St Michael's Cathedral Basilica
St Michael's Cathedral Basilica
4.5
About
This beautiful gothic-style cathedral is one of the city's most prominent landmarks.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Old Toronto
How to get there
- Queen • 4 min walk
- Dundas • 5 min walk
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4,312 within 3 miles
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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 wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
105 reviews
Excellent
52
Very good
41
Average
9
Poor
2
Terrible
1
doctorfoxtrot
Taguig City, Philippines13,209 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Attended Ash Wednesday mass . Never realised the many Catholics joining the activity. Some parishioners can’t find seats. But it was solemn . Good acoustic sound coverage . Noticed how beautiful the Cathedral was. Fine architectural design. For me it was one landmark in the city. Seeing sanitizer dispensers means they are taking precautions as well .
Written March 2, 2020
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.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia51,613 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
St Michaels Catholic Cathedral is a lovely church. It dates back to the mid-1800s. If you are in Downtown Toronto it's worth stopping by for a look at this beautiful building.
Written October 8, 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.
calbro
california1 contribution
Started my days by attending early masses at this magnificent Cathedral. Very solemn.
Always quite a few of us in the church. After mass, prayed awhile at the Blessed Sacrament each time.
I was able to talk to the nice Priests.
Lit candles to my favorite Saints. To my surprised, I saw and prayed to the actual relics of my special Saints, like St. Anthony and many more. Can't get closer than this.
Must see images of angels and of different Saints. I have not seen these images before.
Only at St. Michael Cathedral in Toronto.
Abundant fast food, ethnic restaurants and even a big shopping mall, the Eaton Center. All of which is a short walking distance away.
Is this heaven ?.........Amen
Always quite a few of us in the church. After mass, prayed awhile at the Blessed Sacrament each time.
I was able to talk to the nice Priests.
Lit candles to my favorite Saints. To my surprised, I saw and prayed to the actual relics of my special Saints, like St. Anthony and many more. Can't get closer than this.
Must see images of angels and of different Saints. I have not seen these images before.
Only at St. Michael Cathedral in Toronto.
Abundant fast food, ethnic restaurants and even a big shopping mall, the Eaton Center. All of which is a short walking distance away.
Is this heaven ?.........Amen
Written June 8, 2010
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.
J F V K
1 contribution
Sep 2020
Filipina usher at 5:00 PM Sunday Mass behaves like a rude prison warden. She rudely compels people to get up and leave certain pews and orders them to move to other pews. She does not keep the 6-foot social distance when talking to people, but comes within 12 inches of one's face. She yells at people who have no masks on in spite of being told that they have exemption for medical reasons under Sec. 2 (a) 2 of Bylaw 541-2020. This usher is very arrogant. Such a person ruins the sacredness of the church.
Written September 28, 2020
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.
mdolanjski0519
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
May 2018 • Solo
One disappointment is that Cathedral has no fully accessible washrooms. There are stairs leading to the basement to both men and women washrooms. Unfortunately, for us others who need barrier-free access to the washrooms, we have to rely, (to search for) security person who will than let us in one small elevator, we exit half floor and than we are let in to the other tiny elevator to finally arrive in the front of the big restroom door, which is NOT accessible. It doesn't even have push button! With my walker and shortness of breath it is definitely struggle to get in and out,by pushing/pulling heavy doors - it certainly causes me a lot of hardship! Than again I must wait for security person to come and let me up in the elevators to return to the Cathedral. Wheelchair or even baby stroller will NOT fit in those two small elevators. It is very disappointing that it has not been better designed for worshipers, as myself & visitors with disabilities and those who need barrier free access!
Written May 10, 2018
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.
roger v
Toronto, Canada63 contributions
Sep 2017 • Family
With most of the shopping done for back to school, we decided to walk to St Michael's cathedral for evening mass. There is confession available between 4:15-4:45. Be sure to line up early as the priest may not be able to reach everyone before he needs to prepare for Sunday service at 5pm. The evening service does not have the boys choir and instead is led by a cantor. The gothic style is very conducive for meditating, and as you admire stained glass windows and the vaulted ceilings, you can glimpse the bishop's hat, hung way above the alter, attributable to the 1st bishop, Michael Power.
Written September 4, 2017
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.
Nr.6
Ajax, Canada47 contributions
Cathedrals are the architectural manifestation of faith establishing a splendour that weathers the ages as a testimony to the faith they represent. St. Michael's splendour is complimented at Sunday morning Masses by the magnificent singing of the boys and young men of St. Michael's Choir School. An inspiration for both Catholic worshippers and non-Catholic observers.
Written January 5, 2012
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.
Robert M
Oswego, NY114 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
Attended the noon Mass and was very pleased that the combined Senior/Junior Boys Choir were singing for the service. The two music teachers sitting next to me said it best when they said, "Impressive!" I found they truly added to the spiritual experience. The Cathedral is undergoing a major renovation and it is looking better each time I visit. There is a an army of friendly ushers who help you find a seat if you are coming late. I enjoy attending here when I am in Toronto.
Written October 15, 2013
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.
Canadian_Guy1000
Mississauga, Canada3,431 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
Before visiting the 168 year old Cathedral in October, 2016, I had been following the $128 million restoration work online and thus was quite curious to see the results (the restoration is not finished yet).
For the first time I was able go to the crypt level beneath the church (an elevator was available, too!). The crypts were rebuilt and the remains of those buried under the cathedral (including Michael Power, the first bishop of Toronto) were disinterred and moved to new locations—finally, the crypts are accessible to the public. A chapel with seating for 300 people underneath the cathedral is still under construction. In addition, two washrooms were installed.
The old decaying balcony was demolished and a new, much bigger choir loft added, able to accommodate 260 people. The new organs with 4,143 pipes ranging in size from 1 cm to 10 meters were installed and the old organ pipes were removed, thus exposing for the first time in over a century the stained glass window at the west side of the cathedral.
New pews, new marble flooring, new wall paintings, new sound system, new fire system, new lighting and new reredos (an ornamental screen covering the wall at the back of an altar) were only some of the changes I immediately noticed. There were vents in the floor and walls, part of the new heating/air system. Before the restoration the old stain glass windows had been quite dark and fragile—they were carefully removed, cleaned, repaired and reinstalled, looking like new again!
However, one of the most important, yet ‘invisible’ part of the restoration, was the structural work under the cathedral and reinforcing the central columns and the foundations. The spire was reinforced with a new steel interior structure, as it was in danger of falling over. Also, the roof was stabilized.
After the restoration, the Vatican granted the cathedral the tile of minor basilica, in recognition of its historic and current significance as a place of worship.
There are a number of amazing HD time-lapse videos on the St. Michael’s Cathedral website, showing the restoration/rebuilding of the crypt, organs and balcony, reinforcing the foundations, etc. In just minutes it is possible to see the scope of the monumental tasks that were performed during the restoration!
For the first time I was able go to the crypt level beneath the church (an elevator was available, too!). The crypts were rebuilt and the remains of those buried under the cathedral (including Michael Power, the first bishop of Toronto) were disinterred and moved to new locations—finally, the crypts are accessible to the public. A chapel with seating for 300 people underneath the cathedral is still under construction. In addition, two washrooms were installed.
The old decaying balcony was demolished and a new, much bigger choir loft added, able to accommodate 260 people. The new organs with 4,143 pipes ranging in size from 1 cm to 10 meters were installed and the old organ pipes were removed, thus exposing for the first time in over a century the stained glass window at the west side of the cathedral.
New pews, new marble flooring, new wall paintings, new sound system, new fire system, new lighting and new reredos (an ornamental screen covering the wall at the back of an altar) were only some of the changes I immediately noticed. There were vents in the floor and walls, part of the new heating/air system. Before the restoration the old stain glass windows had been quite dark and fragile—they were carefully removed, cleaned, repaired and reinstalled, looking like new again!
However, one of the most important, yet ‘invisible’ part of the restoration, was the structural work under the cathedral and reinforcing the central columns and the foundations. The spire was reinforced with a new steel interior structure, as it was in danger of falling over. Also, the roof was stabilized.
After the restoration, the Vatican granted the cathedral the tile of minor basilica, in recognition of its historic and current significance as a place of worship.
There are a number of amazing HD time-lapse videos on the St. Michael’s Cathedral website, showing the restoration/rebuilding of the crypt, organs and balcony, reinforcing the foundations, etc. In just minutes it is possible to see the scope of the monumental tasks that were performed during the restoration!
Written October 27, 2016
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.
renato-sma
Bremen, Germany295 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
St Michaels Cathedral is a very beatifull cathedral and worth a visit if you are around. It is also nice to hear about the histories related to the cathedral.
Written July 30, 2016
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.
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