St. Mary's Basilica
St. Mary's Basilica
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Plan your visit
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown Halifax
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
747 within 5 kms
Attractions
199 within 10 kms
Contribute
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
4.5
228 reviews
Excellent
106
Very good
103
Average
17
Poor
0
Terrible
2
PavlaPavla
Chrudim, Czech Republic7,645 contributions
Jul 2023
This basilica is not very big, it is simply decorated inside, but there are beautiful arches in Georgian architecture style, Gothic doorways and really nice stained glass windows.
The church was badly damaged in the explosion at Halifax on 6 December 1917. All the stained glass windows were shattered by the force of the explosion. The paintings on the walls were damaged by small pieces of glass and later suffered water damage from a blizzard that entered the church through broken windows. However, work on the renovation of the paintings did not start until June 2019.
The church was badly damaged in the explosion at Halifax on 6 December 1917. All the stained glass windows were shattered by the force of the explosion. The paintings on the walls were damaged by small pieces of glass and later suffered water damage from a blizzard that entered the church through broken windows. However, work on the renovation of the paintings did not start until June 2019.
Written July 14, 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.
Stirling B
Ottawa, Canada764 contributions
Jul 2023
St Mary’s Basilica is a beautiful church located in downtown Halifax. The interior of the church features simple yet elegantly appointed with lovely stained glass. Nice place to visit when in the area.
Written July 21, 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.
PBPG
Yorkshire, UK8,496 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Well worth a visit. Mary's Cathedral Basilica is a Catholic cathedral located in the centre of Halifax and is the largest Catholic church in the Archdiocese. Consecrated on 19 October 1899, it was made a basilica in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. The St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica boasts the tallest granite spire in North America. The spire has a height of 189 feet (58 m).
Written September 6, 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.
Siera C
Windsor, Canada44 contributions
Mar 2021
Beautiful church mid 18 century Catholic Materpiece. Still well maintained. The Altar, cieling and stained glass work all beautiful and worth starring. Walk thr grounds and admire how they built it then
Written May 9, 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.
Elizabeth V
Bognor Regis, UK737 contributions
Sept 2019
This cathedral is, as pleases me, not over the top. It is beautiful whilst also retaining some simplicity in its decoration. Well placed in the centre of the tourist area and the commercial streets, it is accessible to all. The stained glass windows are beautiful and are very clear.
Written January 14, 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.
Michael S
6 contributions
Oct 2019
We went here to see the stained glass, which was very nice. But the history is special. All the windows were b!own out in the Great Halifax Explosion, which until the dropping of the atom bomb in WW2, was the biggest man- made explosion ever seen.
Written March 10, 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.
PhillyTraveler
Philadelphia, PA45 contributions
Sept 2013 • Couples
The combination of Old and New Testament scenes in one panel design is uniquely challenging. There is a parallelism between the person or events in the bottom half Old testament panel, and the theological fulfillment or significance in the upper portion of the panel. 18 panels test your knowledge of Scripture, along with stained glass above the main alter and the two side alter windows. The original windows were destroyed on Dec. 6, 1917 by the Halifax Explosion. Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich created replacement, but not replicas of the originals. These are "Munich Style" windows, were the leaded seams are camouflaged into the design, so as not to detract from the scene. You can purchase a small book detailing the Basilica and the windows. The walk from the cruise ship is a little uphill, but worth the effort. Let me know if you enjoyed the experience as much as I did.
Written September 21, 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.
John T
Halifax, Canada16 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
A well-worn, but beautiful building in down-town Halifax. This church needs lots of love to restore it to its glory days, but the Sunday mass and its marvelous choir make a visit worthwhile. Rarely does a catholic church have such wonderful singing and a choir that so well symbolizes the rich tradition that is imbued in the mass. The congregation sings along with the choir in well-chosen hymns, and is amazed by the 20 voice choir which they are certain must contain twice that many voices. The acoustics for singing are wonderful. Easter and Christmas masses are not to be missed to fully enjoy the choral offerings.
Written October 7, 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.
V3606LDsharons
San Antonio, TX42 contributions
Sept 2019
A must stop while in Halifax. The main Altar was being restored during our visit. The numerous arches are stunning with red paint at the tops and the stained glass windows abundant!
Written October 17, 2019
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.
Mary Jane M
Halifax, Canada15 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
We happened to stop by as an organist was practicing for an upcoming competition. This really added to the spiritual experience of visiting a beautiful church.
Written July 4, 2019
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.
Would like to attend a mass when we go in April? What time are the services
Written March 11, 2017
Lord's Day Mass
Saturday @ 4:00pm
Sunday @ 7:30am, 10:30am & 5:00pm
Weekday Mass
Monday - Friday @ 12:15pm & 5:15pm
Saturday @ 12:15pm
Written March 14, 2017
Is the Basilica within walking distance of where the cruise ships dock?
Written July 28, 2016
15 +/- minute walk (1 +/- km). Some uphill walking. Worth the walk.
Written August 1, 2016
Glenn C
Dartmouth, Canada
I would like to visit this church with my wife,when are we able to do that?
Written January 12, 2015
Actually you can go inside anytime during the day; unsure about how late evenings. the big front doors may be locked but you go around to the side entrance of the church beside Taz Records and is always open. stunning inside but be sure all cell phones are off as a lot of serious prayers there all the time. no problem with cameras just maybe not take any pictures of prayers. enjoy your visit.
Written January 13, 2015
Showing results 1-4 of 4
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing