S
Wonderful!
Anthony gave my wife and me the tour of St. Patrick's Cathedral. He did a marvelous job explaining the history and construction of building. Really liked seeing the crypt and other out of the way rooms. I highly recommend the tour.
St Patrick's Cathedral Official Behind the Scenes VIP Tour
+9 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Price from
- $129 / person
- Location
- New York City
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 33 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 12
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Attractions4us LLC
- Meeting point
- Meet your tour guide at the Parish House entrance at 14 E 51st St
Description
Step beyond the velvet ropes for an intimate, small-group VIP experience at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Led by an expert docent, explore rarely seen spaces above and below the sanctuary that reveal hidden stories and treasures few visitors encounter. Begin at a private entrance, passing through the sacristy and descending beneath the altar into the hallowed crypt, final resting place of past archbishops. Hear fascinating insights into the cathedral’s history, artistry, and spiritual legacy. Ascend the grand marble staircase to stand at the main altar, enjoying privileged access and unique vantage points for memorable photographs and quiet moments of reflection, offered only to this select group of guests. Admire the soaring stained-glass windows, the colossal Pieta, and the immense bronze doors operable by one hand. Learn of the 21 altars, 19 bells, and notable figures—from Babe Ruth to Andy Warhol—whose memorials form part of this landmark’s enduring story.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat
- Start times
- 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 21
- Adult
- $129
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 20.
Tour Options
Itinerary
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Ever dream of visiting the behind the scenes quarters of St Patrick's Cathedral? See the archbishop quarters, where the Pope changed his outfit on his visit and more on this VIP guided tour with a Cathedral Historian. Hear personal stories about what makes St. Patrick’s one of the world's most famous Cathedrals. See areas of the Cathedral never before seen by the general public. Your tour will conclude with reserved front row seats for Mass.
What's included
Included
Entry to sacristy
Live Tour Guide (Cathedral Historian)
60-Minute VIP Guided Behind the Scenes Tour
Entry to crypt (subject to availability)
VIP Front Row Reserved Seats for Mass
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
33 reviews
How it compares in New York City
- Price unchanged over the last 18 days
Excurgo comparison of 2,424 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- All visitors to St Patrick's Cathedral must pass through airport-style security
- Participants are asked to dress and act appropriately since you'll be inside a church
- Strollers are OK – but there are steps
- Not suitable for pets or wheelchairs.
- No luggage or large bags or outside food and drinks allowed
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does St Patrick's Cathedral Official Behind the Scenes VIP Tour take?
St Patrick's Cathedral Official Behind the Scenes VIP Tour lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does St Patrick's Cathedral Official Behind the Scenes VIP Tour cost?
Prices start at $129 per person for this New York City experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does St Patrick's Cathedral Official Behind the Scenes VIP Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, starting at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Can I cancel St Patrick's Cathedral Official Behind the Scenes VIP Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Meet your tour guide at the Parish House entrance at 14 E 51st St. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is St Patrick's Cathedral Official Behind the Scenes VIP Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Strollers are OK – but there are steps
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Not suitable for pets or wheelchairs.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is St Patrick's Cathedral Official Behind the Scenes VIP Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 33 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Attractions4us LLC.
Reviews(33)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
A
The guide was very...
The guide was very knowledgeable and informative about the history of grand central station. The tour was better with a guide than just looking around on your own. The guide was also very friendly and even called to make sure we were coming due to few wrong turns! Loved it!
M
Good
Great tour, tour guide very knowledgeable. She had a great manner and knew her stuff. However, very expensive for only one hour! I thought Mass was supposed to come after, but no Mass?
Operator response
Thank you for your review! We’re very happy to hear you enjoyed the tour and found your guide knowledgeable and engaging. St. Patrick’s Cathedral has such an incredible history, and we’re glad the experience reflected that. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the tour length and pricing. The Behind-the-Scenes VIP experience is designed as a specialized one-hour guided access tour focused on exclusive areas of the cathedral. Regarding Mass, while guests are welcome to attend public services at the cathedral independently, Mass is not officially included as part of the guided tour experience. We apologize for any misunderstanding and appreciate you sharing your comments.
L
Behind the Scenes Tour of St. Patrick’s
While the tour does cover the history of St Patrick’s in a manner that would probably interest Catholics and non-Catholics alike, a lot of the tour focused on minutia of Catholicism that might leave non-Catholics a little confused.
Operator response
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed learning about the history of St. Patrick's Cathedral. As one of New York City's most iconic landmarks, the cathedral has a rich history that we strive to bring to life for visitors of all backgrounds. We appreciate your observation regarding the detailed discussions of Catholic traditions and practices. The Behind-the-Scenes VIP Tour is designed to provide an in-depth look at both the cathedral's history and its religious significance, and we understand that some aspects may be more familiar to those with a Catholic background than others. Your feedback is valuable and helps us continue improving the experience for all guests. We hope you enjoyed the unique access and insights offered during the tour, and we thank you for visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral with us. The Attractions4us Team
7
Our tour guide (Mr. Tamontana) was amazing . His words, knowledge and faith were all so inspiring.
To be able to walk through the cathedral to places where most have never been, was amazing. To see the cornerstone of where our New York City faith is based out of, this amazing church, was an amazing experience.
Operator response
Thank you so much for sharing your heartfelt experience! We’re truly delighted to hear how meaningful your visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral was. Mr. Tamontana will be deeply touched by your kind words about his knowledge, inspiring message, and faith-filled guidance. The Behind the Scenes VIP Tour offers a rare opportunity to experience parts of the cathedral few ever get to see, and we’re so happy it left such a lasting impression on you. Thank you again for joining us and for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another unforgettable experience in New York City.
L
Tour of St Patrick's Cathedral
Our tour guide was actively involved with st patricks church working on her credentials. Very knowledgeable about the church history and current day activities. Included info about the vision, the architects, and the builders from past to present. No discussion about religion was included.
A
A little disappointed
The tour guide was not the usual guide per her information. The 2hr tour started 20 min late and lasted 70 min. I think there were more stories to be shared about the Cathedral but we did not receive them. Disappointed.
N
Great !!!
This was an awesome experience!!! Tour guide was awesome!!! So knowledgeable!!!!!!!We went behind the scenes!!!!!!!!!!!!!
N
Excellent guide elevated interesting tour
We took the 2pm VIP tour on Wednesday Dec. 17, 2025. The cathedral historian was very friendly, enthusiastic, and interesting to talk to and gave us fascinating details and stories about the cathedral. I wanted to see Pierre Toussant’s grave, which we missed seeing at the Old St. Patrick’s Basilica before it was moved. Our historian pointed out features related to Archbishop Terence Cardinal Cooke after I showed her a photo of Cardinal Cooke and me at my Catholic dorm’s dedication at Columbia. She gave us interesting background on the move of Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s grave to Illinois from St. Patrick’s. Our guide made the tour even more special and I recommend it as it informs on so much of what you are seeing, how it got there or why it’s no longer there, and why it’s noteworthy.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that our guide’s enthusiasm and knowledge made your tour of the cathedral so memorable. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to her — she’ll be delighted! We’d love to welcome you on another tour soon for more amazing experiences.
A
Quick but informative!
Good overview of the Cathedral. Went during December, so saw some Christmas related displays. Worth it.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that our guide’s enthusiasm and knowledge made your tour of the cathedral so memorable. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to her — she’ll be delighted! We’d love to welcome you on another tour soon for more amazing experiences.
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from$129
4.7(33) Free cancellation