Rome: Borghese Gallery & Gardens Small Group Guided Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Appreciate art like a collector with a visit to the Borghese Gallery and Gardens. Carefully controlled entry means that unlike the nearby Vatican Museums, this collection of masterpieces is never crowded. The gallery includes pieces by Raphael and Bernini, and the tour includes the Borghese Gardens: a peaceful oasis amid the chaos of the capital.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
All personal belongings must be left on arrival at the reception of the Borghese Gallery
We regret that we are unable to accommodate pushchairs or strollers on our group tours
What To Expect
Galleria Borghese
Cardinal Scipione Borghese commissioned both the Villa Borghese itself and many of the great works still on display in its gallery. Works by Bernini, Caravaggio and Titian remain in their original settings, as envisioned by the Cardinal, a fiercely determined collector. Strictly controlled entry to the Villa and Gallery can make booking difficult and complicated. On this fully-guided tour you’ll hear more about Cardinal Borghese’s quest to complete his collection, and the stories behind the artworks themselves, including Bernini’s ‘Apollo and Daphne’, Canova’s ‘Pauline Bonaparte’, Caravaggio’s ‘St. Jerome’ and Raphael’s ‘The Deposition’. Your guide will be an English-speaker and an expert on the collection, and audio headsets ensure you’ll hear every word they say.
Villa Borghese Gardens
Included in this tour is a visit to the Borghese Gardens: once the Cardinal’s private park, now a favorite spot for locals to relax among sculptures, plants and water features and get away from it all.
Options
Borghese Gallery Guided Tour
Group Tour - English: Guided tour of the Borghese Gallery and Gardens with small groups of no more than 15 people.
What‘s Included
Villa Borghese Gardens Visit
Headsets so you can always hear your guide
Small group of no more than 15 people
Entry ticket to the Borghese Gallery
Expert, English-speaking tour guide
Borghese Gallery Guided Tour
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2,259 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A True Hidden Gem
938crystaly,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing. Our guide went above and beyond. Explained the art,the family who had the collection,the property and it history. A true hidden gem.
Resurrection of the Italian masters.
Bernhard W,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour guide Fabio is UNIQUE!!! He brings these extraordinary masterpieces of the masters in the Villa Borghese to LIFE! He must be in direct soul contact with Bernini, Titian, Caravaggio, and the other masters! He illuminates unique details on the carefully chosen sculptures and paintings, circling these masterpieces with the group so that we can enjoy the right viewing perspectives with him. Often, he finds details in a single artwork (as if he is discovering them himself at that very moment) where he manages to convey what the respective master must have felt during the creative process. In doing so, he sensitively balances detail and overview, even comparing different art epochs in an incredibly vivid way by juxtaposing a painting from the Early Renaissance with one from the Baroque in the same room. So lively that even art detractors would feel an intimate closeness. I have had the pleasure of enjoying a handful of very authentically guided tours in my life so far. This was the one where the masters personally spoke to us through the guide Fabio. When asked for a book recommendation that could somewhat reflect his "resurrection magic," he pondered for the only time. Ultimately, he was convinced to provide a recommendation with 2 copies. "L'arte del Rinascimento in Italia" 1 and 2 Not being proficient in the Italian language, I ordered the English edition (which he said is very suitable as it is very readable), with the awareness that the reading material would remind me of the "revitalization" of the selected works of the masters by Fabio.
Knowledgeable and passionate
HeidiA435,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Barabara was absolutely marvelous!!! Knowledgeable and passionate about her job. Definitely recommend!
Tour
Sara E,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour did not include the gardens as advertised, but it was still a great experience. We needed the full time to get through the museum. Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate.
Amazing!
Lucy M,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a wonderful tour of a fabulous house full of amazing paintings and sculpture. It takes about an hour to walk from Piazza del Popolo (closest Metro stop) to Galleria Borghese. You can take a bus. Wish I had realized it was so far. I almost missed my tour. They were completely sold out.
Excellent time with Barbara
gatorliz,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We thoroughly enjoyed touring the borghese gallery with Barbara. She kept our family engaged, answered our questions, and provided great insight into the works of art we saw. What a great way to experience the gallery!
Don’t miss the Borghese.
Samantha H,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a small group which was very nice and our guide, Salvatore did a wonderful job walking us through the Gallery discussing the background and significance of some of the stunning works. I say “some”, only because there is no way to see or linger at every piece of art, in the 2.5hrs the Borghese limits your visit. There is a limit to the number of people allowed in the Gallery, at a time, and the time you can spend in the gallery. An appointment is the bare minimum requirement to enter. On a first visit I would definitely want a tour, just to get a sense of what they have and what you might want to go back and see on your own. The only difference I noticed from the tours done directly through the gallery, and City Wonders was where we met up (just outside the main entrance), but once inside it all came down to your guide. We were given an earpiece to hear what Sal was telling us, so we could stand up close or further back from the piece, if we wanted a different view/perspective and still hear what he was saying. He was very knowledgeable about the art pieces, the history behind their commissions, the artists, and he had a real appreciation for Bernini, which was evident as he discussed Bernini's sculptures and their beauty. Seeing a Bernini in person is awe inspiring, but having a guide who loves the artist, highlighted the true genius of the sculptures and the complete command Bernini had over marble. I was ecstatic to learn the Borghese Gallery has 6 Caravaggio’s. Sal presented them in order of their creation pointing out the differences and changes Caravaggio made as he aged. It was the highlight for me and Sal did an amazing job in this room, only heightening my absolute love for Caravaggio. There just simply aren’t words for how much I loved this portion of the tour. There was also a park tour, following the Gallery, unfortunately part of my group was not feeling well and so we did not continue on for that portion. I did do about a 10 min walk around the park, on my own, and they are quite extensive and very cool on a hot day.
Priceless!
Mary M,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Guide was knowledgeable and very entertaining. He pointed out many interesting things about the priceless pai ntings and the sculptures. Told funny stories about one of the ladies that posed for the artist. .
Gallery borghese - a must see!
Compass15711902980,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Frederica was a fantastic guide who really made the works in the gallery come alice
It was great
SohyunK35,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour with Sal was both fun and insightful. We learned so much and had such a great time that the hours just flew by. Highly recommended!
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Operated by City Wonders Ltd