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. Continue reading at the National Catholic Register.
