Is a Tour of the Borghese Gallery Worth it?

So you’ve discovered Rome’s best-kept secret, the Borghese Gallery, and now you’re wondering if a tour is worth it? You’re probably a polyglot history buff who knows everything, so what will a guide teach you, right?!? This article is all about why the Borghese Gallery should absolutely be seen with a local guide regardless of your background.

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What Does It Mean To Visit the Borghese Gallery?

The Borghese Gallery is a museum inside Rome’s Villa Borghese, which was originally built as a private residence with impressive gardens. If you visit Villa Borghese, you’re not visiting the Galleria Borghese or Borghese Gallery.

The galleria was Cardinal Scipione Borghese’s home outside the Vatican walls. The property was purchased and developed to host extravagant parties. The collection you see today was commissioned (purchased) to showcase the family’s extreme wealth.

So, what does it mean to visit the Borghese Gallery? It means you purchase a gallery ticket and enter during your designated time slot. For ten months of the year, you cannot walk up and purchase a ticket. You have to reserve in advance.

Is a Tour of the Borghese Gallery Worth It?

Short Answer: Yes. Yes. Yes. If you’re serious about visiting the Borghese Gallery, you’ll book a tour.

The Borghese Gallery is one of the world’s greatest museums—pound for pound. It is a smaller museum, but it’s filled wall-to-wall with some of the greatest sculptures ever produced. It has not one, but over five crowning jewels—all of which have complicated and profound backstories.

The gallery itself makes a guide’s job easy. It has so much to offer in terms of history; I have taken the same people through the gallery a second time entry (remember, they’re two-hour limited entrances) and been able to deliver all new content. This is a don’t-miss experience.

Not ready to book a tour? Read more about the Borghese Gallery.

Limited Entrances

The historical and learning aspects are undoubtedly the primary reasons to book a guide. That said, getting tickets is difficult at the Borghese Gallery. There are only a few hundred entrances allowed every two hours. This makes it difficult to enter but it also makes it a pleasure to visit once you’re inside. Why?

There are fewer people inside. It’s a controlled environment without crowds and people bumping into you. This makes the tour of the Borghese Gallery one of the classiest tours you’ll take in Europe.

Why stress over Galleria Borghese tickets? Grab yours early, skip the lines tickets, and enjoy a cozy group setting!

Incredible Backstories

The best part of a tour of the Borghese Gallery is that the art is heavily baroque. The baroque period gave life to extremely passionate works of art layered thick with context.

You can try and pull these from a guidebook, or our article on the top things to see, but a great guide will bring the museum to life right in front of you.

Guides Love Borghese

Another great reason to take a tour here is that you’ll get a completely refreshed and excited guide. Due to the volume and demand, guides can do Vatican and Colosseum tours all day every day.

When they get a request to do a Borghese Gallery tour, they are thrilled. It’s smaller, less crowded, and has many stunning pieces to get close to. Great guides still get excited by the Vatican Museums, but you’ll get the best version of your guide at the Borghese Gallery.

Not ready to book a tour? Read more in our Borghese Gallery Guide.

Borghese Gallery Tour Options

Due to the complexities and incredible stories of these masterpieces, I highly recommend a tour of this museum. It will be one of the most memorable experiences of your trip.

1. Borghese Gallery “Story Tellers” Small Group Tour
For a quick but enriching experience, the Express Tour offers a concise yet thorough introduction to the gallery’s highlights. Guests appreciate the concise commentary and the ability to see key artworks without spending hours. This option is praised for delivering quality in a short time, ideal for a busy schedule.

2. Skip-the-Line Borghese Gallery Tour
This tour combines fast entry with insightful commentary, ideal for those who want a hassle-free visit. Reviewers highlight the efficiency of skipping long lines and the guide’s engaging storytelling. It’s perfect for a comprehensive yet time-efficient exploration of the gallery’s treasures and the surrounding gardens.

3. Borghese Gallery & Gardens Private Tour
The pinnacle of Roman art tours, this exclusive experience offers an intimate look at masterpieces by Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian. Reviews praise the knowledgeable guides who bring the art to life, and the private access ensures a serene, uncrowded experience. This tour is celebrated for its depth and personalized touch, making it a must-do for art aficionados.

Each tour is well-reviewed for its unique approach, ensuring that every visitor can find an option that suits their preferences.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Borghese Gallery Guide for more info.

Areas of Interest

The Borghese Gallery exhibits must-see works by world-renowned artists. Here are some of the gallery’s highlights. For a full breakdown, see the top things to see at the Borghese Gallery.

The Bernini Sculptures

Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the highlight and centerpiece of this museum. His mastery of sculpting is trumped by few. You’ll see multiple sculptures, which will consume large quantities of your time inside.

There are over a dozen inside, but the main ones to visit are the Flight from Troy (unofficial name), Apollo & Daphne, Pluto and Proserpina, and David. This David you see to the right is an incredibly fresh perspective of young David’s determination to slay Goliath. It’s a stark contrast to Michelangelo’s David and totally worth seeing.

Raphael Deposition

One of Rome’s most famous painters, sculptors, architects, and playboys was the Raphael. You can see a few works by him including Girl with Unicorn and a masterpiece, the Deposition.

The stories behind each work are immense and full of drama. Definitely not something you should miss.

Caravaggio Paintings

If Raphael was a playboy then Caravaggio was the bad boy of the baroque period. He was the embodiment of mischief and tomfoolery.

His paintings are dark (figuratively and literally) and full of emotion. You’ll see a few works including Boy with a Basket of Fruit, St. Jerome, David with Head of Goliath, Sick Baccus, and more.

Popular Private Borghese Gallery Tour

The Borghese Gallery is a truly one-of-a-kind museum that should be high up on anyone’s list. It’s a must-see for art lovers, and even if you’re not an art aficionado, this gallery will rope you into our circle.

It’s one of the greatest baroque galleries on Earth with headliners like Gian Lorenzo Bernini (sculptor) and Caravaggio (painter). Baroque, if you’re unfamiliar, is a style of art incorporating passion, strong movement, and heavy narrative, which makes it easy to love.

In our private Borghese Gallery tour, you’ll see the top works of art in the gallery with a passionate guide. The tour lasts for 2 hours as the museum only allows people to enter for 2 hours at a time. Not only is a private tour of the Borghese Gallery a must but it’s also reasonably priced for what you get—the tour has amazing reviews!

Not ready to book a tour? Find out how to visit the Borghese Gallery.