20 Breathtaking Churches To Visit Across The United States
Churches can stop a road trip in its tracks, even for people who don’t plan their weekends around architecture.
Something about a soaring ceiling, a wall of stained glass, or a quiet courtyard feels like hitting the pause button on the whole day.
Across the United States, sacred spaces show off an incredible range of styles, too.
Gothic spires rise over major cities, adobe missions hold stories that predate the country itself, and modern designs lean into light, wood, and bold geometry.
Any visit can be quick and respectful, yet still feel memorable, since the best ones blend art, history, and atmosphere in a way few buildings can.
1. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — Washington, D.C.
Walking into this basilica feels like stepping into a mosaic dream.
The sheer scale of the place hits you first, then your eyes adjust and you notice the millions of tiny tiles forming saints, angels, and biblical scenes across every surface.
Built over decades and finally completed in 1959, this is the largest Catholic church in North America and one of the ten largest churches in the world.
The interior chapels each tell different stories through their unique artistic styles, from traditional European to distinctly American themes.
2. Washington National Cathedral — Washington, D.C.
Perched on the highest point in D.C., this Gothic giant took 83 years to build and looks like it was airlifted straight from medieval Europe.
The towers pierce the skyline, and the stone carvings include everything from biblical figures to a tiny Darth Vader gargoyle that kids love spotting.
Inside, the stained glass windows glow like jewels, and the acoustics make even whispers sound profound.
Climb the tower for views that stretch across the entire capital, or explore the underground crypt where Helen Keller is buried.
3. Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption — Covington, Kentucky
Just across the river from Cincinnati, this cathedral surprises everyone who stumbles upon it.
Modeled after Notre Dame in Paris and completed in 1915, it features the same soaring Gothic arches and luminous interior that made its French inspiration famous.
What sets it apart is the incredible sense of light and space inside, with 82 stained glass windows creating a constantly changing atmosphere as the sun moves across the sky.
The hand-painted murals and intricate woodwork show craftsmanship that’s nearly impossible to find today.
4. St. Patrick’s Cathedral — New York City, New York
Right in the heart of Manhattan’s shopping district, this cathedral stands as a quiet rebellion against the chaos of Fifth Avenue.
The white marble facade practically glows against the glass and steel towers that crowd around it, and stepping through those bronze doors is like entering another century.
Completed in 1878 by Irish immigrants who gave everything they had to build it, the cathedral seats 2,400 people beneath soaring ceilings and brilliant stained glass.
5. St. Louis Cathedral — New Orleans, Louisiana
You’ve seen this building in a thousand New Orleans postcards, but nothing prepares you for standing in Jackson Square with the cathedral rising white and elegant before you.
Built in 1794 and rebuilt after fires, it’s the oldest continuously active cathedral in the United States.
The triple spires define the French Quarter skyline, and the interior feels intimate compared to other cathedrals on this list.
Street musicians often play outside, adding a soundtrack that somehow makes the whole scene more magical.
6. Thorncrown Chapel — near Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Imagine a chapel made almost entirely of glass and wood, sitting in an Ozark forest like it grew there naturally.
Designed by E. Fay Jones in 1980, Thorncrown uses 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass to blur the line between inside and outside.
The structure rises 48 feet high but feels weightless, with wooden beams creating a geometric pattern that mimics the trees surrounding it.
Light pours through from every angle, and sitting inside feels less like being in a building and more like being cradled by the forest itself.
7. Chapel of the Holy Cross — Sedona, Arizona
Built directly into Sedona’s red rock cliffs in 1956, this chapel looks like something from a science fiction movie about the future of worship.
The modernist design features a massive cross rising from the rock face, visible from miles away across the desert.
Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows frame the red rocks and desert landscape like a living painting.
The architect, Marguerite Brunswig Staude, wanted to create a space where nature itself became part of the worship experience, and she absolutely nailed it.
8. Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis — St. Louis, Missouri
Calling this place stunning doesn’t do it justice.
The moment you look up, you’re hit with 83,000 square feet of mosaic art covering nearly every inch of the interior, making it one of the largest mosaic collections on the planet.
Completed in 1914, the cathedral combines Romanesque and Byzantine styles in ways that feel both ancient and surprisingly fresh.
The mosaics depict biblical scenes and saints in such vivid detail that you’ll find yourself squinting to see where one tiny tile ends and another begins.
Bring binoculars if you really want to appreciate the ceiling work, and don’t miss the crypt level below.
9. Cathedral of St. John the Divine — New York City, New York
Still technically unfinished after more than 120 years of construction, this cathedral remains one of the largest religious buildings in the world.
The nave stretches longer than two football fields, and the ceiling soars so high it creates its own weather system inside.
The mix of architectural styles reflects its long building period, with everything from Romanesque to Gothic elements competing for attention.
Special programs include the annual Blessing of the Animals, where New Yorkers bring everything from hamsters to camels into the cathedral.
10. Riverside Church — New York City, New York
This interdenominational church on the Upper West Side boasts the tallest church tower in America at 392 feet.
Built in 1930 with Rockefeller money, it combines Gothic Revival architecture with a progressive social mission that’s been challenging the status quo for nearly a century.
The carillon in the tower contains 74 bells, the largest weighing 20 tons, and their concerts echo across the Hudson River.
Take the elevator to the observation deck for spectacular views of the Hudson and Manhattan skyline.
11. Grace Cathedral — San Francisco, California
Perched atop Nob Hill, this Episcopal cathedral brings Gothic grandeur to the West Coast with a distinctly California twist.
The outdoor labyrinth at the entrance invites visitors to walk a meditative path before even entering, and the AIDS Memorial Chapel inside honors the city’s history with quiet dignity.
The stained glass windows include modern subjects like Albert Einstein and astronaut John Glenn alongside traditional religious figures.
The cathedral hosts everything from yoga classes to interfaith services, making it feel more like a living community center than a museum piece.
12. Trinity Church — Boston, Massachusetts
Standing in Copley Square since 1877, Trinity Church represents American Romanesque architecture at its absolute peak.
The red sandstone exterior and massive central tower create a presence so powerful that the modern glass skyscrapers around it seem to lean back in respect.
Architect H.H. Richardson designed every detail, from the broad arches to the richly decorated interior where John La Farge’s murals cover the walls and ceilings.
Tour guides offer fascinating details about the building’s construction and the famous people who worshipped here, including multiple presidents.
13. Old North Church — Boston, Massachusetts
Famous for the “one if by land, two if by sea” lantern signal that warned of British troops in 1775, this church feels like stepping into a history textbook.
Built in 1723, it’s Boston’s oldest surviving church building, and the box pews and brass chandeliers look exactly as they did centuries ago.
The steeple has been rebuilt twice after storms knocked it down, but it still dominates the North End skyline.
Climb the narrow stairs to see where Robert Newman hung those famous lanterns, and imagine doing it in complete darkness with British soldiers patrolling outside.
14. Mission San Xavier del Bac — Tucson, Arizona
Rising white and ornate from the Sonoran Desert, this Spanish mission looks like an elaborate wedding cake that someone left in the most unlikely spot.
Founded in 1692 and completed in 1797, it’s been called the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States.
The facade explodes with baroque details, every surface carved and decorated with saints, angels, and geometric patterns.
Inside, the original frescoes and statues create an atmosphere that’s both sacred and slightly surreal, especially when desert light streams through the windows.
15. Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This cathedral’s massive copper dome dominates the Philadelphia skyline near Logan Square, turning green with age in that classic Philadelphia way.
The interior murals and artwork took decades to complete, with artists working well into the 20th century to finish the decorative program.
The Palladian windows flood the space with light, and the acoustics make every service feel like a performance in a grand concert hall.
16. St. Mary’s Basilica — Minneapolis, Minnesota
Built between 1907 and 1926, this basilica brings French Renaissance elegance to the Minneapolis skyline.
The twin bell towers and elaborate stone carvings create a presence that commands attention, while the interior balances grandeur with an unexpected sense of peace.
The stained glass windows tell stories in brilliant color, and the marble work throughout shows craftsmanship that’s become increasingly rare.
Attend a choir performance if possible, because the acoustics were designed specifically to showcase vocal music.
17. Cathedral of St. Helena — Helena, Montana
In a state capital of fewer than 35,000 people, this cathedral seems almost absurdly grand.
Built between 1908 and 1924 and modeled after the Votivkirche in Vienna, it features twin spires that rise 230 feet above Helena’s streets.
The stained glass windows were imported from Germany, and the interior details rival cathedrals in cities ten times Helena’s size.
Gold rush money funded the construction, and you can still feel that optimistic, anything-is-possible spirit in the building’s ambitious scale.
18. Cathedral of the Madeleine — Salt Lake City, Utah
Built between 1900 and 1909, this cathedral stands as Utah’s only cathedral and brings European Catholic tradition to a city known for a very different religious heritage.
The Romanesque Revival style features intricate stonework and a spectacular rose window that glows like a jewel.
Inside, the painted ceilings and detailed murals create an atmosphere of quiet beauty.
The cathedral underwent a major renovation in the 1990s that restored much of the original artwork and updated the building while respecting its historic character.
19. St. Augustine Cathedral Basilica — St. Augustine, Florida
In America’s oldest continuously occupied European settlement, this cathedral traces its roots back to 1565, though the current building dates from 1797.
The Spanish colonial architecture fits perfectly with St. Augustine’s narrow streets and historic atmosphere.
The bell tower and simple facade hide an interior that’s been updated and decorated over centuries, creating layers of history visible in every corner.
Murals, statues, and architectural details from different eras coexist in ways that shouldn’t work but somehow do.
20. Christ Cathedral — Garden Grove, California
Originally built as the Crystal Cathedral in 1980 and reimagined as Christ Cathedral after 2012, this building breaks every rule about what a cathedral should look like.
The all-glass sanctuary designed by Philip Johnson seats nearly 3,000 people beneath a space frame structure that’s equal parts church and spacecraft.
More than 10,000 rectangular panes of silver-colored glass create walls that seem to dissolve the boundary between inside and outside.
Visit during the day when sunlight transforms the interior into something otherworldly and completely unlike any other church in America.
