Religious Sites

Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica Guided Tour

Altar of Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome with gold detailing and ornate columns.

Visitors at the altar of Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, with ornate ceiling and columns.

Sistine Chapel of Santa Maria Maggiore interior with ornate altar and frescoes.

Dome and ceiling artwork of Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

Flexible cancellation

Get full refund for a small fee if you cancel 24 hours before the experience start time.

Open today

7:00am - 7:00am

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Guided tour

Join an expert-led tour of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and uncover centuries of art, history, and sacred treasures.

Visit the Blessing Loggia, Hall of Popes, Bernini's Staircase, and the Liberian Museum, seeing the Miracle of the Snow mosaics and other fascinating artifacts.

Enjoy a small-group tour of up to 15 people for a more personal and immersive experience through Rome’s historic Marian basilica.

Upgrade your visit with exclusive access to the basilica’s panoramic terraces for breathtaking city views.

1-hour guided tour of Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica with skip-the-line entry

Art & historian expert English or Italian-speaking guide (as per option selected)

Access to panoramic terraces (as per option selected)

Access through the Holy Door

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

15 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from United States, Canada, Romania and over 6 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Antoinette M
Solo
Verified booking
Dec 2025
The tour guide was knowledgeable kind and easy to communicate with on all aspects of the Basilica. The Basilica was fascinating. The history of the relics, Popes and icons was very interesting. I was privileged to walk through the Holy Door.
Margaret W
Couple
Verified booking
Oct 2025
This is a short tour but is packed with information and explanations of the building of the basilica. Viewing the ancient history of the basilica was amazing but also having the explanation of where, how and what was it you were actually seeing was very interesting. Our guide was brilliant. The only issue was gathering together at the beginning and solely because of all the attention that was focused by people who wanted to enter the holy door
Kathleen K
Couple
Verified booking
Oct 2025
So nice to skip the line and the audio tour was really helpful to fully understand the site.
Vanessa S
Couple
Verified booking
Sep 2025
The visit was disappointing.. started early and finished early. It was only about 25/30 minutes long. We felt rushed. We were walked through the chambers containing Papel Robes and other amazing items without stopping or given any historical information. Definitely would not recommend.
Radtke R
Couple
Verified booking
Sep 2025
We enjoyed this tour very much. We learned about the history of Basilica and the museum.

Explore Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on a 1-hour guided tour with an expert, including access to key historic sites.

Getting started

Meet your guide near the main entrance and present your smartphone voucher for entry. After a brief introduction, your group of up to 15 will begin the tour, passing through security and heading into the basilica’s central areas.

What to expect

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

One of Rome’s four major papal basilicas, Santa Maria Maggiore dates back to the 5th century and is renowned for its religious, artistic, and historical significance.

Features

Loggia of Blessings: View the Miracle of the Snow mosaics, which depict the legendary origins of the basilica.

Bernini’s staircase: Visit the staircase designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and learn about the artist, who is also buried here.

Hall of the Popes: Walk through a gallery featuring portraits and memorabilia from past popes, highlighting the basilica’s ongoing papal connections.

Liberian museum: Discover artifacts that reveal the basilica’s evolving role in Rome’s spiritual and cultural life.

Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica

Monday	7:00am - 7:00am	last entry 6:30am
Tuesday	7:00am - 7:00am	last entry 6:30am
Wednesday	7:00am - 7:00am	last entry 6:30am
Thursday	7:00am - 7:00am	last entry 6:30am
Friday	7:00am - 7:00am	last entry 6:30am
Saturday	7:00am - 7:00am	last entry 6:30am
Sunday	7:00am - 7:00am	last entry 6:30am

What to bring

Have your smartphone voucher ready to show at the Portico reception upon arrival.

Wear comfortable footwear, as the tour involves plenty of walking.

Dress modestly with knees and shoulders covered, as you’ll be entering a sacred space.

What’s not allowed

Food and beverages, including water, cannot be taken into the museum areas.

Flash photography is prohibited inside the basilica.

Large bags, suitcases, and bulky luggage are not permitted.

Children under 7 are not allowed to access the dome.

Pets are not allowed, except for certified service animals.

Accessibility

This experience is not wheelchair accessible.

Additional information

Entry to the Papal Basilica is typically free, but this guided tour offers dedicated, skip-the-line access.

Certain areas of the basilica or museum may be closed without prior notice.

Access may be limited or restricted during liturgical celebrations or special events.

The Holy Door is not included as part of this ticket.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Please arrive at the redemption point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your visit to avoid any delays.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the redemption point.

Ticket redemption point

Show your ticket at Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

Address: P.za di Santa Maria Maggiore, 00100 Roma RM, Italy.

Get directions to the redemption point