Tour operators said travelers should expect larger-than-normal crowds and minor disruptions at the Vatican over the next few weeks as cardinals gather to choose a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21.
They also said that travel to Rome overall is expected to continue as normal this year.
Italy is already in the midst of a banner year for tourism due to the Jubilee, a Catholic religious event that began Dec. 24 and runs through Jan. 6, 2026. The celebration, which occurs every 25 years, is expected to draw some 32 million visitors to Rome alone, according to the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Italy.
The additional thousands who came for the pope’s April 26 funeral and other events surrounding his death won’t make much of a long-term difference, said Gregory Sylvain, senior director of religious tours for Unitours, which specializes in Catholic pilgrimages.
Unitours has operated group tours during previous papal transitions and said tourism will continue as normal with limited disruptions, even in the coming weeks. And given how much Italy has vested in Holy Year tourism, he expects tourism sites to try to minimize disruptions.
“There’s a lot of groups scheduled to visit not only Rome but greater Italy over the entire calendar year of 2025,” Sylvain said. “Italy and the business community there, they rely heavily on tourism. The worst possible thing they could do would be to alter that in any great way.”
That was echoed by other tour operators, which mostly anticipated larger crowds than normal and potential closures in Vatican City at sites like the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums. They plan to adjust in real time and remain in touch with teams on the ground to adapt as necessary.
Italy specialist Perillo Tours will host many groups in the country in the next month and plans to stick to its itineraries as much as possible, according to owner and president Steve Perillo.
Still, travelers should expect a mix of Jubilee travelers, mourners and pilgrims in the weeks ahead, said Fabrizio Bertoncin, who lives in Italy and is director of EF Go Ahead Tours‘ tour director department.
“Many of the travelers appreciate being in Rome during a historical moment,” he said.
Clients looking to witness the election of a new pope will find it more difficult than normal due to Jubilee, as hotel rooms were already limited and longer lines were expected because of those festivities. Those factors could prove to be a barrier for those looking to travel on short notice, Sylvain said.
“It’s already in a boom stage,” he said, adding that during a regular year Rome could more easily welcome tens of thousands of extra visitors but that due to Jubilee, there simply aren’t enough accommodations in and around the city.
Despite the barriers, since the pontiff’s death people have been asking about last-minute trips to Rome or inquiring about adding a Rome extension to an existing trip, said Fora travel advisor Karyn Pavich.
“For clients determined to go, I’m setting clear expectations about crowds and availability while finding creative alternatives to ensure their time in Rome remains special despite the logistical challenges,” she said.
Searches for flights to Rome from major U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Atlanta and Chicago, increased the day after the pope’s death, according to Google Trends. That was the case, too, for cities in the U.K., one of the largest source markets for Italy travel.
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