The Ultimate Travel Guide to Help You Visit Borghese Gallery in Rome
Borghese Gallery in Rome is one of the most beloved art museums in the world. Housed in the Villa Borghese in the heart of the Italian capital, Borghese Gallery is known for its collection of Baroque paintings, sculptures, and mosaics. Visitors can explore the works of master artists like Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, Bernini, and Rubens, to name a few. Stay on this page to plan your visit to Borghese Gallery.
Borghese Gallery Opening Hours
Borghese Gallery is open between Tuesday and Sunday from 9 AM to 7 PM.
Last Admission: 5:45 PM
Closed: Monday, 25 December, 1 January
Know MoreBest Time to Visit Borghese Gallery
Weekday vs Weekend: Visit Borghese Gallery on weekdays to avoid the tourist rush. The entry is restricted by time slots. You need to complete your visit in 2 hours and leave the gallery after your time slot. Avoid booking the 11 AM slot as it's the most popular time slot.
Peak Season vs Low Season: The best time to visit Rome is between April and June, in the spring season. The average spring temperature is around 16 degrees Celsius. Avoid packed summer months starting in June and stretching to September. Another good time to visit is in October, during the transition to winter. The transition period is ideal as the city will be less crowded.
Know MoreWhere is the Borghese Gallery?
Address: Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5, 00197 Roma RM | Find on maps
Borghese Gallery is located inside the beautiful Villa Borghese, in the center of Rome. It is one of the most popular art museums in the city, housing world-renowned paintings and sculptures.
Closest Landmark: Villa Borghese Garden
Getting to Borghese GalleryHow to Get to Borghese Gallery?
By Public Transport
By Metro: Travel on Metro Line A and alight at stop Spagna or Flaminio. Enter through Villa Borghese Gardens and follow signposts to the gallery. The gallery is about 11 minutes away from here.
By Taxi: The minimum fare for a local taxi is €3 during the day, €6.50 at night, and €4.50 on public holidays. The additional fare per kilometer varies from €1.10 to €1.60. It's safe to hail cabs from taxi stations at airports, railway stations, or from your hotel.
By Bus: Traveling by bus is the most convenient way to reach Villa Borghese. Ten different bus routes pass the Villa. Catch a bus plying on routes 61, 117, 119, 120, 150, 160, 490, 495, 590, 628, and C3. Alight at Pinciana/Museo Borghese stop. The museum is within a 5-minute walking distance from here.
Know MoreBy Car
Alternatively, you can drive to the Borghese Gallery, however, you'll have to park at a nearby paid parking facility.
- Parcheggio Saba Villa Borghese (3 minutes away by foot)
- Pinciano Parking (5 minutes away by foot)
- Via Sardegna, 38 B Parcheggio (9 minutes away by foot)
- Parcheggio Ludovisi (10 minutes away by foot)
Know Before You Go
- Bookshop: Visitors can purchase guide books, souvenirs, literature, etc.
- Cloakroom: Visitors can keep their items such as backpacks and umbrellas in the lockers.
- Restroom: Restrooms are present inside the Borghese Gallery.
- Cafe: There is a small cafe at the basement of the gallery near the reception area.
Borghese Gallery is accessible by wheelchair. The entrance is located at the back of the building. Be sure to contact a member of staff to help you enter.
Wheelchairs are also available for hire at the gallery.
You can most definitely visit the Borghese Gallery with your children.
Baby-changing facilities are available inside the gallery.
- Large bags are not allowed inside the gallery.
- Food and drinks are not allowed in the gallery.
- Photography is permitted, but please avoid using flash and tripods.
- Face masks in public areas are mandatory.
- Social distancing measures are enforced at all times.
- Mandatory temperature checks will take place for all visitors at the entrance.
- Hand sanitizers are provided at the entrance.
There is a small cafe at the basement of the Borghese Gallery, near the reception area. You will find a range of pastries, refreshments, and other snack items at the cafe.
What's Inside Borghese Gallery?
Borghese Gallery houses an impeccable collection of paintings and sculptures. Here are a few that you can look out for on your visit.
Boy with a Basket of Fruit
Find the stunning oil canvas, Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio in Room VIII at the Borghese Gallery. The painting was completed in 1593 when Caravaggio was just 22 years old. Boy with a Basket of Fruit is an example of the use of light and Baroque style.
David
Gian Lorenzo Bernini's 1624 life-size depiction of the biblical figure David is hands down one of the most spectacular marble sculptures ever. Commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese and completed in just seven months, the moment immortalized David preparing to throw a stone at Goliath.
The Deposition
Raphael painted this stunning oil painting in 1507 as a central altarpiece for Atalanta Baglioni of Perugia. The artwork measures 179x174 cm and is on a wood panel. The subject of the work is the deposition of Christ and was inspired by Pieta, a painting by Pietro Perugino.
Apollo and Daphne
Gian Lorenzo Bernini created this masterpiece for Cardinal Scipione Borghese between 1622 to 1625. The theme of the sculpture is from the literature of Metamorphosis by Ovid; Apollo, struck by Cupid's arrow, falls in love with the nymph Daphne. He ruthlessly pursues her. Daphne then turns into a tree to avoid being captured. Bernini's student Giuliano Finelli also contributed to this sculpture.
Visitor Tips
- Most people start the tour from the ground floor, but you can avoid the rush by starting from the first floor straightaway.
- Arrive early to leave your baggage in the locker room.
- You can enrich your visit with an audio guide available in five languages.
- On Thursdays, Borghese Gallery is open till 9 PM. If you wish to explore the artworks without the rush of tourists, book a slot on Thursdays.
Borghese Gallery Tickets & Tours
Combo (Save 4%): Vatican Museums + Borghese Gallery Tickets
Combo (Save 5%): Colosseum + Borghese Gallery Tickets
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Borghese Gallery
A. Borghese Gallery is housed in the Villa Borghese in the heart of Italy's capital city, Rome.
A. Yes, Borghese Gallery is open to the public.
A. Borghese Gallery hosts a collection of fascinating renaissance paintings and sculptures by masters such as Bernini, Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian, and more.
A. No. You need to buy a ticket to visit Borghese Gallery. Sometimes Borghese Gallery allows free visits, but you still need to book a slot and pay a reservation fee.
A. Borghese Gallery tickets are available online. Visitors need to book time slots to ensure entry.
A. Borghese Gallery tickets start from €21.
A. Visit Borghese Gallery on a weekday in the morning hours to avoid a rush.
A. Borghese Gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 9 AM and 7 PM.
A. Yes, you can book Borghese Gallery group tickets online.
A. Yes, Borghese Gallery is a family-friendly tourist attraction.
A. Yes, visitors with reduced mobility can rent wheelchairs.
A. Yes, Borghese Gallery has a small cafe in the basement where you can purchase snacks and drinks.
A. Borghese Gallery tickets come with a mandatory 2-hour time slot. Visitors need to complete the tour in the stipulated time to allow the next batch of tourists.
A. Borghese Gallery is absolutely worth the visit. The collections showcase the best of Italian renaissance art.