What’s in this article
Today we delve into something super exciting, and maybe a little overwhelming: Rome Jubilee 2025!
Picture this: Rome, already a fabulous splendor, is soon to be turned into the world’s most humongous spiritual feast.
Millions more visitors will flood the streets with extreme thirst to be sponged upon the once-in-a-lifetime vibe of the Jubilee.
Exciting? Absolutely.
A little scary? Perhaps.
But don’t worry; I’ve got your back.
I am here to give you all information on how to navigate Rome during this wild year.
We’ll know when to dive into the chaos, if that’s your thing, and when to steer clear if the crowds make you want to hide in a plate of pasta.
When we are done, you will be able to plan your Roman holiday like a pro.
Trust me: with a little inside knowledge, you can turn potential chaos into the Italian adventure of your dreams.
So, what’s the Vatican Jubilee Year?
Imagine Rome putting on the mother of all festivals: that’s what a Jubilee year is!
It is a mega-special occasion in the Catholic world that only comes around every 25 years.
Think of a spiritual New Year, but one which lasts an entire year and has a much broader historical background.
The city goes all out with masses, processions, and enough pomp to make your head spin.
But the really cool part, the Holy Doors!
Four of Rome’s drop-dead gorgeous basilicas, St. Peter’s, St. John the Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore, and St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, have these special doors that are usually locked up tight.
During the Jubilee? They swing wide open!
To the faithful, walking through these doors is a ritual rebooting of the soul.
It is an overwhelming instance, even if you were there to catch only the atmosphere.
And guess what? Pope Francis has announced that the theme of 2025 will be “Hope”.
I don’t know about you, but in a world that sometimes seems to have gone a little crazy, a year centred on hope sounds very good to me!
How to Plan your Rome Jubilee 2025 Trip
What to expect when you visit Rome in 2025
First of all, some dates.
This holiday starts on Christmas Eve 2024 (talk about Christmas presents!) and ends on 6 January 2026.
That’s more than a jubilee year!
Now, buckle up for the numbers.
Recall the last Jubilee in 2016?
The number of pilgrims to Rome was an incredible 20 million.
That’s like the whole population of Australia deciding to go on a Roman holiday at once!
And though no one can forecast any real numbers yet for 2025, let’s just say. Rome’s going to be alive and on steroids.
And the most exciting part is that the city of Rome really kick-starts things with full vigor and passion!
Here’s how the city is pulling out all the stops:
- Hundreds of projects to spruce up the place
- Fountains and monuments getting the VIP treatment
- New ways to zip in and out of Vatican City
It’s like Rome’s putting on its Sunday best, and let me tell you, it’s gonna be bellissima (beautiful).
Now, I am not your honest Italian friend if I do not warn you about the following:
- 2024 Visits: If you are going to visit in 2024, beware: construction chic will take center stage. Not ideal for those perfect Insta poses, but it is a way of witnessing Rome’s beauty regime in a manner of speaking!
- Accommodation: Book in advance, friends! The rooms will be hotter than a newly sliced pizza straight out of the oven. Here’s the secret, though: where budget spots are taken, you will more likely have a chance to find an amazing romantic boutique hotel! Treat yourself!
- Attractions: Yeah, the big attractions will be completely packed. But, guess what? The small group tours and private experiences might not be so nuts. It is, after all, your mini slice of Rome all to yourself!
- Plan on planning: I mean, honestly, plan ahead! Your future self is gonna send you kisses for being so responsible.
Okay, maybe this all sounds so big that you can’t even digest it.
Well, let me tell you something – visiting Rome during a Jubilee year is just unforgettable.
This power, spirituality, and glory are hard to find elsewhere on Earth!
When is the best time to visit during Rome Jubilee 2025 Festivities?
So, you want to go ahead and book those flights to the Eternal City for 2025?
Alright then, get your calendar out and let me break it down for you, as I would to a bestie planning the ultimate Italian getaway.
First and foremost, the Jubilee Calendar of Events is going to become your new holy grail.
I am not kidding: it is far more vital than a good pair of walking shoes in Rome, and that says a lot.
Now, let’s talk about the peak periods:
• Late April to the end of June: Just think of Rome in spring, flowers are blooming, sun shining, and absolutely crawling with Jubilee events! It is going to be magnifico (extraordinary,) but also crowded than anything you have ever seen.
• October: Autumn in Rome. More often than not, it’s a time I love. But in 2025? It will be jumping with pilgrims and events. Think good weather and beautiful mayhem!
But here’s a little secret from your pal Lucy: as of right now, August is looking suspiciously chill on the Jubilee front. No events scheduled!
Now, let me put my local hat for a second.
August in Rome?
It usually is hotter than a pizza just out of the oven, and most locals flee the city quicker than you can say “gelato”.
But during the Jubilee year? Well, this could be your golden ticket!
Now picture this: you’re walking along the Vatican with no crowds that come with a Jubilee. Sounds pretty dreamy, right?
But let’s not forget, this is Jubilee.
It can change in less time than it takes to cook pasta in boiling water.
So, here’s what I would recommend:
1. Watch that Jubilee Calendar. It’s gonna be your best friend for planning.
2. If you want the full-on Jubilee, look to those months. The energy will be electric!
3. Want a mix of Jubilee vibes and (slightly) smaller crowds? Consider the shoulder months-maybe early April or September.
4. Feeling adventurous? August might be your unexpected sweet spot.
5. Whatever the season, whatever the reason, Rome is always a good idea.
All said and done, during the Jubilee year, the time to visit Rome is any time that you can make it happen.
Each season, each month, heck each day will have its special magic.
When are you thinking of coming, then?
Drop me a comment, and let’s talk about making your Jubilee visit to Rome absolutely perfect!
Visiting Rome as a Tourist in 2025
Planning your Roman holiday during the Jubilee year will be a little like conducting a perfect pasta dish: all in the timing.
Here’s the scoop on how to make your visit smoother than the creamiest tiramisu:
Book early, first and foremost!
I really cannot “rame” it in any other way.
Rome in 2025 is going to be hotter than a pizza oven; it’s essential that you get your ducks in order.
Accommodation, tours, activities, lock them in as soon as possible.
Believe me, your future self is going to be blowing you kisses for this foresight!
Now, money: I hate being the bearer of bad news, but accommodation prices are going to do a little dance upwards.
With all those pilgrims and travelers flooding in, prices will rise-especially in the budget category.
So if that cozy pensione (boarding house) or charming budget hotel has caught your eye, be prepared to book early and perhaps pay a bit more.
And those iconic Roman attractions we all love and adore?
The Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, the Borghese Gallery, they are going to be more popular than a gelato stand on a hot summer’s day.
My advice?
Book those tickets in advance.
Don’t leave it to chance, or you might end up spending your holiday looking at the outside of these magnificent places, which, let’s be honest, is still pretty awesome, but not quite the same.
Now for St. Peter’s Basilica.
The good news? You don’t need a ticket to go in.
The less-than-good news?
Well, security lines are longer than your nonna’s Sunday lunch line.
We are talking of up to 2 hours on a normal day.
During the Jubilee? Well, let’s just say you’d better bring a good book.
Pro tip from your friendly neighborhood Italian: keep that Jubilee Calendar handy.
It’ll be your best friend in treading the ebbs and flows of pilgrim traffic.
Try to plan visits when it’s not peak pilgrim times or when there aren’t major events. Or, you know, jump right into the fray and go for it!
The atmosphere will be electric!
Remember, challenges of 2025 notwithstanding, it will be a very special time to visit Rome.
The energy in the city will be alive, as it only does once every 25 years.
So embrace it, plan for it, and get ready for a Roman holiday unlike any other!
Visiting Rome as a Vatican Jubilee pilgrim
Now, let’s get real for a second: though I am your girl about anything on Italian travel and religious aspects of the Jubilee, I am clearly not the expert you seek.
But don’t freak out; I still have some useful tips to put you on the right track!
First and foremost, the Jubilee website is going to be your virtual tour operator for this spiritual journey.
It’s like the Bible of Jubilee information.
Make it your homepage, bookmark it, print it out; whatever you’d like.
This site will be regularly updated with all events, ceremonies, and important information that you are going to want to know in order to plan your pilgrimage.
But let me tell you a secret from your local friend: just how great the website is, there is nothing like a personal guide to take one on such an important spiritual journey.
This is where the local archdiocese comes in.
These people act almost like some spiritual travel agents to help understand how to make the most of this once-in-a-generation event.
Contact with the archdiocese does not consist of getting information but, above all, coming into contact with a community of pilgrims.
Possibly they organize group trips, special prayers, or preparation meetings.
This will be a chance to share this experience with others who feel similarly on this spiritual journey.
Remember, the Jubilee will not be just a visit to Rome, but spiritual renewal as well. Your local religious community can also help you be prepared for it, not only logistically but spiritually as well.
It might give info about special Masses, confession opportunities, ways to make the pilgrimage more meaningful.
While making the religious schedule, do not forget the practical things we discussed above: booking accommodation well in advance, considering the crowds at the main sites, following the Jubilee calendar.
Visiting Italy in 2025
Now, I know what you are thinking: ‘But Lucy, doesn’t everybody have to go through Rome?’.
And to that, I say not necessarily!
There are many ways to live the dolce vita (the sweet life) without having to set foot in the Eternal City during the Jubilee Festivities.
First of all, let’s talk about the airports.
Sure, Rome is usually the place to start, but in 2025, you might want to change things up a bit.
How about flying into Milan’s Berlusconi airport?
And yes, that is what good old Malpensa has been renamed!
Ideal if you’re dreaming of fashion, the Last Supper, or those fabulous northern lakes.
Or, if you are a pizza and Pompeii kind of person, why not try Naples airport?
You are but a stone’s throw from the Amalfi Coast, too.
What more perfect beginning to an Italian adventure?
Both airports have direct flights from the US, so you won’t have to go through the pain of trying to figure out complicated layovers.
And if you’re coming from Europe?
Well, you’re spoiled for choice!
We have virtually every city boasting an airport, all very well connected with major European hubs.
Venice, Florence, Bologna: take your pick!
But this is where things get really exciting: you arrive into Rome’s Fiumicino airport, but instead of joining the Jubilee throngs, you take a car rental.
In an instant, the open road is beckoning, and all of Italy is an oyster!
Let me correct myself: it is a pasta dish!.
Feel like going on the rolling hills of Tuscany, its Renaissance treasures, and so on? Just do it.
Want to discover the hidden gems of Umbria, the green heart of Italy?
It’s all yours!
Or maybe you are feeling adventurous and want to go to Emilia-Romagna to taste parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar, or even further afield to Piedmont, to taste first-class wines.
The beauty of this programme?
You get to see real Italy, the one that’s not in the line of fire of every passing tourist. Hilltop towns, family trattorias, hidden beaches, and not a Jubilee crowd in sight.
So, what do you say?
Ready to start planning that Italian adventure beyond Rome?
Whether you want to fly in to Milan for a bit of northern charm, land in Naples ready for an adventure in the south, or make Rome the starting point on an epic road trip, 2025 might just be your year for a whole new Italy.
Interested in a particular region, or wanting to know how to take that perfect trip to Italy?
Leave your questions below, and let’s plan your dream Italian getaway together. After all, every road in Italy leads somewhere extraordinary, not just to Rome!
Should you travel to Rome during the 2025 Jubilee Year
Let me be frank here, visiting Rome in 2025 is going to be something of an experience.
It’s rather like a question of visiting the Colosseum either at noon in August or at sunset in May.
There are pros and cons, yet it actually depends on which kind of experience you prefer.
Pros
First, the good stuff and trust me, there’s plenty:
- 1. You’ll be part of a once-in-a-lifetime event. The energy, the atmosphere, it’s going to be electric!
- 2. Rome will be looking her absolute best. Trust me, when Rome dolls up, she does it in style.
- 3. Cultural and spiritual experiences will be off the charts. Be you a devout pilgrim or just curious about the festivities, this is something that will not be forgotten.
Cons
But let’s get real, it’s not all easy sailing, and here’s why:
- 1. Crowds: Are there going to be crowds. If you’re not into queues, well, this might be a test of your patience.
- 2. Prices: Accommodation and services may be pricier than normal when big events occur.
- 3. You’ll have to plan in advance: Impromptu trips? To Rome, in 2025? Forget it.
So, should you come?
Well, if you are that kind of person who runs on adrenaline and does not take a little chaos amiss, then yes, absolutely!
Pack your bags, book those tickets, and get ready for a Roman holiday unlike any other.
But if you’re more the quiet contemplation type, despise the need for planning ahead, or crowd stress turns you off, perhaps you will want to visit some other year.
Or why not discover another extraordinary Italian city and region in 2025? (Remember what I said about Milan, Naples, and those beautiful drives?)
There is no right or wrong answer after all, just what feels right to you.
So, are you ready to dive into the Jubilee adventure, or are you thinking of exploring Italy’s other hidden gems?
Whatever you choose, remember – in Italy, every trip is a celebration.
Planning a Trip to Italy?
First things first, if you haven’t checked out my Italy trip planning guide, what are you waiting for?
It’s packed with all the insider tips and tricks I’ve gathered over years of exploring every nook and cranny of this beautiful country.
Trust me, it’s like having a local friend (that would be me!) right in your pocket.
But you know what is even better than a guide?
A whole community of Italy-loving amici (friends!)
This is why I invite you to join my FREE Italy Travel Community.
Just imagine, if you will, that you step out onto a cozy virtual piazza where people in love with Italy finally come together and share their stories, share their advice, and help each other out in the planning of unforgettable trips.
Do you have a burning question about the best gelato shop in Florence?
How do I get from Venice to Cinque Terre?
Or perhaps you are torn between that charming Tuscan farmhouse and the sleek city apartment in Milan?
Just ask!
The lovely community members are ever ready to chime in with their experiences and recommendations.
It’s like having an entire team of Italy experts at your fingertips!
Let’s start building your perfect Italian escape together!
See you soon, ci vediamo presto in our Italy Travel Community!
Ciao and Happy travels!
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