Churches in Vienna | Famous Churches and Cathedrals to See

As with most major cities in Europe, Vienna, the capital of Austria, has lots of churches to see or visit. These include some very famous churches and some not-so-well-known ones. Some churches in Vienna are must-see attractions, including Karlskirche, St. Peter’s Church and St Stephen’s Cathedral. The churches of Vienna come in all shapes and sizes and architectural styles, including Gothic and Baroque.

The majority of churches in Vienna are free to enter; however, some, like Karlskirche, require a fee. Others host events and charge for these. If you want to see the details and features inside, it’s best to visit when there isn’t a service on.

I enjoyed finding the various church buildings while in Vienna on my five visits. On rainy days, my modus operandi is to go from church to church seeking shelter and have a good mooch inside.

Churches to Visit in Vienna

These are some of the most iconic and popular churches in Vienna and are considered must-see sights. There are also some equally nice but not so well-known church buildings to visit in the city.

St Stephen’s Cathedral – Stephansdom

St Stephen’s Cathedral, also known as Stephansdom, is one of the most famous church buildings in Vienna. It is in Stephansplatz, a lovely square in the geographic centre of the city. It is a massive cathedral and lovely to see from the outside, especially during the Christmas markets or on blue-sky days. During peak travel season, it can get busy outside and inside, but it’s well worth it.

The current church is a combination of Romanesque and Gothic styles. The construction was largely initiated by Duke Rudolf IV in the 14th century.

This is the most important religious building in Vienna. It has been involved in many important events in Habsburg and Austrian history. The musician Mozart also got married here, which is pretty cool. One of the most distinctive features of the building is the multi-coloured tile roof, which is fantastic to see.

St. Peter’s Catholic Church – Peterskirche

Another of the famous churches in Vienna is the wonderful St Peter’s Catholic Church, aka Peterskirche. St Peter’s Catholic Church is centrally located and free to visit. It’s a short walk from St Stephen’s Cathedral, and you can’t really miss the distinctive dome.

This church has a history dating back to the 12th century; however, the current Baroque building was completed in 1722. Some fantastic features inside the church include a decorative organ, a pretty high altar and the decor inside the dome. I enjoyed seeing the church from inside and outside and recommend visiting.

Karlskirche

Karlskirche is a beautiful Baroque church in Karlsplatz. It’s a beautiful building to see while in the city, and the nearby park is lovely. There is a pool at the front, which makes for some interesting reflection photographs. I enjoyed mooching around the outside; however, I couldn’t visit the inside on this visit. Entry to the church costs roughly 10 euros. Karlskirche also hosts concerts inside, which is a good option to see the inside.

Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, built Karlskirche in the 18th century, and it was consecrated in 1737. The style of architecture is Baroque and Rococo. Overall, Karlskirche is a pleasant church building to see, and I really should pop inside on my next visit.

Wiener Minoritenkirche

One of my favourite churches to visit in the city is Wiener Minoritenkirche. Wiener Minoritenkirche has many nice things to see inside, including the famous mosaic of the Last Supper. It is free to enter and easy to find, which brought me here in the first place.

Wiener Minoritenkirche has a history dating back to the 11th century. However, the current building dates from 1350. The square outside the church is also a lovely place to sit and relax, and, on both of my visits, it was pretty quiet.

Votivkirche

Another of the city’s famous churches is Votivkirche, which is very pretty. This church was constructed in the Neo-Gothic style. The spires particularly impressed me, especially when viewed from the nearby park.

The church commemorates Emperor Franz Joseph surviving an assassination attempt in 1879. Inside, the church is equally beautiful. Features I enjoyed seeing include the stained glass windows and a unique pulpit.

Other Historic Churches in Vienna

St Michael’s Church Near The Hofburg

Another nice church to see is St Michael’s Church near the Hofburg. This is one of the oldest churches in Vienna and is well worth visiting inside. St Michael’s Church was built in the Romanesque style and was completed in 1792. The site has been used since the 11th century, when an early Gothic church was there.

St Michael’s Church was free to enter for a mooch around inside; however, you can also arrange tours. A broken phone caused my lack of photos inside.

Church Maria am Gestade

If you enjoy Gothic churches, then a must-visit place is the Church Maria am Gestade. Church Maria am Gestade has some of the oldest surviving Gothic architecture in Vienna, and I really enjoyed visiting. The church is both beautiful inside and outside.

Church Maria am Gestade was completed in 1414. Standout features for me are the 56-metre-tall tower and the decorative nave inside. I really enjoyed seeing all the little details here, and as a bonus, it wasn’t too busy during my visit.

Kirche am Hof

Another interesting church to visit is Kirche am Hof. This one is in a beautiful market square with many interesting buildings to see nearby. During my visit, there were various stalls outside, but the inside of the church was empty.

There has been a church building on this site since 1403; however, the current building dates from the 17th century. Inside are some interesting decorative features, including a cool church organ and pulpit.

Schottenkirche – Basilica of Our Lady of the Scots

Schottenkirche is another fascinating church to visit in the 1st district. As a bonus, there is a pleasant beer garden and some palaces nearby. Schottenkirche translates to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Scots. It is both a parish church and a Benedictine monastery church.

The first Schottenkirche was built in 1155 and consecrated in 1200. The building has been replaced many times throughout history, and the current building is baroque in design. The church is free to enter, and I didn’t find it too busy.

St Francis of Assisi Church

While riding the Flower Wheel at Prater Amusement Park, I spotted a cool-looking building at the top. After some research, I found that it was St Francis of Assisi Church, which is near the River Danube and our dog-friendly accommodation. St Francis of Assisi Church is near a park, which is nice to sit out in. The closest underground station is Vorgartenstraße.

It is also called the Emperor’s Jubilee Church, and it is a basilica-style Catholic church. The church was completed in 1910 and subsequently consecrated in 1913. The church was created to celebrate 50 years of the reign of Franz Joseph I.

The outside is fantastic to see, and apparently, the inside is special too. However, after trying various times, I never got to see inside to confirm this.

Church of the Teutonic Order

The Church of the Teutonic Order is a pleasant building to see, and you can pay to visit inside. Entry to the Church of the Teutonic Order is included with the full ticket for St Stephen’s Cathedral. This is the mother church of the Teutonic Order, so it is an important site for the order.

I’ve come across mentions of the Teutonic Order in various places on my travels. Originally, this was a Gothic church that was built in the 14th century. However, this was remodelled in the Baroque style in the 18th century.

Franziskanerkirche Hl. Hieronymus

Another church I enjoyed seeing while visiting the city was Franziskanerkirche Hl. Hieronymus. This is rather unique and combines Renaissance and Baroque features perfectly. The church is in a nice town square with some handy places for refurbishments.

The church dates from the 17th century, and its standout feature is the oldest organ in Vienna. The baroque organ was built in 1642. Overall, a nice church to visit, and, as a bonus, it was empty inside when I was sightseeing in Vienna.