Guided Visits

Highlights Tours

Join a Cathedral Educator for a guided tour of the Cathedral's highlights. Explore the secrets of the Cathedral’s history, architecture, and artwork — from the Great Bronze Doors to the seven Chapels of the Tongues. Each tour is different, so you never know what you will learn! Browse upcoming dates on our calendar.

Gardens & Grounds Tours

Explore the 11-acres of the Cathedral Close and learn all about the buldings, gardens, and creatures that make this oasis so special. Rain or shine, every weekend of the Spring and Summer! See all dates on our calendar.

Vertical Tours

One of our most popular programs, the Cathedral offers a special opportunity to climb to the top of the world's largest Gothic cathedral. On this adventurous tour, climb over 124 feet of spiral staircases to get up close to our Guastavino tile, stained glass, and remarkable architecture! Browse upcoming dates on our calendar.

Private Tours

The Cathedral offers the option to schedule a private tour with an expert Educator. These experiences are customized for the interests of the group and offer an in-depth study of the Cathedral, including its history, art, and architecture. For info on private group tours of the Cathedral, please contact our Public Education Office at [email protected].

Experience the Cathedral

Explore what the Cathedral looked like in 2014, during Phoenix: Xu Bing at the Cathedral.

Take the Tour >

The Great Rose Window

The Cathedral's Great Rose Window is one of our most iconic elements, even inspiring our logo, but from the ground it's easy to miss all of the details that make this window truly unique. Mia Michelson-Bartlett, manager of visitor services, walks us through some of the more interesting parts of the fourth largest rose window in the world.

Watch the video >

Who is St. John the Divine?

Senior Guide Tom Fedorek tackles another one of the most asked questions at the Cathedral: Who is St. John the Divine?

Watch the video >

Cathedral Stained Glass

Stained glass is a playground for the sun, and if you've ever visited the Cathedral on a winter afternoon, you know that the combination of sun and glass means apparent rainbows about. The Cathedral's Ruth Whaley explains how light plays an important role in the experience and structure of our building.

Watch the video >

Cathedral Close & Peace Fountain

To celebrate #NationalTakeAWalkInTheParkDay on March 30, we created a virtual walk through the Cathedral's Close with a spotlight on Artist in Residence Greg Wyatt's Peace Fountain.

Watch the video >

Cathedral Subway Station?

Have you heard the urban legend that there used to be a subway station under the Cathedral? Senior guide Tom Fedorek looks into how these rumors originated and the very real connection between the Cathedral and the MTA New York City Transit, with special shout outs to Madeleine L'Engle, Grand Central Terminal, and the Bronx Zoo.

Watch the Video >

Portal of Paradise

The Cathedral's Portal of Paradise on the Western Facade is one of the most seen and most misunderstood features of this great building. In this four part series, senior guide Tom Fedorek takes a closer look at the Portal to get beyond the misconceptions.

Watch Episode 1 >
Watch Episode 2 >
Watch Episode 3 >
Watch Episode 4 >

How to Make Texture Rubbings at Home

A favorite activity for workshops at the Cathedral is for groups to make texture rubbings from surfaces inside our great building in the tradition of pilgrims across the world. In this video, we show you how you can texture rubbings in your own home--a fun craft project for an indoor day that can help you see your space in a whole new way!

Watch the video >

Reduce, Reuse, and Build

Wondering what to do with all those cardboard boxes and empty toilet paper rolls laying around? This architecture workshop for children helps you reduce, reuse, and...build your very own Cathedral using the same principals that built our great structure.

Watch the video >