At a glance
- The Borghese Gallery is a timed, two-hour visit to see both the art and the villa.
- The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art is a good fit if you want a broad look at art from the 19th century to today.
- The two museums are connected through the northern part of Villa Borghese, so you can visit both in one day.
Day by day
Suggested itinerary
See each day's route, highlights, background and stay together in one place.
Arrive 20 minutes before your reservation slot to check security and bag storage rules. During your two hours, prioritize three Bernini sculptures, Canova, and the Caravaggio room.
Cross the park toward the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art. If you are visiting the second museum too, keep lunch and the transfer simple, at around one hour total.
When booking, choose a three-hour entry time that you can reach after your visit to the Borghese Gallery, lunch, and the walk. The ticket is valid only for the selected three-hour time slot, so don’t plan on staying longer. First look for Klimt, Van Gogh, and Canova; if the works have been moved, choose an artist you’re interested in from the current exhibition.
Places and meals
A marble sculpture capturing the moment Daphne transforms into a laurel tree.
Google Maps View imageA sculpture known for the lifelike impression of Pluto’s fingers pressing into the skin.
Google Maps View imageA sculpture depicting David’s whole body twisting just before he throws the stone.
Google Maps View imageAn early collaborative work depicting three generations fleeing burning Troy.
Google Maps View imageA marble sculpture depicting Pauline, Napoleon’s sister, as the ancient goddess Venus.
Google Maps View imageDavid holds the head of Goliath. One interpretation identifies Goliath’s face as a self-portrait of the artist.
Google Maps View imageAn early painting that brings the figure and fruit close together.
Google Maps View imageKnown as an early self-portrait of the artist as Bacchus.
Google Maps View imageA large religious painting depicting the movement and grief of the figures carrying Christ’s body.
Google Maps View imageA work showing a clothed woman beside a nude woman; the two figures have been interpreted in several ways.
Google Maps View imageA 1905 work depicting childhood, motherhood, and old age in one scene.
Google Maps View imageAn 1889 portrait painted during his Saint-Rémy period.
Google Maps View imageVan Gogh’s portrait of Madame Ginoux, a café owner.
Google Maps View imageA Monet painting of water lilies and the color of the water on a pond.
Google Maps View imageA large sculpture depicting Hercules throwing Lichas.
Google Maps View imageA 1917 portrait notable for its elongated face and neck.
Google Maps View imageA landscape painting that organizes a house and trees into solid planes of color and form.
Google Maps View imageA work that creates an uncanny atmosphere unlike reality through an empty square and long shadows.
Google Maps View imageA work from the early 20th century in which Balla depicts speed and movement through lines and color.
Google Maps View imageA 1947 work made by dripping and splashing paint to create an image where the subject is hard to identify.
Google Maps View imageHow to fit it in
If you are short on time, prioritize three Bernini sculptures and one or two Caravaggio paintings at the Borghese Gallery. At the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, start with Klimt, Van Gogh, and Canova. If visiting both in one day, book the Borghese Gallery first, since it requires a reservation, then add the National Gallery after checking its official same-day exhibit and opening notices.
Reality check
You can walk from the Borghese Gallery inside Villa Borghese to the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art across the northern part of the park. Allow about 20–30 minutes for the transfer. At the end of your visit, head straight out toward Flaminio station or a tram stop.
The official visit to the Borghese Gallery lasts two hours. If you are visiting the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art the same day, allow at least half a day including transfer and rest time. To explore both in depth, it is better to visit on separate days.
According to official information checked on 2026-09-15, the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art costs €15 for general admission and €2 for EU citizens aged 18–25. Present a same-day Borghese Gallery ticket to pay €10. Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month, but a timed reservation is required. The Borghese Gallery costs €16, plus a mandatory €2 reservation fee for every ticket. Check the total shown at checkout and whether special exhibitions are included.
Both museums may have security checks and restrictions on items brought inside. Check the rules for large bags and umbrella storage, as well as where photography is allowed, before entering. Keep your belongings in front of you while walking through the park and toward Flaminio station.
If plans change
Instead of looking for resale tickets, spend longer at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, then add a walk through Villa Borghese and the view from Pincio Hill.
Choose the Borghese Gallery for Bernini and Caravaggio; choose the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art for Van Gogh, Klimt, and 20th-century art.
Small tip
Take your time walking around Bernini’s sculptures at the Borghese Gallery. The transformation of Daphne’s fingertips and hair into laurel is easier to see from the side and behind.
Final check before departure
- Check the date, time slot, and total cost on the Borghese Gallery’s official booking page.
- Check same-day opening hours and special schedules on the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art’s official visitor page.
- Use the image links to get familiar with the works you want to see, but confirm on the day whether they are on view.
- If you visit both in one day, keep your Borghese ticket and ask on site whether it qualifies you for the National Gallery discount.
The Borghese Gallery requires advance reservations, including for visitors eligible for free admission, and each time slot has limited capacity. Exhibit locations at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art change, so the listed works may not be on view that day. Evening hours from 19:00–23:00 every Thursday, September 10–December 17, 2026, have been announced. Check the official page again for the €10 offer and ticket availability.
Information checked: 2026-09-15