Villa Borghese Gallery

Explore the most romantic gardens in Rome at Villa Borghese.

A world-class art gallery, a puppet theater, and breathtaking landscape gardens are just a few attractions within Villa Borghese, which is one of the largest parks in Rome – and sits on the cusp of the Spanish Steps.

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Highlights

• Enter the world-class Borghese Gallery to see the works of some of history’s most illustrious artists.
• Lose yourself in the beautiful gardens, and see the unusual water clock and Temple of Asclepius.
• Enjoy sweeping views over Rome from the Pincio Terrace.

Map & Directions (Location)

Villa Borghese Gallery

Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5, 00197 Roma RM, Italy · Google Maps

Villa Borghese is located in the center of Rome. It is only a few minutes from the Spanish Steps and a stone’s throw from the Vatican.

Visitors can reach the attraction by taking the metro to the Spagna or Flaminio station on line A. From there, it’s a short walk to the park’s entrance.

Alternatively, visitors can take the bus to the Pinciana/Museo Borghese or Bioparco stop.

There are plenty of bus routes that reach Villa Borghese. You can catch 10 different buses that will get you to the general vicinity: 61, 117, 119, 120, 150, 160, 490, 495, 590, 628, and C3. 

Tram number 2 stops just outside Villa Borghese.

Amongst the park’s many entrances, the best one, if you want to visit The Borghese gallery, is the Via Pinciana entrance.

Tickets & Prices

Find out which of these Villa Borghese tickets – now the Borghese Gallery – is right for you.

• Borghese Gallery – Basic ticket.
• Borghese Gallery (Fast Track) – Fast Track entrance tickets to the Borghese Gallery.
• Guided Tour – (Skip The Line) – 2-hour guided tour of the gallery plus skip-the-line entrance.
• Roma Pass – Explore some of Rome’s greatest attractions with this combi-ticket. 72h or 48h pass with entrance to two venues of your choosing (20+ to choose from), plus unlimited public transport (excl. trains) for the duration of the card.

Full Price 

This is the ticket option most people visiting the Borghese Gallery use. It applies to the majority of people, as only a few are eligible for the discounted rate.

You purchase a ticket for a specific date and a time slot that lasts for two hours – at the end of your time slot, you must leave the gallery. The ticket is only valid for your chosen date and time, though you can pay an extra fee for cancellation insurance if you would prefer.

Important Ticket Information

• You have to book a time slot, which lasts a strict two hours. 
• A maximum of 180 people can enter during each time slot; booking in advance is essential.
• The gallery is closed on Mondays.
• Temporary exhibitions may increase the entrance price.
• There is an additional reservation fee of €2 when booking to visit the museum.

Discounted 

The same rules for the full-price ticket apply to the discounted rate ticket, but this lower price is available to people between the ages of 18-25. Must be EU citizens, but includes non-EU countries with terms of reciprocity.

Roma Pass

The Borghese Gallery is one of the attractions listed in the Roma Pass, which covers transport, entrance to one or two attractions, and reduced ticket prices for others. You can choose either a 48-hour or 72-hour pass – the first includes entrance to one of the major tourist attractions in Rome, while the latter includes two.

Additional Ticket Information

• You are given a physical card, which you will need to show at the ticket office for validation.
• The Roma Pass is valid for either two or three days and expires at 11:59 p.m. on either the second or third day (depending on your pass length).
• The pass is activated as soon as you use it – this can be at either an attraction or on public transport. This doesn’t change the expiry time, so it is more cost-effective to activate your Roma Pass in the morning.
• For your free ticket, head to the entrance of the attraction, not the ticket office.

Tips

For Galleria Borghese, we recommend booking tickets in advance. Due to the pieces of art available at the gallery, not only tourists but also locals are eager to go. Book your tickets online in advance.

I highly recommend booking the guided tour, making the investment, and having a guided walk through the museum. The experience is much more enhanced and worth the price.

The experience is not as rewarding without a guide. I have gone with and without a guide, and I would even redo the guided tour. There are also audio guides.

There is no specific dress code, but visitors are asked to dress appropriately for the museum’s atmosphere.

As for the best time of day to visit the attraction, the mornings might be better, but each time slot has a maximum limit of visitors, so none of the exhibits are too full.

The Galleria Borghese staff will guide you throughout the rooms, making sure there are only a limited number of people in each one. Don’t worry. Their system assures that everyone will get to visit every room.

What to See and Do

Villa Borghese Gardens

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Escape into the beautiful landscape gardens of Villa Borghese, and discover a peaceful oasis right in the center of Rome. There are a number of Classical-style sculptures and monuments dotted around the lovely gardens, which only enhance the beauty of the predominantly 19th-century English landscape garden. 

Water Clock

The charming and innovative 19th-century water clock is a popular attraction with visitors. Its unusual design and unique location within the park give the water clock an almost storybook quality.

Temple of Asclepius

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Despite appearances, this temple is a relatively recent addition to Villa Borghese, built in 1786. It’s one of the most stunning attractions in the park – the view of the temple sitting overlooking the center of the lake is undeniably lovely.

Bike Riding

Take a stroll through the park or even the city with quadricycles or even a regular bike. Available at a low cost,  and perfect to get around without getting too tired. There are a few stands around the park. If you plan on doing this, bring a picture ID.

Villa Borghese Pond

You can rent a small boat for a little ride among ducks. Rides stop after sunset, which is also the best time to visit. Also, if you were wondering, dogs can also ride on small boats. This is a must in my opinion, children love it, and it gives everyone a chance to relax.

Pincio Terrace

The Pincio is a beautiful ‘terrace’ located within the park, offering stunning views of the city. This terrace is a popular spot for tourists. The Pincio is located at the highest point of the park and features a large fountain and several statues, as well as a small, beautiful garden.

Visitors can take a leisurely stroll along the terrace. Most people come here at around seven, right in time for sunset, and there are a few food trucks that sell small snacks, beverages, and a few other things. The Pincio is a must-visit spot for anyone visiting Villa Borghese.

Villa Medici

Villa Medici is a stunning Renaissance villa located within Villa Borghese, offering visitors a glimpse into the history and culture of Italy. You can take a guided tour of the villa or explore on your own, and there are also several exhibitions that change throughout the years.

Each year the villa selects a group of artists who can use all of the villa’s facilities and have a year to work on a project that will later be exhibited throughout the gallery.

 View from the gardens of Villa Medici, with St. Peter’s Basilica in the background. 

Bioparco

A zoo located within Villa Borghese, home to a variety of animals from all over the world. Visitors can wander around and explore the grounds. Unlike other zoos, Bioparco tries to make a comfortable environment for the animals. They have large spaces and few limits. Visitors are observers and guests in the animal’s habitat.

Galleria Borghese

An amazing attraction inside Villa Borghese. Home to an impressive collection of art and sculptures, including works by Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian. Visitors can take a tour of the museum’s various rooms, which are divided by artist and period.

This is a must when in Rome.

Visits last two hours, except for the last time slot, which lasts an hour and 15 minutes. This gives you enough time to visit the gallery calmly and explore every piece of art. You will not have the time to analyze every piece of art, but any piece in the gallery is worth your while.

From sculptures, mosaics, and paintings, there is so much to see that you are bound to want to go back. The must-sees at the museum include Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne sculpture, Caravaggio’s David with the Head of Goliath painting, and Raphael’s Entombment of Christ painting. The museum also houses a collection of ancient Roman sculptures, including the iconic Sleeping Hermaphrodite.

Facilities

Feel free to bring any personal belongings with you to the museum; just keep in mind that backpacks, large bags, and any other large objects and food are not allowed and will be stored in the museum storage area, which is free of charge. Small purses and fanny packs can be brought into the museum.

Galleria Borghese has a small café that offers a selection of snacks and drinks. There is also a gift shop where you can purchase classic souvenirs. They have an amazing selection of art books and replicas.

If you love taking pictures, rest assured that cameras are allowed in the gallery. As in most museums, you cannot take pictures with flash, and videos are frowned upon.

Surroundings

After visiting Galleria Borghese, visitors can explore the vast Villa Borghese Park, which is home to beautiful gardens, fountains, and sculptures. There are also several other cultural attractions located within or around the park.

Other Attractions

• Puppet Theater – a fun show perfect for children.
• Globe Theater – a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe.
• Casa del Cinema – vintage cinema.
• Carlo Bilotti Museum – free museum inside Villa Borghese’s Orangery.
• Casina di Raffaello – a children’s play area housed in a charming old building.
• Pietro Canonica Museum – a free art gallery focused on sculptures.

Did you know that: 7 Interesting Facts 

1. While today, the Villa Borghese is considered to be located at the very heart of Rome, it was once an area covered with vineyards.
2. Villa Borghese covers a total land area of 80 hectares, making it one of the largest parks in all of Rome.
3. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Cardinal Scipione Borghese was the owner of Galleria Borghese; his uncle was a pope. There were no boundaries he wouldn’t cross to get what he wanted. 
4. In the gallery, you can see a sculpture of Paolina Borghese Bonaparte. This was forbidden to be seen, as she appeared naked and ‘vulgar’. Tour guides at the museum would accept cash tips to allow tourists to see the sculpture behind closed doors.
5. Some of the pieces of art have Roman numerals or Arabic writing. This was to help guide museum visitors in the early 20th century.
6. Bioparco was one of the first zoological gardens to be established with entertaining the general public in mind.
7. The grounds are home to several buildings that all have wildly different purposes: there are museums, a puppet theater, a cinema, and even a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.

History

• 1580. The Borghese family acquires the lands that will later become Villa Borghese.
• 1605. Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V, began to bring his ambition to create the largest gardens in Rome since antiquity to life.
• 1613. The garden villa, now known for hosting the Borghese Gallery, is built to hold Cardinal Scipione Borghese’s vast art collection.
• 1800s. The gardens are redesigned into an English landscaped garden, a popular style in the 19th century.
• 1903. Villa Borghese was bought by the Italian State and formally opened to the public.
• 1911. The zoological garden, now known as Bioparco, is opened.
• 2003. A replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater is constructed.

FAQs

Is Villa Borghese worth visiting?

The Borghese Gallery and gardens are certainly worth visiting. You can explore the world-class gallery and enjoy the spectacular landscape gardens, one of the largest parks in Rome, plus many other attractions.

How much time do you need at Villa Borghese?

On average, people spend around 2 hours at Villa, but there are so many things to do here that you may wish to spend half or even a full day here. If you want to visit multiple attractions, then 4-5 hours or repeat visits are recommended.

Is Villa Borghese open at night?

The Villa Borghese Park is open every day from dusk to dawn.