Do you need tickets for Villa Borghese?
Updated October 27, 2026
Quick answer
No. Villa Borghese is a free public park: you walk in through any open gate without a ticket. You need a ticket only for the Borghese Gallery and the other museums inside the park, and the gallery also needs a booked time slot.
The confusion comes from the name. Villa Borghese is the park; the Borghese Gallery is the museum in Cardinal Scipione Borghese's villa inside it, at Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5. The Italian state bought the villa in 1903 and opened the grounds as a public park, and the museum's own FAQ confirms the park has free access.
The park is free
Gardens, paths, the lake shore and the Pincio terrace cost nothing to enter. Some things inside the park charge separately, such as boat hire on the lake, bike hire and the museums. The Pincio terrace at the park's west edge looks down on Piazza del Popolo and is free too.
Only the gallery and the museums need tickets
The Borghese Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 7 pm, by booked two-hour slot only. The official ticket costs €18 including the €2 booking fee (about $20), and the slots often sell out, so book before you walk over. The other museums in or beside the park, such as the Museo Pietro Canonica, the National Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia and the National Gallery of Modern Art, have their own tickets. Start with the Borghese Gallery tickets page, or see things to do in Villa Borghese.
- Borghese Gallery — €18 official ticket incl. €2 fee (about $20), booking required
- Museo Pietro Canonica — €7.50 full price (Roma Pass list, 2026)
- National Etruscan Museum, Villa Giulia — €13 full price (Roma Pass list, 2026)
- National Gallery of Modern Art — €17 full price (Roma Pass list, 2026)
Park hours by season
Rome's tourism office lists the park gates as opening between 6.30 and 8.30 am every day, with closing times that move with the season. The opening and closing of the gates is managed by the city's contractor, so the exact minute varies inside each window.
- November to February — Gates open 6.30-8.30 am, close 5-7 pm
- March, April, September, October — Gates open 6.30-8.30 am, close 7-9 pm
- May to August — Gates open 6.30-8.30 am, close 8-10 pm
Entrances to the park
Rome's tourism office lists seven access points: Via di Porta Pinciana, Via Ulisse Aldrovandi, Viale delle Belle Arti, Via Raimondi, Piazzale Flaminio, Piazzale Brasile and Piazzale Napoleone I. For the gallery, the museum names the Via Pinciana side as the nearest, with the Pinciana/Museo Borghese bus stop. Routes by bus and metro are in how to get to the Borghese Gallery, and the layout is on the Villa Borghese map.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Villa Borghese gardens free?
Yes. Entry to the park is free; only the museums inside it and extras such as boat and bike hire charge.
What time does Villa Borghese park close?
It depends on the season: the gates close between 5 and 7 pm from November to February, 7 and 9 pm in spring and autumn, and 8 and 10 pm from May to August.
Can I visit the Borghese Gallery without a ticket?
No. Every visitor needs a booked slot, including children who enter free.
Is Villa Borghese the same as the Borghese Gallery?
No. Villa Borghese is the park; the Borghese Gallery is the ticketed museum inside it.
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