Rome's Jubilee Year, Without the Crowds Forbes asked our founder, Jesse Andrews, how travelers can enjoy Rome during the 2025 Jubilee without being overwhelmed.
With millions of pilgrims expected in the Eternal City, her answer was not to stay away. It was to know where to go.
Our Founder, Quoted by Forbes
In March 2025, Forbes contributor Roger Sands looked at one of the biggest questions facing anyone planning a trip to Rome that year: how do you enjoy the city during the Catholic Jubilee, when around 30 million pilgrims are expected to arrive?
He turned to our founder, Jesse Andrews, as the expert voice for the article. Her advice was practical and very local. The Jubilee will bring more people to the center of Rome on certain dates, she explained, but with a little research and the right local experts, most visitors can still enjoy the city at its best.
Her approach is simple. Know where to stay, know what to avoid, and do not overlook the neighborhoods and places that most visitors never see.
Rome's Jubilee Year
Her Advice
“It's all about knowing the right places to stay, the right places to avoid.”
Rome the Way Romans Live It
Jesse believes many visitors miss one of the simplest pleasures in Rome: walking without a plan and getting lost in the historic center. To do that comfortably during a busy year, it helps to step just outside the obvious places.
In the article she points to residential neighborhoods with their own character. Trastevere and Prati for dining, Parioli and the green spaces of Villa Borghese, the Jewish Ghetto and its beautiful synagogue, and Tiber Island, which is free to visit.
For food, Testaccio is a favorite with Romans. Monteverde has local markets and views over the city, and the Gianicolo Hill is an easy walk. Garbatella, Pigneto and Ostiense show a more creative, everyday side of Rome, and the paths along both banks of the Tiber are ideal for walking and cycling.
Vittoriano in Rome
What We Believe
“Rome rewards the traveler who slows down and lets the city lead the way.”
Lakes, Coast and Castles Within Easy Reach
Some of the best answers to a crowded Rome are not in Rome at all. Jesse also encouraged readers to look at the wider region of Lazio, where the pace changes within an hour of the city.
To the north are the lakeside towns of Lake Bracciano, including Trevignano Romano, Anguillara Sabazia and Bracciano itself. Closer to the city, the hill towns of the Castelli Romani are well connected and full of local life.
Toward the sea, Ostia combines the archaeological site of Ostia Antica with beaches and seaside bistros, while Fregene and Santa Marinella offer a taste of the Lazio coast.
Lake Bracciano, an hour from Rome
In Her Words
“Enjoy the Eternal City in all of its glory.”
Planning Rome With People Who Know It
Jesse told Forbes that the company has organized tens of thousands of experiences for visitors to Rome over the years. That experience is what lets us suggest where to stay, when to visit the busiest sites and which neighborhoods and day trips will make a trip feel less rushed.
Our team of drivers, guides, tour escorts and trip planners works in Rome and across Lazio, and we use that knowledge to shape every journey around the traveler, not the crowd.
Planning a journey with local experts