Rome has been under construction for… well, off and on for thousands of years. Lately though, the Eternal City has been improving transportation infrastructure, refurbishing major buildings and statues, and making improvements throughout because the Jubilee year is nearly here!
What is the Jubilee?
The Jubilee is held once every 25 years in Rome and marks a Holy Year for the Catholic community worldwide. The Eternal City will host major religious events throughout the year – drawing pilgrims from all over the world. Each Jubilee has a theme; 2025’s theme is ‘Hope.’
Visiting Rome during the Jubilee and participating in ceremonies and events represents a powerful spiritual journey for believers as it gives them the possibility of obtaining plenary indulgence aka forgiveness of all sin.
The main pilgrimage sites are the 4 Papal Basilicas and their Holy Doors which are only opened by the Pope during Jubilee Years.
If you’re interested in attending major religious events and considering passing through a Holy Door, you will need to sign up for a digital pilgrim’s card and make an appointment in advance using the app. When booking your visit, be sure to reference the Vatican and the Jubilee calendars in advance and be prepared for large crowds, especially around St. Peter’s Square.
The Jubilee calendar includes concerts and exhibitions. You can even sign up to be a volunteer!
When is the Jubilee?
The Jubilee Year will run from December 24th, 2024 to January 6th, 2026. It is not one single event, rather it is a collection of events throughout the year. Here are some of the most important dates to look out for but check the calendar for more detailed and up to date information:
Opening of the 4 Holy Doors
Basilica di San Pietro: Dec. 24th, 2024
*Extraordinary 5th Holy Door (Rome prison – Rebibbia): Dec. 26th, 2024
Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano: Dec. 29th, 2024
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore: Jan. 1st, 2025
Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura: Jan. 5th, 2025
Tips for Navigating Rome during Jubilee
Don’t Overdo it – Try to stick to one activity per day. A busy city doesn’t have to mean a stressful visit. Plan extra time around your activities to simply relax, take it all in and have some cushion time in case an unexpected occurrence should arise.
Explore the City Early and Late – Most Jubilee events will be held during the day. You can beat the crowds by hitting the town early or later in the evening.
Go on a Local Adventure – Channel the Roman within you. Take an inspiring e-bike tour down the Appian Way, one of the most beautiful and ancient roads of the Roman Empire. Or get hands-on and take a traditional wood-fired pizza making class. There are plenty of fun experiences around Rome that get away from crowds.
Book in Advance – Hotels, flights, & tours could sell out and experience price surges. To ensure availability and control spending, book well in advance.
Take a Day Trip – Venture outside Rome to the stunning countryside. Explore the beautiful town of Orvieto and the enchanting hilltop village of Bagnoregio – accessible only via footbridge. Or take a daytrip to Tivoli and explore Villa d’Este, a remarkable Renaissance villa known for its magnificent gardens and spectacular fountains.
Embrace the ‘Italian Way’ – Italians roll with it: they don’t assume everything is going to go exactly as planned. When unpredictable things happen that require last minute changes, Italians are unflustered. Everything is more manageable with an aperol spritz or a beautiful espresso at hand! Remember that Rome has thousands of options—even more so during the Jubilee.
New and Improved Rome
Rome has taken the opportunity of the Jubilee Year to clean and repair major landmarks, sites, and statues. This has been a bit of a joke on social media, with travelers experiencing Rome in 2024 as a city of scaffolding. Well, all of the hard work will pay off for visitors in 2025.
Not only are the statues and fountains looking stunning, but Rome is offering increased transportation options starting in 2025 as well. One hundred and ten new hybrid buses will be added to Rome’s fleet: their routes will be particularly focused on the areas that will be most visited by pilgrims. Four new tram lines will also be added and kilometers of additional cyclist and walking paths are also part of the grand renovation project.
Coming to Rome in 2025 means you will benefit from all the planning and anticipation of the Jubilee of Hope!
Recommended Tours in Rome:
Here are some of the Rome tours and experiences we recommend in the 2025 Jubilee Year. Browse all of our Rome tours.
Recommended Day Trips around Rome:
Here are some of our favorite day trips that will whisk you away from the crowds of Rome in 2025. Browse all the tours and experiences we offer that are reachable from Rome.
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