The Official Cathedral Tour
offers visitors an up-close experience with a narrated video tour available in seven languages.
(Saint Paul, Minn) Most people’s first reaction upon entering the grand space of the Cathedral of Saint Paul, 239 Selby Avenue, is to look up in awe. The Beaux-Arts design, with its soaring arches and domes, never fails to inspire a “wow.” The Cathedral’s vast dimensions could accommodate the Statue of Liberty (without her pedestal). Ranked as the fifth-largest cathedral in the United States, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. More recently, it became a National Shrine to the Apostle Paul and houses a relic of the Apostle. Reserve your tour spot and find details at www.cathedralheritagefoundation.org/tours
Our Cathedral offers three tour options:
- The Official Cathedral Tour ($10): A video tour that brings you closer to details that are difficult to see from the floor. Borrow a tour iPad and headphones at the security desk or download the tour to your own mobile device. Choose from seven languages and listen to the stories of this iconic structure in bite-sized segments.
- Each $10 tour includes a souvenir laminate featuring a full map of the Cathedral’s floor plan.
- Guided group tours are offered at 1 p.m., Monday through Friday ($15): Docents lead visitors around the grand nave (main church space) and sanctuary, allowing time to sit and marvel at the soaring interior dome, interpret the rich imagery, and conclude with a walk through the unique Shrines of Nations — a series of chapels dedicated to the immigrants who built the Cathedral. Tours last approximately one hour.
- VIP “Sunday Best” Guided Tour ($35): This elevated, docent-led experience is designed for guests seeking more than a standard walk-through. Over 90 minutes, you’ll go deeper into the Cathedral’s story, artistry, and living traditions, with exclusive access to areas usually reserved for clergy and staff. Enjoy a true behind-the-scenes tour — including the sacristy, choir loft views, and museum treasures.