Borghese Gallery Tour: A Guided Crash Course with Skip-the-Line Tickets

Discover Masterpieces of 17th Century Rome, hosted by an Art Historian
From US$498 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
2.5 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
Borghese Gallery
Photos & Highlights
  • Explore masterpieces by Titian, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Bernini
  • Enjoy easy access with advance ticket reservations and a private expert in art history
Select a date
Tour Description
A triumph of gold, marble, and ostentation, during a period of enormous wealth, intrigue, and politics. This is the essence of the Roman Baroque, and this is what you will find within the walls of the Borghese Gallery.

Once the private art collection of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, one of the wealthiest, most powerful, and most controversial individuals in 17th-century Rome, the Borghese Gallery is today one of the most stunning art galleries in the world, housing some of the greatest works of art ever created.

Led by an expert in art history, this in-depth tour of the gallery features a significant portion of Cardinal Borghese's exceptional art selection. Discover masterpieces by Titian, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Bernini, learn about the complex relationships between art, politics, and society at the time, and gain insight into Papal power and the politics of aristocratic Rome during the Baroque era.

With each step, the Borghese Gallery unveils layers of history, culture, and artistic genius just waiting to be discovered. Let yourself be captured by the dramatic work of Bernini, one of the most important artists of this era, and immerse yourself in the tension and movement of Apollo and Daphne, the dynamism and concentration of David, the exquisite detail, and emotional intensity of Proserpina's Abduction.

Experts
Arianna Arianna
Art Historian
Valeria Valeria
Archaeologist
Siriana Siriana
Local Guide
Simona Simona
Art Historian
Jade Jade
Archaeologist
Sandro Sandro
Local Guide
Tiziana Tiziana
Art Historian
Paolo Paolo
Archaeologist
Vannella Vannella
Art Historian
Cecilia Cecilia
Art Historian
Alessia Alessia
Art Historian
Mara Mara
Local Guide
Michele Michele
Local Guide
Francesca Francesca
Art Historian
Paola Paola
Architectural Historian
Simonetta Simonetta
Art Historian
Barbara Barbara
Architect
Guido Guido
Tourist guide
Laura Laura
Local Guide
Andrea Andrea
Historian
Priscilla Priscilla
Archaeologist
Giulia Giulia
Archaeologist
Doriana Doriana
Local Guide
Sabrina Sabrina
Art Historian
Emily Emily
Art Historian
Marina Marina
Local Guide
Richard Richard
Medievalist
Liz Liz
Architect
Theresa Theresa
Art Historian
Maria Stella Maria Stella
Art Historian
Maria Emilia Maria Emilia
Art Historian
Jeannette Jeannette
Art Historian
Fabio Fabio
Art Historian
Jose Jose
Artist
Cecilia Cecilia
Art Historian
Paolo Paolo
Art Historian
Vittorio Vittorio
Art Historian
Simona Simona
Local Guide & Teacher
Cristina Cristina
Art Historian
Dony Dony
Art Historian
Gianluca Gianluca
Art Historian
Maddalena Maddalena
Art Historian
Roberta Roberta
Art Historian
Fiorenza Fiorenza
Art Historian
Olivia Olivia
Art Historian
Sara Sara
Art Historian
Alessandra Alessandra
Art Historian
Valentina Valentina
Local Guide
Pier Paolo Pier Paolo
Art Historian
Luciana Luciana
Local Guide

  • You want more than simply the idea behind great works of art. You'd like to gain a better grasp of the complexities and the society that created these masterpieces.  
  • You've been to Rome before and you have overlooked or missed the Borghese Gallery. This time, you want to get a better understanding from an expert who can help you make the most of your visit. 
  • You want easy access to one of Rome's most demanded museums. You prefer the convenience of a private tour that takes you straight to the security gates.

  • Borghese Gallery

Tickets

Our visit to the Borghese Gallery includes advance entry tickets, allowing you to skip the general ticket office line. Although you can skip the main ticket line, there may still be a brief wait for security screening or ticket scanning. Please be aware that the museum enforces a strict limit on the number of visitors allowed at any given time, resulting in highly limited ticket availability. Consequently, some changes and reschedules may occur, and we appreciate your patience in these instances.

Please Note: in 2024 the Borghese Gallery is undergoing works of renovation and some rooms might be closed exceptionally and unexpectedly. Your expert will adapt the itinerary accordingly if necessary. 
 

Additional Trip-Planning Resources

  • For more information and inspiration while planning your travels to Rome, take a look at our other Context experiences.
  • If you are looking to learn more about Rome prior to your visit, check out our online lectures at Context Learning.

Can I take photos inside?
Yes, photography is allowed during the tour, but please make sure to turn off the flash to protect the art works.

Why isn’t this tour offered on Mondays?
The Borghese Gallery is closed on Mondays so we are unable to offer tours.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.

Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
Yes, the Borghese Gallery is accessible to people with mobility issues. Wheelchair users can access a dedicated entrance, and wheelchairs are also available for rent on-site. Due to the cramped spaces, guests may occasionally be asked to temporarily swap their wheelchairs for the museum's smaller, easier-to-maneuver wheelchairs.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
(4.81) 564 Reviews

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

Paolo was amazing. He brought 2400 years of Roman and Rome history to life and kept us engaged for 2-1/2 hours with incredible insights that we would have totally missed on our own. He is a great communicator, it makes us want to enroll in his university classes! A+ experience all the way.
Cecelia was fantastic, in a word. She was not only knowledgable about what was in the gallery, she also commented on what she liked about the displays (I particularly liked everything Bernini!), but what she didn't (a painting she said an amateur would'nt have done). She was great.
Excellent! Extremely knowledgeable!