Borghese v. Vatican Museums

The Vatican museum is crowded and you move through like cattle. You get dumped into a gift shop every time you think you are done. The Borghese is wonderful, limited entry and just incredible. If you can only visit one and even considering what I just said, I'd probably want to see the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. A private guide might help a little.

Just how much time do you have? The Vatican Museums are great in every sense of the word, and since St. Peter's Basilica is next door, you can visit that too, while you're there, but those can easily take the better part of a day, especially if you don't rush. Even a hit-and-run visit, missing most of the Vatican Museums' paintings, sculptures, and artifacts can take some time.

With the Borghese Gallery's timed entry and compulsory exit time, you know exactly what time you will be allotted, and that might work in your favor.

As Richard said, if you could only visit one on a first trip, the Vatican Museums would have to get the nod, but I'd suggest it only if you truly have time to make it through the vast building and see a substantial portion. If you're truly limited on time, the Borghese will not disappoint!

I'm a big fan of the Borghese because of its excellent crowd control, gorgeous collection, fascinating building, and location in the large, open park. Sure, the Vatican is loaded with miles of treasures but I'm very short and have trouble seeing over/functioning in very large crowds. After being trampled and crushed at both St Peter's and the Vatican/Sistine, the Borghese was a breath of fresh air.

With time for only one, I would also choose the Vatican. And there are ways to work around the crowds to some extent – take a look at the tours that start before the museums open or after they close. I seem to recall that the early morning visits are markedly cheaper than the evening visits.

A couple of other thoughts.

When I've had to go midday, I've gone with a VERY small group tour (I used Context Rome, which limits groups to 6). The small group gets around more easily and the guide helps you enjoy highlights.

When on my own in a crowded museum, I wear headphones playing wonderful music. I particularly like Palestrina for museums – it takes my mind off of the crowd and help me focus on the art. I also tend to plant myself in front of a painting I particularly like, and eventually the crowd moves.

The Borghese has fabulous art, and you can see and enjoy it. The sculpture is particularly spectacular. With the lovely building in the park setting, we found it to be a magical place. We would go back in a heartbeat.

The Vatican Museum, due to the crowds, was the one place in Italy we never wish to re-visit. We had timed entry tickets and got inside quickly, but it didn't matter. The galleries were packed like sardines, and moved almost at a snail's pace. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Literally.

If you can get some sort of private before or after-hours tour you might try the Vatican. St. Peter's was wonderful. It, too, was crowded, but you could navigate. I've never seen anything like the throngs at the Vatican Museum. I had read it could be crowded, but the reality was way beyond my conception.

Both are wonderful. We visited both last month while in Roma. I would definitely do the Vatican if I could only do one. We used Through Eternity Tours and booked an early morning tour. Our guide was very informative & we really enjoyed seeing everything, not to mention skipping the very long lines to get in.

Very tough question. If you are a big fan of Bernini and/or Carravaggio, you would definitely want to go to Borghese. If you are a Michelangelo fan, then I would visit the Sistine Chapel and Vatican museum. Both are incredible; Borghese is small and intimate and the guided tours are great. The Sistine Chapel is amazing and Rick's download is all I needed as far as a tour. Also his advice to exit the Chapel with the tour groups was very handy. I think that I would agree with the other posters that the Vatican and Sistine Chapel would get the nod. The only caveat is if you are really short on time and you could not allot at least 3-4 hours for Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel/St. Peters. If this is the case then I would go Borghese as you have a limited time in the museum. I visited both in January and had visited them on prior trips to Italy.

If you're short on time, try to get one of the tours for the Vatican that takes you in before it opens, like "Sistine Pristine." You'll actually be able to enjoy it. It's also open sometimes during the evening. Another time to go is in the later afternoon. The worst time is mid-mornings when the lines are longest and the crowds are heaviest. I stay across the street from the museum entrance, and for many years I've just walked over mid/later afternoon and enjoyed a much more peaceful visit.

I've been to Rome many, many times, and I cannot imagine going to Rome and not seeing the Vatican/Sistine/St. Peters. I went to the Borghese probably my third time in Rome, and really loved it; but given a choice of only ONE, it would have to be The Vatican.

Even though the crowds can be ridiculous, and one of my favorite sculptures (Bernini's Apollo and Daphe) is at the Borghese, I would sacrifice to see the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's School of Athens.

Agree with above comments. I would vote for Vatican and St. Peter's if you can only pick one. If you are in Rome on a Friday, you can book an evening tour directly with the Museum. Crowd is smaller and place is cooler.