The photocalalytic activity of four mesoporous RE metal (Ce3+, La3+, Sm3+, Dy3+) doped titania was compared and investigated under UVA and visible light irradiation. The photocatalysts were synthesized by using a template guided sol-gel method and were fully characterized by XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis, TEM and Nitrogen adsorption-desorption techniques. The presence of the dopant in the mesoporous RE metal doped titania samples has been demonstrated by FTIR, XPS and EDX techniques. The results confirm that the doping of titania particles with rare earth metals could be achieved and the doping process do not change the crystalline phase of TiO2. The photocatalytic activity decreases in the following order: Sm-TiO2>Dy-TiO2>La–TiO2>Ce–TiO2. Moreover, quenching experiments were carried out to further disclose the contribution of involved ROS in the process.