Up to 35 million people are expected to visit Rome by the end of 2025 for the Jubilee Year. 

Despite the increased visitors expected, recent surveys show Italy remains the world’s top travel destination. According to the “2025 Virtuoso Luxe Report,” surveying more than 2,200 travel advisers every year, Italy in 2025 tops the list in three important categories:

•  “Best Family Travel Destination”
•  “Top Global Destination”
•  “Top Honeymoon Destination”

This is good news for more than just those working in the travel industry. It is good news for travelers because it shows how Italy can meet the interest and needs of a variety of tourists, including Catholics who are looking for not just a Roman holiday but a transformative experience that will promote positive change in their lives and provide lasting memories. 

Another online survey conducted by the marketing research firm Leger reveals that 70% of the more than 1,000 participants said they are looking to relieve stress, and nearly 60% are hoping their travel plans will help them improve their mental health and overall well-being.

In my recently published book from EWTN Publishing, Italy’s Shrines and Wonders, as a part-time Italy resident, a pilgrimage leader for more than 20 years, as well as an Italy travel consultant, I outline good planning combined with some ideas that may challenge what you may have been thinking about, ideas that will not only make all the difference in navigating the crowds but help ensure an incredible, even exceptional, Italian journey.

Here are five ways to make the most of a trip to Italy despite the crowds: 

1)  Join an organized tour or pilgrimage. Joining an organized tour sounds like the opposite step one should take when searching for inspiration and rejuvenation, as it might seem too structured or restrictive.  

But if religious art, history and the natural beauty of a place as incredible as Italy are meant to truly inspire, think about how uninspired you’ll be at the end of the day after trying to figure out all that’s necessary to enjoy those sites on your own. 

With an organized tour, the endless but very important details, including transportation, entrance fees or tickets, the often-fluctuating hours of operation, along with reservations for hotels, expert guides, and even some meals, are all handled through the reputable travel agency and/or pilgrimage company. The result will be more additional time for reflection and relaxation, which adds up to less stress and more meaningful travel. And once you check the major and extremely busy sites such as the Vatican or the Colosseum off your Italy bucket list, you can say “Ciao” to the tour group and “Andiamo” (“Let’s go” ) to some special time to wander or for an excursion in Tuscany or Umbria. 

Whenever clients grumble about organized tours, I share a story from the first trip my husband and I took to Italy. We were on a pilgrimage with our church, and after our trip officially ended, and since we were all packed, we decided to go out for a late dinner. There was another American couple sitting next to us at our ristorante in the shadow of St. Peter’s, and we couldn’t help but overhear their conversation. We also noticed that they looked very tired and had a worn-out travel guidebook placed next to their bottle of wine. Instead of sharing favorite moments from their trip as we had been doing, they were regretting their do-it-yourself travel approach. They happened to engage in conversation with us, telling us that they bit off way more than they could chew, and they weren’t talking about the pizza or pasta. They thought they were going to be footloose and fancy-free, doing everything on their own. Instead, they ended up frustrated and exhausted from trying to make sense of what they were seeing with only their guidebook to lead them. 

2) Visit Italy in the late fall. If you’re still hoping to visit Italy for the Jubilee Year, late fall is an ideal time. That said, this is another one of my suggestions that receives a lot of pushback, particularly from those who have children in school. Many family clients of mine absolutely insist on going to Italy at the worst possible time, when everyone else on the planet is visiting Italy: June, July and August. While it may be a challenge to take the children out of school, it will be more than just a challenge, next to impossible, to be honest, to try and enjoy Rome and Italy in the high seasons. The extremely hot weather combined with the endless lines everywhere you go is too much for even the most patient of adults. Imagine what that might mean for a tired toddler or a fussy teen. Late October and November offer decent weather; and, best of all, the crowds will be substantially minimized. 

Early November is my favorite time to visit. Last year, for example, around Halloween, in our Umbrian home, we had friends staying with us who wanted to visit the stunning Etruscan city of Orvieto. Not only did we have the entire famous duomo of Orvieto almost entirely to ourselves, we also only spotted one tour group the entire day. The rest of the people strolling the streets were locals or other individual travelers. The restaurants were wide open, and you could stroll through the lovely ceramic shops without bumping into anyone or anything. 

3) Plan for one major tour a day. That may sound impractical, given all there is to see, especially in major Italian cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice. However, with record numbers expected this year, you’ll no doubt run into crowds somewhere on that Italy itinerary, even if you wisely decide to travel outside of the high seasons. Again, it is a Jubilee, and that needs to be taken into consideration. More importantly, taking a breath and reflecting upon the attractions you’ve seen is a must if you want those transformative moments so many claim they’re desiring. How much of a transformation will occur by moving from the Pietà to the Pantheon, and then on to Piazza Navona without slowing down enough for one cappuccino? The artwork alone is so incredibly detailed, not to mention, the magnificent churches and museums housing these treasures are also overwhelming, that signing up for more than one major tour a day will lead to information overload. 

4) Get out of Dodge and take a break from the big city. Castel Gandalfo, Lake Bracciano, Tivoli Gardens and Ostia Antica are just a few fascinating and fun places to visit in the Lazio region that are close enough for easy travel and far enough way to provide a very different setting from the city. These sites are under an hour’s trek from bustling Rome and offer family-friendly activities, impressive history and archeology, along with incredible scenery.

5) To live la dolce vita, learn la dolce far niente.  To live the sweet life (la dolce vita) you must first learn the art of doing nothing, (la dolce far niente). In other words, don’t just do something — sit there. Italy is meant to be savored. Italians don’t live to work. They work so they can live life to the fullest. That means taking their time with meals, going out with friends for a nice stroll, or, as they say in Italian, passeggiata — from a truly Catholic perspective, being more like the Blessed Mother and pondering what you’ve experienced. Anyone visiting Italy can and should do the same if they want to not only make the most of their Italian visit, but to take home the best souvenirs of all, so to speak, as in healthy habits that can reduce stress, bring peace, bring you closer to Christ and his Church and make you smile as you recall your time in Bella Italia. 

Teresa Tomeo is host of Catholic Connection on EWTN Radio.