Temples & religious sites
Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls
The Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls is one of Rome's four major papal basilicas, along with the basilicas of Saint John in the Lateran, Saint Peter's, and Saint Mary Major, as well as one of the city's Seven Pilgrim Churches. The basilica is the conventual church of the adjacent Benedictine abbey. It lies within Italian territory, but the Holy See owns the basilica and it is part of the Vatican's extraterritoriality.
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
This is one of Rome's four papal basilicas, built over the traditional burial site of Saint Paul. Travellers come for the scale of the interior, the mosaic portraits of every pope running around the nave, the gilded ceiling, and the tranquil cloister attached to the working Benedictine abbey. Unlike Rome's more central churches, it sits apart from the usual sightseeing routes, which gives it a calmer, less commercial feel.
Getting there
The basilica is south of the historic centre, outside the old city walls (hence the name). It's reachable by metro on Line B, with a station named after the basilica a short walk from the entrance. From central Rome, expect around 20-25 minutes by metro, or longer by bus or on foot given the distance.
How much time to allow
Plan for roughly 45 minutes to an hour to see the nave, mosaics, and cloister at a reasonable pace. Add more time if you want to sit quietly or explore the cloister garden in detail.
When to go
Mornings tend to be quieter, especially compared to Rome's central basilicas. It draws fewer crowds overall than Saint Peter's, so pressure on timing is lower, but tour groups do pass through, so early visits still help if you want the space to yourself.
Combine it with
Because it's outside the centre, it doesn't pair naturally with a single walking loop. The Baths of Caracalla (2.7km) and Circus Maximus (3.1km) are the closest sights and can be combined with some transit or a longer walk, while Trastevere (3.3km) and the Cloaca Maxima (3.4km) make sense as part of a broader day covering the area between the basilica and the centre.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
