United States

15 Best Religious Sites in United States

St. Paul's Chapel leads, and the rest of United States's best temples, churches and sacred sites follow, ranked by real visits.

Ranked by traveler review volume across 4059 tracked places in United States. Updated monthly.

  1. St. Paul's Chapel

    Religious site · New York City

    St. Paul's Chapel, built in 1766, is the oldest surviving public building in continuous use in Manhattan.

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  2. Church of St. Leodegar

    Religious site · LucerneFree entry

    The Church of St. Leodegar, also called the Hofkirche, stands on the grounds of a former Benedictine monastery in Lucerne.

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  3. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

    Religious site · Los Angeles

    The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels serves as the mother church of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

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  4. Cathedral of Saint Vibiana

    Religious site · Los Angeles

    The Cathedral of Saint Vibiana, originally built in 1876 as the seat of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, has been transformed into a stunning event venue and cultural center.

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  5. Basilica Of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral

    Religious site · New York CityFree entry

    The Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral is a landmark Roman Catholic church in the Nolita neighborhood of Lower Manhattan.

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  6. First Shearith Israel Graveyard

    Religious site · New York City

    The First Shearith Israel Graveyard, established in 1683, is the oldest Jewish cemetery in North America, predating the American Revolution.

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  7. Mission Dolores

    Religious site · San FranciscoFree entry

    Mission Dolores, formally known as Mission San Francisco de Asís, is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco, dating back to 1776.

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  8. Saint Isaac's Square

    Religious site · St. PetersburgFree entry

    Saint Isaac's Square is one of St. Petersburg's most magnificent public spaces, located in the Admiralteisky district.

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  9. St. Joseph's Catholic Church

    Religious site · MaconFree entry

    St. Joseph's Catholic Church stands as a beacon of faith and history in the heart of Macon, Georgia.

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  10. St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church

    Religious site · RoanokeFree entry

    St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church stands as a landmark of faith and architecture in downtown Roanoke.

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  11. Mahayana Buddhist Temple

    Religious site · New York CityFree entry

    The Mahayana Buddhist Temple is a hidden gem in New York City's bustling Chinatown. Located on Canal Street, this temple provides a quiet sanctuary amid the neighborhood's vibrant chaos.

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  12. Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Church

    Religious site · New Smyrna BeachFree entry

    Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Church is a serene religious sanctuary situated on South Atlantic Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, directly across from the Atlantic Ocean.

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  13. Cathedral of Our Lady of Vladimir

    Religious site · St. PetersburgFree entry

    A historic Russian Orthodox cathedral in St. Petersburg, known for its striking architecture and religious significance.

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  14. Hindu Temple Society of North America

    Religious site · FlushingFree entry

    The Hindu Temple Society of North America, located on Bowne Street in Flushing, is one of the oldest and most revered Hindu temples in the New York area.

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  15. The Vilna Shul

    Religious site · Boston

    The Vilna Shul is a restored 1919 synagogue that now serves as a Jewish heritage center and museum in Boston's Beacon Hill.

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Good to know

What is the best-known of the temples, churches and sacred sites in United States?

St. Paul's Chapel in New York City is the most reviewed, with 3,470 traveler reviews and a 4.5 rating. That makes it the safe choice if you are only fitting in one.

Which of United States's temples, churches and sacred sites is worth going out of your way for?

St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Macon rates highest at 5.0 out of 5 across 197 reviews. Smaller crowds than the headline entry usually explain the gap.

Which city in United States has the most temples, churches and sacred sites?

New York City, with 4 on this list, ahead of Los Angeles on 2. The list spans 10 cities in total, capped at three per city so one big city cannot crowd out the rest of the country.

Are any of these temples, churches and sacred sites free to visit?

Yes, 10: Church of St. Leodegar, Basilica Of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, Mission Dolores and others. That is based on each place's own visiting information, not an assumption about the category.

How is this list of temples, churches and sacred sites ranked?

By how many travelers reviewed each place, filtered to those rated well enough to be worth your time, drawn from 4,059 tracked places in United States. No one pays to appear on it, and the order is refreshed monthly as new reviews land.

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