St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York

Many consider St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York to be one of the city’s most prominent landmarks. With its central location on Fifth Avenue right across from Rockefeller Center, this massive cathedral is impossible to miss! St. Patrick’s dates back to the 19th Century and is the largest Neo-Gothic cathedral in North America.

Can you visit Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York?

St. Patrick’s Cathedral looks impressive both from the inside and the outside. The doors of the cathedral used to be closed, but nowadays they are kept open for visitors, which means you can indeed visit this famous Manhattan church.

Go inside and admire the high ceilings, the 3,700 stained glass panels and the replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà (three times larger than the original). There are also artworks made by artisans from all over the world. It can accommodate up to 3,000 people, and from the ground to the spires, it’s 330 feet tall.

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Eric’s Tip: “What I find most unique about St. Patrick’s is its location. This magnificent building stands in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Fifth Avenue and all the luxurious shops. It’s such a contrast, typical of New York.”

Book a St. Patrick’s Cathedral Tour

There are several ways to explore Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, either on your own or led by a knowledgeable guide.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral Audio Tour

You can explore St. Patrick’s Cathedral with an audio tour. The voice of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, virtually guides you through the church. In about one hour, he will tell you all about the rich history and architecture of the building. The tour is included with the New York Pass and Explorer Pass.

Book the St. Patrick’s Cathedral Audio Tour here

VIP Tour in St. Patrick’s Cathedral

You can also get a deep dive into the history and look behind the scenes at this New York City cathedral on Fifth Avenue. During this one-hour VIP tour, you will be guided by a cathedral historian. You get the chance to explore areas of the building that aren’t usually seen by the general public, like the archbishop’s quarters. The tour concludes with reserved front-row seats for the mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Book the VIP Tour in St. Patrick’s Cathedral here

History of St. Patrick’s Cathedral New York

St. Patrick’s Cathedral’s initial location was on Mulberry Street. However, in 1853, the cathedral became too small to house its growing number of devotees, and it became time to move. So, commissioner, Archbishop Hughes suggested, that moving Uptown would be the best opportunity for expansion.

However, at first, this idea was not welcomed. At the time, this area was too far away from the city centre. He predicted that this part of town would soon become the heart of the city. It seems like he was right!

As a result, the first cornerstone of the cathedral as we know it was laid in 1858. Today Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is located in Midtown Manhattan, steps away from other New York landmarks, including Central Park and Grand Central Terminal.

Practical Information

• Location: 5th Avenue, between 50th and 51st Street
• Opening hours: daily from 6:30 to 20:45
• Accessibility: The cathedral is wheelchair accessible
• Free entrance