Choosing your park at a glance
| Park | Why go | Entry | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villa Borghese | Pincio view, lake, museums, cycling | Free | 1 hour to half a day |
| Villa Doria Pamphilj | Pines, big lawns, quiet | Free | 1 to 2 hours |
| Villa Ada | Lake, relaxing, summer concerts | Free | 1 to 2 hours |
| Villa Torlonia | Casina delle Civette, 20th-century history | Park free, villas paid | 1 to 2 hours |
| Villa Celimontana | Quiet garden behind the Colosseum | Free | 30 to 45 min |
| Rome Rose Garden | Roses, view of the Circus Maximus | Open in spring | 30 min |
| Botanical Garden | Greenhouses, bamboo grove | Paid | 1 hour |
| Aqueducts Park | Ancient arches in the countryside | Free | 1 to 2 hours |
The most famous: Villa Borghese
North of the Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese is the visitors' park: the Pincio terrace overlooks Piazza del Popolo and the dome of St Peter's, the lake and its little temple can be toured by rowing boat, vendors rent bikes and rickshaws, and the Borghese Gallery (by reservation) stands among the pines. It is also home to the Bioparco, Rome's zoo, ideal with young children. The park is free and open all day.
The largest: Villa Doria Pamphilj
On the Janiculum, west of Trastevere, Villa Doria Pamphilj is the largest public park within Rome's walls. You come for the walk rather than for a monument: pine groves, lawns, a lake and a waterfall, and the Casino del Bel Respiro, an official residence seen from the outside. It is less touristy than Villa Borghese. For an afternoon mixing park and city, continue down to the Janiculum and Trastevere.
The quieter villas
- Villa Ada: the former estate of the royal House of Savoy, in the north of the city, with a lake and long paths. In summer it hosts open-air concerts.
- Villa Torlonia: Mussolini's residence from 1925 to 1943, it houses the Casina delle Civette with its Liberty-style stained glass and other 19th-century pavilions. Visit it together with the nearby Coppedè district.
- Villa Celimontana: a small public garden on the Caelian Hill, behind the Colosseum, quiet even in high season. A jazz festival is held there in summer.
Roses, greenhouses and themed gardens
The Rome Rose Garden, on the Aventine, opens only a few weeks in spring: check the page for this year's dates. The Botanical Garden of Rome, at the foot of the Janiculum, brings together greenhouses and a bamboo grove. The Orange Garden, on the Aventine, is above all a viewpoint over the Tiber and the dome of St Peter's, with free access.
Gardens that are also ancient sites
The Aqueducts Park is a countryside park east of the city crossed by huge arches of Roman aqueducts: you come for the landscape, away from the crowds. It combines well with the Appian Way, itself a regional park that you explore on foot or by bike. The Circus Maximus, a vast grassy esplanade at the foot of the Palatine, serves as a lawn in the middle of the centre.
Our tips
- Water and shade: in summer the parks are cooler than the city, but distances are long. Bring water and see our guide to toilets and drinking fountains.
- Hours: the big parks close at sunset or stay open round the clock; small gardens have fixed hours. Check each sight's page.
- By bike: several parks are flat or gently sloping; see Rome by bike.
- With children: Villa Borghese (Bioparco, bikes, lake) is the simplest choice; see also Rome with children.
- Safety: after dark, avoid unlit paths.
Going further
For more walks in the city, see what to do in Rome in one day and, for rainy days, Rome on a rainy day.
