I just came back from Rome after spending 2 weeks in the city this May 2025 as a frequent traveller to Rome since 2012.
I wanted to add some of my impressions to this forum for anyone traveling to Rome this Jubilee Year.
Rome is jam- packed! The tourist hordes are wall to wall in popular sites like Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon and along common side streets leading to these sites. Get up early in the am to even catch a glimpse of these tourist sites!
Via dei Fori Imperialli and Piazza Venezia are undergoing major excavations / renovations with reconstruction and improvement projects underway along with the new Metro Line leaving the 'main drag' in Rome junked up with metal barriers, working construction equipment, unsightly screening running the entire length of the forums blocking the otherwise evocative sites and essentially killing the ambiance of the area. You'll be herded like cattle in between metal barriers when trying to walk the length of the Via Imperialli.
If you know Rome, you can find quieter areas to visit like the Celian or Oppian hills and quieter residential neighborhoods with tucked away treasures. That's how I spent most of my time in Rome to stay away from the madding crowds and find value in a city that has also succumbed to increased hotel and food costs in inflationary times.
According to one tour guide I had on an excursion, 2024 was even busier than 2025 as ppl visited Rome ahead of the Jubilee Year.
I stayed again at the Lancelot Hotel, and although prices have increased since my last stay in 2023, it is still relatively very good value for $$ spent and a welcome oasis in a very busy city which this year included not only the Jubilee Year, but the ushering in of a new Pope and European peace talks.
The highlight for me this trip was visiting Ostia Antica which was super easy to get to on the Metro from Rome. An expansive archaeological site, well worth the visit to get a real sense of Roman urban planning. Lunch in the Jewish ghetto too- fantastic food! Check out art exhibits in the city during your visit- I saw a very comprehensive exhibit of Edvard Munch at the Palazzo Bonaparte and a few year ago a large exhibit of Andy Warhol's work.
For 2 weeks, I walked at least 20,000 steps a day exploring the city, poured olive oil on everything I ate, listened to the fluid and attitudinal Italian spoken in the streets, read as much as I could fathom in a sitting about the layers of the city and finally returned home pondering whether I would return after 7 trips.
Posted by
265 posts
Thanks for the report! I wonder how long the excavation will continue. Loved our visit to Ostia Antica too!
Posted by
California
12 posts
I was there May 11-15 and was really disappointed that neither the Trevi nor Bernini’s fountain in Piazza Navona were running. Both were under renovation. It’s not the same without the water…. Any updates?
Posted by
OP
33 posts
You are right! No water in the Piazza Navona fountain. There was water in Trevi when I was there, but I noticed a lack of water in many fountains and spouts around the city.
Posted by
Chicago
2195 posts
We were in Rome April 6-10, stayed in the Campo de' Fiori neighborhood, which is where we've stayed for 3 trips, and it was busier than I had ever seen it. But in the morning it's tolerable, just as most places in Rome are. The Vatican was insane, and this was before Pope Francis passed. Trastevere was even busy, but we found an out of the way spot--Trattoria da Teo--that was a wonderful respite and had one of the best meals I've ever had in Rome.
Best move in the crowds was our last day, when we caught the Hop On Hop Off bus for under 20 Euro apiece, sat up top on a sunny day, and just rode around, two complete circuits before getting off at Spanish Steps, which was a zoo.
Would I return? Of course, it's my favorite city on the planet!
Posted by
OP
33 posts
Thank you for your reply! I know what you mean about fave city on the planet. I may return more as a local and book a place for 2-3 months a bit more in the off season and use it as a jumping off spot for other day- long or more trips out of Rome.
Posted by
BC, Canada
22 posts
I was there at the beginning of May for 4 days. My husband and I did not feel it was any busier than the other two times we have been there. We did go to Ostia Antica as well and really enjoyed that. Also went to Borghese Gallery with our pre-bought tickets and it was amazing. We did get out walking starting at 6:30 AM one morning and went to Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, Trevi fountain and the pope’s tomb and it wasn’t overly busy anywhere. It wasn’t empty, either but pleasant. Also went most of those same places on an evening walk and, though busier, it was still fine.
We stayed in Trastevere and it was not busy in our area.
My husband was dreading going because of the talk of crowds and was greatly relieved by our reality.
Note that we went nowhere near the Vatican, nor did we go to the Colosseum.
I love Rome but it’s probably a good idea to have a plan before going and pre-buying tickets where possible. Maybe if expecting it to be too busy, you will be pleasantly surprised like we were.
Posted by
139 posts
We were in Rome May 19-21. Trevi Fountain is back up and running, fountain in the Piazza Navona is not. We were able to visit the Trevi and throw our coins in at 9:30 on a Tuesday, but it was on and off drizzling, so that probably helped with crowds. We had timed entry tickets for the Colosseum, St Peter’s, Vatican Museums-Sistine Chapel and while busy, we saw what we wanted. Vatican Museums first thing in the morning was key; it was miserable and jammed with tour groups starting around 10 am. We had a climb the dome ticket to the basilica, which lets you waltz right in, in your own “lane,” bypassing all the other lines. We did the Colosseum in the afternoon and it was crowded but not awful. Pantheon was UNBEARABLE on a Sunday afternoon. Campidoglio has massive scaffolding everywhere; disappointing. Spanish Steps were all but empty mid-morning in a weekday. We did an impromptu trip to the church if St Mary Major to see Pope Francis’ tomb, and while the line was off-putting, it only took us about 30-40 minutes to file past the tomb and take a quick photo. Termini Station and all the streets around it for 2-3 blocks were also super busy.