Updated in October 2026, this St Mary’s Cathedral guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
St Mary’s Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral of Sydney, on the corner of College Street and St Mary’s Road opposite Hyde Park. The free Sunday guided tour now needs advance registration, with places capped at 20 and registration closing at noon on Thursday. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the booking rule, which older guides that say to simply turn up may not reflect.
Quick facts: St Mary’s Cathedral
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Monday to Friday 6.30am to 6.30pm. Saturday and Sunday 6.30am to 7.00pm. |
| Ticket prices | Free entry ($0). Donations are welcome. Sunday guided tour is free. Group tours $5 per person. |
| Address | 2 St Mary’s Road, Sydney NSW 2000 |
| Nearest transport or parking | St James, Museum and Town Hall stations are each about a 7-minute walk. There is no parking on site. |
| Typical time needed | About 30 minutes to 1 hour |
St Mary’s Cathedral opening hours
The cathedral is open every day. Monday to Friday it opens from 6.30am to 6.30pm. On Saturday and Sunday it opens from 6.30am to 7.00pm.
The official website says extended hours may be introduced during daylight saving and Christmas periods. St Mary’s is an active place of worship, so visits may be restricted during services.
Other parts of the cathedral have their own hours:
- Cathedral Store: Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm.
- Cathedral office: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Phone (02) 9220 0400.
Mass is held at 6.45am, 1.10pm and 5.30pm from Monday to Friday. On Saturday it is at 9am, 12pm and 6pm. On Sunday it is at 7am, 9am, 10.30am and 6pm. Check the Mass times page for the current schedule.
St Mary’s Cathedral ticket prices
Entry to St Mary’s Cathedral is free. The cathedral asks for a donation towards its upkeep and cleaning.
- General entry: free, with no ticket.
- Sunday guided tour: free. It runs at 2pm and registration is required.
- Guided group tours: $5 per person, on weekdays only.
- School guided tours: $2 per person.
- Self-guided group tours: weekdays only, with a minimum of 10 people.
All tour money goes towards conserving the cathedral. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
Five great things to do while you’re in Sydney
- Take a small group tour to the Blue Mountains – with a Parramatta River cruise thrown in.
- See the landmarks and secret beaches – on a Sydney Harbour cruise.
- Discover Sydney’s most historic neighbourhood – on a Rocks walking tour.
- Go on a whale-watching cruise – and admire migrating humpbacks.
- Learn to surf at Bondi Beach – with beginner surfing lessons.
How to get to St Mary’s Cathedral
The cathedral is on the corner of College Street and St Mary’s Road, just across the road from Hyde Park, in central Sydney.
- By train: St James, Museum and Town Hall stations are each an easy 7-minute walk away.
- By bus: alight near Hyde Park or Town Hall, then walk east along Park Street towards Kings Cross for 7 to 10 minutes.
- By Metro: Gadigal station is about a 5-minute walk east along Park Street, according to the neighbouring Australian Museum.
Use the Transport for NSW trip planner for current services.
Parking at St Mary’s Cathedral
There is no parking on site. The cathedral lists two nearby public car parks and street meters.
- Domain Car Park: enter via St Mary’s Road, opposite Cathedral House.
- Enacon Parking: enter via 4 College Street, behind Cathedral House and underneath the cathedral steps.
- Street parking: metered bays are on the streets near the Museum end of College Street.
Rates vary by car park, so check each operator’s website before you travel.
How long to spend at St Mary’s Cathedral
Plan about 30 minutes to 1 hour for a self-guided visit.
Guided group tours last about 1.5 hours and cover the main cathedral and the crypt. The Sunday tour does not state a length on the official website.
Accessibility at St Mary’s Cathedral
The front of the building has more than 30 steps, which were added because of the slope of the site.
The Sunday tour meets at the Cathedral Shop internal entrance. The website says a wheelchair is available to the main cathedral. Contact the cathedral office on (02) 9220 0400 to plan wheelchair access.
The crypt is reached by about 40 steps. Strollers, prams and walkers are not allowed on the Sunday tour. Children must be carried, and visitors with walkers stay in the main cathedral while the group visits the crypt.
What to see at St Mary’s Cathedral
The cathedral stands on the site of the first Catholic chapel in Australia. The present building was designed by William Wardell in the Gothic Revival style and is built from Sydney sandstone.
The building is 107 metres long. The spires were added in 2000 and bring the height to 75 metres.
Inside, the nave leads towards the High Altar Screen and the Great North Window, which shows the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The stained glass windows were made at the Hardman Studios in Birmingham and brought to Australia in the late 1880s.
The bells are in the central Moran Tower. The cathedral has the heaviest peal of 14 bells hung for change ringing in Australia. A separate Angelus Bell is rung every day at noon.
The crypt is below the western nave aisle. Its terrazzo mosaic floor, made by the Melocco Brothers, includes a Celtic cross 42 metres long and 21 metres wide.
The crypt is also the resting place of eight Sydney archbishops and Father John Joseph Therry. Guided tours include the crypt. The official website does not say whether it is open for independent visits, so ask when you arrive.
The cathedral choir sings at weekly celebrations of the Divine Office and Solemn Mass. The cathedral also hosts organ recitals and concerts.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Register for the Sunday tour by noon on Thursday. Walk-ins on the day are at the tour guide’s discretion. |
| Crowds | Tours are capped at 20 people. Plan around Mass times, because the cathedral asks that tours run outside them. |
| Layout | The nave runs north to south, with the sanctuary at the northern end. The Cathedral Store is near the internal entrance. |
| Entry process | Entry needs no ticket. Wear suitable clothing, cover your shoulders and remove your hat before entering. |
| On-site logistics | Do not use mobile phones or bring food or drink onto the grounds. Photos are allowed without flash, but not during Mass or liturgical celebrations. |
Frequently asked questions about St Mary’s Cathedral
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is St Mary’s Cathedral free to enter? | Yes. Entry is free, and donations are welcome. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for St Mary’s Cathedral? | General entry needs no booking. The free Sunday tour needs registration, and group tours are booked online. |
| Is St Mary’s Cathedral open on Sundays? | Yes. It opens 6.30am to 7.00pm. Masses are at 7am, 9am, 10.30am and 6pm. |
| Can you take photos inside St Mary’s Cathedral? | Yes, but not during Masses or liturgical celebrations. Do not use a flash. |
| What should you wear to St Mary’s Cathedral? | Wear suitable clothing. Cover your shoulders, avoid short skirts and bare feet, and remove hats. |
Things to do near St Mary’s Cathedral
- Hyde Park: the city park directly across the road from the cathedral. Home to the Anzac Memorial.
- Australian Museum: Australia’s first museum, at 1 William Street, opposite Hyde Park and St Mary’s Cathedral.
- Art Gallery of New South Wales: the state art museum in The Domain, just down the road from the cathedral.
- Hyde Park Barracks Museum: a World Heritage listed convict site at Queens Square on Macquarie Street, just north of Hyde Park.
- Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: the harbourside garden next to the Art Gallery and The Domain.
Alternative attractions
- St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney: the Anglican cathedral at the corner of George and Bathurst Streets, next to Town Hall.
- Garrison Church (Holy Trinity): an Anglican church at the corner of Argyle and Lower Fort Streets in Millers Point.
- St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta: the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Parramatta, at 1 Marist Place in western Sydney.
- St Saviour’s Cathedral, Goulburn: a sandstone Anglican cathedral designed by Edmund Blacket, about two hours’ drive from Sydney on the Hume Highway.
- Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle: a restored cathedral overlooking the city, about 2.5 hours’ drive north of Sydney.
More Sydney travel
Other Sydney travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Sydney’s top historic museums – including the Justice and Police Museum, Susannah Place Museum, Hyde Park Barracks and Museum of Sydney.
- 7 fantastic attractions in Sydney that most visitors overlook – including the Sirius anchor, the Macquarie Lighthouse, the Anzac Memorial, the Quarantine Station, the State Library of NSW and Elizabeth Farm.
- Guides to Sydney’s beaches: Avalon Beach, Bilgola Beach, Milk Beach, Queenscliff Beach, Shark Beach, Yarra Bay Beach.
- Swimming in Sydney: The best open-air pools, including the Maccallum Seawater Pool and Marranawi Cove.
- What is Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and how do you get to it?
