Are you planning to visit Rome in 2025? It’s a big year for the city as the Catholic Church is celebrating the 2025 Jubilee! What does this mean for your trip to Italy’s capital? Here’s what you need to know…
Basic Overview
- The Roman Jubilee (or Giubileo) is the Catholic Holy Year which begins on December 24th, 2024, and lasts until January 6th, 2026.
- The holy year represents a time of transition from sin to grace for those of the Catholic faith.
- The Jubilee is held every 25 years, making its attendance a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
- It entails religious celebrations, pilgrimages, cultural events, concerts, exhibitions, and special performances.
- The focal center of events will be Saint Peter’s Square, Saint Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican but events will be held all over the city.
- The theme of the Jubilee 2025 is hope. It is an event full of joy and celebration.
What is the Jubilee?
The Roman Jubilee originates from the Jewish tradition which established a year of rest for the earth every 50 years. The first Catholic Jubilee was created by the Pope in 1300. Originally it was held every 100 years, then every 50, and now every 25 to allow each generation to attend.
The holy year is a period in which the Pope grants plenary indulgence (absolution from all sins) to all pilgrims who travel to Rome and participate in planned religious initiatives. Many Catholics view it as a time to start anew, to engage in values of charity and forgiveness, and to reflect on their lives.
[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures – read about her week in Rome Here!]
The Jubilee officially begins on Christmas Eve with the opening of the Holy Doors of the 4 Papal Basilicas of Rome. These are Saint Peter’s Basilica, Saint John Lateran, Saint Mary Major, and Saint Paul Outside the Walls. These doors are closed and walled up between Jubilee years.
On Christmas Eve, the Pope is carried to the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s and will be the first to pass through the door in an elaborate ceremony. Then the doors will remain open for the passage of pilgrims during the year.
In addition to attending specific events and passing through the Holy doors, there are several Jubilee pilgrimage walks that cover the whole of the city. The primary walk stops at each of the Papal Basilicas. There is a walk that stops at 7 churches around the city. And, finally, one which stops at 28 churches and basilicas and focuses on holy women.
[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures – read about her week in Rome Here!]
What Does This Mean for Non-Pilgrim Travelers?
Because Catholicism is a missionary religion, everyone is welcome to participate in the various church events, pilgrimages, and services. However, if you’re traveling to Rome in 2025 more for tourist reasons than religious, there are a few things you’ll need to prepare for.
The first is, naturally, the crowds. In 2023 Rome had 35 million visitors. For the Jubilee year, they’re expecting an additional 30 million. This means you’ll want to start planning early and making reservations now.
[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures – read about her week in Rome Here!]
Most of the religious events are centered around the Vatican, but the entire city will be even more bustling than usual, and you can expect a lot of foot traffic around the major attractions. Other cities in Italy are not preparing anything special for the Jubilee. However, you can probably expect the nearby tourist areas (like Amalfi Coast & Florence) to be more crowded.
There has been a lot of renovation work over the past 3 years in Rome. Cleaning up landmarks, improving public transport, and upgrading tourist facilities in preparation for the Rome Jubilee year. So the city will be at its best and brightest.
[Photo Credit: Hilary & Zackary via Shared Adventures – read about their honeymoon in Rome & the Amalfi Coast Here!]
Top 6 Tips for Tourists
1. Book Early. There are only so many accommodations in Rome, and booking earlier will ensure you have the best rooms during your stay.
2. Increase Your Budget. Everything from food to taxis will probably have a higher tariff because of the bigger crowds. Make a little extra room in your budget.
3. Plan to visit the big sites early in the day, over lunch, or very late in the evening. The city will be busier than usual and these times will help you to avoid the heaviest foot traffic.
4. Be sure to do a little extra planning. Book restaurants in advance, give yourselves extra time to walk in case the bus or metro is too full. And, download the Iubilaeum25 app to keep up with event schedules.
[Photo Credit: R. via Shared Adventures – read about their family Italian adventure here!]
5. Attend a few events. There will be so many events, special exhibits, and cultural activities! Even if you’re not Catholic, we recommend looking them up and enjoying some of the celebrations, since you’re there for the Rome Jubilee anyway.
6. Check the Calendar. Consider visiting in January, late Summer or the Autumn months as these will likely be the “low season” for the Rome Jubilee. Late April through the end of June and December will likely be the very busy “high season”.
Keep an eye on the calendar and try to avoid dates with big events and major Catholic holidays. We’ve provided a calendar below to highlight the biggest days.
Ready to start planning your trip to Rome? 2025, more than ever, is the best time to partner with a travel advisor to ensure you have an incredible adventure. If you’re ready to talk about your Italy 2025 plans, let us know!
