Guided Tours

Borghese Gallery Small-Group Guided Tour

Borghese Gallery interior with visitors on a skip-the-line small-group guided tour in Rome.

Borghese Gallery entrance with visitors on a skip-the-line small-group guided tour in Rome, Italy.

Borghese Gallery interior with art pieces, part of Skip-the-Line Small-Group Guided Tour in Rome.

Relish the exquisite beauty of Rome’s greatest museum of art on this small group, guided visit to the Villa Borghese Gallery.

Highlights

Explore the magical works of art by some of Rome's renowned artists, adorning the walls of the Borghese Gallery, and visit the Borghese Gardens.
This 2-hour tour with only 10 people helps you gain insight into the gallery and its history with the help of an expert English-speaking guide.
Enjoy priority access to the gallery and avoid the winding lines that are typical for this famed attraction with your tickets.
You can explore the gardens of Villa Borghese at your own pace after the tour. Enjoy picturesque landscapes and sweeping city views from the Pincio terrace.
Fun fact: The gallery once consisted of artworks that Napoleon Bonaparte had seized, including Canova's famous sculpture "Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix".

Inclusions

Access to the Borghese Gallery
Art historian guide
Visit to the Villa Borghese Gardens
English, Italian, Spanish, and French-speaking guide (as per option selected)
Headsets

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

4.3

1.8K ratings

5/5

1.1K

4/5

446

3/5

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123

Lim

5/5

Oct, 2024

The guide, Alicia was great. She is friendly and knowledgeable. She spaced out the tour accordingly and highlighted all the important parts of the Borghese Galleria. We had a new found understanding and admiration of the sculptors by Bernini and other artworks in the Gallery from her excellent guided tour. We have taken quite a few tours with other Guide apps in other locations in Rome and we will rate this one as the best. Thank you Alicia for an excellent and unforgettable tour!

Wade

5/5

Oct, 2024

We couldn't have asked for a more knowledgeable and enthralling guide. Frederica gave us detailed explanations of the most pertinent sculptures and paintings. We mostly appreciated the historical and political context a of each piece. Would highly recommend this tour and Frederic's in particular.

Penelope

5/5

Oct, 2024

The tour leader was excellent. Her knowledge of the museum and the art work was very impressive. Her presentation style made it easy for the small group to appreciate the history of Bernini and other artists. The museum was not crowded which increased the pleasure even further. Cafe was fabulous for lunch.

Elizabeth

5/5

Oct, 2024

The ticketing experience was clear, quick, and very easy to complete--kudos to the app design team! Checking in near the Gallerie was also simple and straightforward, with everyone helpful and friendly. The tour itself was phenomenal! Alessandra is clearly a master of her topic -- the art, the historical context, and the human -centered stories that bring the world of the Borghese and the Collection itself so vividly to life. For instance, hearing the stories behind the Caravaggio and Bernini pieces in the Gallerie made for a far richer experience than I otherwise would have enjoyed. I learned; I laughed; and at moments was simply awestruck. The time seemed to fly by -- over too soon! I could have listened to Allessandra all day. Now I am inspired to dig in deeper and learn more, not only about the Collection but the history of Rome in general. Gracie mille! *** The golf cart tour was also a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it as a follow-on to the gallery. I can't remember the name of my guide, unfortunately, but he was a knowledgeable and amiable young man, and it was a real treat to see the beauty of the grounds as I was was learning about its history. My guide took the time to stop and let us get out at an overlook, with an amazing view of the city, and a great photo op.

Michael

5/5

Oct, 2024

The guide Victoria was so good. She talked about the sculptors and painters, but what I appreciated more was she talked about the people in the paintings and the sculptors. I enjoyed this guided tours very much.

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Your experience

Few museums in the world can match the grandeur of the Borghese Gallery. It houses art collections by legendary painters and sculptors such as Berini, Messina, Raphael, Caravaggio, and many others. The wealthy Cardinal Scipione Borghese originally assembled these works of art. The Borghese Family continued to add pieces to the incredible collection.

Some artworks were sold to the French State during the 19th century as the Borghese family went bankrupt. These pieces are still preserved in the Louvre. Since 1903, the museum has been open to the public and has seen significant restoration and modernization work.

On your visit, you will be accompanied by an expert guide, who will narrate interesting anecdotes related to the museum and the pieces of art inside. Gaze into the depths of Bernini’s famous sculpture of ‘Apollo and Daphne’, Lady with Unicorn By Raphael, Paulina Bonaparte By Cavona, Apollo and Daphne By Bernini, and The Rape of Proserpina By Bernini. The history behind the works of art and how they came to be in the Borghese Gallery, explained by the guide, is just as intriguing as the art pieces.

Visit the Borghese Gardens and stroll around the lush landscapes for its fountains and to get a glimpse of Rome's panoramic views.

Know before you go

What to bring

Bring along a pair of comfortable shoes.

What's not allowed

Due to venue restrictions, small or large bags/ backpacks are not allowed inside the Borghese Gallery. All luggage needs to be checked into the cloakroom before entering.
Strict dress code: The gallery mandates that everyone wear smart casual to the venue.

Accessibility

This experience is accessible by prams/strollers.
This experience is not accessible by wheelchair.

Additional notes

A paying adult must accompany minors under 18 years of age.
This tour does not operate on Mondays.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.
Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.