The green lung in the heart of Rome

Villa Borghese is Rome's most famous and best-loved park: a vast green expanse of tree-lined avenues, gardens, small lakes, fountains, statues and museums, just steps from Piazza di Spagna and Piazza del Popolo. Created in the 1600s as the estate of Cardinal Scipione Borghese and opened to the public in the 1800s, it is the city's "green lung" today: the place where Romans and visitors alike come to stroll, unwind, cycle and take a break from the chaos of the center.

It is more than a park: Villa Borghese is home to some of Rome's most important museums and to scenic corners of rare beauty.

What's inside Villa Borghese

  • The romantic Giardino del Lago (Lake Garden), with its small lake and the Temple of Aesculapius.
  • The Pincio terrace, with its view over Piazza del Popolo.
  • The Bioparco (Rome's zoo).
  • Museums such as the Galleria Borghese (Borghese Gallery), the GNAM and the Museo Etrusco di Villa Giulia.
  • Piazza di Siena, the racetrack set among the greenery.

We go deeper in our guide to what to see at Villa Borghese.

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A park for everyone

Villa Borghese is perfect for every kind of visitor:

  • For families: the Bioparco, rowing boats on the small lake, bikes and risciò (pedal carts), and the Casina di Raffaello for kids.
  • For art lovers: the Galleria Borghese (Bernini and Caravaggio), the GNAM and Villa Giulia.
  • For those after relaxation and views: the Giardino del Lago, the Pincio and the shady avenues.

We cover it in our guide to what to do at Villa Borghese with kids and families.

How much time to give it

A stroll takes just 1-2 hours; add a museum, the Bioparco or a boat ride and you'll easily fill half a day or a full one. It's a restorative oasis, ideal for breaking up your visits to the monuments downtown.

Frequently asked questions

What is Villa Borghese? It's Rome's most famous public park, created in the 1600s as the estate of Cardinal Scipione Borghese. It holds gardens, small lakes, important museums (Galleria Borghese, GNAM, Villa Giulia), the Bioparco and the Pincio terrace.

Are Villa Borghese and the Galleria Borghese the same thing? No: Villa Borghese is the large park; the Galleria Borghese is the museum (home to Bernini and Caravaggio) located inside it, and it requires a separate, mandatory reservation.

Is there an entrance fee for Villa Borghese? No, the park is public and free. Some attractions inside it (the Bioparco, the museums, the rowing boats) charge a ticket.

What can you do at Villa Borghese? Stroll, cycle or ride the risciò, row on the small lake, visit the museums and the Bioparco, soak up the views from the Pincio: there's something for everyone, families included.

How much time do you need? 1-2 hours for a stroll; half a day or more with the museums, the Bioparco and other activities.

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Article #452 · Category: Neighborhoods · Updated: May 2026