Abstract Three dimensional nanocomposites made up of TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) and conducting reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (RGO) were fabricated successfully via hydrothermal method. These graphene/TNTs nanocomposites (GTNCs) with unique nanostructure not only provided sufficient active sites but supplied electron-transport path, Which gave big rise to their photocatalytic activity. In addition, the graphene amount and calcination temperature were intensively optimized. A series of products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of as-prepared GTNCs was investigated through the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under UV-light irradiation. The results show that these GTNCs are well-structured with outstanding photocatalytic activity which is much better than that of traditional TiO2 nanotubes.