must-visit in RomeMuseum

Villa Borghese

📍 Galleria Borghese, 5, Piazzale Scipione Borghese, Pinciano, Municipio Roma II, Roma, Roma Capitale, Lazio, 00197, Italia

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4.7/ 5.0

★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location: Italy, Rome
Category: Museum
Duration: 2 hours for the gallery, half a day for the park
Opening Hours: Daily 09:00-19:00 · Park: daily from dawn to dusk, free. Galleria Borghese: Tue-Sun 09:00-19:00, last entry 16:45, closed Mondays
Ticket Price: Adult: Free · Park is free. Galleria Borghese: timed entry only, EUR 16 plus EUR 2 booking fee; under-18s free but still need a booking. 360 visitors per slot, 2-hour limit.
Address: Galleria Borghese, 5, Piazzale Scipione Borghese, Pinciano, Municipio Roma II, Roma, Roma Capitale, Lazio, 00197, Italia
Coordinates: 41.9141, 12.4921

Introduction

Villa Borghese lies on the Pincian Hill just north of Rome's historic centre and is the city's third-largest public green space, covering about 80 hectares. It began as the estate and gardens of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, laid out from 1608, and was bought by the Italian state and opened to the public in 1903. At its heart stands the villa of the same name, now the Galleria Borghese, which holds Bernini's Apollo and Daphne, The Rape of Proserpina and David, together with the world's largest collection of Caravaggio paintings. The gallery has just 20 rooms, admits 360 visitors per two-hour slot, and must be booked in advance - peak slots often sell out weeks ahead. The park itself is free: it holds the Pincio Terrace, Rome's finest sunset viewpoint, rowboats on the lake, the Bioparco zoo and seven other museums, and you can get around by rental bike or the little park train.

✨ Highlights

Bernini masterpieces

Holds Bernini's marble Apollo and Daphne, The Rape of Proserpina and David, among the densest concentrations of Baroque sculpture anywhere.

Most Caravaggios

Six Caravaggio paintings - the largest number in any single collection - including Boy with a Basket of Fruit and David with the Head of Goliath.

Booking essential

Just 20 rooms, 360 visitors per two-hour slot and a two-hour entry limit; book weeks ahead on the official site, as no tickets are sold at the door.

Pincio sunset

The Pincio Terrace, laid out by Valadier in 1834, looks over the rooftops of Piazza del Popolo - Rome's finest sunset viewpoint.

Eighty hectares

English-style gardens with a lake, fountains and temples; explore by rental bike, rowboat or the little park train. Park entry is free.

Eight museums

Besides the Galleria Borghese the park holds the Bioparco zoo, the National Gallery of Modern Art and six more museums.

🛈 Practical Info

→What is open：Office floors are not accessible; visitors can enjoy the full-height lobby, the exterior of the Stephen Sondheim Theatre and the Urban Garden Room. For skyline views, look for a separate observation deck.

→Urban Garden Room：The Urban Garden Room at 43rd Street is a privately-owned public space, free to enter with a New York City park pass, and is a quiet spot in the middle of the city.

→Pincio sunset：The Pincio Terrace, laid out by Valadier in 1834, looks over Piazza del Popolo - the finest sunset view in Rome. The lake and umbrella pines are better earlier in the day.

→Worth it?：Worth it, but separate the two halves: the gallery is a world-class collection that must be booked, while the park is free and always open. If you came for Bernini and Caravaggio, book early. If you only want a walk, the park is enough on its own.

→Watch out：The biggest trap is queuing without a booking - there are no door tickets, and peak slots sell out weeks ahead, with admission capped at 360 people per two-hour slot. Note there is no cafe inside, flash is prohibited, and large bags must be left in storage.

→Transportation：Metro Line A to Spagna or Flaminio, then 15-20 min walk through Villa Borghese park; buses 52/63/83/92/116/910 to Piazzale Borghese; taxi to Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Tuesday	09:00-19:00
Wednesday	09:00-19:00
Thursday	09:00-19:00
Friday	09:00-19:00
Saturday	09:00-19:00
Sunday	09:00-19:00

Park: daily from dawn to dusk, free. Galleria Borghese: Tue-Sun 09:00-19:00, last entry 16:45, closed Mondays

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	Free

Park is free. Galleria Borghese: timed entry only, EUR 16 plus EUR 2 booking fee; under-18s free but still need a booking. 360 visitors per slot, 2-hour limit.

💡 Tips

• Book the Galleria Borghese as soon as your travel dates are fixed - peak slots sell out weeks ahead and no tickets are sold at the door.

• The park itself is free, so even without a gallery booking it is one of Rome's best green spaces to wander.

• Do the lake and the park in the morning, then head up to the Pincio Terrace for sunset over the rooftops.

• Bernini's Apollo and Daphne and The Rape of Proserpina are on the ground floor; the Caravaggio paintings are upstairs.

• There is no cafe inside the gallery and flash photography is prohibited; large bags and tripods must be left in storage.

• The park is large and gently sloping - comfortable shoes help, and rental bikes are available.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Villa Borghese?

Tuesday: 09:00-19:00; Wednesday: 09:00-19:00; Thursday: 09:00-19:00; Friday: 09:00-19:00; Saturday: 09:00-19:00; Sunday: 09:00-19:00; Park: daily from dawn to dusk, free. Galleria Borghese: Tue-Sun 09:00-19:00, last entry 16:45, closed Mondays

How much is the admission for Villa Borghese?

Adult: Free; Park is free. Galleria Borghese: timed entry only, EUR 16 plus EUR 2 booking fee; under-18s free but still need a booking. 360 visitors per slot, 2-hour limit.

Any practical tips for visiting Villa Borghese?

Book the Galleria Borghese as soon as your travel dates are fixed - peak slots sell out weeks ahead and no tickets are sold at the door. The park itself is free, so even without a gallery booking it is one of Rome's best green spaces to wander.