What is there
to see?

Vienna’s iconic cathedral stands at the very heart of the city. It’s a cliché I know, but also absolutely true! Look at a map of Vienna and you’ll see the historic Ringstraße all the way around the city centre with Stephansdom right in the very middle.

At first glance, the cathedral’s limestone walls, blackened by pollution over the years, don’t look very appealing. But don’t be disheartened! On closer inspection, you’ll see the façade has many beautiful details. Look really closely and you might even spot St Stephen – the cathedral’s namesake and patron saint of horses – with a book, stones and palm leaves.

Many more portraits of St Stephen can also be found inside the cathedral, including in the medieval glass windows, on the Wiener Neustädter Altar and on various pillars in the chancel and nave.

All these details are certainly very interesting but what makes Stephansdom really special is the architecture, in particular its gothic nave and magnificent baroque high altar. The wonderful juxtaposition of these two architectural styles is truly stunning!

Stephansdom welcomes more than 6 million visitors every year. For many, the gothic cathedral is the first stop on their tour of Vienna, not just because of its impressive architecture but also because of the enormous catacombs beneath its floors where many of the Habsburgs are buried.

The cathedral’s other big draw is its towers. Stephansdom has four towers in total, two of which (the north and south towers) are open to visitors. The south tower is the taller of the two at around 136.5 m and known affectionately by locals as Steffl or ‘Little Stephan’. The Viennese love nicknames, so much so that the bell in the north tower even has two – the Pummerin and also the Stimme Österreichs which means the ‘Voice of Austria’. At some 68 m tall, the north tower is much smaller. It also has a lift to take you to the top, where you can enjoy a stunning view over the rooftops of Vienna and right down onto the roof of Stephansdom itself. To get to the top of the south tower, you have to climb the 343 steps yourself (although it is currently closed to visitors).

The area around Stephansdom is pedestrianised and popular with shoppers who come to browse the fashion stores on Kärntner Straße and exclusive boutiques on the Graben. The streets and alleyways around the cathedral are also home to many top restaurants, renowned Viennese coffee shops and wonderful pubs and bars.