Rome Bioparco: opening hours, tickets and visiting the Villa Borghese zoo

Updated on October 5, 2026

The Bioparco, Rome's zoo, occupies the north-east corner of the Villa Borghese, at 20 Viale del Giardino Zoologico. Founded in 1911, it shows tigers, lemurs, flamingos, white rhinos, penguins, sea lions and reptiles in a leafy park. From 29 March to 24 October 2026 it is open every day from 9:30am to 6pm, with last entry one hour before closing. A ticket costs €19 at the ticket office (€14 for children over one metre tall up to age 10 and for over-65s) and admission is free below one metre. Allow 2 to 3 hours.

Highlights

The monumental entrance

The two white Baroque-style pavilions, decorated with statues, that frame the entrance gate on the piazzale del Giardino Zoologico are one of the park's landmarks. The zoo was originally designed on the model of Carl Hagenbeck's gardens, with animals shown in open enclosures rather than behind bars, and it has since become a Bioparco devoted to conservation.

The flamingo lake

A pond at the heart of the park is home to a colony of flamingos, visible from the paths. It is one of the most pleasant spots for a break in the shade of the trees, and one of the most photogenic of the visit.

The animals of Asia and Africa

The route takes in camels, white rhinos, lemurs, tigers, penguins and sea lions. Each enclosure has panels on the species and on conservation programmes. Nocturnal or cold-sensitive animals may stay under cover: do not expect to see them at every hour.

Reptiles and the old parrot pavilion

The Bioparco keeps several old buildings, including a parrot pavilion, and an area devoted to reptiles. They follow one another between shaded paths and ponds, on gently sloping ground with no great distances.

Opening hours and prices

Until 24 October 2026: every day 9:30am-6pm (the extended hours until 7pm at weekends and on public holidays ended on 4 October); after 24 October, winter hours apply, to be checked on the official website. Last entry one hour before closing. Ticket office: full price €19; reduced €14 for children over one metre up to age 10 and over-65s; free below one metre and for people with a 100% disability with a companion. Over-65s pay €9 on Wednesdays, and a last-minute ticket at €9 is sold at the ticket office two hours before closing.

Practical info

Tips

Online prices follow dynamic pricing, which varies by date: compare them with the fixed prices at the ticket office. Because of the presence of West Nile virus in Rome and the Lazio region, the Bioparco recommends protecting yourself from mosquitoes and hands out free repellent at the entrance. The park is a good complement to a day in the Villa Borghese: a picnic by the lake is another option for families. Prices and hours checked in October 2026 on the official website and ticketing pages.

How to get there

Viale del Giardino Zoologico 20, 00197 Rome, at the north-east end of the Villa Borghese, near the National Gallery of Modern Art. Metro line A to Flaminio, then about twenty minutes on foot through the park; trams 3 and 19 to the stop near the zoo. From the Spanish Steps, allow about 30 minutes on foot via the Pincio.