Capuchin Crypt — €15. The best known and the most imperial. 12 emperors, 19 empresses, and the most finely worked sarcophagi you’ll ever see. This is where Sisi rests.
• The Stephansdom catacombs — €8, by compulsory guided tour. Beneath the cathedral: the ducal crypt and the medieval ossuary. To give you a sense of scale, nearly 11,000 people were buried here between 1745 and 1783, before an imperial decree banned burials in churches.
• The Augustinian crypt of hearts — €5, on a guided tour. 54 urns, each containing the heart of a Habsburg, from 1618 to 1878. Including Maria Theresa’s. Yes, really, just the hearts. Quite the atmosphere.
• St Michael’s crypt — €10, Friday and Saturday. Mummified bodies from the 17th and 18th centuries, still dressed in their period clothing. The most unsettling of the four, in my opinion.

In practical terms: the four cost you €38 and take a good half-day. And if you only do one, choose the Capuchin Crypt for History with a capital H, or St Michael’s if you really want to be shaken up!

One point that matters: photos and videos are completely forbidden in St Michael’s crypt, and they’re very strict about it. Put the phone away 🙂

2026 prices and opening hours for Vienna’s churches

This is the thing I couldn’t find anywhere when I was planning my trip, so I’ve gathered it all together. I checked every line on the parishes’ official websites in August 2026. Things change, so double-check on the day if it’s tight!

Three things to take away from this table:

• Almost all of Vienna’s churches are free, including the cathedral nave. You can do a whole day of churches without spending a single euro!
• The Vienna Pass is useless if you’re coming for the churches: neither the cathedral nor the Karlskirche is included. Only the Capuchin Crypt is. A complete circuit will cost you around €75, far less than a 2- or 3-day pass.
• For Santa Barbara, Maria vom Siege, the Guard Church and the Rochuskirche: free entry, but none of these parishes publishes official opening hours. Try your luck during the day 🙂

FAQ: visiting Vienna’s churches

Are Vienna’s churches free?

The vast majority, yes! St Peter’s, St Anne’s, the Jesuit Church, St Michael’s, the Votive Church, the Augustinian Church, the Ruprechtskirche: free entry. Even the nave of St Stephen’s Cathedral is free. You only pay for the extras, that is the towers, the crypts and the Karlskirche.

How much does entry to St Stephen’s Cathedral cost in 2026?

The nave is free. After that it’s €8 per section: central visit with audio guide, south tower, north tower or catacombs. The all-inclusive ticket that bundles everything is €29, and it’s valid for a year. Allow €3 per child, and €7 for the children’s all-inclusive.

North tower or south tower of the Stephansdom: which one to climb?

Same price, €8. The south tower is 343 steps on foot, with an unobstructed view over the whole city. The north tower is by lift and leads to the Pummerin, the great bell. So south tower if you want the view and your legs are up to it, north tower if you prefer the lift!

Can you still go up into the Karlskirche dome?

No, and it’s the number one trap. The lift that went up to 32m beneath the dome was dismantled at the end of November 2022, and has never been replaced. So you can no longer get close to Rottmayr’s frescoes. The ticket does, however, give you access on foot to the organ loft and a terrace above the portal.

How much does the Capuchin Crypt cost, and is Sisi really buried there?

€15 for an adult, €13 concession and €8 up to 18. And yes, Elisabeth of Bavaria really does rest here, alongside her husband Franz Joseph and their son Rudolf. Beware of old articles still quoting €8.50, that price dates from before 2020!

What is the oldest church in Vienna?

The Ruprechtskirche, whose roots are said to go back to the year 740. You’ll often read that it’s St Peter’s: that’s true for the place of worship, occupied since the 4th century, but false for the building, which is a baroque structure from 1701-1733. So for genuinely old stone, it’s the Ruprechtskirche.

How much time should you allow to visit Vienna’s churches?

A day for the main ones, on foot. Allow 1 hr 30 for the cathedral if you climb a tower, 1 hour for the Capuchin Crypt, 45 minutes to 1 hour for the Karlskirche, and 15 to 30 minutes for each of the free ones. If you’ve only got half a day, do the cathedral and the Karlskirche.

Can you visit the churches on Sundays, during mass?

Yes, but not well. On Sundays, the cathedral only opens for tourist visits from 1pm, and many churches run services one after another all morning. You can go in, but you won’t move around freely and you won’t get near the altars. Better to choose a weekday, or Sunday afternoon.

Is there a dress code? Can you take photos?

Nothing as strict as in Italy: no checks on shoulders or knees at the door. The cathedral simply asks for decent attire, and for men to remove their hats. Photos are allowed for private use but tripods are forbidden. Exception: photos and videos are completely forbidden in St Michael’s crypt.

Is the Vienna Pass worth it for visiting the churches?

No, honestly not. Neither St Stephen’s Cathedral nor the Karlskirche is included, and those are precisely the only two that really charge. Only the Capuchin Crypt is. A complete church circuit comes to around €75, far less than a 2- or 3-day pass.

Can you pay by card in Vienna’s churches?

Not everywhere, and it’s the kind of detail that spoils a visit. St Stephen’s Cathedral only takes cash on site, it’s spelled out in black and white on its official website. The Capuchin Crypt, on the other hand, takes cards and Maestro. The simplest thing is still to bring cash.

Which church to choose for a classical music concert?

The Karlskirche for Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, in an unbeatable setting. St Peter’s for gilded baroque, with the bonus of free music every day at 1.30pm, 3pm and 7pm. And the Augustinian Church for Sunday high mass at 11am, sung with choir, soloists and orchestra: it’s free!

Find all the articles about Vienna:

• All the most beautiful places to see in Vienna
• Which neighbourhood to stay in in Vienna – I point out the best areas and those to avoid, with recommendations!
• The best guided tours in Vienna
• How to get from Vienna airport to the city centre
• See a Mozart or Vivaldi concert in Vienna – or any other classical music concert, in a legendary venue!