Jubilee Year 2025 in Rome: a family guide
Rome with kids is always an adventure, and in the Jubilee Year 2025 the city is busier and more festive than ever. The Holy Year opened on 24 December 2024 and brings millions of pilgrims to the four papal basilicas with their Holy Doors. Here is what is on, how to plan with children of different ages and where to find calmer corners of Rome.
What's on: dates, places and prices
The Jubilee runs until 6 January next year, with special events for different groups spread across the calendar. Passing through the Holy Doors is free; museums and sights need tickets, and many should be booked well in advance.
| What | Where | When | Ages | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Doors of the four papal basilicas | St Peter's, St John Lateran, St Mary Major, St Paul Outside the Walls | all year | all ages | free |
| Jubilee events for children, teens and families | Rome and Vatican City | dates through the year | 6+ | free with registration |
| Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel | Vatican City | all year | 8+ | premium |
| Colosseum and Roman Forum | central Rome | all year | 6+ | mid-range |
| Villa Borghese and Bioparco | north of the centre | all year | all ages | free to mid-range |
Price per adult: free, budget = under about €10, mid-range = about €10–25, premium = over €25. Children often pay less; approximate, check the official website before you go.
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What's in it for kids by age
Little ones enjoy the parks, fountains and gelato, while school-age kids are amazed by gladiators, popes and ancient ruins.
- Toddlers (1–3): Villa Borghese, fountains, the Bioparco and short visits to piazzas.
- Preschoolers (3–6): Explora children's museum, pizza and the Trevi Fountain coin toss.
- School kids (6–12): the Colosseum, the Holy Doors and the treasures of the Vatican Museums.
- Teens: Jubilee youth events, the Sistine Chapel and evening walks through Trastevere.
Top family attractions in Rome with kids
Plan one big Jubilee or museum visit per day, and balance it with parks, gelato and play.
The official Jubilee 2025 website lists the calendar of events and lets pilgrims register for free for the walk to the Holy Doors. For art lovers, the Vatican Museums are best visited early in the morning with a timed ticket; for younger kids, a shorter route works better than the full collection.
Ancient Rome is a highlight for school-age children. The Parco archeologico del Colosseo covers the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, so wear good shoes and bring water. Afterwards, the Bioparco di Roma in Villa Borghese and the hands-on children's museum Explora give little ones time to play. Turismo Roma has further ideas, including Jubilee-year information for visitors.
Practical: parking, prams and baby change
Do not drive into central Rome; use the metro, buses and your feet, and add extra time for security checks this year.
- Security: expect bag checks at the basilicas and big events; travel light.
- Prams: a light buggy copes with cobbles; a carrier is easier in crowds and on museum stairs.
- Baby change: museums, larger cafés and shopping centres.
- Dress code: shoulders and knees covered in churches, for adults and older kids.
- Water: Rome's free drinking fountains, called nasoni, are perfect for refilling bottles.
Where to eat nearby
Avoid restaurants right next to the Vatican and the Colosseum, and walk a few streets further for better food and prices. Around St Peter's, the streets of Prati are calmer and full of family pizzerias. Pizza by the slice, supplì (fried rice balls) and pasta are easy wins with kids. For gelato, the historic Giolitti near the Pantheon is a classic from our sweet guide to summer in Europe.
Find kid-friendly restaurants in each district on the Kid.ooo map.
Alternatives if it's busy
When the centre is packed, head for green spaces or out of the city. A day trip to Ostia Antica, the ancient port of Rome, lets kids explore streets, shops and a theatre from Roman times with far fewer people, and the beach at Ostia is close by. On the first Sunday of the month, many state museums are free, as explained in our free museum days guide. Our earlier Easter city breaks guide has more Rome tips.
For travel ideas with older kids and teens, follow @wyld_family_travel on Instagram.
More attractions on the Kid.ooo map
Kid.ooo is a free kid-friendly places map where parents share attractions, playgrounds and cafés across Europe. Look up things to do with kids in Rome and save a shady playground and a pizza place for the day after the Vatican.
Find playgrounds in Rome on the Kid.ooo map
Missing a place you loved? Add it to Kid.ooo and help the next family visiting Rome in the Jubilee Year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Jubilee Year 2025?
The Jubilee, or Holy Year, is a Catholic celebration held every 25 years. It opened on 24 December 2024 with the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica and runs until 6 January next year, bringing millions of pilgrims to Rome.
Is Rome too crowded in 2025 to visit with kids?
Rome is busier than usual, especially around the Vatican and on big Jubilee event days. With timed tickets, early starts and plenty of park time, a family trip is still very doable.
Do you need tickets to walk through the Holy Doors?
Passing through the Holy Doors is free. The official Jubilee website offers free registration for the pilgrim walk, which can help you plan your time, but security queues can still be long.
What can kids do in Rome away from the crowds?
Villa Borghese with its bike rental and the Bioparco, the Explora children's museum and a day trip to the ancient port of Ostia Antica are all calmer than the centre and great fun for children.
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