St. Louis Cathedral
St. Louis Cathedral
4.5
Architectural BuildingsChurches & Cathedrals
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Dating all the way back to 1727, this historic church is the oldest continuously active cathedral in the U.S. It overlooks Jackson Square in the French Quarter.
Duration: < 1 hour
    Paid entry
  • Paid parking nearby
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: French Quarter
A small and teeming network of laissez-faire living lounged out on the balmy banks of the Mighty Mississippi, the French Quarter has long been a port of call for folks in search of a good time and a great story. Perpetually inebriated Bourbon Street runs across its midriff like a strand of cheap ribbon tied around an otherwise rather pretty and impressively well-kept vintage dress. Throughout the rest of the Quarter, brightly colored Victorian homes and businesses, famously done up with wrought-iron features, provide a distinct and immediately recognizable backdrop for all varieties of fun. At any given moment in this historic riverside setting, some of America’s finest meals are being cooked, most potent cocktails are being mixed, and most engaging music is being performed.
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See what travellers are saying
  • Tardykat
    New York City, New York2,184 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Looks like Cinderella's Castle
    Being the oldest Catholic church in the USA, it looks very modern and new as it has been rebuilt 3 times, with the last in the 1850s. Inside is a cool sanctuary when it's a hot and humid day outside. Perfect respite. Note the beautiful bible though only a copy, the illustrations (in gold) are a work of art.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 29 October 2023
  • Mrs. Romence
    Grand Rapids, Michigan152 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Beautiful Place to Visit!
    I have been to the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and several other cathedrals in Europe and this cathedral ranks in the top with those contenders. It is such a beautiful creation inside and out. We visited on a Sunday so a baptism was taking place and it was so beautiful to watch. You are allowed to walk inside the sanctuary and take pictures. Many of the statues and memorials are written in French. It is a very beautiful place. I highly recommend that you visit this wonderful piece of history- it does not take long to visit, less than thirty minutes. It is such a beautiful respite from all the homeless people and strong odors outside. Be sure to include this place on your travel itinerary.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 November 2023
  • mwhamburger
    Seattle, Washington836 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    you must visit the oldest cathedral in the U.S. at the lovely Jackson Square.
    A gem. We found out that Irma Thompson was going to be there, the queen of soul in New Orleans. She's awesome!! The church was packed and lines were huge. No admission fee but a donation is welcome. The cathedral is the oldest in the U.S.; first destroyed by a hurricane in 1722 and a fire in 1788. Rebuilt in 1794.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 17 December 2023
  • jim m
    Holymoorside, United Kingdom1,180 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    peaceful
    A small Cathedral with clear French influences. A peaceful place providing a contrast to the musical streets. A beautiful place but I am always put off by any signs of patriotism or personal idolisation in places of Godly worship.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 14 January 2024
  • redcanvas
    Dryden, Canada148 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great spot for a break!
    Great spot to sit and listen to musics of street performers around the square. Benches and manicured grounds. Read the signs…Google the history! Several cafes, restaurants and shops nearby.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 March 2024
  • CharlieV2011
    Chicago, Illinois2,195 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Peaceful and Serene
    I stopped in here and absolutely loved this church! I loved sitting down at a pew and taking in the decorations, glass windows, and environment. This is a great church to stop in for some peace and quiet and to gather your thoughts in a sacred environment!
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 18 April 2024
  • Monica T
    Bay Village, Ohio35 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A MUST stop in New Orleans
    St. Louis Cathedral is one of the oldest cathedrals in continuous use in the United States and a testament to the faith and vision of the Ursuline Sisters, who helped bring this cathedral into existence. Its magnificent architecture rivals many of the churches in Europe. It is certainly a place of solace and quiet just outside the hustle and bustle of Bourbon Street. We had the privilege of attending mass on Sunday and the choir was incredible…truly a beautiful spiritual experience.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 April 2024
  • dambanker
    Toronto, Canada1,807 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Go inside!
    While I have visited Jackson Square before for some reason I never took the time go inside the Cathedral. And you should! As amazing as the cathedral looks from the outside, it is just as great inside. Well worth the walk in. Unfortunately during my visit you can only access the main floor. Not sure if that changes ever but that would have been cool to explore some more. Also go early as later in the day there was lots of people around. Don't do what I've done an walk past... do go in.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 15 May 2024
  • TheTravelbopper
    Boise, Idaho45 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Make sure to visit when you can
    I was pretty excited to see this. We had attempted to go for a few days during our trip but they had Mass and other things going on. When we finally made it on a open for visiting day I was happy. The inside is amazing and the history behind this cathedral is also amazing.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 26 May 2024
  • Robert
    Portland, Texas138 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    It's a beautiful building full of great architecture. Well worth a quick stop.
    To get a little relief from the heat we went into the air-conditioned St. Louis Cathedral. Didn’t spend too much time there as it was closing shortly. The building is very ornate with murals on the ceiling and classic stain glassed windows.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 4 June 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles8,426 reviews
Excellent
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2,079
Average
446
Poor
41
Terrible
20

Jason H
Boonton, NJ222 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
St. Louis Cathedral provides a beautiful backdrop for Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter. It’s one of the symbols of New Orleans.

However, the inside of the church doesn’t really provide much in the way of what one might typically think of for a cathedral. The ceiling is gorgeous, but the rest of the architecture is rather mundane.

There are not a lot of informational signs or things to see within the church, so a brief 10-15 minute visit would be all that you need to see this place. No admission fee is charged.
Written 16 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sarah M
Darien, IL140 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
You can spend anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour here, depending on how closely you want to look at things. There’s an informational pamphlet available for a suggested donation of $1. We found it to be a good (cheap) purchase a very friendly docent shared some of the church’s history with us. We enjoyed our visit.
Written 13 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jodipilot
Tri-Cities, WA27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
The Cathedral sits at the Center of Jackson Square. It is a grand stunning piece of architecture. It is ran by the Catholic Church and is actively offering mass daily. You can attend services or just walk through the church and see it's beautiful design. The inside of the sanctuary is opulent with many intricate stained glass windows, statues, carvings, flags, plaques, and depictions of the story of Christs crucifixion. You can light a candle and say a prayer, donations welcome. What amazed me the most is that as noisy as it is right outside the doors, on the street, the sanctuary was stunningly silent with soft music and total reverence for the ground you were standing on.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David M
Chapel Hill, NC395 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Most prolific cathedral in New Orleans. Easy to identify in the French Quarter and nice to walk through Jackson Square to get to the Cathedral. Outside there is street entertainment ongoing nearly all day. Inside it is a beautiful cathedral but the highlight is the stained glass and worth getting up close to each of them to see the texture and detail. Worth a 30 minute visit
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Glowee26
Columbus, OH181 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
This is a very beautiful Cathedral that has been active in the city of New Orleans for over 280 years. It is the oldest active Cathedral in the U.S. Its a very beautiful structure. We were visiting shortly after Christmas so the Nativity was still on display. I’m happy to have visited this historic beautiful Cathedral which is a big part of New Orleans history. Everyone should take the opportunity to go inside to see how beautiful it is.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Neale1810
Kingston-upon-Hull, UK3,217 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Located just off Jackson Square it’s one of the oldest cathedrals in the US. It’s very picturesque from the outside and lovely decor on the inside (worth popping inside for a few minutes). Please note that the interior is nowhere to the level found in old religious buildings in Europe but my rating is based on what is typically found in the US.
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Debbie A
Dimmitt, TX96 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
This Catholic Church has been very well maintained through the years. It is sparkling white on the outside, inside the murals and stained glass windows are beautiful. It has marble floors, heavy wood pews and ornately carved wood on the sanctuary. It’s worth the time to stop by.
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Krissy W
Phoenix, AZ304 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
This church is not only beautiful but serene. The inside is absolutely stunning. I was kinda disappointed that they charge you so much money to light a candle. That seemed odd to me. Please remember to be respectful while in the church. Take your hats off and remain quiet while. Others are praying. Definitely a must see while in NOLA.
Written 28 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cervantez
San Diego, CA68 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2020
I didn't actually go inside because there were services going on at the time. It seems the cathedral has implemented the most obvious solution to social distancing, constant instead of limited services. The church has several services a day all week long. Seems like a better solution than limiting things. In any case, the building is immaculate and the foyer is a perfect subject for the amature (or professional) photographer. Don't miss it!
Written 12 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andy-S60
London, UK1,899 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Couples
A stunning cathedral, as long as you accept it’s a little different to the ones you might visit in the UK. Beautifully constructed, fabulous stained glass windows, lots of notice board and details of the history of its building. No charge to enter, and if you want to light a candle, you can lay by credit card!!
Written 28 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans

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