Rome · ROME CHURCHES AND BASILICAS TOURS

The 15 Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours That Earn Their Price

26 tours  ·  from $17

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 rome churches and basilicas tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & 4 Papal Basilicas Full Day Tour - Entering the Vatican Museums before the longest lines
Full-Day, Museums, Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tours

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & 4 Papal Basilicas Full Day Tour

1.Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & 4 Papal Basilicas Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,068 reviews · 8 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $266Our pick

Spend about nine hours exploring the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Rome’s three other papal basilicas. The day runs in two parts, with separate morning and afternoon check-ins, English-speaking guides, priority Vatican entry, and air-conditioned minivan transport.

“I forget our tour guide name, but she was wonderful. This tour is in two parts with a two hour break between the morning and afternoon. The Skip the line was awesome. Everything was well planned. Only comment...we have read when booking this tour that no shorts or sleeveless shirts were allowed. Well this isn't entirely true. YES, sleeveless shirts are a NO NO, but shorts Even for men are allowed IF they touch the top of the knee. They suppose to cover the knee, but everyone had NO problem getting in with them just above. The museums and Basilicas are not air conditioned or if they were, they are…”

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Vatican: Pope Francis Tomb and Papal Basilicas Tour - Santa Maria Maggiore and the tomb of Pope Francis
Papal Audience Tickets, Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Vatican: Pope Francis Tomb and Papal Basilicas Tour

2.Pope Francis Tomb and Papal Basilicas Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 340 reviews

In three hours, an English-speaking guide such as Rebecca, Emma, or Leo leads you through Santa Maria Maggiore, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Saint John Lateran, and the Holy Stairs. An air-conditioned van links the distant basilicas, with a maximum of eight people.

“Joan was a fantastic guide. He was very communicative, shared a lot of history, and made the tour very enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour and this tour company. We booked two tours with them and both guides were wonderful. The transportation was handled really well. The tour was much better than I anticipated.”

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Rome: Santa Maria Maggiore Upper Areas Skip-the-Line Ticket - The Loggia of Blessings and Filippo Rusuti’s mosaics
Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Skip the Line, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Rome: Santa Maria Maggiore Upper Areas Skip-the-Line Ticket

3.Santa Maria Maggiore Upper Areas Skip-the-Line Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 223 reviews · 1 day · from $21

Visit Santa Maria Maggiore’s Upper Areas at your own pace with a named, open-time ticket. See Filippo Rusuti’s medieval mosaics, the Popes’ Hall, Bernini’s travertine staircase, and the Liberian Historical Museum. This is self-guided access, not a guided tour.

“Basilica bella ma appuntamenti per visita ai piani superiori no rispettato. la prenotazione non e stara accettata dalla Basilica , no corrispondeva la prenotazione con i loro posti.qui di visita annullata”

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Pope Francis Tomb and Papal Basilicas Tour - Santa Maria Maggiore and Pope Francis’ tomb
Papal Audience Tickets, Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Pope Francis Tomb and Papal Basilicas Tour

4.Pope Francis Tomb and Papal Basilicas Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 165 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $113

Visit Santa Maria Maggiore, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, and Saint John in Lateran in about three hours. Guides such as Emma, Rebecca, Leo, Joan, and Fabio explain relics, Holy Doors, papal history, and the Scala Santa. A van links the basilicas, but you finish away from the starting point.

“It was supposed to be 4 holy doors but 2 were closed earlier than guide new about. The guide had other options. Also we had to pay our own way back to our destination”

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Rome: San Clemente Underground and Basilica Guided Tour - The 12th-century basilica and its gold mosaics
Guided, Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Underground Rome Tours

Rome: San Clemente Underground and Basilica Guided Tour

5.San Clemente Underground and Basilica Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 153 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $70

Meet near San Clemente and spend 90 minutes tracing Rome through three underground levels. Your English-speaking guide, possibly Luca, Gina, or Eddy, explains the gold mosaics, forgotten 4th-century basilica, Roman homes, spring, and Mithraic altar.

“Our guide, Priscilla, was wonderful. She has an excellent knowledge of her topic and made our tour very enjoyable.”

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Rome: Santa Maria Maggiore and Panoramic Dome Guided Tour - The meeting point and security wait
Guided, Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Rome: Santa Maria Maggiore and Panoramic Dome Guided Tour

6.Santa Maria Maggiore and Panoramic Dome Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 145 reviews · from $48

Visit Santa Maria Maggiore with an English-speaking guide, then climb the panoramic dome with authorized staff. You’ll see glittering mosaics, the Loggia of Blessings, Room of the Popes, Bernini’s stairs, and the historic Liberian Museum in 90 minutes.

“Excellent tour Guide was prompt friendly and so knowledgeable, and respectful that we were in a place of worship. We learnt alot without it being too intense. Highly recommend”

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Rome: Basilica of St John Lateran & Holy Steps 1-Hour Tour - Starting at the Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs
1-Hour Experiences, Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Rome: Basilica of St John Lateran & Holy Steps 1-Hour Tour

7.Basilica of St John Lateran & Holy Steps 1-Hour Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 131 reviews · 1 hour · from $65

Spend one focused hour with a Catholic guide such as Wen, Tom, or Cormac at the Scala Sancta and St John Lateran. See the Holy Steps, glimpse the chapel of the Holy of Holies, view relics linked to Saints Peter and Paul, and learn why this is Rome’s cathedral.

“Daniel was a perfect guide - very knowledgeable & went out of his way to show us more. I’m sorry we didn’t have tipping money on us as we would gladly have done so. Very good; very nice man.”

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Rome: Basilica of St. Mary Major Priority Entrance Ticket - Choosing between the four ticket options
Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Rome: Basilica of St. Mary Major Priority Entrance Ticket

8.Basilica of St. Mary Major Priority Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 71 reviews · from $17Best value

Visit Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major for about an hour, choosing a self-guided audio visit, an English-led tour, underground access, or a dome climb. You’ll see mosaics, frescoes, and statues, then take in Rome from above if your ticket includes the dome.

“The jump the line didn’t even get you to the front of the Que and they ran out of audio headsets. Waste of money and waiting on a refund”

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Rome: Jubilee Year Papal Basilicas Tour by Private Car - Santa Maria Maggiore: a strong first stop
Private, Private Car with Driver, Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Rome Jubilee Year Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Rome: Jubilee Year Papal Basilicas Tour by Private Car

9.Jubilee Year Papal Basilicas Tour by Private Car

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 57 reviews · from $134

Travel with driver-guide Luca in a private, air-conditioned car to Rome’s four papal basilicas: Santa Maria Maggiore, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. Peter’s. You can set your own pace, hear stories between stops, and pass through the Jubilee Holy Doors.

“driver/guide had good communication in terms of pick-up and drop off. has given information about the places we're going to. luca is knowledgeable, patient as he waited for us whilst we not only tour but immerse ourselves in this religious experience in every church we went to. transport was good and comfortable.”

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Private Jubilee Tour: 3 Papal Basilicas with Santa Maria Maggiore - Starting at St. John Lateran, Rome’s cathedral
Private, Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Rome Jubilee Year Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private Jubilee Tour: 3 Papal Basilicas with Santa Maria Maggiore

10.Private Jubilee Tour: 3 Papal Basilicas with Santa Maria Maggiore

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $392Top rated

Spend about three hours with a private guide at Santa Maria Maggiore, St. John Lateran, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. You’ll see three Jubilee Holy Doors, enter Santa Maria’s Papal Loggia, and travel between basilicas by private vehicle. Guides have included Barbara, Chiara, Ribal, and Giulia.

“These three Papal Basilicas are a must see and incredibly beautiful and spiritual. Our tour guide Barbara was simply amazing and shared so much history and personal experiences with us. We were never rushed and will always cherish this experience.”

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Rome: Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica Guided Tour - The 5th-century mosaics set the tone
Guided, Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Rome: Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica Guided Tour

11.Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 38 reviews · from $22

Spend one hour with an English-speaking guide inside Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore. See 5th-century mosaics, Bernini’s staircase, the Hall of the Popes, the Loggia delle Benedizioni, the 75-meter bell tower, and the Liberian Historical Museum.

“Valentina was a delightful guide! The tour was wonderful, and I learned so much. We also got to see things that general admission folks wouldn’t see or know about.”

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Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica and Dome - Meeting the basilica at Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore
Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Tour Reviews

Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica and Dome

12.Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica and Dome

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 32 reviews · from $34

Explore Santa Maria Maggiore on Rome’s Esquiline Hill with an audio guide in five languages. See the Holy Door, Bernini family tomb, Baptistery, Blessing Loggia, Hall of Popes, and Dome. An authorized staff member accompanies you to the Dome for safety.

“Prix très chère alors que l’entrée est gratuite , le dôme ne vaux pas plus le coup que ça . Autant y aller sans prendre de ticket”

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Rome Walking Tour of Holy Sites: Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, San Giovanni in Laterano and Scala Santa - Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and the Passion relics
Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Rome Walking Tour of Holy Sites: Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, San Giovanni in Laterano and Scala Santa

13.Rome Walking Tour of Holy Sites: Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, San Giovanni in Laterano and Scala Santa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $346

Visit three important Christian sites in Rome with a private English-speaking guide. Pray or climb the Scala Santa, see Passion relics at Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, and explore San Giovanni in Laterano. Guides including Francesco, Giorgio, Bruno, Tommaso, and Giovanni Giorgio have led this tour.

“The grandeur of the basilicas and the history attached to each. Very awe inspiring. Easy and not hurried tour.”

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Explore Christian Rome and the Underground of San Clemente - Walking into San Clemente’s underground world
Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Tour Reviews, Underground Rome Tours

Explore Christian Rome and the Underground of San Clemente

14.Explore Christian Rome and the Underground of San Clemente

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 16 reviews · from $167

Spend three hours with a live English, Spanish, or French-speaking guide exploring Christian Rome. You’ll visit St. John Lateran, San Clemente’s three archaeological levels, Santi Quattro Coronati, and St. Peter in Chains, home to Michelangelo’s Moses. Guides Roberto and Mohamed have earned special praise for their storytelling.

“Very informative, complete, personalized and enjoyable! Roberto's knowledge is extensive and his passion for the topics covered was evident throughout. It was also refreshing to have a guide who simply shared the information without feeling the need to inject a "self-satisfied, modern cynicism" throughout like so many of the other guides we've had in Rome recently. I highly recommend this tour.”

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Rome Catacombs Night Tour & Santa Maria Maggiore After Hours - The Mausoleum of Constantia and its 4th-century mosaics
Evening Experiences, Rome Catacombs Tours, Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours, Rome Night Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Rome Catacombs Night Tour & Santa Maria Maggiore After Hours

15.Rome Catacombs Night Tour & Santa Maria Maggiore After Hours

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 15 reviews · from $202

Meet your English-speaking guide at Piazza della Repubblica for a 165-minute evening tour by private chauffeur. Visit St Agnes Basilica, the Mausoleum of Constantia, and the catacombs, then enter Santa Maria Maggiore after hours for mosaics, chapels, rooftop views, and Bernini’s staircase.

“Andrew was a fantastic guide. The two churches were beautiful. The catacombs were interesting, but definitely not the highlight. Thank you Andy and LIV Tours.”

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New in Rome Churches and Basilicas Tours

★ 3.8Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica Guided TourFrom $294 reviews
★ 4.7Santa Maria Maggiore and Liberian Museum Guided TourFrom $534 reviews
★ 5.0Exclusive Three Basilicas Tour with Dedicated CarFrom $4414 reviews
★ 4.83 Papal Basilicas Guided Tour with Minivan TransfersFrom $674 reviews
★ 4.32.5-Hour San Clemente & Underground Private TourFrom $1953 reviews

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