Gadolinium-doped titanium dioxide nanotubes were fabricated with a facile two-step route. Precursors Gd-doped titania nanoparticles were synthesized by a traditional sol–gel method. Hydrothermal process and acid treatment were employed afterwards, and Gd-doped titania nanotubes were finally obtained after calcination. The nominal doping concentration was expressed by Gd/Ti atomic ratio, ranged from 0% to 5.0%. Both the precursors and nanotubes were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectra, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, UV–vis diffusion reflection spectra and N2 absorption–desorption experiment. The photocatalytic activities were investigated using methyl orange as the model pollutant. The results indicated that Gd-doped titania nanotubes with nominal Gd/Ti of 0.5% possessed the optimal photocatalytic activity in our study.