How to Visit the Borghese Gallery and Gardens in One Morning

If you only have one morning in Rome to enjoy art, elegance, and a touch of nature — the Borghese Gallery and Gardens is your perfect escape. Tucked inside Rome’s most beautiful park, this former villa holds one of the greatest art collections in Europe, including masterpieces by Caravaggio, Bernini, and Raphael.

This guide walks you through exactly how to visit the Borghese Gallery and Gardens in just a few hours — from booking your timed ticket to enjoying a relaxing walk after the museum.

🎟️ Step 1: Booking Your Timed Entry Ticket

The Borghese Gallery requires reservations — no walk-ins allowed.

• Tickets are sold in 2-hour time slots, starting at:
  • 9:00 AM
  • 11:00 AM
  • 1:00 PM
  • 3:00 PM
  • 5:00 PM

🛑 Only 360 visitors are allowed per slot, so book early — especially in peak months.

🎟️ Where to Book:

• Official site (a bit clunky)
• Easier option: Reserve a skip-the-line guided tour here →

💶 Cost:

• €13 general admission + €2 reservation fee
• Extra for guided tours or combo tickets

🖼️ Step 2: What to See Inside the Borghese Gallery

Once inside, you’ll follow a structured route through two floors packed with masterpieces. Here are the top highlights not to miss:

Ground Floor (Sculpture + Frescoes)

• Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne
  A swirling, near-impossible sculpture capturing a myth in motion
• Bernini’s The Rape of Proserpina
  Dramatic, emotional, and technically brilliant
• Canova’s Pauline Bonaparte
  Reclining in marble perfection

Upper Floor (Painting Collection)

• Caravaggio’s Boy with a Basket of Fruit, David with the Head of Goliath
  Raw, moody, unforgettable
• Raphael’s The Deposition
  A Renaissance masterpiece of composition and color
• Titian’s Sacred and Profane Love
  Still debated and still mesmerizing

🕒 Tip: Spend the full 2 hours — you’ll need it. No re-entry is allowed.

👉 Want expert commentary? Join a small-group guided tour →

🌳 Step 3: Explore the Borghese Gardens Afterward

After your museum visit, head straight outside to Villa Borghese Gardens, one of the most peaceful green spaces in Rome.

What to Do in the Gardens:

• Walk to the Pincian Terrace for panoramic views over Piazza del Popolo
• Rent a bike or e-scooter for a loop around the park
• Visit the Temple of Aesculapius by the lake (rowboat rentals available!)
• Stop for a cappuccino at Caffè del Pincio or a picnic on the grass

🌞 Best Time: Before noon, while the sun is still soft and crowds are minimal.

👉 Book a combo ticket with gallery entry + park tour or bike rental →

📍 How to Get There

• By Metro: Line A to Spagna, then a 10-minute uphill walk through the park
• By Bus: Several lines stop at Via Pinciana or Via Veneto
• By Taxi: Ask for “Ingresso Galleria Borghese”

🧳 What to Bring

• Your printed or digital ticket (they check carefully)
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water bottle
• Light jacket (gallery is air-conditioned)
• Camera (photos allowed without flash)

🎁 Free Borghese Morning Itinerary PDF

Want a downloadable plan for your Borghese morning, including art highlights and a walking path through the gardens?

👉 Download Your Free Borghese Gallery & Gardens PDF Guide →