What is free and what you pay for
St Stephen's is a working cathedral first. Its FAQ says visitors may enter freely, but that some areas inside the church can be seen only for a fee. The church itself is open Monday to Saturday from 6:00 to 22:00, and Sundays and holidays from 7:00 to 22:00, according to the visitor information page.
So a quick look costs nothing. A proper visit to the paid areas, the catacombs or a tower needs a ticket. Adult prices (checked 19 October 2026):
| What | Adult | Child | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral visit | €8 | €3 (up to 14) | Paid areas during visiting times |
| Public cathedral tour | €8 | €3 (up to 14) | English 10:30, German 15:30, Mon–Fri |
| Catacombs tour | €8 | €3 (6–14) | Guided only; several times a day |
| South Tower | €8 | €3 (6–14) | 343 steps to the tower room |
| North Tower | €8 | €3 (6–14) | Lift to the Pummerin bell |
| All-inclusive | €29 | €7 (6–14) | All of the above plus Dom Museum Wien |
The visitor information page says the all-inclusive ticket covers the cathedral with a digital smartphone audio guide, both towers, one public catacombs tour and the Dom Museum Wien. It is valid for a year. The same page says one child under 14 is included free with each all-inclusive ticket bought.
Is the all-inclusive ticket worth it?
Do the arithmetic before you buy. Four separate €8 items cost €32, so the €29 ticket saves €3 and adds the Dom Museum. At the shop's €25 it saves €7. Three items cost €24, which is less than the €29 bundle unless you also want the museum.
- One tower only, no interior visit: pay €8 at the tower.
- Catacombs and South Tower: €16 separately.
- Everything, including the museum: the all-inclusive, at €29.
- Two adults and a 10-year-old doing everything: €58 at €29 each, because the info page includes one child under 14 free per ticket.
If you only have an hour, pick one tower. The North Tower takes the lift. The South Tower is the taller one, at 136.4 m, but you climb 343 steps to the tower room at 67 m, and the FAQ calls that room the highest point visitors can reach. Fit visitors who want the view should take the stairs. Everyone else should take the lift.
Opening hours, tour times and services
Paid visiting times, from the visitor information page:
- Monday to Saturday: 9:00 to 11:30 and 13:00 to 16:30
- Sundays and public holidays: 13:00 to 16:30
- Subject to change for liturgical reasons; the cathedral's online calendar shows changes
The paid areas close from 11:30 to 13:00 and on Sunday mornings, and the shop's visiting-times page says liturgical events take precedence over tours. Plan a weekday morning or any afternoon.
Catacombs tours need no registration. They start Monday to Saturday at 10:00, 11:00, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30, and on Sundays and holidays at 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30. Meet at the catacombs stairway inside the cathedral. The online shop's visiting-times page adds that the next tour times are posted at the catacombs entrance, and that tours can be cancelled for liturgical or organisational reasons.
Public cathedral tours in English run at 10:30 and in German at 15:30, Monday to Friday, meeting in front of the Domshop.
Towers: the North Tower lift runs daily 9:00 to 19:00, last ride 18:30. The South Tower is open 9:00 to 19:00, last climb 18:15. Neither needs booking.
Dress code, bags and photos
The cathedral asks for clothing suited to a place of worship. Its FAQ and visitor page show bans on sleeveless tops, short skirts, dogs, food, ice cream, smoking and music, and men are asked to remove hats.
Large suitcases and trolleys are not allowed, for security reasons, and the cathedral has no luggage storage. If you are between a hotel and a train, drop bags at a station first.
Photos and video are allowed for private use only, without a tripod.
Buying tickets
You can buy the all-inclusive ticket online through the Dom Museum ticket shop linked from the visitor information page, or directly in the cathedral. The online shop's all-inclusive page says to show the online ticket at the main ticket office in the cathedral to get your admission ticket. It also says children under 14 must be with an adult or on a guided tour. Individual towers and tours need no advance booking.
The cathedral's visit page describes the audio guide as available in your own language, and the shop lists 14 languages.
From the cathedral, our guide to reading the Ringstrasse works as an afternoon route. For Klimt, see the Belvedere tickets guide, and the Lipizzaners in the Hofburg are covered in our Spanish Riding School tickets guide. If you need a break between visiting windows, read up on Viennese coffee houses.