--- title: "Christian Rome Tour: Pope Francis Tomb & Papal Basilicas" lang: en type: tour city: Rome country: Italy price: 136 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.71 reviews: 185 duration_minutes: 180 languages: [en] free_cancellation: "true" rank_in_category: 98 of 138 (Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-09-12 data_updated: 2026-10-12 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/christian-rome-tour-pope-francis-tomb-papal-basilicas/ --- # Christian Rome Tour: Pope Francis Tomb & Papal Basilicas **Guidekin's take:** The other Vatican: the three papal basilicas outside the walls, Santa Maria Maggiore with the tomb of Pope Francis, St Paul Outside the Walls and St John Lateran, with transfers between them so you are not crossing Rome on foot. Guide and transport are included at €136 per person, tips are not. Fully wheelchair accessible. In our comparison: #98 of 138 in Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview Explore three Major Vatican Basilicas and Holy Doors on this 3-hour tour with transfers. Save yourself hours of walking and join us on this guided tour of Santa Maria Maggiore, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, and Saint John in Lateran. Three Vatican Basilicas outside the Vatican. During this tour, you will also discover unique Christian Relics, stunning works of art, the throne of Pope Francis, and the Holy Doors that only the Pope can open during the Jubilee year. At each stop, you will also have free time to take photos, to visit the gift shop, and to rest. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Meet your guide outside the basilica! - Starts 09:00, 14:00: 2 departures a day - Wheelchair accessible: operator-marked - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €111: ages 3 to 15 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €136 per person - Duration: 3h - Rating: 4.71/5 from 185 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: E & D Guided Tours - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: English - Start times: 09:00, 14:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-09-12 ## Reviews 4.71 from 185 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 94% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 173 of 185. - 5 stars: 162 (88%) - 4 stars: 11 (6%) - 3 stars: 2 (1%) - 2 stars: 2 (1%) - 1 star: 8 (4%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the basilica explanations and convenient transfers, but some want more time inside the churches. **Praised:** - Detailed explanations of basilica history, art and relics - Comfortable van transfers that reduce walking between basilicas - Free time to explore, take photographs or pray inside the basilicas - Small groups that make interaction with the guide easier **Complaints:** - Some have time to explore, while others find the basilica visits rushed - Missing headsets make the guide difficult to hear inside the churches - Some get detailed explanations, while others receive little guidance inside the basilicas - Having to arrange their own return transport after the tour Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2025-09-10 to 2026-09-25); last checked 2026-10-03. ## What's included - Visit the resting place of Pope Francis. - To make communication easier, you will receive the name and number of your guide, the night before. - Experienced guide and a small group of like-minded travelers make this tour unique. ## Not included - Gratuities are not mandatory, however are very much appreciated. ## Itinerary 1. **Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore** (45m; admission included) - Start your tour with the most significant Marian Basilica in the world, and the resting place of Pope Francis - Santa Maria Maggiore. Your guide will meet you at the front of the Basilica and after a brief check-in will accompany you to the core of this ancient marvel. The... 2. **Abbazia di San Paolo Fuori Le Mura** (50m; admission included) - The second stop of this experience is the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Once the largest catholic church in Rome, the Major Papal Basilica of Saint Paul is the resting place of the Patron Saint to Gentiles - Saint Paul. Discover this magnificent Basilica with the... 3. **Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano** (50m; admission included) - On your last stop of this tour, visit the most important Catholic church in the city of Rome and the world, Saint John in Lateran. The Basilica, built in the times of Constantine the Great, is home to the throne of his Holiness the Pope. But your tour does not end there, your... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 09:00, 14:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-09-12 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point Meet your guide outside the basilica! In the center of the Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, near the fountain. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJ1zB926RhLxMRejWMj_tUs_c Ends: The tour ends at the third venue – Saint John in Lateran. ## Good to know - Wheelchair accessible - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Public transportation options are available nearby - Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap - Transportation options are wheelchair accessible - All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - Attention! The Holy Doors will be open until December 27, 2025. - On rare occasions, we may have to change the order in which we visit the basilicas. - Please wait for your guide in the center of the square and NOT INSIDE THE BASILICA. ## Compared with other Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #98 of 138** | €136 | 3h | 4.71 (185) | shared | | [Private Vatican Highlights Guided Tour with Sistine Chapel](/italy/rome/tours/private-vatican-highlights-guided-tour-with-sistine-chapel/?format=md) | €250 | 3h 15m | 4.99 (1713) | private | | [Rome: Complete Early Morning Vatican Tour / Small Group](/italy/rome/tours/rome-complete-early-morning-vatican-tour-small-group/?format=md) | €99 | 3h 30m | 4.94 (2821) | shared | | [Express Early Morning Sistine Chapel Tour with Max 6 People](/italy/rome/tours/express-early-morning-sistine-chapel-tour-with-max-6-people/?format=md) | €148 | 2h | 4.98 (513) | shared | Ranked #98 of 138 in Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €8 to €4913, median €136; typical length 3h. 57 of 138 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/vatican-tours/?format=md ## More in Rome - All Rome tours: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/christian-rome-tour-pope-francis-tomb-papal-basilicas/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/?format=md