The Holy Doors Experience: Papal Basilicas & Seamless Transfer

Rome, Italy

3 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Visiting all four of Rome’s major basilicas in one day can be difficult to organize using public transport. This private tour makes it easier, combining St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore, and St. Paul Outside the Walls into one seamless itinerary. With hotel pickup, travel comfortably between sites while a driver-guide provides insight along the way, allowing you to focus on exploring the important religious landmarks without the stress of navigating the city on your own.

Save time and check off four of the city's major basilicas in just a few hours
Visit basilicas that most travelers miss, including some of the oldest in Europe
Relax with door-to-door transportation by private car, including hotel pickup
Enjoy a personalized experience unique to you and your travel companions

What's Included

Private transportation
Air-conditioned vehicle
English-speaking driver

Tips
Food and beverages

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

please provide hotel name for pick up

Itinerary

Saint Peter’s Basilica

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Basilica Papale Di San Paolo Fuori le Mura

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Reviews

4.2

based on 13 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Unimpressed

Nicholas_W, Oct 2025

Our driver/guide was late. He gave us little to none Rome history to and from each Basilica. He never went inside the Basilica’s with us to explain the history behind each. This tour was not worth the money we paid for it. We could have taken a taxi, or bus and saved money. Pass this tour up.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your Jubilee 2025 Rome: Papal Basilicas Expedition tour. We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we appreciate you raising these specific points. Our Apology and Service Clarification First, please accept our sincere apologies for the 10-minute delay at the start of your tour. We understand that traffic in Rome can be challenging, but we regret that this inconvenience affected your impression of the service from the outset. We would like to clarify a few points regarding the service provided by your driver-guide, Stefano, who is highly rated for his service: Tour Duration: We want to ensure you are aware that although you booked a 3-hour tour, we provided you with a full 4-hour experience (an extra hour at no charge). We implemented this extended duration specifically for the Jubilee year to ensure our clients could visit all four major basilicas and have ample time for the experience despite potential crowds and traffic. Driver vs. Guide Role: As per the tour description ("Designated English-speaking driver"), the role is to provide comfortable, door-to-door transportation and valuable information and commentary en route to the sites. Due to basilica regulations, drivers do not accompany guests inside the churches to act as certified historical guides. This structure allows guests to explore the sacred spaces at their own pace. Commitment to Value While we are disappointed that you felt the tour was not worth the price, we stand by the value of the specialized service provided: private, stress-free transportation to all four major Papal Basilicas, extended to 4 hours during the busy Jubilee period, utilizing our five-star rated driver, Stefano. This level of personalized, time-saving service is something public transport cannot replicate. We sincerely regret that our service format did not align with what you were looking for. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to ensure the distinction between a Driver-Guide (transportation and commentary) and a Licensed Guide (historical tour inside the sites) is clearer in our future communications.

Get what you’re promised

Lincoln_M, Oct 2025

Promised driver, not guide so I expected little and got even less (little more engaging,bigger tip). That said ,driver was prompt and got us to destinations efficiently. Like 5 very expensive UBER rides. Pricey but hassle free

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Dear reviewer, Thank you for your feedback regarding the Jubilee 2025 Rome: Papal Basilicas Expedition. We are pleased to hear that your driver was prompt and transported you to all destinations efficiently, making your day hassle-free. We strive for punctuality and reliability, particularly with our pickup service. We also appreciate your honest note about the experience feeling like "expensive Uber rides" and your expectation for a slightly more engaging service, even when booking a driver-only option (not a guide). We understand that even a driver-service should offer a friendly and attentive experience. We regret that the service fell short of your expectations in terms of engagement and perceived value for the price. Your comments are crucial, and we will use them to reinforce our service training to ensure all our drivers—whether guides or simply transport specialists—offer a welcoming and professional interaction that justifies the private service premium. Thank you again for helping us improve.

More than just a Transport

Frankmmonaco, Sep 2025

The experience was good but transporting is what the tour was about EXCEPT our driver fantastic. Much more than just a driver, he was excellent in his knowledge and went well above anything we expected. He MADE the tour. Thank you Alexandro

Response from Host, Sep 2025

We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your driver, Alessandro, was so fantastic. We believe a great driver and guide can truly transform a journey into a memorable experience, and it sounds like Alessandro went above and beyond to make your Jubilee 2025 Rome: Papal Basilicas Expedition special with his excellent knowledge and service. We will make sure this high praise is passed directly to Alessandro.

Great tour!

Carolyn_C, Jun 2025

Great experience and very helpful tour guide! Would absolutely do it again! Loved seeing all 4 Basílicas

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Here's a warm and appreciative reply to the wonderful Viator review: Dear Viator Traveler, Thank you so much for your fantastic 5-star review of the "Jubilee 2025 Rome: Papal Basilicas Expedition"! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had a "great experience" and found your tour guide very helpful. It's wonderful to know that you would "absolutely do it again" and especially loved seeing all four Papal Basilicas. Providing insightful and memorable experiences for our guests is what we strive for, and your feedback truly highlights the success of this tour. Thank you for choosing Eternal City Private and Guided Tours. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Rome for another enriching exploration in the future! Warm regards, The Team at Eternal City Private and Guided Tours

It was worth it simply...

Kenneth_P, Jun 2025

It was worth it simply for the transport element getting us from one Basilica to another. Smart driver. Cool, Clean and comfortable Mercedes people carrier. Four hours are not enough to visit all four Basilicas. The queues at Santa Maria Maggiore, our last stop, were enormous because of Pope Francis’ tomb more than the Holy Door.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience. We're really happy to hear that you enjoyed the comfort and convenience of the transportation, and that our driver made a great impression! You’re absolutely right — the Papal Basilicas are rich in history and significance, and during the Jubilee, they attract even more visitors than usual. That’s why, although our standard tour is typically 3 hours, we’ve extended this Jubilee edition to 4 hours at no additional cost, to give our guests more time to take in each site. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back again — perhaps for one of our more in-depth experiences!

Perfecto

Ruth_C, Apr 2025

Fantastico! Stefano was an amazing guide who became a friend along the way. He was so kind and accommodating for our handicapped travelers. The place he took us for lunch afterwards was amazing. Please book this tour! So wonderful to be in Rome with a knowledgeable guide.

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re truly happy to hear that your Jubilee tour was such a special experience. Stefano will be thrilled to know he made such a positive impact—he always goes the extra mile, and we’re proud to have him on our team. We're especially glad to hear the lunch spot was a hit and that the tour was comfortable and meaningful for all of your group. Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation—it means the world to us!

Joyous Jubilee Excursion!

Mukul_G, Mar 2025

What a great way to visit all 4 of the Major Basilicas for the Jubilee. Alessandro was friendly, professional and very accommodating. Thank you for making this once in a lifetime experience possible for me. I highly recommend any person who is interested in taking your own personal pilgrimage to Rome to definitely book this tour!!

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so happy to hear that you had an unforgettable experience visiting the four Major Basilicas for the Jubilee. Alessandro will be delighted to know he made your pilgrimage special with his professionalism and hospitality. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again for more memorable moments in Rome! Best regards, The Eternal City Tours Team

Basilica tour

Charles_W, Sep 2024

The driver was good and courteous but didn’t add any details to the experience. It seemed more like a shuttle service than a tour. It would have been beneficial to understand some of the unique aspects of each basilica and their history.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Thank you for your feedback. We're glad to hear the driver was courteous, but we apologize that the tour didn’t meet your expectations in terms of historical insights. We appreciate your suggestion, as providing more detailed information about each basilica would certainly enhance the experience. We’ll look into making improvements to ensure a more informative and engaging tour in the future.

Wonderful Journey

Eric_S, Jun 2023

Georgio was an excellent guide. He was knowledgeable and drove expertly so that we could see as much as possible during our tour. This was an amazing tour of the four major basilicas.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the Papal Basilicas Expedition. Georgio truly goes above and beyond to ensure our guests have an unforgettable experience, and we're glad his expertise and driving made the tour even more memorable for you. We look forward to welcoming you back for more amazing journeys in Rome!

Not worth cost

Susan_F, May 2023

I believe this tour was a total rip off. It takes you to four basilicas and drops you off. The driver will tell you a little about the Basilicas but it is not a guided tour. We could have done the same thing with Uber or a taxi and it would have been cheaper. It states that admission to Saint peters basilica as well as Saint Pauls basilica is included. Both of those Basilico’s are free to enter.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you for your feedback

Amazing Four PayPal Basilicas Tour

julia7cre, Apr 2023

We enjoyed our tour of four Sacred Basillicas. Our Tour guide and driver was cheerful, knowledgeable. We appreciate his guidance. Highly recommended. Thank you !

Response from Host, Apr 2023

We are happy to know you appreciated our experience !

Fun ride through rome

Emily_W, Jun 2022

Our driver was amazing! Such a nice guy. We saw what we wanted to see and had nice conversation along the way.

Response from Host, Jun 2022

Thank you for rating us !

Great tour of major basilicas!

William_A, Oct 2021

Our tour guide was fantastic! This was our first time to 3 of the 4 major basilica, having seen St Peter's before. As Catholics we thought we knew the history of these churches. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and we learned so much! The tour allowed us time to pray on each church. It was exactly what we hoped for.