The Villa Borghese is an early 17th-century Baroque estate, surrounded by the park of the same name in the northern part of central Rome. Inside, the villa houses the Galleria Borghese, with works by Bernini, Caravaggio, Titian, and Raphael, including Bernini's "Apollo and Daphne" and Caravaggio's "Boy with a Basket of Fruit." The park covers about 80 hectares and is one of the largest green spaces in the city, with tree-lined avenues, a lake, and the Pincio viewing terrace.
History of the Galleria Borghese
The Baroque-style Villa Borghese is closely tied to the Borghese family, one of the most influential noble families in 17th-century Rome.
Cardinal Scipione Borghese, a nephew of Pope Paul V, commissioned architect Flaminio Ponzio to build the villa as a summer residence in the early 17th century. After Ponzio’s death in 1613, his assistant Giovanni Vasanzio continued the project.
The villa served as an expression of Scipione Borghese’s status and as a setting for his extensive collection of antiquities, sculptures, and paintings, which he kept expanding throughout his life.
At the end of the 18th century, Prince Marcantonio IV Borghese had the park redesigned in the English landscape style by architects Antonio and Mario Asprucci. Artificial lakes, a new network of paths, and neoclassical buildings such as the Tempietto di Diana were added.
In 1807, Prince Camillo Borghese, married to Napoleon’s sister Pauline Bonaparte, was pressured into selling much of the family’s antiquities collection to Napoleon: 154 statues, 160 busts, 170 reliefs, and 30 columns went to Paris. They still form part of the core antiquities collection at the Louvre today.
In 1901, the Borghese family sold the entire estate to the Italian state. The Galleria Borghese officially opened to the public in 1903 and has shown part of the original collection, along with later acquisitions, ever since.
Opening Hours, Wait Times & Visit Slots
The Galleria Borghese is open daily except Mondays from 9:00 AM. It closes at 7:00 PM, with last entry at 5:45 PM. The museum is also closed on December 25 and January 1.
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
Wait times at the Galleria Borghese
Wait times are negligible, since no more than 180 people are allowed inside the Galleria Borghese at the same time. Every ticket sold comes with a fixed visit time, and ticket holders are admitted within a few minutes of their booked slot.
Entry time slots at the Galleria Borghese
Each ticket is valid for a fixed 2-hour window; the last slot, at 5:45 PM, is 75 minutes.
| 9:00 – 11:00 AM | 2:00 – 4:00 PM |
| 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 3:00 – 5:00 PM |
| 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | 4:00 – 6:00 PM |
| 12:00 – 2:00 PM | 5:00 – 7:00 PM |
| 1:00 – 3:00 PM | 5:45 – 7:00 PM |
Tickets & Prices
Admission to the Galleria Borghese costs €16.00 for adults, plus a mandatory €2.00 reservation fee, for a total of €18.00. The reservation is required for every ticket category, including free tickets. EU citizens between 18 and 25 pay €2.00 plus the €2.00 reservation fee. Teens and children under 18 get free admission, but the €2.00 reservation fee still applies. On the first Sunday of every month, admission is free for everyone, though the reservation with its fee is still required.
Keep in mind that your chances of getting a ticket on the same day at the door are slim. The reason: with a maximum of 180 people allowed inside at once, time slots fill up fast, especially on weekends and during high season.
| Adults (26+) | from €16.00 |
| EU citizens (18–25) | €2.00 |
| Teens & children (under 18) | Free |
| Last time slot (5:45 PM) | €11.00 |
| Reservation fee | €2.00 |
Where can you buy Galleria Borghese tickets?
Tickets are sold directly at the ticket counters on-site, though your chances of getting one for the same day are low. The safer option is to buy online in advance, which locks in your time slot on the day you want.
If you're picking up your ticket at the counter, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your time slot.
Buy tickets online
Direct booking, flexible cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit.
How do I get to Villa & Galleria Borghese?
Villa Borghese sits in the northern part of central Rome. If you're near the Spanish Steps or Piazza del Popolo, you can walk to the park.
By metro, take Line A to "Spagna" or "Flaminio – Piazza del Popolo"; from either stop, it's about a 15 to 20 minute walk through the park to the Galleria Borghese. Several bus lines stop at "Pinciana/Museo Borghese," right at the entrance.
For taxis or ride-hailing services like Uber, the best address to give is Piazzale del Museo Borghese, 00197 Rome. Parking around Villa Borghese is limited and paid, and the surrounding city center is very busy with traffic.
| Metro | A | Spagna / Flaminio |
| Bus | 52, 53, 63, 83, 92, 223, 360, 490, 910 | Pinciana / Museo Borghese |
Address: Piazzale del Museo Borghese, 00197 Rome, Italy
Special Exhibitions at the Galleria Borghese
Alongside its permanent collection, the Galleria Borghese regularly hosts temporary special exhibitions. Admission is included in the standard ticket, no separate booking required.
| Metamorphoses. Ovid and the Arts | June 23 – September 20, 2026 |
Highlights – What to See
Apollo and Daphne (Bernini)
Gian Lorenzo Bernini created this marble group between 1622 and 1625 for Cardinal Scipione Borghese. It captures the moment the nymph Daphne, fleeing Apollo, transforms into a laurel tree.
Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix (Canova)
Antonio Canova portrayed Napoleon's sister Pauline Borghese as a reclining Venus between 1805 and 1808. The marble sculpture is considered one of the masterworks of Neoclassicism in Rome.
Caravaggio Paintings
The Galleria Borghese holds several of Caravaggio's major works, including his early painting Boy with a Basket of Fruit and David with the Head of Goliath.
The Park and the Pincio Terrace
The roughly 80-hectare park around the villa spreads across tree-lined avenues and artificial lakes. From the Pincio terrace on the southwest edge, the view stretches over Rome's rooftops to St. Peter's Basilica.
Visitor Tips
Medium or large bags, backpacks, or luggage are not allowed inside the Galleria Borghese, for security reasons. Only small bags up to 21 x 15 cm are permitted; anything larger goes into the free cloakroom at the entrance.
Plan for 30 minutes before your booked time slot for ticket pickup and the cloakroom. Your time slot ends on the dot, and it can't be extended, even for an extra fee.
Photo Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a reservation is required for every ticket category, including free tickets. A €2.00 reservation fee applies on top of the admission price.
Each time slot lasts 2 hours, except for the last one at 5:45 PM, which is 75 minutes. You have to leave the museum once your time is up; extensions aren't possible.
No, medium and large bags, backpacks, and luggage aren't allowed for security reasons. Only small bags up to 21 × 15 cm are permitted; anything larger goes into the free cloakroom at the entrance.
Yes, admission is free for everyone on that day. The reservation and its €2.00 fee are still required, though, and tickets become available up to 10 days ahead.
Take Metro Line A to Spagna or Flaminio, then walk about 15 to 20 minutes through the park. The bus gets you closer, stopping directly at Pinciana/Museo Borghese.
