Skip to content
BusinessesGrow
Cathedral of Saint Paul, St. Paul, MN

Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory Buff

Cathedral of Saint Paul

239 Selby Ave, St. Paul, MN 55102 · St. Paul, MN

Why you should go…

This colossal Beaux-Arts cathedral, modeled on St. Peter's in Rome, crowns Summit Hill and dominates the St. Paul skyline with its great copper dome. Step inside for soaring marble, stained glass and a hush that stops conversation. Pair it with a stroll down Summit Avenue's Victorian mansion row, one of the best-preserved in the nation.

  • #architecture
  • #landmark
  • #historic
  • #skyline views

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cathedral of Saint Paul, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    History Buff

    James J. Hill House

    Under $25

    Tour the Gilded Age mansion of railroad magnate James J. Hill on Summit Avenue, with its skylit two-story art gallery.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Minnesota History Center

    Under $25

    Explore exhibits on Native Minnesota and objects from the state's collections inside the Minnesota Historical Society's headquarters.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Science Museum of Minnesota

    $25–$50

    Hands-on science playground on the Mississippi bluff with dinosaurs, a giant Omnitheater and endlessly pushable buttons.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Minnesota State Capitol

    Free

    Cass Gilbert's 1905 marble statehouse with one of the world's largest self-supported marble domes, free guided tours leave hourly.

    0.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Explore Minnesota Tourism Office

    Free

    Minnesota's state tourism office in St. Paul, offering trip-planning help for visitors traveling around the state.

    0.8 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Stone Arch Bridge

    Free

    James J. Hill's 1883 stone rail bridge, now a beloved walk-and-bike crossing over St. Anthony Falls, freshly restored and fully reopened in 2025.

    7.4 mi awayMore like this