Are you a garden lover heading to Rome but unsure which gardens and parks to visit? From sprawling green spaces to manicured villa gardens and special interest spaces with ancient Roman aqueducts and botanical specimens, these are great places to visit. Here are the must-see gardens and parks in Rome. Enjoy!
Pro Tip: Planning how to spend your time in Rome? Bookmark this post in a “Rome” folder in your browser, so you can circle back to it when you’re in the city. See our guide to Rome for more planning resources, our top Rome tours for a memorable trip, and how to see Rome in a day.
Must-See Gardens and Parks in Rome
Rome has some incredible gardens and parks to enjoy. From sprawling green spaces to manicured villa gardens and special interest spaces with ancient Roman aqueducts and botanical specimens, there’s plenty for garden lovers to enjoy. Here are the top gardens and parks in Rome. After, explore other great things to do in Rome using the menu below.
Park of the Aqueducts (Parco degli Acquedotti in Italian) is part of the Appian Way Park and Rome’s largest greenspace. It is a very peaceful place that can be a bit hard to get to but it’s certainly worth it.
It is what you think it is: A park with ancient Roman aqueducts running through it. You can see Aqua Felix and Aqua Claudia in plane view. It’s a super cool experience and worth the ride out. Consider bringing some lunch with you and having a picnic out there.
If you are in Rome for five or more days, it would make an excellent half-day bike trip. Just be sure to plan out your travel in advance. You’re getting pretty far from the center so it’s important to know where you are going.
A botanical garden is defined as a place where plants are grown for public display and scientific study. Orto Botanico, one of Rome’s best-curated gardens, is run by Rome’s first university and the world’s 12th oldest of the continuous operations schools, La Sapienza.
It costs €8 to get inside and the proceeds obviously go to the maintenance of the grounds. You may walk through and not see another soul while you’re there. The gardens are located in Trastevere just outside of the heavy traffic, so it is hidden very well.
This is one of those magical little places in Rome and a total treat. This is one of the top free things to do in Rome as it is less a full park and more of a viewpoint.
The park, which is pretty small at 24,000 square feet (7,800 meters), sits on top of Rome’s famed Aventine Hill and is just a few steps from Rome’s Keyhole. It was designed in 1932 and is attached to the Basilica of Santa Sabina.
It is a very peaceful viewpoint and you won’t find many visitors. You’ll have to rent some sort of transport to get up there, like bikes or take a taxi. High at the top of Aventine hill, it’ll put some strain on your legs. Don’t forget to walk over to the keyhole!
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3. Villa Borghese
This is the number one pick for anyone who wants to visit areas of importance and it’s the starting point of our DIY Rome Walking Tour. Villa Borghese was the residence of Cardinal Scipione Borghese. He developed it into a sort of secret garden with peacocks and exotic animals running around.
It is home to the Borghese Galleria, the cardinal’s former residence, which has an incredible collection of art. Tour the gallery yourself with this itinerary of must-see Bhorgese Gallery artwork or take a private tour. There is also a lovely lake. Why not rent a rowboat and enjoy some peace on the water? Be sure to check out these points of interest in Villa Borghese:
Il Pincio (mentioned above)
Museo e Galleria Borghese
Laghetto di Villa Borghese and Temple of Asclepius
Bioparco di Roma (Zoo – great for kids)
Casina Valadier – great to see from outside or dinner
Valle dei Cani (Dog Valley for dog lovers—I used to take my dog here daily)
This is a super cool and very exclusive experience. The Vatican Gardens are a beautiful and well-manicured set of gardens and fountains inside Vatican City. You’d never know you were in the bustling city of Rome or the crowded Vatican Museums. Few people who visit the Vatican see these gardens because getting into them is more difficult than you’d think. Luckily, we offer tours and other ways to visit them.
If you’re a lover of gardens and plan to see the Vatican, our day trip includes the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Gardens, plus a trip to the pope’s summer home, Castel Gandolfo, which has some beautiful gardens of its own. It’s a 57-acre complex complete with its own train station.
If you ask any visitor to Rome which is the best park or garden in Rome, they’ll undoubtedly say Villa Borghese and for good reason. If you ask any Roman what their favorite park in Rome is, however, you’ll probably hear Villa Pamphili.
Villa Doria Pamphili is the third largest park in Rome after Parco degli Acquedotti and Villa Ada with a sprawling 450 acres. It’s part of multiple Roman neighborhoods but most notably Monteverde (green hill). This area is heavily populated by locals and expats and Villa Pamphili is a massive draw to living in this area.
Would you want to visit it as a tourist? It depends. It’s a great place to go for a morning jog if you are an exercise enthusiast. However, I wouldn’t recommend it for the general visitor who wants to see places of interest. There is an amazing palace and garden, featured in the image above, but beyond that, it is simply a massive sprawling garden with lots of green space and fresh air.
If you’re planning a longer stay in Rome and want to get to know the city, this is a spot you want to put on your list early on as you will make some return trips. I used to live right next to this park and really enjoyed evening jogs through the park. They have exercise equipment scattered throughout like pull-up bars, etc. It’s very cool.
Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel
Without the right access, visiting the Vatican means fighting crowds, long waits, and missing the most significant rooms and works of art. Our privileged entrance tour offers more than just entry—it’s an immersive experience led by a storytelling guide who brings the Vatican to life. Skip the line and explore the Vatican Museums, including the Raphael Rooms, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica with engaging insights that make each moment memorable and meaningful.
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