Rome - Borghese Gallery - Safe to walk alone thru Borghese Gardens at 9pm?

The staff tend to clear out in a hurry so you can probably get an easy chaperone to the roadway by tagging along with one of them -- even if you don't, the worry will not be 'sketchiness' at 9pm, since that's when the dinner crowds will be around, but your own jet lag after a long transit!

If it was me at that moment, I'd probably try to hook up with one of the departing guides or docents for a small plate and a drink. After they'd finished their cigarette, preferably.

As a 6' 3", 210 pound, 53 year old guy,, I would not feel comfortable wandering around the Villa Borghese grounds alone at night. I walked it during the day, and there are some desolate stretches, homeless, empty booze bottles, overgrown areas etc.. But we stayed right outside the walls of the Villa, on Via V Veneto (near the US Embassy), and we felt quite comfortable walking around that area. I am not averse to walking Rome at night, in fact, we walked back from dinner in Trastevere to that hotel (approx 3 miles) and felt safe the whole way.. But that park just didn't feel safe to me..

Note, the gallery is at the Northeast corner of the grounds, so you can walk out of the grounds and into the neighborhood quickly. You could probably catch a cab from there (but I'm not sure of that).

Night? Romans enter restaurants at 9 pm. Relax. There will be all the other tourists walking out of the Gallery.
Sorry, but who would ever feel unsafe because of empty bottles on the grass? What should partying teens drink in summer evenings, tea?

As a woman who has done a lot of traveling alone, and lived in a major US city alone, I'd follow the above-posted suggestion to find someone to walk with such as a departing museum staff person. Sure, chances are you could walk alone through the gardens at 9 PM without anyone bothering you. Nevertheless I'd rather be safe than sorry and follow the general "woman alone" advice to avoid isolated places, especially after dark.

She won't walk alone at all! Rome is not an US city, people will be walking around parks and streets at 9 pm in May when, by the way, it's not that dark either.
Both The bar and the restaurant of Casina Valadier inside the Villa close at 11 pm. The Sporting Club Bar at 9.

You don't need to walk across or through the gardens to get back to the main roads. The gallery is a stone's throw from a main street, Via Pinciana. Just checked Google maps and it says this street is 120 meters from the main entrance of the gallery, a few minutes walk. From this main street, you can catch public transportation (bus, taxi) or walk along the side streets and enjoy the neighborhoods lined with trattorias. I've done this several times (during May timeframe) to get back towards the Spanish Steps area. It's a lovely walk.

I used to walk home from the US Embassy to Parioli at all times of the year, including the dark of winter, through Villa Borghese. I never felt unsafe and I walked a long way through the park. To alleviate your concerns, if you turn left when you leave the Galleria it is only a short walk to Via Pinciana where you will find taxis and buses.

Remember, you won't be leaving the Gallery alone, but at the exact same time as everyone else in your 7-9 time slot. A quick Google tells me that this is 360 people. Just follow the herd out of the park.

In New York City, Shakespeare In The Park works the same way. People are scared of being in Central Park in the dark after the show ends, but they forget that everyone else in the theater (in this case, 1800 people, not counting cast and crew) is also leaving at the same time.

I'd be more concerned about how tired I'd be on the first night of my arrival day (I understand this was the only slot you could get). I know it's usually advised against, but consider a nap that afternoon.

Thanks Everyone!

I'll keep my reservation and buddy up with the departing crowd. I feel better with your added knowledge that public tranportation isn't too far away.

And indeed, I will need to take a nap after checking into my hotel (and after buying the Roma Pass) if I want to enjoy the gallery. :-)

Ciao

My chief concern would be the impact of jet lag on that time slot. At that time of night, there will be lots of people around but also don't go wondering down dark alleys.