Rome / Attractions guide / Galleria Borghese
Art
Galleria Borghese
A small, perfectly proportioned collection that punches far above its size — and the hardest booking in Rome.
- Price
- €18 total (€16 + €2 booking fee)
- Hours
- Tue–Sun, five slots 9am–5pm · closed Mondays
- Avg. visit
- 2 hours, fixed
- Book ahead
- Essential — weeks in advance
The gallery occupies Cardinal Scipione Borghese's early-17th-century villa, built as a pleasure pavilion for entertaining rather than as a residence. Borghese was one of Bernini's first great patrons, and the sculptures he commissioned as a young man — made when Bernini was barely out of his teens — remain the core reason to visit.
Apollo and Daphne captures the exact instant of Daphne's transformation into a laurel tree, bark visibly closing over her fingers; nearby, David twists mid-throw with his whole body rather than posing at rest. The painting collection is smaller but equally sharp: six works by Caravaggio, including a self-portrait as a sickly Bacchus, alongside Titian's Sacred and Profane Love and works by Raphael.
Inside
What to see
- Bernini's Apollo and Daphne and David
- Bernini's Rape of Proserpina, in the room immediately after
- Six paintings by Caravaggio, including Boy with a Basket of Fruit and David with the Head of Goliath
- Titian's Sacred and Profane Love
Practical
Good to know
- Entry is by compulsory timed slot with a hard two-hour limit — visitors are asked to leave when the slot ends.
- Bags above a small size must go into free lockers at the entrance.
- The villa sits inside the wider Villa Borghese park, worth a walk before or after your slot.
Timing
When it's busiest
- 9am slot
- Calm
- 11am–1pm slots
- At capacity
- 3pm slot
- Moderate
- 5pm slot
- Best light
Nearby
Combine your visit
20-minute walk downhill
Trevi Fountain
Walk down through the gardens and past the Spanish Steps after your slot ends.
Visit →
25-minute walk
The Pantheon
A bit further, but walkable if you're heading into the old centre afterward.
Visit →
Better by taxi, ~20 minutes
Trastevere
On the opposite side of the centre — save it for dinner rather than walking there directly.
Visit →
FAQ
Common questions
What happens if I'm late to my slot?
You lose that time rather than gaining an extension — every visit ends when the two-hour slot does, regardless of arrival time. Build in a buffer, especially if you're walking from elsewhere in the park.
Is the Roma Pass accepted here?
Yes, but a timed-slot reservation is still mandatory even with the pass — book your slot on the official site just as paid visitors do.
Do I need to book the audio guide separately?
Usually yes, unless it's bundled into a third-party ticket. The official audio guide is inexpensive and available in several languages at the entrance.
Can I leave and come back during my slot?
No — re-entry isn't part of the standard ticket. Plan to stay for the full two hours once you're inside, since there's no on-site ticket office for walk-up sales either.