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Temples & religious sites

Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls

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Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls

Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls

This historic basilica is one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome. It serves as a significant site for religious pilgrimage and is noted for its architectural history and its connection to the apostle Paul. Travelers visit to see the interior mosaics, the tombs, and the expansive nave.

Getting There

The basilica is located south of the city center. It is accessible via public transportation, including Metro Line B (San Paolo station) or various bus lines. Depending on your starting point in the center, the journey typically takes 20 to 40 minutes.

Duration of Visit

Allow approximately 1.5 to 2 hours to walk through the basilica, view the artwork, and explore the surrounding courtyard.

When to Visit

Visiting during early morning hours helps avoid the largest crowds. Like most major religious sites in the city, it can become crowded during peak tourist seasons and on weekends. Avoid visiting during major liturgical celebrations if you prefer a quieter experience.

Nearby Attractions

Because of its location, you can combine a visit here with other sites in the southern part of the city:

  • Baths of Caracalla (2.7km)
  • Circus Maximus (3.1km)
  • Trastevere (3.3km)
  • Cloaca Maxima (3.4km)

Updated September 13, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors

Tickets & tours

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Good to visit alongside

Baths of Caracalla

Museums & galleries

Baths of Caracalla

These are the ruins of a vast public bath complex built during the Roman Empire, where visitors can walk through the site and sense its once-grand scale. It also holds historical significance as the gymnastics venue for the 1960 Rome Olympics.

2.7 km away

Circus Maximus

Heritage & monuments

Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus is the ruined site of ancient Rome's largest chariot racing stadium, located between the Palatine and Aventine Hills. It is now a public park where visitors can still sense the scale of the original arena.

3.1 km away

Trastevere

Shopping & districts

Trastevere

An old Roman neighborhood across the Tiber, known for its narrow alleys and weathered buildings that lend it a cozy, timeworn charm. Its cluster of charming trattorias and bars makes it a great spot for an evening stroll and dinner.

3.3 km away

Cloaca Maxima

Heritage & monuments

Cloaca Maxima

One of the world's earliest sewer systems, built in ancient Rome to drain marshland and carry the city's wastewater into the Tiber River. You can see traces of the old channel, which ran from the Forum of Augustus to near a bridge.

3.4 km away

Palatine Hill

Museums & galleries

Palatine Hill

One of the seven hills of Rome, this historic site once held the palaces of Emperor Augustus and his successors. Its charm lies in the sweeping view over the Roman Forum.

3.4 km away

Arch of Constantine

Heritage & monuments

Arch of Constantine

A triumphal arch in Rome, built to mark the tenth anniversary of Constantine I's reign. The battle scenes carved into its reliefs offer a glimpse into ancient Roman history.

3.6 km away