If you want a Villa Borghese map, the honest picture is a big green park with many gates and no single ticket office, so the plan matters more than at a museum. This page shows the park on a map with its stations and sights, then gives my route through the areas in the order I’d walk them. Walking in costs nothing, so the only tickets are for the extras, which I compare in my guide to tickets for Villa Borghese.
Villa Borghese Map: Stations, Gates and Sights Around the Park
The map below puts the park at the centre, with the metro stations and nearby sights within walking distance, from Google Maps data.
Museo e Cripta dei Cappuccini · Nearby sight · about 17 min walk
Barberini · Station · about 19 min walk
The pins on this Villa Borghese map give a first sense of the layout. Flaminio station is on the Piazzale Flaminio side of the park, and Spagna and Barberini are on the other side. The Spanish Steps are a short walk from the southern edge. The Galleria Borghese sits to the east of the park’s centre. Walking times in the legend are my estimates: straight-line distance multiplied by 1.3, at 4.8 km per hour.
Is There an Official Villa Borghese Map?
I looked for one and could not find a downloadable official plan. The Rome superintendency page for Villa Borghese lists the park as always open and names the entrances, but I found no map or plan file on it. The Ministry of Culture site says the park contains several buildings and has 9 entrances. In December 2023 the superintendency and Zetema installed 18 information panels with QR codes to podcasts near the main entrances and points of interest, so look for those once you are inside.
Since there is no verified official Villa Borghese map to link, the one on this page is built from Google Maps places, the superintendency’s entrance list and the stops of the tours I compared. Treat it as a planning aid and follow the signs on the ground.
The Route I’d Take Through Villa Borghese
This is the order I’d walk, from the Piazza del Popolo side to the gallery, based on the stops of the Bicycle Roma e-bike tour listing and Wikipedia’s description of the park. I give no times per stop because no source does; the whole e-bike tour is listed at 2.5 hours.
My route through Villa Borghese
1Pincio TerraceThe view over Rome
2Water ClockAn 1873 hydrochronometer
3Garden of the LakeTemple of Aesculapius on the lake
4Temple of DianaA stop on the e-bike route
5Fountain of the SeahorsesA stop on the e-bike route
6Piazza di SienaThe horse-show ground
7Galleria BorgheseTimed ticket, booked separately
Entrances to Villa Borghese on the Map
There is no gate to pay at, but choosing the right one saves a long walk. The superintendency lists entrances at Via Aldrovandi, Via Raimondi (two), Via Pinciana (two), Piazzale San Paolo del Brasile, Piazzale Flaminio, Piazzale Cervantes and Piazzale Pablo Picasso, at Via di Valle Giulia. Wikipedia adds the monumental entrance at Piazzale Flaminio, the Porta del Popolo entrance by Piazza del Popolo, and the route up from the Spanish Steps.
For a first visit I’d come in from Piazza del Popolo and climb to the Pincio, because that is also where the e-bike tour I compared begins. The listing sends you to a blue gate at the Ondina Generali sports club to meet the guide, so follow your voucher if you book.
Pincio Terrace
The Pincio is the Pincian Hill, in the south of the park, and Wikipedia says it offers one of the best views over Rome. The e-bike tour lists the Pincio Terrace as its second stop after Piazza del Popolo, and its description names the terrace among the highlights. I’d go here first, in the morning, when the light is soft and the paths are quiet. The sunset averages about 17:04 in January and 20:47 in June, using the weather data in my files, so check the time for your date if you want it for the evening.
Water Clock
On a Villa Borghese map the clock is easy to miss, so I mark it here. The Water Clock is a hydrochronometer from 1873, based on a design by Gian Battista Embriaco from 1867, per Wikipedia. Another version stands on the Pincian Hill. It is a small stop, five minutes at most, and a good one for children who like machines. It sits on the e-bike route between the Pincio and the lake.
Garden of the Lake and the Temple of Aesculapius
The lake is the park’s postcard. Wikipedia says the Garden of the Lake was built between 1784 and 1790, and the Temple of Aesculapius, built in the 1780s, is reflected in the water. A boat and photo activity runs from here: the Borghese Routes listing gives a 20 minute rowing boat ride and a 20 minute photo shoot, 40 minutes in all, for $70.
Borghese Routes
Villa Borghese Lake Tour by Rowing Boat + Photo Shoot
★4.7 (15 reviews)
40 minutes
Free cancellation
My pick: Rowing boat on the lake plus a photographer, 40 minutes, $70, free cancellation; only 15 reviews so far (4.7).
✓ Professional photo shoot on the lakeshore and on land (20 minutes)
✓ 30–50 high-quality digital photos on a memory card with a complimentary adapter
✓ Dedicated tour leader from the meeting point to the lake
✓ Skip-the-line access
Not included / not suitable
✕ Photo prints
✕ Food and drinks
✕ Tour guide
Meeting point: Our staff, wearing red Ferrari baseball caps, will be waiting for you at the meeting point Viale dell'Aranciera, 00197 Roma RM, Italia
Languages: Italian, English, French, Spanish
Duration: 40 minutes
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Amazing! Our guides were wonderful and extremely attentive! We felt very comfortable! Thank you so, so much! :) - Radhika & Suky” – GetYourGuide review
Temple of Diana, Fountain of the Seahorses and Piazza di Siena
The e-bike listing names the Temple of Diana and the Fountain of the Seahorses as consecutive stops, then Piazza di Siena. Wikipedia says the first horse show was held at Piazza di Siena in 1922, and that it hosted equestrian events at the 1960 Summer Olympics. It is a wide, flat oval, so it is the easiest area to cross on foot or by bike. I found no dates for the temple or the fountain in my sources, so I won’t give any, and the Villa Borghese map above marks them only by name.
Bicycle Roma
Villa Borghese E-Bike Tour (Small Group or Private)
★4.9 (145 reviews)
2.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The e-bike route through the Pincio, the lake and Piazza di Siena: $67, 2.5 hours, small group of up to 8, 4.9 from 145 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ E-bike rental with pedal assist
✓ Guide
✓ Rear baby seat up to 20kg
✓ Safety helmet
✓ Poncho (in case of rain)
Not included / not suitable
✕ Accident Insurance (Optional, available for an extra cost of €5 per person)
✕ Food and drinks
✕ Galleria Borghese visit and ticket entrance
Meeting point: We are inside the ONDINA GENERALI sports club (blue gate).
On the left of the blue gate, there is a red vertical board. To enter, press the white button inside the red vertical board and then go down the stairs.
By Public Transport: hop off at the Metro A (Red Line) stop "Lepanto" and continue on foot for 5 minutes towards Lungotevere. Lungotevere delle Armi, 44, 00195 Roma RM, Italy
Languages: French, Spanish, Italian, English
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Ilenia was a great e-bike tour guide. She was friendly and amazing with our children while sharing insights and knowledge about Villa Borghese. Would highly recommend taking a tour with her!” – GetYourGuide review
The gallery is the museum building at the heart of the villa, with works by Bernini, Titian, Raphael and Caravaggio per Wikipedia. It needs its own timed ticket, and the Bicycle Roma listing states that the gallery visit and ticket are not included in the tour. Google Maps lists it as closed on Mondays and open 9 am to 7 pm Tuesday to Sunday. My Borghese Gallery tickets page covers the booking.
Other Parts of the Park
Wikipedia also lists the Bioparco zoo, dating from the 1911 exposition, the Casina di Raffaello children’s play house, the Globe Theatre replica built in 2003, and the Museo Canonica. I did not route these, because none appears in a listing I compared, but they are on any printed Villa Borghese map you pick up. The longer e-bike tour of 3.5 hours at $76 leaves the park for Villa Ada and the Coppede Quarter.
Getting Around: Walking, Bikes and Access
The park on the Villa Borghese map is large, about 80 hectares per Wikipedia, so distances add up. I could not find official accessibility details for the paths, so if you use a wheelchair or pushchair, ask a local information point before choosing a route. The e-bike listing says a rear baby seat up to 20 kg is available.
For hours and seasons, see my Villa Borghese opening hours guide, which explains that the park is always open while the attractions inside keep their own times. When you are ready to book an extra, the Villa Borghese tickets page compares all four. Whichever way you plan it, keep this Villa Borghese map route open on your phone and start at the Pincio.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official Villa Borghese map?+
I could not find a downloadable official map or plan for the park on the Rome superintendency's page for Villa Borghese or on other official pages I searched, so I have not linked one. The official page does list the park's entrances, and the 18 information panels installed near the main entrances and points of interest in December 2023 carry QR codes to podcasts.
How many entrances does Villa Borghese have?+
The Ministry of Culture site says the park has 9 entrances. The Rome superintendency lists gates at Via Aldrovandi, Via Raimondi, Via Pinciana, Piazzale San Paolo del Brasile, Piazzale Flaminio, Piazzale Cervantes and Piazzale Pablo Picasso, and Wikipedia adds the climb from the Spanish Steps and the Pincio ramps to Piazza del Popolo.
What is there to see in Villa Borghese?+
The main stops are the Pincio terrace for the view, the Water Clock, the Garden of the Lake with the Temple of Aesculapius, Piazza di Siena, the zoo (Bioparco), the Globe Theatre and the Galleria Borghese. The park is about 80 hectares, so I would pick three or four of these.
How long do you need in Villa Borghese?+
The e-bike tour I compared lasts 2.5 hours and covers eight stops, and the lake boat and photo shoot lasts 40 minutes. On foot I would allow two to three hours for the Pincio, the lake and Piazza di Siena, and more if you add the gallery, which needs a separate timed ticket.
Which metro station is closest to Villa Borghese?+
Flaminio on Metro Line A is by the Piazzale Flaminio side, with Spagna and Barberini on the other side. All three show on Google Maps near the park. Pick the station nearest the part of the park you want first, since the grounds are large.
Is the Galleria Borghese inside the park?+
Yes, the museum is housed in the Villa Borghese itself, per Wikipedia, but it is a separate timed-entry ticket. Entering the park is free per the sources I found.
