Here’s what you need to know about travelling to Italy during the 2025 Jubilee and alternative destinations to swerve the crowds.
Italy is a popular place. So popular, in fact, that around 60 million international tourists visit each year.
But 2025 is set to be even busier thanks to the Jubilee, a major Catholic event estimated to bring tens of millions of extra visitors to Rome. This surge will likely have a ripple effect on other hotspots like Florence, Venice and the Amalfi Coast too.
So, should you avoid Rome? Not necessarily. If you plan ahead, you can still enjoy its magic. But if you’d prefer to steer clear of the crowds, there are plenty of quieter places to experience ancient ruins, incredible artwork and the vibrant street culture Rome is famed for.
But first: what exactly is the Jubilee?
What is the 2025 Jubilee?
The Jubilee, or Holy Year, is a special Catholic event held every 25 years in Rome and the Vatican City. The 2025 edition runs from 24 December 2024 to 6 January 2026. Millions of pilgrims will travel to Rome to join mass processions and pass through the Holy Doors of the city’s four papal basilicas, which are usually sealed, to seek spiritual renewal and forgiveness of sins.
What this means for travellers
There’s no getting around it: Rome will be packed. Easter and Christmas are the busiest periods, and the summer peak (June to August) will be more swamped than usual. That doesn’t mean you should avoid it entirely. Whether you’re a pilgrim or an observer, the Jubilee is a chance to witness a rare spiritual event and ancient traditions. The city will also buzz with street performers, fairs and exclusive museum and gallery exhibitions.
Tips for visiting Rome during the Jubilee
- Book everything in advance – flights, hotels and attractions
- Visit during the shoulder season (spring or autumn) for slightly smaller crowds
- Consider a small group trip to skip the stress of planning entirely (and benefit from the expertise of a local leader)
Want to avoid the Jubilee chaos altogether? Here are five places in Italy where you’ll find a fraction of the crowds.
Less-crowded alternatives to Rome
1. Naples
Naples is busy and loud in the best way. As you weave through laundry-strewn streets, following the scent of garlic, pastries and coffee while dodging a constant stream of scooters, you’ll soon see why they say Rome is the heart of Italy, but Naples is the soul.
One of the biggest reasons to visit? The greatest pizza on earth. After all, it is the birthplace of the world’s most beloved cheesy carb. There’s no going back once you’ve tasted authentic Neapolitan pizza with tomato, mozzarella and basil. Delizioso.
Naples is also a dream for history buffs – with over 2700 years of it, to be exact. Wander the National Archaeological Museum, home to one of Europe’s finest collections of Graeco-Roman artifacts, including relics that survived the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in AD 79. Explore the city’s labyrinth of ancient underground tunnels, catacombs and aqueducts. Or step into the lavish Royal Palace to see where Bourbon kings and queens ruled for centuries.
If you’re craving adventure beyond the city, Naples is also the gateway to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and Puglia.
2. Bologna
If food is the way to your heart, go to Bologna. Italy’s culinary capital sits in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, the region that gave the world Parmigiano Reggiano, mortadella, Modena balsamic vinegar and prosciutto di Parma. The city itself is the birthplace of legendary ragu alla Bolognese. And the only thing better than eating it in Bologna? Learning the secret sauce (literally) with a local cook.
Bologna is also steeped in history. Walk among medieval, Renaissance and Baroque buildings in the historic centre, stroll through the opulent halls of Europe’s oldest university or learn about local legends as you stroll through the city’s fresco-painted porticoes. Stretching over 60 kilometres, these UNESCO-listed walkways date back to the 11th century and form the largest network of porticoes in the world.
3. Sicily
History meets the sea in Sicily. Spend your days wandering ancient ruins, then cool off with an ocean dip and a cold beer – something you can’t do in landlocked Rome. It might not be as famous as the Pantheon, but Sicily’s Valley of the Temples is older and just as extraordinary. Dating back to the fifth century BC, this collection of Greek Doric temples stands on a ridge where the ancient city of Akragas thrived. Enjoy a guided tour with a local history expert and watch the myths and legends of gods and goddesses come alive.
But ancient ruins are just the beginning. Sicily’s strategic location drew countless civilisations, each leaving its mark on the island’s Moorish, Byzantine and Baroque architecture. Sicilian cuisine is also a melting pot of influences – from Greek olives, honey and grapes to Arab saffron, citrus and couscous. But the biggest Arab influence was arguably sugar, shaping Sicily’s love affair with sweets, including cannoli, cassata and granita.
4. Verona
Calling all romantics. This is your chance to step into the setting of the greatest love story ever. Sitting at the foot of the Lessini Mountains, with medieval squares, Gothic churches and Renaissance palaces at every turn, it’s no wonder Shakespeare chose Verona as the backdrop for Romeo and Juliet.
But beyond the famous balcony in Casa di Giulietta, you’ll also find lively piazzas and one of Italy’s largest Roman arenas: Arena di Verona. Built in AD 30, it predates the Colosseum – and is better preserved too. In fact, it’s so well preserved that it hosts an annual opera festival from June to August (absolutely worth planning your trip around). Goosebumps are guaranteed when you watch an open-air performance in a 2000-year-old amphitheatre. Surely it doesn’t get more Italian than that.
5. Matera
Matera is frozen in time. Its ‘Sassi’ (rock) dwellings, carved into a limestone ravine, date back to the Paleolithic era, making it one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. As you get lost in the maze of staircases and alleys, explore underground galleries or enjoy dinner in a cave restaurant, it’s easy to see why it has been a filming location for blockbusters including No Time to Die.
But just decades ago, Matera was very different. In the 1950s, the Sassi’s residents lived in extreme poverty, without electricity, running water or sewage, and disease was rampant. Deemed a ‘national shame,’ the government relocated all 16,000 residents, leaving the city abandoned for the first time in over 9000 years. Today, the Sassi has been restored, offering visitors a chance to uncover the remarkable stories of those who once called it home.
Matera is also a great option for coastal adventures in Bari and Lecce, AKA the ‘Florence of the South’ for its abundant Baroque architecture.
Rome is always a good idea, but if you’d prefer to sidestep the Jubilee crowds, 2025 is the perfect time to explore some of Italy’s less-travelled spots.
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