Many cultures around the world worship in some of the most stunning architectural structures ever built. Contrary to what you may think, you don’t need to be religious to appreciate their beauty. If you’re traveling the world, consider visiting these houses of worship that will leave you in awe.
1. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
Originally built as a Christian church, Hagia Sophia is now a mosque with major historical and cultural significance. Its Byzantine design represented its Eastern Orthodox influence when it was built in 537 AD by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
2. Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany
With twin spires peaking at 515 feet high, the Cologne Cathedral is the largest Gothic-designed church in northern Europe. What’s interesting about its history is that it was under construction for more than 500 years. It was started in 1248, and completed in 1880.
3. Sagrada Família, Barcelona, Spain
This Catholic cathedral was designed by Antoni Gaudí, who combined Gothic and Art Nouveau styles to create its iconic steeples. Construction began in 1882 and is ongoing. The Sagrada Família is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. The structure is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Italy
The pinnacle of Catholic religion and faith, St. Peter’s Basilica sits at the center of Vatican City. This Renaissance-era church features thick columns and a dome-shaped ceiling built over the resting place of St. Peter the Apostle. It’s filled with stunning sculptures and artwork, and hundreds of thousands of visitors travel to St. Peter’s Basilica every year.
5. Holy Rosary Parish Church, Angeles City, Philippines
Once called the Santo Rosario Church, and known locally as Pisambang Maragul (“Big Church”), the Holy Rosary Parish Church was built by Roman Catholic Spaniards in the late 1800s. the church features two main towers and a domed ceiling.
6. Notre Dame de Paris, Paris, France
This Medieval and French Gothic-style church is the most famous of its kind, with striking rib-vault hallways, flying buttresses, and colorful stained-glass windows. Notre Dame became well-known globally after Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. After a structural fire in 2019 destroyed the main spire, roof, and part of the interior, restoration began to rebuild this iconic church.
7. St. Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv, Ukraine
Unlike other traditional churches, St. Sophia Cathedral brings a pop of color with its white structure and green rooftops, topped with gold domes. Considered a historical landmark of Kyiv, St. Sophia also features a bell tower and the House of the Metropolitan.
8. St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic
Aside from religious services, St. Vitus Cathedral has hosted many coronations of Czech kings and queens since it was built in 1344. Inspired by Gothic architecture, this church incorporates flying buttresses, a transept, and its triple-nave focal point at the center of the building.
9. Matthias Church, Budapest, Hungary
Sitting atop Buda Castle Hill in Budapest, Matthias Church is a Roman Catholic church built in 1014. This church was built with a Gothic influence, which you can see in its spires and central glass window at the front of the church. Since its construction, two Hungarian princes were crowned within the church, Franz Joseph I and Charles IV of Hungary.
10. Tân Định Church, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
You can’t miss this vibrant pink church that sits against the backdrop of Ho Chi Minh City. Its design includes inspiration from Gothic, Roman, and Baroque styles to create its striking silhouette. As one of the oldest and largest churches in the area, Tân Định Church is a cultural landmark enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.
11. Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, Arizona
Nestled within the red rock buttes of Sedona, the Chapel of the Holy Cross is a uniquely designed Roman Catholic church in the Coconino National Forest. In the 1950s, local sculptor and rancher Marguerite Brunswig Staude was inspired by the steelwork of the Empire State Building when she created the design. Visitors can spot the 90-foot iron cross that sits against a wall of windows from miles away.
12. Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Italy
Another must-see church on your trip to Vatican City is the Sistine Chapel. This church is most famous for its Renaissance fresco artwork created by Michelangelo. His piece, The Last Judgment, covers the entire altar wall and ceiling, depicting Christ as a judge, separating those who are blessed and those who are damned.
13. Palatine Chapel, Aachen, Germany
It’s said that Charlemagne began constructing the Palatine Chapel in 792 AD, with an octagonal floor plan and a domed chapel. Visitors are awed by the church, and historians love it since it includes decor and features from Norman, Byzantine, and Fatimid styles. It has some of the most well-preserved Byzantine frescoes in any church.
14. St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
Located in the heart of Red Square in Moscow, St. Basil’s Cathedral is a cultural symbol of Russia’s Orthodox people. The most striking features of this Byzantine-influenced cathedral are the nine dome-shaped towers in rich, bold colors. The inspiration for the shape of the domes is said to resemble the flames of a bonfire rising into the sky.
15. Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavik, Iceland
The Hallgrímskirkja’s design is unique and one-of-a-kind, with the church’s roof converging at a peak that is 244 feet high. The inspiration came from Icelandic nature, much like the basalt columns found near Reynisfjara Beach. This Evangelical Lutheran church is a cultural landmark that took more than 41 years to construct.
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