Four Papal Basilicas tour Rome: Enter through the Holy Doors

Walk through the Holy Doors of Rome's four most sacred churches

This tour visits all four Major Basilicas of Rome, St. Peter's, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran and Santa Maria Maggiore, with an expert guide who leads you through their Holy Doors and explains the relics, mosaics and history inside each one. The tour runs five hours and includes an air-conditioned vehicle and St. Peter's admission. You choose between a private car, a shared golf cart, or the standard group option at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. St. Peter's Basilica1h
2. Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls1h
3. Basilica of St. John Lateran1h
4. Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore1h

Visit the Four Major Basilicas of Rome

• Enter Basilica of St Peter
• Tour interior with expert guide
• Visit Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls
• See St Paul’s chains and sarcophagus
• Tour Arch-Basilica of St John Lateran
• Learn about ancient mosaics and saints
• Visit Basilica of St Mary Major
• Explore golden interior and relics

The experience

You start at the Vatican with St. Peter's Basilica, built over the burial place of the apostle himself. Your guide walks you through the interior to show you Michelangelo's Pietà, the altars of major saints, and the relics housed here, then points out where St. Peter's body lies beneath the High Altar. From there the vehicle takes you to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where you'll see the chains that bound Paul during his imprisonment in Rome and view his newly excavated sarcophagus before touring the ancient Theodosian structure around it.

The Arch-Basilica of St. John Lateran comes next, the Cathedral of Rome itself. Your guide explains the ancient mosaics and the story of how the heads of Saints Peter and Paul were brought here and placed above the altar in the year 1300. The final stop is Santa Maria Maggiore, perhaps the oldest church dedicated to Mary in Rome and certainly the most important. Inside you'll see the golden interior, learn which popes are buried there, and stand before relics including a piece of the crib of Christ's nativity and the miraculous icon of Salus Populi Romani.

The tour follows a tradition begun in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII, when the Church first invited pilgrims to visit these four most important churches in Christendom and enter through their holy doors. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with your expert guide throughout, and St. Peter's admission is included in the price.

What’s included

• Expert professional guide in English.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers between the four basilicas.
• admission to St. Peter's Basilica.

Options for this experience

3 options

Guide in English08:00

Guide in English08:30

Guide in EnglishAvailable from 9 Oct 2027

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and SaturdayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “Please arrive at the obelisk in the center of St. Peter's Square and look for the guide holding the orange sign with the lion head on it.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendly

Operated by Roman Vacations

Is this one for you?If you have mobility difficulties, let the operator know in advance so they can assist you. The tour involves walking through each basilica's interior and standing for periods during the guided explanations. Choose the private car option if you prefer to travel alone or with your group rather than sharing the vehicle with other pilgrims.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What exactly is inside St. Peter's Basilica that the guide will show me?

St. Peter's Basilica holds Michelangelo's Pietà sculpture, the relics and altars of major Catholic saints, and the burial place of St. Peter himself beneath the High Altar. Your guide explains the history and significance of each as you move through the interior.

Will I actually see the remains of St. Paul at his basilica?

Yes. At the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, you'll see the chains that bound St. Paul during his time under house arrest in Rome and view his newly excavated sarcophagus before touring the rest of the ancient basilica.

What is the significance of entering through the Holy Doors?

The Holy Doors tradition began in 1300 when Pope Boniface VIII invited pilgrims to visit Rome's four Major Basilicas and enter through these special doors as an act of pilgrimage. Following in the steps of saints and pilgrims for centuries, you enter each basilica the same way they did.

How long does the entire tour take?

The tour runs five hours and covers all four Major Basilicas with stops at each one for a guided tour of the interior, relics and history.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation between the basilicas?

No. An air-conditioned vehicle is included throughout the tour, and you travel between all four basilicas with your guide. You choose at checkout whether you prefer a private car, a shared golf cart tour, or the standard group option.