Rome churches walking tour: Six basilicas and two Holy Doors

Step inside ancient basilicas where Michelangelo’s Moses and secret relics await your discovery

This small-group walking tour of Rome visits six major basilicas and two of the city's four Holy Doors, guided by a certified local guide fluent in English, Spanish or German. The tour covers Santa Maria Maggiore, Santa Prasede, San Pietro in Vincoli, Santi Quattro Coronati, San Clemente and San Giovanni in Laterano over three to four hours, with entrance fees included. Shoulders, back and knees must be covered to enter the churches. The itinerary may shift during jubilee years due to special events and increased waiting times at the sites.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore40m
2. Basilica of Santa Prassede20m
3. St. Peter in Chains20m
4. Basilica of San Clemente20m
5. Basilica of Santi Quattro Coronati20m
6. Basilica of St. John Lateran40m
7. Holy Stairs20m

Explore Rome's historic holy sites

• Visit Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
• Explore Basilica of Santa Prassede
• See Michelangelo's Moses at St. Peter in Chains
• Visit Basilica of San Clemente
• Discover frescoes at Basilica of Santi Quattro Coronati
• Tour Basilica of St. John Lateran
• View the Holy Stairs

The experience

What makes this tour different is the guide. Someone who lives in Rome and knows why these particular churches matter, not just what to say about them. You'll walk from one basilica to the next on foot, moving through neighborhoods where the layers of the city stack on top of each other: ancient Rome, the medieval papacy, Renaissance chapels, and the streets people use today. The guide handles the entrance fees, so you move straight through the doors instead of waiting at ticket windows.

The day starts at Santa Maria Maggiore, which holds one of the four Holy Doors and the final resting place of Pope Francis. From there you move to Santa Prasede, a smaller basilica that contains one of the oldest apse mosaics in the world and a relic of the passion of Christ. San Pietro in Vincoli comes next: the church where Michelangelo's Moses sculpture stands, along with the chains of St. Peter himself. Then you reach two of Rome's oldest churches: Santi Quattro Coronati, where frescoes tell the legend of Pope Sylvester, and San Clemente, dedicated to the fourth Pope. The tour ends at San Giovanni in Laterano, the arch-basilica that holds the second Holy Door and relics of both St. Peter and St. Paul.

This is a walking tour, so comfortable shoes matter. The churches require covered shoulders, back and knees. Plan your clothing before you arrive. During jubilee years, the itinerary can shift because of special events and longer waits at the sites, though the guide will adapt the route to keep the day moving. Public transportation stops are nearby if you need them, but the walk itself is the point.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to all six basilicas.
• certified local guide in your choice of English, Spanish or German.
• access to two of Rome's four Holy Doors.

Options for this experience

3 options

English tour: Between Holy Doors09:00Book this tour in English. Group size is capped at 5 people.

Deutsch tour: Between Holy DoorsGuide in German · 09:00Deutsche Führung: Buchen Sie diese Tour auf Deutsch. Maximal 5 Personen pro Gruppe.

Between Holy Doors, tour in Spanish09:00Spanish-language tour: Book this visit in Spanish. Maximum number of people per group: 5.

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

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (under 13): free

GroupUp to 5

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Treasures of Rome

Is this one for you?Choose the English, Spanish or German departure based on the language you're most comfortable with. The guide's knowledge of Rome matters more than the pace, and each language group stays small enough to ask questions as you move between churches. If you have more than three hours but less than a full day, and you want to see the oldest layers of the city without building an itinerary yourself, this walk holds together the sites that actually matter.

Traveler reviews

4.96★★★★★★★★★★

161 verified traveler reviews

5 ★158

4 ★1

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (under 13): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the Holy Doors in Rome, and why does this tour visit two of them?

The Holy Doors are four special entrances in Rome's major basilicas (Santa Maria Maggiore and San Giovanni in Laterano among them) that are opened only during jubilee years and other significant occasions. This tour includes entry through both of them, so you pass through doors that most visitors never see.

How much walking is involved, and how long does the tour actually take?

The tour runs three to four hours and covers six basilicas on foot, moving between neighborhoods in central Rome. It's a walking tour, so you'll be on your feet the whole time, but the pace is set by the guide and the group stays together.

Does the tour include entry to all the churches, or do I pay separately?

Entrance fees to all six basilicas are included in the tour price, so you don't stop to buy tickets at each one. The guide handles access, and you move straight inside.

What's inside San Pietro in Vincoli that makes it worth visiting?

San Pietro in Vincoli holds Michelangelo's Moses sculpture (one of the most famous sculptures in Rome), and the chains of St. Peter, which are displayed as relics in the church. The sculpture alone draws visitors from all over the world.

Can I do this tour if I'm not in great physical shape?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it does involve three to four hours of walking and climbing stairs inside the churches. If you have spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or are pregnant, this tour is not recommended.