Villa Borghese Experience

I visited the Villa Borghese while on the VFR tour last November and you're in for a treat! It was one of my favorite museums. My ticket was for around 3:30 (I think) and it didn't seem to matter in terms of crowds that we were there later in the day. I don't think a skip-the-line ticket is necessary due to the limitations of people in each time slot. Of course, I was there in the off season, so it might be very different if you're going during the high tourist season. The gardens are free of charge and there's no time limit that I was aware of. I walked there from our hotel, so I really am not sure of how long a walk it is from the Pantheon, sorry!

I would pay the extra money for the audio tour -- it was nice hearing more info about the artwork. We also used the RS pocket Rome guide to learn more about the different pieces. Keep in mind that they don't allow pictures. Enjoy your visit!

The gardens (really a park, not formal gardens as you might think in Paris or London) are separate from the museum, are vast, and can be visited any time of the day or night. If you have time and it is not too hot, I encourage you to explore. You can walk from the museum all the way to Piazza del Popolo.

The museum is timed entry: up to 300 people every two hours starting at 9:00. I believe the last tour is at 17:00. If it is going to be a hot day, I would go early. There is no skip-the-line option, but when you enter, consider going upstairs to view the paintings first, while everyone else clusters around the sculptures on the main floor. As the sculpture viewers start coming upstairs, you go down to a smaller crowd. (Of course, many people may be getting wise to this tactic, but it has always worked for us and we've been there 4 times.)

The audio guide is very worthwhile. It adds a lot to the experience.

It takes about 40-45 minutes walking from the Pantheon to the Galleria Borghese.

Reservations are mandatory for the Borghese. Time slots only allow a certain # of visitors inside. Arrive 30 min prior or they may give your ticket away.
The gardens are free, no time limit. There are places to rent bikes or golf carts.

From the Pantheon, which now charges for entry, it's a 45-60 minute walk. There is a tram that connects the two. Either the 17 or 19.

Edit. Was wrong on the tram, the 19 starts by the Vatican.
17 is no longer showing up.

Depending on where you're staying, most likely the Borghese Park will be an uphill walk. The park is quite large. You will enjoy your visit ro the. Villa Borghese. Because the tickets are timed, I see no need for a "skip the line" option.

We walked from our hotel on the via del corso, not far from the Pantheon. It was a pleasant walk, but as pointed out, it is uphill. We had an 11:00 time, with guided tour, and we left the hotel around 9:00. But, we had to pick up our tickets, which they suggest an hour before. After checking in, we walked around the grounds, did a quick sweep through the small gift shop then waited for our guide.

You will enjoy. Due to the limited amount of people allowed in to the museum there is no need to skip. It makes for a pleasant experience as you can view the paintings and sculptures without a lot of congestion.

I visited the Borghese Gallery on June 14 with a 9:00 ticket and walked there from the Spanish Steps. My friend and I were not especially impressed by the Borghese Gardens. If we did it again, we would take a cab. It worked well to be in the 9:00 group, but if all groups are limited to the same number, I can't see that it matters which time slot you choose. I do not usually use an audio guide but found this one very, very good. Everyone in our 9:00 time slot had to leave around 10:50, so don't count on a full 2 hours.

For this museum, it's not just that each time slot is limited to a certain number of people. After the two hour viewing time, everyone has to leave. So, the museum is completely empty when you enter with your group. Therefore, it doesn't matter which time slot you take.

You do need to be there 30-45 minutes before your entry time. You will line up to exchange your voucher/confirmation for your tickets, then check any backpacks and large bags, then rent an audio guide. People start lining up 15-20 minutes ahead of the entry time. The more forward you are in the line, the more time you'll have in the galleries - it takes 10-15 minutes for everyone to enter. As someone else has said, most people start on the lower floor so you'll avoid some crowding by doing it "backwards." As the upper floor gets crowded, go downstairs where it will be relatively empty. You'll have time to see everything and go back to your 'faves.' Another time saver - use the toilet on the ground floor before getting in line, or after the tour. One caveat - I found it a little tricky to use the audio tour because I didn't follow the route it uses. That was several years ago, so it may have changed.

If it's not too late, you could edit your subject line. You are going to the Borghese Gallery, which is located in one corner of the vast, green Villa Borghese. Villa Borghese does not (today) refer to a building, it refers to the grounds of the estate. There are multiple restaurants and a merry-go-round in the park, as well as other amenities. If you take a bus or Metro from somewhere else, you need to study the route carefully. Seeing "Villa Borghese" on the front of the bus or train station does NOT mean that it will be short walk to the Gallery in time for your ticket pickup. Google Maps may help. But I'll note that a few years ago, the bus stop closest to the Gallery was suspended for road construction or something. That's really hard to predict!

From the Pantheon, which now charges for entry, it's a 45-60 minute
walk.

As far as I know, the Pantheon is still free and they haven't initiated an entry fee yet. Very recent reviews seem to reflect that there's been no change there.

Figure out the day/time you want to go and book those tickets online ASAP! I had booked online, but when I was there they were completely sold out for days afterwards and I saw plenty of folks turned away. Use this reservation to your advantage when you plan your day. For instance, you might want to book a time at midday, when it's too hot for other sights. The entry and time allowed inside is set with limited tickets, so there is no advantage in any specific time. Definitely get their A+ audio guide for this. The gardens are very nondescript, there's no reason to plan for extra time in them. It's a pretty good hike from Piazza del Popolo (30min?), it's even farther to the Pantheon. From the Spagna metro stop there's a long underground walkway that gets you fairly close. Personally, I'd just take a cab. Enjoy, it's magnificent!

I book a guided tour because I was not able to get any tickets. I tried a month early and everything was already booked up. So I had to use a group tour. I took a taxi to and from the Spanish steps and it was about 8-9 euros each way. I just did this because I was not going to walk in the June heat. I went in the afternoon and there were no crowds. Just small groups of tourist companies. I had a wonderful guide who had a great story to tell about each art piece that we saw. We were surprised at the crowds this early in the summer. It takes more time than you think to get anywhere!