For a Rome parish, a pilgrimage to Assisi remains the most natural destination, followed closely by San Giovanni Rotondo, Cascia and Loreto. Whoever organises it, the parish priest, a catechist or the leader of a prayer group, usually takes care of everything: registrations, payments, Mass, lunch. The coach is the part that must not create extra problems, and that is why a few checks are needed, depending on the shrine you choose.
We work with parishes, dioceses and associations, and during the 2025 Jubilee we handled the movement of religious groups in Rome. The fleet at our Via Ugo Forti base covers all our bus and coach hire in Rome; below we set out what you need to know, destination by destination, before requesting a quote.
When to organise: the parish calendar
In 2027 Easter falls on 28 March. Many parishes start preparing their spring pilgrimage as early as February, and the weekends in April and May are the ones when coaches are booked first. For services with several vehicles and for spring trips we recommend getting in touch 2-3 months ahead; at other times 2-3 weeks are enough.
If the group is coming to Rome from elsewhere for the Easter celebrations, the logistics change completely: transport for pilgrims in Rome at Easter requires permits for the Vatican area and has to be organised around audiences and stops.
Pilgrimage to Assisi: booking at the Basilica and coach parking
The Basilica of San Francesco asks groups to book their entry, to avoid waiting and overcrowding; through the same Sacro Convento booking system you can reserve a chapel for Mass, a visit with a friar or a nun, or have the liturgy led with a choir.
For tour coaches, the town relies on car parks run by SABA, including those in Piazza Giovanni Paolo II and at Porta Nuova, which are also listed on the town council’s tourism website. The coach permit is bought online before departure and shown at the car park pay desk to receive the entry and exit card. It is a cost to include in the group’s budget: in the quote we explain how it is handled.
A practical tip: the Basilica of San Francesco and the Basilica of Santa Chiara are at opposite ends of the historic centre. If the group includes people who have difficulty walking, decide in advance which side to enter from and where the coach will pick the group up, rather than having everyone cross the whole town uphill.
San Giovanni Rotondo: two days are better than one
From Rome to San Giovanni Rotondo is a long journey for a single day, especially with older people. The format we see working best is two days, with an overnight stay, and perhaps a stop at Pietrelcina or Monte Sant’Angelo. In this case the quote shows the driver’s overnight accommodation separately.
The Pilgrimage Office of the Shrine of St Pio organises guided visits in several languages, provides a room for group lunches and, on request made well in advance, a welcome liturgy. The group organiser makes the contact: we adapt departure times and stops to the programme you are given.
For a two-day trip, the driving hours allowed for the driver and the compulsory rest times apply, and they determine what time you can leave and what time you get back.
Cascia: the shrine of St Rita
Cascia is the destination for parishes and confraternities devoted to St Rita. The shrine advises groups to book their visit online, for organisational and hospitality reasons. Cascia is in the mountains and the last stretch of road has many bends: a Gran Turismo coach handles it without difficulty, but anyone who suffers from travel sickness would do well to sit at the front.
On a one-day pilgrimage you can combine Cascia with Roccaporena, the saint’s birthplace, a few kilometres away. In that case mention the second stop in your request, because it changes the day’s timings.
Loreto: the coach checkpoint
Loreto involves one more step than the other destinations. The town council has set up a paid checkpoint for tour coaches, with a first-day fee that includes parking and a reduced fee for the following days, as stated on the Comune di Loreto page on fees, car parks and the checkpoint. This cost is not part of our quote and needs to go in the group’s budget.
The shrine has a pilgrim welcome office, which also books the restaurant in the Palazzo Apostolico and guided visits to the Holy House. For groups with older members it is worth considering an overnight stay, so the day does not become too long.
The right vehicle for a pilgrimage
For a large parish group the most suitable vehicle is a 54-56 seat Gran Turismo coach: reclining seats, individual air conditioning, a luggage hold and, depending on the model, a microphone, useful for prayers or for the parish priest’s announcements during the journey. Equipment varies from one model of our Gran Turismo coaches to another. For smaller groups, a 36-seat midi coach or a minibus is enough and costs less.
How to request a quote for a pilgrimage from Rome
To prepare the written quote we need: the date or dates of the trip, the pick-up point in Rome, the shrine and intermediate stops, the number of pilgrims, the planned times of Mass or appointments at the shrine, and any overnight stays. The quote includes the driver, fuel, passenger insurance and maintenance; tolls and the driver’s overnight accommodation are shown separately.
Coach hire in Rome has indicative hourly prices that vary with the size of the vehicle: it helps to know them before you send your request.
The same area also offers non-religious destinations, from the Tuscia to the Castelli Romani, well suited to day trips from Rome for groups.
Longer trips within Italy, with several stops and nights, come under coach trips across Italy, where the quote shows tolls and the driver’s overnight accommodation separately.
For dioceses in the north we organise pilgrimages by coach from Milan to Loreto, Lourdes and Medjugorje.
Phone: +39 06 4882027. Email: info@toddebus.it (subject line: “Pilgrimage Rome”). The phone line is also available for urgent requests, 7 days a week.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a coach for a pilgrimage to Assisi from Rome cost?
It depends on the number of people, the vehicle and the hours of service. Our price guide for Rome gives indicative hourly rates for minibuses, midi coaches and Gran Turismo coaches; we send the exact quote within a few hours during working hours, with tolls shown separately.
Is the coach parking permit in Assisi included?
The permit for tour coach parking in Assisi is a separate cost, linked to the day and the car park. Ask us in the quote how it is handled, so there are no surprises on the day of the pilgrimage.
Should we book Mass at the shrine before booking the coach?
It is best to do both at the same time. The date and time of Mass determine the departure time from Rome, so it helps to have the shrine’s confirmation before fixing the final timings with us.
Can San Giovanni Rotondo be done as a day trip from Rome?
It can, but it makes for a very long day and has to be planned within the driver’s driving limits. With groups of older people or people with disabilities we recommend two days, with a night in the area.
Does the priest or the group leader pay for a seat on the coach?
The quote is for the vehicle, not per seat: the priest and group leaders take up seats on the coach like the other pilgrims. The individual contribution is set by the parish.
