St. Peter's Church in Vienna | A Hidden Church in the Old Town

The historic Catholic St. Peter's Church is tucked away among the buildings in the heart of Vienna’s old city, just a five-minute walk from St. Stephen's Cathedral. With its striking architecture and richly decorated interior, it often leads visitors to believe it is the city’s main church, despite its more hidden location.

On the site where St. Peter’s Church (Katholische Kirche St. Peter) stands today, there was an older church from the early Middle Ages, around the year 800 AD. Some claim that the first church on this site was the oldest in Vienna, but unfortunately, no remains of it have survived.

The ancient church underwent a complete renovation in the 17th and early 18th centuries, after Emperor Leopold I vowed to rebuild it if the terrible plague passed. Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, one of Vienna’s renowned architects, designed the new building in the Baroque style. Large parts of the structure drew inspiration from the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, making it the first church in the city to feature such a large Baroque dome.

The church can be a bit deceiving as it seems so compressed between the buildings, but a very impressive surprise awaits you inside. The main prayer hall is very large and beautifully designed with many gold decorations. No fewer than 10 well-known artists from the region participated in the interior design of the church, so it’s no wonder it is so beautifully adorned with huge frescoes, a variety of wall decorations, sculptures, and more.

In addition, organ concerts are held inside the church, and its crypt hosts a variety of other impressive musical performances. The concerts held in the church hall are free, while the concerts in the crypt are usually for a fee.

The concerts are usually held on Saturdays and Sundays, but there are also evening performances throughout the week. In the link below you can see the full list of concerts.

This is what St. Peter’s Church looks like

Additional Essential Information for Your Visit

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday: from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Entrance Fee:

You can enter the church for free.

Official Website

How to get there?

The church is located in the heart of the first district in Vienna’s old town. The nearest underground station is Stephansplatz. You can reach this station using the U1 underground line (the red line) and the U3 underground line (the orange line). From the station, it is about a 3-minute walk.

Address: Petersplatz 1, 1010 Wien

Map: