6 Dos and Don’ts during the Jubilee in Rome

Visiting Rome in a special year like the Jubilee is certainly an exciting idea, but due to the many tourists and pilgrims who will land in the city, it could be difficult to navigate the confusion of a crowded city and easily fall into tourist traps, but don't worry! This article is a vademecum, full of tips and practical advice for enjoying the capital without stress even during one of the most special years in Rome.

So, you'll have a guide on what to do and what not to do during the Jubilee in Rome. To create this valuable list of tips, we sought the support of an exceptional partner who knows Rome and all its hidden aspects very well: Sightseeing Experience, the tour operator of City Sightseeing Italy. With its authentic experiences and panoramic buses, it allows you to explore Italy’s greatest cities in a smart and unconventional way.

We'll travel through Rome together, discovering iconic landmarks, unusual and less crowded spots where you can find some peace, as well as nearby getaways just outside the Eternal City. Plus, you’ll get useful information on how to choose the right restaurant—essentially, everything you need to know about what to do and what to avoid during the Jubilee in Rome.

Let’s get started!

Let's start from the idea that in a city full of treasures like Rome, especially in the Jubilee year, you can't expect to do everything. Start preparing your trip well in advance, make a list of all the destinations and experiences that you absolutely want to include in your visit. To visit a large capital, you must consider that it won't be all relaxation; therefore, where possible, it's better to make things easier.

Consider the idea that the best way to move around the city will be your feet, to which you can combine a season ticket for Rome's public transport, alternate visits and pilgrimages to spiritual places with moments of rest, for example include visits to less sought-after places, trips out of town or perhaps a panoramic tour of Rome's iconic destinations comfortably seated on one of the City Sightseeing Italy buses, with which you can hop on and off to visit the attractions and calmly take the next bus; you will have a dedicated App with an interactive map that will allow you to orient yourself, get to know the city, see the nearest stop and the position of the buses in real time. Try to immerse yourself in the habits of the place and everything will become easier.

Now, are you ready to discover what to do and what not to do during the Jubilee in Rome?

Every big city has destinations that become an inseparable part of its identity, places that are impossible not to include in the list of things to see. During the Jubilee, other destinations that are part of the spiritual identity of the city are added to the already characteristic destinations of Rome. And so if you are in Rome in the Jubilee year you will have to compose a right mix between spiritual and historical identity, your top 10 could be: St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Stairs, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, but also and clearly the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, the Imperial Forums, Castel Sant'Angelo and the Pantheon, but everyone is free to choose the destinations they prefer, Rome, thanks to its merit and despite, has too many treasures to restrict them to a miserable list.

What we recommend, however, once you have drawn up your list, is to start your day early to take advantage until the last ray of sunshine of your day; book your tickets in advance, even before leaving for your trip, especially try to choose skip-the-line tickets to avoid wasting time in queues. Rome is a very large city and going from one part to another could be tiring and frustrating, so before leaving, clarify your ideas and plan your routes with a map in hand, to associate the destinations that are close to each other, so you can be more relaxed without rushing from one part of the city to another. In crowded and touristy places, be careful of pickpockets.

Rome is a big capital and if it is your first time in the city you could find yourself overwhelmed by unruly traffic and a varied storm of horns, increased by the influx of tourists of this very special year; therefore, the advice is not to consider renting a car, but to rely on your feet and public transport. With a car you would also have the incredible problem of parking, and you would have to deal with Roman drivers who are known for their swagger.

Walking around Rome on foot and by public transport you will have the opportunity to not miss any of its wonders, the capital of Italy is truly an open-air museum, but be careful when crossing! 

But the real highlight is this: for a relaxing overview of Rome, you could hop on a panoramic bus that lets you see everything in a short time from a prime vantage point. City Sightseeing Italy has designed a tour on its iconic red buses, perfect for exploring Rome during the Jubilee.

Indeed, integrated into the classic City Sightseeing Rome itinerary this year is the Jubilee Line, a route that stops at three papal basilicas with their respective Holy Doors: St. Peter's, St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran.

This way, you can comfortably admire Rome's main attractions, from the Colosseum to the Imperial Forums, including major points of interest related to the Holy Year. Truly unmissable in 2025!

Once you have concluded your tour of the iconic destinations, those that you cannot avoid seeing if you are in Rome, especially for the Jubilee, it is time to get off the beaten path, find some calm and enjoy the many fascinating and slightly more unusual places that Rome hides at every corner.

If you are looking for a break from the queues and crowds and want to relax while enjoying the view of Rome, we recommend the Aventine district, the Aventine is one of the 7 hills of Rome, from here you can admire a splendid view of the city, in the fantastic orange garden; in addition to this, the Aventine holds many surprises, such as the keyhole from which you can see St. Peter's Basilica.

Right in front of the Aventine district you will find the Testaccio District, here in addition to the many local trattorias you can immerse yourself in an authentic local market without being disturbed.

At the edge of the district, near the famous and unique Roman Pyramid, you will discover a place of peace and contemplation: Cimitero Acattolico ( Non-Catholic Cemetery), where the English poets Keats and Shelley rest.

A final gem is to take a walk preferably at sunset during aperitif time in the Monti District.

As for food, Italy has a real gastronomic culture, and each region has its own traditions. In Rome, to blend in well with the locals, get into the mood right away and not be labeled as a tourist at first glance, there are some strategies to adopt. Let's start in the morning, for the Romans, breakfast at the bar with cappuccino and cornetto is a must. Therefore, know that if you have a cappuccino in the afternoon or worse at lunchtime you will immediately be identified as not being from the place.

A delicious alternative to the cornetto is the maritozzo, a fragrant brioche filled with cream that will keep you full for several hours.

For lunch or dinner, if you don't want to eat the usual quick-and-escape sandwich, choose a trattoria off the tourist circuit, how can you spot it? Avoid restaurants, trattorias and pizzerias with menus translated into multiple languages, those with waiters at the door or almost in the street ready to catch you and those where you see large groups of people with backpacks and faces that are not very Italian.

Once you have chosen the right place, the suggestion is to try a typical Roman dish such as pasta alla carbonara, all’amatriciana or cacio e pepe and you will surely be satisfied.

Finally, if you have little time but want to taste everything Rome has to offer, we suggest joining a Food Tour. Sightseeing Experience offers various Food Tours in Rome for food-loving travelers, also taking you through the most renowned neighborhoods for the best restaurants, such as Trastevere.

You have concluded your tour of the iconic destinations, and you have also had the opportunity to visit neighborhoods and artistic and historical beauties outside the tourist circuits, you still have a couple of days left and it would be a shame not to take advantage of it to explore the surroundings of Rome. A stone's throw from the capital, in Tivoli, you will find Villa D'Este, Villa Adriana and Villa Gregoriana as well as being recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites these villas are formidable masterpieces of engineering and beauty, they are located not far from each other so you could plan to see all three in a single day, unless you prefer to dedicate all your attention to one in particular.

The second tip we have for you is to experience a tour of Pompeii and Naples. Pompeii is the best-preserved Roman city in the world, buried under the lava of Mount Vesuvius, which forever crystallized it in time. And Naples? A city with a unique energy, one that you must "see and then die," as Goethe once said. These are two truly one-of-a-kind places that you absolutely must visit at least once in your life.

You can explore Pompeii and Naples from Rome in just a short time, thanks to the one-day tour organized by Sightseeing Experience. It’s a unique opportunity to experience these incredible destinations, not far from Rome, in just one day. The tour includes transportation from Rome, a dedicated guide who will bring Pompeii’s history to life and capture the vibrant spirit of Naples, and an evening return to Rome. Simply magical!

Rome is a wonderful city, capable of awakening vital energy, not only because of the symbolic places of the city and the spiritual charm of this magical year, it is something that resides in the life and culture that inhabits it, its bars with cappuccino and croissant, the always easy-going and informal inhabitants, the views, the sunsets, for these and a thousand other reasons never walk with your head down, but observe everything in front of you, let yourself be surprised, create space for gratitude.

If you walk with your head down you could inadvertently pass the famous "nasoni" fountains scattered everywhere with drinking water. The advice here is not to buy bottled water, but always walk around equipped with a water bottle and fill it up every time you see a "nasone".

Rome and the Jubilee will be an unforgettable adventure and with this little guide of what to do and what not to do during the Jubilee we hope to have been useful to you. Enjoy!