The Villa Borghese Gardens are Rome's best-known city park, a large spread of lawns, pine avenues, fountains and small museums on the hill just above the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo. Entry to the Villa Borghese gardens is free, they are open every day, and they make the easiest escape from the heat and crowds of the historic centre. Many visitors come for the Galleria Borghese and stay for a long walk, a rowing boat on the lake and the sunset view from the Pincio.
Why visit the Villa Borghese Gardens
The park began as the private estate of Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the early 1600s, laid out around his villa and art collection. It became a public park around the start of the twentieth century and today mixes formal gardens with wilder, shaded areas. It is big enough that you can spend a whole afternoon here, and it joins up with the older Pincio gardens on its western edge.
The appeal is variety. In one visit you can see one of the finest small art collections in the world, sit by an ornamental lake, watch Romans jogging and picnicking, and finish with one of the classic views over the rooftops and domes of the city.
Getting to the Villa Borghese Gardens by metro
The nearest station is Spagna on Metro Line A. From the station you can climb the Spanish Steps to Trinità dei Monti and follow Viale della Trinità dei Monti along to the Pincio, or follow the signs inside the station toward Villa Borghese, which bring you up nearer the park's southern side. Either way, expect some uphill walking.
Flaminio, one stop further along Line A, is the other good option. Walk through the Porta del Popolo into Piazza del Popolo, then take the ramps and steps on the east side of the square up to the Pincio terrace. This is the most scenic way in.
The park is large, and the Galleria Borghese sits on its eastern side, a good 15 to 25 minutes' walk from either station depending on your route. Trams and buses run along the northern and eastern edges if you would rather not walk the whole way.
Tickets and opening times
The gardens themselves are free and have no gates to pass through on most entrances. Paths are open from early morning, and you only need tickets for the attractions inside the park.
The most important of these is the Galleria Borghese, which only admits visitors in timed slots with a limited number of people per slot. Booking ahead is essentially required, often several days or weeks ahead in busy months. Book through the official Galleria Borghese website (galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it) and check the current rules on bags, which have to be left in the cloakroom. The zoo (Bioparco), the modern art gallery and the Etruscan museum at Villa Giulia each charge their own entry.
Highlights of the Villa Borghese Gardens
Galleria Borghese
The cardinal's villa now holds his collection, including Bernini sculptures such as Apollo and Daphne and The Rape of Proserpina, Canova's reclining Paolina Borghese, and paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian. Visits are time-limited, so go straight to the rooms you care about most.
The Pincio terrace
The terrace on the park's western edge looks straight down over Piazza del Popolo, with St Peter's dome on the skyline. It is the classic sunset spot, so arrive a little early in good weather.
The lake and the Temple of Aesculapius
The small ornamental lake, the Laghetto, has a little Greek-style temple on an island and rowing boats for hire in the warmer months. It is one of the most photographed corners of the park.
Bikes, pedal carts and the shaded avenues
Rental stands near the main paths offer bikes and four-wheeled pedal carts, which suit families who want to cover more ground. On a hot day the avenues of umbrella pines and plane trees are noticeably cooler than the streets below.
Museums and the theatre
Beyond the Galleria Borghese, the park holds the national gallery of modern art, the Etruscan collection at Villa Giulia just outside the northern edge, the Bioparco zoo, and a wooden replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre that stages plays in summer.
Best time to visit and how long to stay
Mornings are the quietest time for a walk, and late afternoon brings the best light at the Pincio. Weekends are lively with local families. In July and August, come early or late and keep to the shaded paths in the middle of the day.
Allow at least two hours for a walk around the main sights. With a Galleria Borghese slot, which runs to about two hours, plan on half a day. Bring water; there are drinking fountains around the park, and a few kiosks and cafés, but they can be spread out.
Nearby on the same stop
Spagna puts you at the foot of the Spanish Steps, with the shopping streets of Via Condotti and Via del Corso a few minutes away and the Trevi Fountain a short walk south. From Flaminio, Piazza del Popolo and its twin churches are right at the park entrance, and Via del Corso runs straight from the square toward the centre.
To see what else is near the station, open the Villa Borghese Gardens page on Around the Metro, or browse more ideas on our Rome metro guide.