Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
5
About
The oldest Roman Catholic church in Georgia.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Neighbourhood: Downtown
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See what travellers are saying
- RandyWR69 contributionsTake a minute to connect with God or take in some very meaningful artwork and architecture.We were invited to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary along with all those 50th and 25th anniversary's from the Diosese of Savannah. This was my first visit and was awestruck by its beauty and spirituality. Guided and unguided tours are available when Masses or worship is not being conducted. The stained glass windows are awe inspiring and very meaningful to everyone especially the faithful.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 February 2024
- Paula HVinton, Iowa63 contributionsTruly a religious experience!I decided this second Sunday of lent to attend mass at the Cathedral while in Savannah. I’m so glad I did! The 10:00 mass was packed. When the organ began, chills went through me. Then the choir started singing, and the music was awesome. Combined with the beauty of the art filled cathedral, it was truly a moving experience for me. My simple, modest, and modern sanctuary at home pales in comparison. Every Catholic should be so lucky to attend a service in a place like this once in their life.Visited February 2024Travelled soloWritten 27 February 2024
- DonnaZ597Cockeysville, Maryland109 contributionsBreath TakingThe Cathedral of St John the Baptist was absolutely stunning. We bought tickets for the hop off hop on trolley and this was one of the stops (although I already knew I wanted to see it). I’m not sure if they have guided tours but you can certainly walk around on your own. It’s was gorgeous.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 6 March 2024
- ValerieHJacksonville, Florida24 contributionsA Must-SeeOne of the most beautiful Roman Catholic Basilicas in the USA. Built in French Gothic style, incredibly stunning. Tile from Italy, stained glass from Austria, white Carrar marble. A must-see, all are welcome for a modest $3 donation, not mandatory.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 6 March 2024
- AlexandraUnited States182 contributionsVisit this Church When in SavannahThis church is absolutely beautiful and worth visiting if in Savannah. It’s free to enter, but an offering of any amount is suggested if you enjoy your visit. We didn’t book a guided tour, but we did see a large group of people with a tour guide who was giving a detailed history of the church. Either way, you’ll surely have a relaxing and spiritual visit.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 7 March 2024
- 4adventures509 contributionsAmazing. A must stop when in Savannah!Amazing. A must stop when in Savannah! Allow yourself sometime to take in this amazing cathedral. Small donation is requested as you enter but well worth it. Knowledgeable parishioners provide history talk throughout the day.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 22 March 2024
- GLucas759White Pine, Tennessee261 contributionsBreathtakingBreathtaking for the history and meaning behind this church. As a catholic it means allot to have witnessed this site. The gentlemen at the front was very helpful and told us of a local shop to check out. Thank you for sharing!!!Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 31 March 2024
- Mixa's TravelsOldsmar, Florida4,136 contributionsBeautiful Cathedral & MassWe enjoyed a beautiful early morning Mass at the Cathedral on Sunday. The 8:00AM mass was well attended. The service was very good but without music except organ at beginning and end of service. The Monsignor had a good homily. Without music the service was over on 45 minutes. This is a beautiful church. They do have tours. We will definitely do a tour on another visit. While the church doesn’t have a parking lot, there is street parking. On Sunday street parking is free. We easily found parking early Sunday morning by the Cathedral.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 28 May 2024
- LbaugusMilton, Florida167 contributionsBeautiful buildingThis is a lovely building with gorgeous artwork and architect, but, of course, it’s primarily a church. In our first visit we happened to come during mass, and we were so impressed with the outside that we returned to take a free walk through later. It’s free to go inside, and you can take pictures; they suggest a $3 donation. While we were there the organist started playing, which added ambience.Visited June 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 5 June 2024
- NostalgiyeahBothell, Washington2,068 contributionsA regal marvel in historic Savannah!The Cathedral of St. John, located in the historic city of Savannah, serves as a stunning backdrop. The streets of Savannah are lined with buildings and sites of cultural and historical significance, and the cathedral stands out in all its regal splendor. When we visited on a Saturday afternoon, a steady stream of visitors flowed through its doors. Upon entering, the grandeur of the interior took our breath away—the cathedral’s ceilings soar over 60 feet high and are exquisitely contoured. The true highlight, however, lies in the beautifully vibrant stained glass windows that adorn all sides of the church. These intricate works of art pay tribute to significant moments from the life of Jesus and leave a lasting impression. The church’s interior is simply magnificent, and we spent several minutes absorbing the view and admiring the nativity scene. Guided tours are available when worship services are not in session, but even a self-guided tour allows you to appreciate this architectural masterpiece.Visited June 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 3 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
9,854 reviews
Excellent
8,247
Very good
1,373
Average
191
Poor
28
Terrible
15
Jackson N
9 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
Amazing inside and out, the sister Cathedral of Notre Dame! The self-guided tour is free and if you're lucky they will be having a performance on the amazing pipe organ! Felt like my whole body was vibrating under the light coming through the majestic stained glass.
Written 22 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michie1291
Greenfield, MA5,932 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Definitely worth a visit when in Savannah. Open for mass attendance, for tours, and for just wandering through it on your own. Check their website to make sure there are no special events that cause it to be closed to the public. I got off the Trolley Tour bus stop only to find that it was closed in preparation for an evening concert. I simply returned the next day.
It’s stunning and even though the public has access, everyone remains quiet when inside the basilica. I spent about 45 minutes slowly strolling through and taking photos. Many people sat in the pews for quiet reflection and some were kneeling in prayer. My only regret was not attending a mass here. Maybe on a future visit?
It’s stunning and even though the public has access, everyone remains quiet when inside the basilica. I spent about 45 minutes slowly strolling through and taking photos. Many people sat in the pews for quiet reflection and some were kneeling in prayer. My only regret was not attending a mass here. Maybe on a future visit?
Written 21 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lori B
Janesville, CA148 contributions
Jan 2025 • Couples
This is an incredibly gorgeous cathedral. During the Christmas season , it is adorned with probably over 500 poinsettia behind the altar and an enormous Nativity display encompassing the entire right side of the altar.
We attended Sunday Mass there and the choir and organ was angelic. What a glorious experience especially since we attend a small country parish with few resources. It was a blessing to be part of the worship of our Savior. During the week, the church is not open for touring from 1130am-1pm due to the noon Mass. Worth the visit
We attended Sunday Mass there and the choir and organ was angelic. What a glorious experience especially since we attend a small country parish with few resources. It was a blessing to be part of the worship of our Savior. During the week, the church is not open for touring from 1130am-1pm due to the noon Mass. Worth the visit
Written 5 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lovingretirementat55
Yorktown, VA107 contributions
May 2022
We attended noon Mass at this Cathedral. (During noon Mass it is closed to tourists who don't wish to attend Mass.) It is stunningly beautiful. The history of the cathedral is fascinating as are all the details about the beauty within. They ask for a $3 donation but we gave much more after spending some time there in order to help preserve this work of wonder. Catholic or not, it is well worth the visit. As a Catholic it was very meaningful to be here.
Written 9 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark V
14 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
Breathtaking. Beautiful. Grand. Heavenly. Unforgettable. A must experience if visiting Savannah. Light a candle for an ill or deceased loved one. Pray while inside because you’ll feel closer to God. Please leave a small donation because every dollar adds up to help physically maintain this magnificent basilica for future visitors and parishioners. You’ll want to share your dozens of gorgeous photos with friends and family on Facebook.
Written 14 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveller
New York City, NY3,323 contributions
Jun 2021
I visited the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist several times in June 2021 during my visit to Savannah. The first time I spent almost an hour inside. The altar, organ, figures, stained glass, Bishop's chair and many other things were beautiful. I attended Sunday mass here conducted by the Bishop of Savannah. There are so many photo ops both inside and outside. I recommend going at 9 am when the doors are first opened for visitors and there are less people.
Written 26 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy B
Belpre, OH185 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
My sister told me to visit this place, and I’ve heard it called the Sistine Chapel of Savannah. It was very beautiful with all the stained glass. We especially liked the organ in the balcony and the Prayer Intentions Project along the outer gate.
Written 30 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
relax_and_enjoy16
Iowa12 contributions
Jun 2023
A beautiful active Catholic Basilica in historic Savannah. You can feel the peace of God when you enter the church. The Baptismal Font pipe as you enter the church is marble, carved in Italy and weighs more than 8,000 pounds. We were amazed at the pipe organ with it's 2,396 pipes! For questions, please ask one of several volunteers or paid staff. Don't leave without picking up brochure and dropping a few dollars so this beautiful place can remain open to the public.
Written 28 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GeorgiaTravelers51
Georgia276 contributions
Mar 2022
This cathedral is as beautiful as we have seen in major cities in Europe. There is no charge to visit but a donation of $3 per person is suggested but not required. It is closed at times during the day for services so check the website to plan your visit.
Written 2 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glenn
Nashville, TN190 contributions
May 2021
This is a must see Church when visiting Savannah.
So inspiring between the Stained Glass and Paintings, you can spend a few hours just taking in the beauty. There is a $3.00 donantion request. Parking is limited due to the heavy volume of visitors. Catholics and Non Catholics will truly enjoy this breathtaking church and it's history. Don't forget to bring your phone or camera.
So inspiring between the Stained Glass and Paintings, you can spend a few hours just taking in the beauty. There is a $3.00 donantion request. Parking is limited due to the heavy volume of visitors. Catholics and Non Catholics will truly enjoy this breathtaking church and it's history. Don't forget to bring your phone or camera.
Written 28 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I will be in Savannah in less that two weeks! Did you have a formal tour of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and, if so, how did you organize that? I see nothing on their website.
Written 29 August 2022
No when we arrived in the morning that had volunteers walking around answering questions. When they stopped playing the organ that gathered who was there up front and gave a short talk on the church. No formal tour.
Written 1 September 2022
Saxeygirl
Salt Lake City, Utah
69 contributions
Are docent tours scheduled on a regular basis? If so when?
Written 4 September 2019
Yes, they have docent tours. We were there on a Friday, and they were starting one about 1:00, just as we were leaving, lol. Don’t know how many a day they have.
Written 7 September 2019
Are dogs allowed to enter the cathedral?
Written 6 March 2019
Not inside the church. However, I'm not sure about service dogs. That might be permitted.
Written 7 March 2019
Are dogs allowed to enter the cathedral?
Written 6 March 2019
no I would not think so, it's a "working" church and since only service dogs are normally allowed in a church I would think the same would apply here.
Written 23 May 2019
Corby L
Shannon, Alabama
How early should you arrive at the church for the Christmas Eve midnight mass to ensure you can get a seat inside the church?
Written 24 December 2018
Based on what I saw, there is no dress code. There was a great mixture of folks attending the mass (5:30 on Sat. night). Some of the did suits, but most had either sweaters or winter jackets. I wore jeans with a sweater and I fit in fine.
The major issue is parking on the street. Only solution is to get there early. It is a beautiful Cathedral !!
Written 17 March 2018
Is there a Midnight Mass Christmas Eve and do you have to purchase tickets?
Written 31 December 2017
There was a midnight Mass. Residents of Savannah told us that you have to arrive very early as the number of people are attending and late arrives end up standing outside for the Mass.
Written 3 January 2018
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