Rome: Between Holy Doors Small Group Walking Tour
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rome, Italy
- 3 to 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Most visitors to Rome never get past St. Peter’s Basilica, but the city is thick with important churches rich in art and history. This small-group walking tour visits seven sacred sites, from Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore to the Holy Stairs near Saint John Lateran. Delve into religious and art history as you admire holy relics and masterpieces by Michelangelo and others, with entrance fees included.
- Get off the tourist track and explore seven historic, art-filled Roman churches
- A guide for insights into the city’s top churches and their highlights
- Visit basilicas, churches, and chapels including the Holy Stairs
- A small-group tour for time to ask your guide questions;
What's Included
- Tour Guide
- Entrance fee - Entrance fee
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Statua di San Giovanni Paolo IIPiazza dei Cinquecento, 00185 Roma RM, Italy
Look for the green statue of Saint John Paul II. Please arrive 15 minutes early for check-in.
End point
- Basilica of San Giovanni in LateranoP.za. San Giovanni In Laterano, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Close to the metro station "Linea A - San Giovanni"
Operating hours.9:00 am
Itinerary
1
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Basilica di Santa Prassede
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
San Pietro in Vincoli
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Basilica of San Clemente
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Ss. Quattro Coronati
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- To enter the Churches, shoulders, back and knees have to be covered.
- This is a walking tour
- In some cases during jubilee, the itinerary might have to be adapted. This depends on special events and increased waiting times to enter the sights. We can't guarantee passage thorugh the Holy Doors
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 5 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 153 reviews
Joe_W, Mar 2026
This tour was a hidden gem. My wife and I were so glad we did this tour. Our guide Roberto was a studied historian and provided details we would have never discovered on our own. The historical significance of each church was amazing and the history and discussions of church history were fascinating. Even the background of Holy Doors was provided. Highly recommended for people interested in Rome history of the city and the church. Tour was over 3 hours so be prepared to walk and enjoy the sites and learn! Outstanding
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very much for your kind and detailed review. I’m delighted to hear that you found the tour both enriching and insightful. I appreciate your recommendation.
Lisa_B, Mar 2026
Roberto was so amazing! We enjoyed our tour immensely!! He was very knowledgeable. These churches will forever remain in our minds. Pictures can never do justice for what we felt while experiencing it.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very much for your kind words. I’m delighted to hear that the experience left a lasting impression on you.
Julie_R, Jan 2026
The tour of the Holy Doors was amazing. I've been to Rome before, but never took this tour! It really gives you a lot of knowledge of the religious side of Rome! All the different churches and Basillicas were stunning! Roberto was an excellent guide and added so much more depth to what we were seeing! I highly recommend you add this tour to your itinerary!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you very much for your review. It’s wonderful to know that as a returning visitor you found the churches and basilicas enriching.
Yessica_T, Dec 2025
I was lucky enough to do this tour on my own. Roberto., the guide is very knowledgeable, patient and truly loves his job. I thought I was going to see some Basílicas and Holy Doors but I ended up having an amazing experience, finding places I didn't know existed and that I could have never gone without this tour and guide. I was deeply emotional through the duration of it.
Tour requires a bit of walking, but most of the places are within 5 or 10 mins from each other so it's not that hard to complete.
If you are a religious person or simply love amazing structures and history you would love this.
Roberto also gave me tips of places nearby to go at the end of the tour that made my experience even more magic.
I hope I can come back to Rome with friends and family and be able to do this tour again. Gracias Roberto.!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you very much for your thoughtful and generous review. I’m glad to hear that the tour became such a meaningful experience for you. I’m also pleased that the recommendations at the end added something special to your day.
I would be delighted to welcome you back to Rome in the future.
Julie_N, Nov 2025
Not what we expected. We’re first timers and knew nothing about Rome.. For small group of 4 people only, we should have been informed ahead of where we going or have printed information about it. It was quite a bit of walking and the distances between buildings was long.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
All of our tours come with a clear and detailed itinerary at the moment of booking, including every site visited, the walking requirements, and the fact that it is explicitly a walking tour. It's enough to scroll back up and read the itinerary. It's that simple. The distances between the churches are short - generally 4-5 minutes on foot - and the pace is always adapted to the needs of the group. In this case, the tour delivered exactly what was described in the listing.
Small groups of only four guests are quite rare in Rome and are typically appreciated for the personal attention and more intimate experience they allow. For this reason, and given the content of your review, it’s difficult to understand what aspects would merit a one-star rating.
Duke_S, Nov 2025
Roberto is a competent and knowledgeable guide, who navigates expertly through and between the Holy Door sites. He is very responsive to questions. 5-star guide. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you very much for your review. I’m pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour and appreciated the guide. Your recommendation means a great deal. Thank you for the 5 stars.
Carl_B, Nov 2025
Wonderful experience with Roberto!! Very knowledgeable and provided insight that we don’t think we would have gotten with another tour guide. He provided different aspects and history of the buildings that we toured. Highly recommend!!!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for the great review! We're glad Roberto’s knowledge and insights made your tour memorable. We appreciate the recommendation!
Elizabeth_C, Nov 2025
So fortunate to join Roberto’s tour! His in-depth knowledge of religion and church history came to life through captivating stories at every site we visited. He introduced every church, fresco, statue, painting and relic with fascinating context and engaging detail. I highly recommend Roberto’s tour - you’ll leave informed, inspired and motivated to learn more.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for your thoughtful review. I’m very pleased to know that you enjoyed the tour and found the stories and historical context engaging.
I appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again on a future visit.
anthonyalvarez72, Nov 2025
An amazing experience definitely better to do a small group and be able to get one on one conversation with the tour guide. We will definitely be booking again in the future for the rest of the tours.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you very much for your kind review. I’m delighted to hear that you enjoyed the small-group experience and the opportunity for a more personal exchange during the tour. I look forward to welcoming you again on another visit to Rome.
Sarah_J, Oct 2025
This tour was very interesting and unique. The guide, Roberto, provided a substantial amount of detail regarding the various basilicas and churches visited and the many relics they contain. He is very knowledgeable with respect to religious history. The small group size made it easier to navigate through busy basilicas and for Roberto to communicate with us at a volume respectful to our surroundings. This tour may be difficult for individuals with mobility challenges, as it is very fast-paced and involved a significant amount of walking with no rest breaks and very few opportunities to sit. Roberto also offers the same tour in multiple languages. While the other individuals on our tour could speak English as well, I would have been disappointed if the tour was repeated in two languages throughout. I think Roberto’s wonderful tour could be improved if he offered it in just one language at a given time and if he added a washroom or rest break in the middle (as it can feel awkward to request to pause the tour for one). I would highly recommend this tour if you are interested in Catholic history and sites.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you very much for your thoughtful and detailed review. I’m glad to hear that you found the tour enriching and appreciated the depth of historical and religious insight, as well as the respectful atmosphere during the visits.
Regarding your remarks: a restroom break is offered both at the beginning and again around the halfway point of the tour, so perhaps this detail was mixed up with another experience. The walking pace is never fixed - it is always adapted to the rhythm and comfort of the group to ensure everyone can enjoy the visit without feeling rushed.
The tour does involve a fair amount of walking and stairs and, as mentioned in the description, it is not specifically adapted for guests with mobility challenges. That said, it can be customized - we’ve successfully conducted this itinerary with guests using wheelchairs, but in those cases, it must be arranged as a private tour so we can adjust timing and access accordingly.
As for the language aspect, there was a brief issue with the booking system that caused a few bilingual tours to be scheduled together. This has since been completely resolved, and all new bookings -especially from next year onward - will be conducted in a single language as originally intended.
Thank you again for your valuable feedback and kind words. I’m very happy you enjoyed the experience and hope the visit remains a meaningful memory for you.
Alina_B, Sep 2025
Incredibly knowledgeable. Went out of his way to explain in great detail information about the churches we visited.. I highly recommend this tour if you enjoy the history of catholicism.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for your kind words. I am glad you appreciated the detailed explanations of the churches we visited
Gloria_M, Sep 2025
You need to be able to walk about 2-3 miles, slight incline, irregular cobblestones, and stairs of different shapes and sizes
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for your 5-star review! We are delighted you enjoyed the tour. As you mention, some walking over cobblestones and steps is part of experiencing Rome, so comfortable shoes are recommended to make the discovery of Rome’s treasures even more enjoyable.
Jennifer_T, Sep 2025
Loved this! Roberto did such a great job again. Would recommend. He is very knowledgeable about area churches. Still learned new stuff because it’s so much information it’s hard to retain it all the first time.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for joining the tour again - it’s a honor to welcome returning guests! I’m delighted to know you still discovered new things the second time around. I appreciate your kind recommendation.
Barry_H, Sep 2025
Excellent for those interested in church history. Our guide was so well prepared and informative. Many special places absent the roads. Ideal for a “rest day”
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you very much for your kind review. I am pleased to know you enjoyed the tour.
Eileen_M, Aug 2025
Roberto is an excellent guide who takes time to give the history and answer questions and explain nuances of pictures and statues you probably wouldn't notice normally and the experience of The Holy Doors is one I will carry with me. I highly recommend!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate your recommendation greatly.
Bret_B, Aug 2025
When we arrived at the Statue of John Paul II, it was very hot and the August sun was beating down as we waited for the other couple to join us for a small group of four. It's a telling thing that rather than make space for us to stand in the small shadow of the statue for shade, the guide made sure to stand there himself while we stood in the sun. The guide is young, intelligent, and remarkably well-informed, but unlike other small group/individual tour guides we've had in the past, he didn't give much thought to the comfort of his guests. For instance, he walked very quickly both up and down steps, and we managed to keep up, but we are middle-aged people at the end of a month-long vacation and were tired. Most small group/individual guides we've had are very quick to adjust to the comfort of their guests. Further, at no point in 3 hours did the guide point out a nearby bathroom in case we needed one. Thankfully we didn't, but again, for a higher priced small group/individual tour, we would have expected him to pay attention to the need for older people to take bathroom breaks - especially in a city like Rome where bathrooms are hard to find.
As I noted earlier, we were a small group of four and we booked an English speaking guide, but the other couple only spoke Spanish. So the guide had to go back and forth between English and Spanish, thereby giving us only half as much time to ask questions and learn from him. That was very disappointing because he is a very well-informed as passionate guide.
Finally, on our itinerary, the 7th stop is a 20 minute visit to the Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs. That never happened. Instead, as we exited the church that was the 6th stop on the itinerary, the guide merely pointed out that the steps were a little down the road from our ending point and we could go there if we wanted.
We would do it again if we had too because we really did see some less well known treasures, but it's too bad because we thought our guide was extremely well-informed, but it just didn't meet what we typically receive from a small group/individual tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. I’m pleased to hear you enjoyed discovering some of Rome’s lesser-known treasures and found the historical insights valuable.
Regarding the Scala Sancta, it is indeed part of the St. John Lateran complex and a deeply important place of prayer and reflection. Climbing the Holy Stairs is a very personal devotion, handled differently from person to person, and the time required can vary greatly - especially during the Jubilee Year when waiting lines may be long. Many visitors are also unable to climb the stairs physically. For these reasons, we provide a detailed explanation just outside the building (as talking and photography are not permitted inside) and then disband the official group so guests may enter at their own pace. We always accompany those who wish to visit together - in this case, we visited the Scala Sancta with the Spanish-speaking guests.
As for bathrooms, facilities are only available at the start and end of this itinerary. If needed during the tour, we are always happy to pause at a local bar for a restroom break, but as you stated, no one needed to use a bathroom.
Regarding the pace, we aim to adapt as much as possible to the needs of the group, as confirmed in many other reviews. On this occasion, the Spanish-speaking part of the group (which included a guest over 72 years old) also left a 5-star review and a recommendation, which we take as encouragement that the pacing worked well for them.
Finally, we never simply leave guests at the end of a tour - after the itinerary is complete, we are always happy to offer further guidance, directions, and personal recommendations for the rest of the day.
I appreciate your comments and will continue working to ensure every guest feels comfortable, cared for, and enriched by the experience.
Laurie_M, Jun 2025
Excellent and effortless way to see a few of the Holy Doors and so much more in a condensed amount of time. Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and reverent (which was appreciated). Don’t hesitate to book this tour
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you for your kind words and recommendation!
BILL_J, Jun 2025
Roberto is an excellent guide with great knowledge about all the churches we visited, I have been to Rome a few times and had tours but none were as informative as this tour Grazie
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much! I’m truly honored that you found this tour the most informative, especially after several visits to Rome.
Basak_A, Jun 2025
Excellent tour with detailed information inside each church. Efficiently organized, professionally delivered, focused on the history and art of each church without any distractions. Must do tour while in Rome.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you very much for your kind words. I’m glad to know you consider it a 'must do' in Rome!"
Imelda_M, May 2025
This tour was exceptional. In themselves the Chiezas were beautiful and the knowledge that our guide shared made our visits so much more special. We left with a gift of the heart and a jubilee to remember for years.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words. I’m glad that the tour left a meaningful impression.
DOLORES_C, May 2025
Experienced guide, that explains all the churches we went,esp the holy door of St John Lettan& St Mary Major
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you very much! I’m glad you enjoyed the tour.
Samson_F, Apr 2025
I was very impressed with the wealth of information Roberto had for every site visited on the itinerary. To get to every one of these places one would first have had to do a lot of research on these holy sites and second be able to map this out. Not an easy task. This tour has much thought and planning and gives a tourist or pilgrim a great flavor and an appetite to see even more. I'm amazed how much was covered within three hours! This is very worthwhile!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you very much for your thoughtful review. I’m glad it inspired a deeper interest in these sacred places.
Nancy_K, Mar 2025
What an amazing and personal experience! Roberto is a wealth of knowledge and the intimacy of his tours was such a perfect way to experience other basilicas that may never be visited. I can’t begin to list all of the things that we learned and how valuable this tour is. We would have left and had missed so much! He makes us anxious to come back and try his other tours, to learn even more!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the tour and that it brought Rome’s hidden treasures to life for you. It means a lot to know it left you excited to return
leslie_n, Mar 2025
Our guide Roberto was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. We saw unexpected treasures and I highly recommend his tour
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for the recommendation!
Talal_A, Feb 2025
This is a one of kind experience specially with a guide like Roberto whose combined the wealth of knowledge in the history of those locations and their significant rule in establishing the Christianity in eternal city.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for your kind words! I’m delighted that you enjoyed this unique experience.
Rose_P, Feb 2025
We enjoyed this itinerary as there was something unique about each church. Roberto was very knowledgeable and responsive to our many questions. He keeps the tours to a small group which is much more manageable and respectful in the churches. The pace was good. You should know that there was only one hill to walk but there are many stairs. You will certainly get your 10,000 steps in with this tour. I would definitely recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your wonderful review! Glad you appreciated the small group experience. It’s great to hear that the pace worked well for you—Rome’s history is best explored on foot, even with a few stairs along the way! We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on another tour.
Lucas_H, Feb 2025
Amazingly insightful tour. Roberto's depth of knowledge & expertise is 2nd to none. He provides insights you will not access in large group tours. Most insightful deep tour I did whilst in Rome. You may even get rare access to some hidden gems - as I did, that you will not get on any other tour. Bravo to Roberto - grazie
Response from Host, Feb 2025
We're delighted that you found the tour insightful and it’s wonderful to hear that it made an impression. Grazie, and we hope to see you again in Rome!
Kyler_C, Feb 2025
This was a wonderful tour. Roberto was an absolute wealth of knowledge and was able to answer all my questions off the top of his head. He pointed out so many details and important highlights that we would have missed otherwise. He tailored the trip to our interests. Absolutely recommend him and his company!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted that you enjoyed the tour.
ChingWen_C, Jan 2025
The tour is beyond my expectations. The guide was professional and passionate, leading me through Rome’s iconic churches with detailed explanations of every fresco, sculpture, and architectural feature. I learned so much and truly enjoyed the experience. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Anthony_P, Jan 2025
So very informative and interesting. A lot jammed in to the 3 hours, great to have it all explained and find out what every thing symbolises.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for the review!
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