Have you been looking for beautiful churches in San Francisco to add to your itinerary? Read ahead for our top picks!
If you’ve been trying to find gorgeous churches in San Francisco for Sunday Mass or incredible photos, you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve rounded up the most stunning churches in San Francisco from across the city that’ll have you saying “ooh” and “ah” as you walk through them.
Yup – they’re that good.
From the iconic Grace Cathedral’s Gothic architecture to the Holy Virgin Cathedral’s Russian Orthodox feel, this list of churches in San Francisco has it all!
Now let’s explore the finest churches in San Francisco!
The Most Beautiful Churches in San Francisco…
Grace Cathedral
To start our list of the most beautiful churches in San Francisco, we have the stunning Grace Cathedral.
This is one of the most famous churches in San Francisco as it’s built in the eye-catching Gothic Revival Style which gives it an old-school feel.
Even though it was completed in 1964, of course!
You should spend time admiring the façade before stepping inside to check out the mosaics, murals, and labyrinths that make this one of the most gorgeous churches in San Francisco.
If you’re looking for churches in San Francisco that offer guide tours – you’re in luck!
This spot offers regular tours of the interior that will teach you about the history of the building and its construction process.
Whether you’re a fan of Gothic architecture or want to catch a concert one evening, this is among the churches in San Francisco that have got you covered!
Holy Virgin Cathedral
If you’re on the hunt for breathtaking cathedrals in San Francisco, you can’t beat the Holy Virgin Cathedral.
It’s proudly perched in the Richmond district and is an enormous Russian Orthodox church. Believe it or not, it’s the largest one outside of Russia itself!
It’s one of the churches in San Francisco with an elegant interior.
It’s covered with gold leaf, has a high onion dome, and boasts rows of mosaics, religious idols, and gilt paintings that you can easily stare at for hours.
But don’t count out the exterior either!
We think this spot is among the churches in San Francisco that make for amazing photographs.
The gold-tipped and crossed domes? The exterior artwork and white paint? This place has it all.
St. Patrick Church
Next on our list of beautiful churches in San Francisco, we have St. Patrick Church!
This impressive building is tucked away on Mission Street, and it’s been rocking the ecclesiastical scene since way back in 1851.
This makes it one of the oldest churches in San Francisco!
As it’s right in the center of town, it’s among the easiest churches in San Francisco to slip into before checking out Union Square or the bustling area of Chinatown.
You’ll recognize elements of traditional Roman Catholic churches seeping through the façade and exterior.
But it’s the Gothic-Revival décor on the inside that puts it up there with the most glorious churches in San Francisco.
Not only is it covered with stained glass, but careful renovations after the quake of 1906 mean that everything looks virtually pristine.
It’s a wonderful choice if you want to visit any churches in San Francisco during your trip.
St. Joseph’s Church, San Jose
Our next pick for gorgeous churches in San Francisco is St. Joseph’s Church.
This is one of the churches in San Francisco that towers over the SoMa district, and it’s home to a seriously impressive art gallery.
It hosts visiting artists throughout the year, but you’ll also spot a few mainstays thanks to its affiliation with the Saint Joseph’s Arts Society.
Oh, and did we mention that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982?
Although you’ll adore the Neo-Romanesque exterior that was cooked up by architect John Foley, the gorgeous steeples and quaint parish feel are also worth sticking around for.
Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church
If you’re searching for beautiful churches in San Francisco that you cannot miss, be sure to check out Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church.
It’s not quite as outwardly stunning as the first churches in San Francisco that we mentioned, but its laid-back brickwork and connecting tower give it serious charm!
It was built back in 1894 and remains one of the most popular Lutheran churches for local worshippers as it has a reputation for being super-welcoming.
Sure, it may not have any stained glass or towering domes, but it’s one of the churches in San Francisco that’s perfect for a spot of quiet contemplation.
Saints Peter and Paul Church
Our next suggestion for churches in San Francisco that you should visit is Saints Peter and Paul Church which is right in the heart of North Beach.
It’s sometimes called the “Italian Cathedral of the West” and is regarded for its friendliness toward the Italian-American community in San Francisco.
Although this is technically one of the churches in San Francisco that were heavily rebuilt after the quake of 1906, the renovations make it look super majestic!
From the towering spires to the hefty dome at the back of the church, this intricate spot is one of the most beautiful churches in San Francisco – hands down.
Oh, and it also has a rather famous history thanks to its appearances in Deadpool and Sister Act 2!
St. Anne of the Sunset
Next up on our list of stunning churches in San Francisco, it’s St. Anne of the Sunset!
When it comes to beautiful exteriors, we’d say that this was one of the churches in San Francisco that truly takes the cake.
And that’s because it’s pink!
But when you take a look inside, you’ll see that there’s more to this spot than first meets the eye.
From the huge Corinthian columns to the high ceilings, frieze, and stained glass, this place is among the most refined churches in San Francisco that you could explore for hours.
Unity Church
Our next pick for churches in San Francisco that you should visit this year, it’s Unity Church!
You’ll find this church in Lower Pacific Heights and it’s a fabulous place for locals and visitors to catch teachings and readings or just enjoy a few moments of peace in a bustling city.
The striking exterior makes it one of the top churches in San Francisco, but don’t count out the stained glass on the inside either!
Although it’s one of the smaller churches in San Francisco, it’s the perfect pitstop on your way to The Fillmore or Alta Plaza Park.
Saint Ignatius Church
Saint Ignatius Church is the next spot on our list of beautiful churches in San Francisco.
It’s part of the University of San Francisco and has been standing on Parker Avenue since 1914!
Not only is it one of the largest churches in San Francisco, but its floor plan is inspired by old-school ancient Roman basilicas.
So, it gives the entire church an air of grandeur and luxury that you may not find elsewhere.
Oh, and keep an eye out for the décor that mimics the allegories that you’d find on ancient Roman buildings!
But this place isn’t entirely Roman-inspired.
The exterior is largely based on Spanish and Italian Baroque architecture, which is part of the reason it’s one of the most beautiful churches in San Francisco!
Saint Boniface Catholic Church
A worthy addition to our list of the best churches in San Francisco is Saint Boniface Catholic Church.
This huge Catholic church is one of the city’s most stunning landmarks, and it’s been standing in this area since approximately 1852.
It’s been rebuilt in the Romanesque Revival style since being destroyed by the infamous earthquake of 1906. But it still retains a few nods to its original design around the interior.
When you step inside, you’ll spot a gorgeous central domed area, religious idols dotted around the main hall, and an impressive mural wall of paintings above the pulpit.
But what makes it one of the most special churches in San Francisco is the place’s commitment to providing neighborhood programs for low-income locals.
It truly channels the spirit of what Christianity is all about!
St. Dominic’s Church
Next up on our list of beautiful churches in San Francisco, we have St. Dominic’s Church.
And trust us – you don’t want to miss this one!
It’s a relatively imposing Catholic church that’s built in the Gothic style with impressive flying buttresses and elegant stained-glass windows around the interior.
If you head to the main altar, this is among the churches in San Francisco that boast sculpted marble slabs and several religious statues.
It’s not necessarily one of the largest churches in San Francisco, but it’s worth stopping by to hear the glorious choir at Sunday Mass!
Notre Dame Des Victories Church
To round up our list of the most stunning churches in San Francisco, we have Notre Dame Des Victories Church!
This church has been standing on Bush Street since 1856, and it was designed to service the French Catholic immigrants who moved to San Francisco during the Gold Rush.
These days, it’s an inclusive Catholic church that welcomes people of faith from all around the world!
They have a decent mass schedule that runs each weekday at 7 am, but you can also stop by the Sunday Mass which is run in 3 different languages throughout the morning!
From the large and gold-flecked interior to the signature towers and stained glass that you’ll spot from the outside, this is one of the churches in San Francisco that’s worth seeing.
