no alt text

Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 19 January, 2023
Expert travel writer: Rebecca Winke

Galleria Borghese, in the lovely surroundings of the landscaped Villa Borghese gardens, houses the magnificent art collection of the extraordinarily wealthy, art-mad Borghese family – one of whom married Napoleon’s favourite sister, Paolina.

Described as the finest non-royal private art collection in the world, it houses treasures such as Antonella da Messina’s Portrait of a Man, Correggio’s Danae, Antonio Canova’s sculpture of Paolina Borghese, Bernini’s astonishingly depiction of flesh in The Rape of Proserpina, and Titian’s Sacred and Profane Love.

While you’re there

A theatrical masterpiece, the Spanish Steps were designed by Francesco de Sanctis in 1725 and paid for by the French. At the top is Villa Borghese; at the bottom lie the boat-shaped Fontana della Barcaccia (designed by Bernini’s dad).

Price from: £11
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The nearest metro is Piazza di Spagna; the route is signposted through the gardens. Admission is strictly limited to 360 people every two hours. It means you have to book ahead and don’t have endless time to ponder the masterpieces, but it reduces overcrowding (and queues) so you can enjoy the art without jostling for position.

The gallery offers guided tours in English on Saturday and Sunday (booking is required). Alternatively, a number of operators offer third-party tours. Audio guides are available in Italian, English, French, Spanish and German.

When to do it

The gallery is open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Monday.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Villa Borghese Bike Tour in Rome

Rome

Villa Borghese Bike Tour in Rome
Unforgettable guided bike tour in Villa Borghese, Rome's most important monumental Villa (complex of gardens), house of the superb art collection of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V and patron of painter Caravaggio and architect and sculptor Bernini.

Price: €39

Rating 4.58 / 5 [17 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Villa Borghese and City Centre by Segway

Rome

Villa Borghese and City Centre by Segway
Discover Rome in a different, eco-friendly and enjoyable way!  Explore the wonders of Rome on a Segway, accompanied by an experienced, professional, private tour guide. Discover the magnificent ancient monuments of the third largest park in Rome Visit the City Centre on a speedy, convenient and eco-friendly means of transport. These are the advantages of taking a segway tour: • Move around the city quickly and conveniently • See the famous sights of the Eternal City from a new perspective • Explore the city with zero environmental impact –Segway is a totally eco-friendly vehicle! • Discover parts of the city that you won’t see on an ordinary tour itinerary • Reliable, fully-trained, expert guides to show you all the secrets of RomeChoose from a wide range of tour options, which vary in terms of itinerary and duration.

Price: €52

Rating 4.98 / 5 [144 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Villa Borghese Gallery & Gardens Small-Group Tour with Skip-the-Line

Rome

Villa Borghese Gallery & Gardens Small-Group Tour with Skip-the-Line
Appreciate art like a collector with a visit to the Borghese Gallery and Gardens. Carefully controlled entry means that unlike the nearby Vatican Museums, this collection of masterpieces is never crowded. The gallery includes pieces by Raphael and Bernini, and the tour includes the Borghese Gardens: a peaceful oasis amid the chaos of the capital.

Price: €54

Rating 4.57 / 5 [1649 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Small Group Gallery Borghese Tour with Skip-the-Line Admission

Rome

Small Group Gallery Borghese Tour with Skip-the-Line Admission
Enjoy the Borghese Gallery and Villa Borghese Gardens in Rome with skip-the-line admission and a guided walking tour limited to 15 people. This popular attraction often sells out in advance, so by pre-booking a ticket, visit one of the world’s most beautiful art museums hosting the works of extraordinary artists. Admire Caravaggio’s most important paintings, among which “Young sick Bacchus” and “Boy with a Basket of Fruit”; Bernini and Canova’s magnificent sculptures’ collection, boasting works like “Apollo and Daphne”, “David”, “The Rape of Preserpina” and “Paolina Bonaparte”. Of course the tour won’t miss out on Raffaello’s “Entombment of Christ”. The guide will lead the tour through the marvelous rooms of Casina Borghese, with its splendid frescoes, disclose the secrets, the stories and the painting techniques concealed behind the masterpieces of one of the world’s most beautiful art museum. Villa Borghese gardens and gallery, you cannot miss it when you visit Rome.

Price: €79

Rating 4.78 / 5 [465 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Small-Group Borghese Gallery Tour with Bernini, Caravaggio, and Raphael

Rome

Small-Group Borghese Gallery Tour with Bernini, Caravaggio, and Raphael
This 2.5 hour tour of the Villa Borghese as it is an art museum in a league of its own. Instead of trying to be encyclopedic, like the Louvre, this 17th century palace is filled with a distilled collection of the best. If you want to avoid the crows and see great art, the way it was meant to be seen, this tour is the perfect experience for you. In the 2.5 hours, you will wander the villa’s 20 room and marvel and peerless masterpieces in each one.

Price: €79

Rating 4.68 / 5 [102 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Borghese Gallery Small-Group Tour - Baroque & Renaissance in Rome

Rome

Borghese Gallery Small-Group Tour - Baroque & Renaissance in Rome
Explore the magnificent Borghese Gallery and Gardens on  this small-group (maximum of 6) tour. Visit the Villa Borghese Pinciana, home to the Borghese Gallery and its collection of  masterpieces by such artists as Bernini, Caravaggio, Canova, and Raphael. Your expert guide will provide you with interesting facts, secret stories, and anecdotes. Hear about the artists, their patrons, and their artwork. Stroll through the Borghese Gardens (self-guided) with is lush landscape and beautiful fountains following the museum.

Price: €119

Rating 4.93 / 5 [44 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Borghese Gallery Premium Semi-Private Tour

Rome

Borghese Gallery Premium Semi-Private Tour
Our selected Art Historians will give you a chance to better appreciate the artwork and major masterpieces in this unique and most wonderful collection. You will learn about the people involved, who they were, and how they achieved such beauty. We guarantee you will love the presentation and enjoy your visit fully.

Price: €199

Rating 4.46 / 5 [98 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Borghese Gallery Rome: PRIVATE Tour With Locals

Rome

Borghese Gallery Rome: PRIVATE Tour With Locals
No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the Borghese Gallery. But what's the best way to enjoy this attraction to the max? Leave it to a local guide! Enjoy the Borghese Gallery hassle-free with this private skip-the-line tour. Step into this world-famous attraction, and check out the salon of Mariano Rossi and Villa Borghese gardens. Forget about audio guides and big guided groups; inside the Borghese Gallery it's you and your local guide, so ask away! After your time with your local guide is over, keep exploring at your own pace or leave to enjoy Rome with recommendations provided by your private guide. Withlocals Skip the Line Private Tour™ is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local products and preventing over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard tourist routes.

Price: €217

Rating 4.36 / 5 [25 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Borghese Gallery & Caravaggio in S.ta Maria in Popolo, Baroque Rome Private Tour

Rome

Borghese Gallery & Caravaggio in S.ta Maria in Popolo, Baroque Rome Private Tour
The Borghese Gallery has the most impressive collection of art in Rome. The greatest masters: Bernini, Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio are here. With the help of your guide you will understand the secrets of Bernini’s sculpture, who worked marble to the point of transparency; understand the symbolism of Titian’s art; the amazing novelty of Raphael’s compositions and the tragic events of Caravaggio’s life reflected in his works. An art historian knowledgable with the villa’s history and art content which dates back to 16C. Cardinal Scipione Borghese, will explain its greatness. Admire several statues by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, including Apollo and Daphne, David and Proserpine, a Canova sculpture of Pauline Bonaparte, Caravaggio, Titian, and Raphael before leaving the gallery to walk down to Piazza del Popolo. Head inside Santa Maria del Popolo to see 2 of Caravaggio’s famous works, the Crucifixion of St Peter and Conversion on the Way to Damascus. Enjoy this amazing tour.

Price: €279

Rating 4.86 / 5 [68 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Rome

Lazio, Italy

Rome

The Eternal City – 2,000 extraordinary years of glory, greatness and triumph – and decadence, murder and destruction – evidenced by some of the world’s most iconic, must-see monuments and museums.