Here’s How to How to Survive the Vatican Jubilee if You Visit Rome in 2025

15.11.2024 - 09:37 / matadornetwork.com / Benny Marty

As if Rome wasn’t already one of Europe’s — and the world’s— most popular destinations, the Vatican’s 2025 Jubilee is anticipated to push the city (and the patience of tourists) to its limit.

The Vatican Jubilee, also known as the Holy Year, is held every 25 years, save for a few “extraordinary years,” as designated by the Pope. The Vatican Jubilee invites religious pilgrims to journey to Rome and be granted plenary indulgence, among other Catholic rituals and events. The Jubilee is anticipated to draw huge crowds to Italy’s capital, with authorities anticipating 35 million pilgrims to arrive in Rome throughout the year. So, what does that mean for your trip to the Eternal City in 2025?

Millions upon millions of tourists will likely descend on Rome for the Vatican Jubilee. Benny Marty/Shutterstock

Tourists who unknowingly booked a trip during the Jubilee year may be wondering whether the city still worth visiting, or if rescheduling would be the wiser move. As a local who’s lived in Rome since 2017 and worked in tourism throughout that time, I know there are a number of ways to make the most of your trip despite the added excitement and challenges the city is sure to face during the year-long Vatican Jubilee.

Tours for top attractions like the Colosseum will fill up fast in 2025. Photo: Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock

In a normal year, I recommend booking accommodations in Rome about six months in advance, guided tours two to three months ahead, and restaurant reservations one to two weeks before your trip. For high-demand restaurants, it’s ideal to reserve your space 30 days in advance (or whenever reservations open). If you’re staying at high-end hotels, the concierge may be able to assist in securing them.

But in 2025, forget those timelines. Once your trip dates are set, lock in your must-do activities and make reservations immediately, particularly for high-demand attractions like the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum.

With very few exceptions, guided tours in Rome will be bookable well in advance of your trip, and 2025 dates will likely fill up quickly. When possible, book directly with tour operators, rather than sites like Viator or GetYourGuide. In recent years, ticketing has changed at the Vatican and Colosseum to prevent bots from purchasing all the tickets. Now, every single ticket needs to have the guests’ first and last names. Third-party platforms skirt this by allowing a large number of tickets to be purchased before the tour operators have secured them, which can result in cancellations later on, often at the very last minute. Individual tour operators can book specific tickets with your name and information on them, making them less likely to be canceled.

For some attractions, you can book your