Grace Cathedral

Pentium Penguin & Pigeon★★★☆☆2 months ago

I am a San Franciscan and a non-believer, but I occasionally went to this church, actually been going there for more than 20 years. I noticed after the pandemic, the entrance was gated with a not that friendly looking guard, and since then I realized there is a fee without even needing to ask. Do a little google search, it has been charging $12 since 2022 and $14 as of 2026. I have not went inside since. Here are some photos that I took more than 10 years ago of this beautiful church building, or 2013 to be exact. God has always been something off to me, and needing to pay a fee to a church is totally off to me. I will never join the cult.

William Joy★★★★★7 months ago

Grace Cathedral is probably the most beautiful church I have ever been too, with amazing architecture and the beautiful Gothic design. To the side of the cathedral, there is a large open courtyard, displaying a nice water fountain with the same medieval architecture. In addition, the view of the city is very nice from the top of the hill, and parking is not too hard to find.

Sam★★★★☆7 months ago

This was my first time at Grace Cathedral and it was beautiful. Definitely smaller than Notre Dame in Paris. The Aura light show was great! I highly recommend seating far back as to prevent neck strain from looking directly up.

Damahni Jackson★★★★★6 months ago

📍 While it looks like a medieval masterpiece from France, it’s actually built from sturdy reinforced concrete to handle the city’s occasional shakes. Grace Cathedral is a photographer’s dream and a Gothic-style masterpiece. For the ultimate shot, head to the main entrance to capture the "Ghiberti doors"—massive, gilded-bronze doors that look like they were plucked straight from 15th-century Florence. Grace Cathedral is easily one of the most welcoming and impressive spots in the city. ★★★★★

Abbey T★★★★★8 months ago

We happened to walk in 10 minutes before the Behind the Scenes tour was about to start and was talked into doing it. That $35 was the best money for 90 minutes I spent all day -maybe all month! The tour was so much fun and our docent, Joe, was wonderful! I learned so much and saw the church from perspectives and levels that I would never even known were there. For someone who’s lived in SF Bay Area my entire life, I was so surprised by this activity. This is definitely something I will bring and recommend visitors to do as a part of sightseeing SF!

Casburn Spencer★★★★★9 months ago

I visited Grace Cathedral for an evening event after dark. The staff greeted me with warm smiles and were helpful and enthusiastic about their roles. The cathedral is awe-inspiring, and I want to return during the daytime to further enjoy the experience. The event added to the visual delight, as the building is breathtaking on its own, and the light show truly brought it to life. My favorite scenes were the garden and cloud displays, but each one captivated my attention throughout the entire hour.

Pamela L★★★☆☆8 months ago

m Montreal and travels around the world, I find it amusing that they threw bits and pieces of SF landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge into the story of humanity. The story was kind of difficult to follow so just sit back and enjoy. This presented Grace Cathedral an opportunity to showcase and promote itself. The Cathedral offers many services and is always open to the public. I especially like the doors - Gates of Paradise. I have been going to the Cathedral since I was a youngster. As I saw the show, it reminded me so much of Mogowan Mirror Maze at Pier 39. Most scenes were so alike - laser lights and projections. I gave this 3 stars because people were taking pictures and videos with their flash on. It's like going to a movie with phone screens flashing around. Also, the show was flat (all on the same level) - no crescendos, highlights nor anything. It just abruptly ended.

Kyler DuVall★★★★★9 months ago

The cathedral is huge and holds a lot of information. Its almost like a museum honestly. You can get tours of the bell tower but it costs a little more. You can always enter and just ask to pray and they will let you in, you can take pictures and enjoy the space but to get all of the information I suggest a tour. There really is just so much to see and know here. It's beautiful and I recommend anyone who stops by or lives in San Fransisco to visit atleast once. But the cathedral hosts many events here you can go to aswell.

Ra Sh★★★★★9 months ago

Absolutely breathtaking experience! I attended The Aura event at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and it was truly incredible. The entire experience lasted about 45 minutes, and every moment was mesmerizing. The combination of lights, music, and the sacred atmosphere of the cathedral created something unforgettable. The visuals were stunning—both peaceful and powerful—and the acoustics inside the cathedral made the sound feel immersive and almost otherworldly. It’s clear a lot of thought and creativity went into the production. It was definitely worth the price of admission. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a unique, inspiring, and meditative experience in the city. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, The Aura is something you won’t want to miss.

Hans van Rietschote★★★★☆6 months ago

Cool light show. Sit in the back of the cathedral so you don’t have to strain your neck looking up. The long line to get in is mostly outside. So don’t get caught in the rain when you go there.