darlenef17

When purchasing advance tickets, I prefer to go through the venue rather than a third party to save on the commission fees.

When I go to what I think is the Borghese Gallery official website and click Online Booking or Make a Reservation, it directs me to Ticket One, a broker.

The price on the Borghese Gallery website is 9 euros, but through Ticket One the cost is 13 euros.

Can anyone tell me if this is the only way to book in advance? Am I on the correct website? This is the first booking I've come across that cannot be done directly, so I thought maybe I was on one of those websites that looks official, but isn't.

This is where I've been going:

http://www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/einfo.htm

Suggestions and information welcome.

Thank you!

adrienne

<< Can anyone tell me if this is the only way to book in advance? >>

It's clearly indicated that you can call to buy tickets.

"Information and tickets booking
tel. +39 06 32810"

Or you can go to the museum and buy tickets but you're taking a chance that they may be sold out for the dates you want.

darlenef17

I'm sorry that wasn't clear. I know that calling is an option.

I was trying to find out if online booking directly with the gallery is available.

It appears not to be.

adrienne

It used to be that you made a reservation and then paid for your ticket when you went to the museum but it hasn't been that way in several years. Now you have to book on their booking site and pay for your ticket in advance. You can shop around and see if you can find a better price from some other booking site.

adrienne

You could ask your hotel to book the tickets for you and that would only cost an extra E2 booking fee so you would save E2.

I looked at a couple of other booking sites and they were a lot more money than the Borghese site - E17 and E18.50.

wanderful

I bought a ticket to the Borghese a few days ago.

Darlene17, you're on the right track. A few more buttons, and you land here:

http://www.tosc.it/tickets.htm?affil...78&language=en

Then you pick the specific day and time you want. I, for example, am going on May 16 at 11 am for the two-hour visit. You can secure tickets now if you're not going too far in advance. They seem to allow tickets purchases for two months in advance. My ticket total came to 14.5 euros, or around $18 at the current exchange rate.

I've been to the Borghese twice before. I can tell you, without question, it is worth it.

kybourbon

>>>Can anyone tell me if this is the only way to book in advance?<<<

You can pay any number of resellers that mark the tickets up if you want.

>>Am I on the correct website?<<<
Yes.

>>>This is the first booking I've come across that cannot be done directly, so I thought maybe I was on one of those websites that looks official, but isn't.<<<

I'm surprised. I'm not aware of any official museum websites in Italy that don't roll over to their booking agent.

javafan1

Make sure to get the audio guide for 1 additional euro when you check in. Well worth it.

darlenef17

Wanderful - we will be there 10 days behind you! Hoping Rome isn't yet hot in late May.

Wanderful and kybourbon - Thank you for confirming that I was on the correct website. The fact that I was redirected to what appeared to be a 3rd party was throwing me off, but now I understand that this is their booking agent. Off to purchase tickets now!

kybourbon - So far, I've only booked the Scavi tour and Brancacci Chapel, so I don't have any other experience, and they were direct. Thank you for the information. Now I will be prepared for other bookings that "roll over."

javafan1 - Thank you for the tip on the audio guide. Will plan to get that.

adrienne

I've done both the audio and docent-led tours and thought the docent tours were better than the audio. The English docent tours are only available in the early time slots.

darlenef17

We have an 11:00, so the docent tour will be available. Thanks for the recommendation.

I've read that you need to be there anywhere for 15-45 minutes early to pick up your tickets and check ALL of your items. Is this correct?

I've also read of people complaining as their purses, etc. were "hanging on a rack" and not secure, and of concerns regarding leaving passports, money etc. at the door. Is this a valid concern? Comments on this?

It would be very inconvenient to leave everything at the apartment and then have to go back there to get it after the tour, so I do hope that security of personal items left with the staff is not an issue.

kybourbon

Yes, you must get in line to retrieve your tickets. Then you must get in another line to check your belongings. You can't take any bags in, not even a purse/camera. They give you a plastic bag to put your wallet in and you carry it with you.

wanderful

I also have a tour at 11am, on May 16. Maybe I'll do the docent tour. Nice tip.

I've gone to the Brancacci Chapel twice in May, both times with reservations. The first time, in 1999, there was a long line when I got there in the late morning and strict rules about how long you could look at the frescoes. I think we had only 15 minutes before the next group came in. The second time, in 2009, there was no line at all when I arrived, again in the late morning. A reservation wasn't even needed. And they allowed visitors to stay in the chapel as long as they wanted.

I would get to the Borghese at least a half hour before entry. The grounds are lovely. I've always had my travel bag with me and I've never had a problem with its security.

darlenef17

>>>They give you a plastic bag to put your wallet in and you carry it with you.<<<

Good to know! Thank you for the information.

We'll plan to get there at least a half hour early.

adrienne

I would allow 30 minutes for the ticket retrieval and bag check. If there are 2 of you then you can split up.

The rules seemed to change each time I visited the Borghese. What's funny is that one time I was there the plastic bag they gave me was larger than the purse I had around my body and it swung from my hand rather than being secure across my body. More of a likelihood of hitting something with the plastic bag than with my purse.

In terms of the bags hanging on a rack - the check room where your belonging are kept is behind the museum personnel and not accessible to the general public. One would have to climb over the counter and knock out the museum staff before they could steal anyone's purse. It's just as secure as any other museum check room.

kybourbon - I've not been to the Borghese since the old reservation days where you did not purchase your ticket until you arrived at the museum. Isn't the on line booking an eticket or is it a paid reservation.

Anyway - stand in the lines before you do anything else such as use the rest rooms.

darlenef17

I normally always take my tablet with me.

Anyone experienced problems or have reservations about leaving an expensive electronic device or smart phone?

These restrictions seem excessive, but will not deter us from going. I'm just trying to determine what, if anything, should be left behind at the apartment.

Items of concern:

Passport, credit cards, money. (Okay, as we will be given a plastic bag for these and allowed to carry?)

Camera
Phone
Tablet

The last 3 items are worth over 1,000.00 cumulatively, thus my concern. I'm sure thousands of visitors leave such items, and that there is no cause for concern.

I wanted to double check on this forum because I've found that my soundest advice comes from Fodorites!

Thanks!

jent103

I left my SLR camera, wallet and iPod in my purse without incident. As mentioned above, the bag area is fully staffed - I remember the room being a little more open, perhaps, than other museums, but it's not like anyone could just walk up and take your things. My passport stays in the room.

They did let me keep my Blue Guide with me in the museum. We didn't take a tour or get the audioguides (not sure why!), so that was very helpful.

msteacher

Remember that the issue is the bag, not the specific items, so if you have small things like money, passport, or phone, you can usually just carry them in your pocket.

adrienne

I don't think your tablet will fit in the plastic bag. Do you need to carry the tablet with you when you're sightseeing? You have the phone for internet access and aps plus a camera for photos. The tablet seems redundant.

No photos are allowed so I don't think they will let you take the camera into the museum unless it's a small, slim camera that you can tuck into your pants pocket. You can perhaps take the phone but if you're worried you can put it in your pocket. The don't want purses/packs swinging around during the visit. They do not make you turn out your pockets.

I left my camera in my bag that was checked. I don't think it's a problem.

AJPeabody

We were there in May. Arrive at least 30 min in advance. There was a line for the tickets, another to check your things, another for the rest room, another if you wanted to buy a bottle of water, etc. If you arrive too early, well, it is in a nice park.

The great sculptures are on the first floor and it seems everyone starts there. There are good paintings and such on the second floor. If you go to the second floor first, it will be mostly empty. After half an hour, head downstairs, and, by the last half hour of the 2 hour viewing period, the sculpture rooms will be nearly deserted. Doing a reverse tour makes for fantastic viewing.