Visit the Bioparco di Roma, Rome’s zoo in Villa Borghese

Hello my loves, as you might have noticed, it is getting hot in Rome, and for me that means I want to be outside all the time, since my room heats up like a sauna. Rome has some wonderful parks where you can go for a picnic or a walk, but last week I went on a new adventure and visited the zoo in Rome. The zoo, or Bioparco di Roma, is located in Villa Borghese, and in the future I will dedicate an entire article to Villa Borghese and everything you can do there. For this article, however, I will tell you all about the Bioparco di Roma, what it is, what to see, how to get there, and whether it is worth visiting.

What is the Bioparco di Roma

The first thing I want to say in this article is that I am not the biggest fan of zoos. In 2026, animals in captivity are not really my vibe, but I wanted to give the Bioparco a chance, and I will explain why.

The zoo in Rome is over 100 years old and first opened in 1911. Throughout the years, a lot has changed. In 1994, the idea of transforming the zoo into a Bioparco arose, and in 1998 the project officially came to life. In 2004, it was transformed into a foundation, representing a radical change and a natural evolution of the concept of a traditional zoological garden.

Today, the Bioparco di Roma promotes biodiversity conservation through the protection of endangered species, environmental education, and scientific research, in line with the idea of a more modern zoo. These three pillars, conservation, environmental education, and scientific research, are central to their mission and are explained clearly on their website.

Animals at the Bioparco di Roma

The Bioparco di Roma houses more than 1,200 animals from around 150 different species, including reptiles, mammals, and birds. These animals are not purchased or taken from their natural habitat, but are either acquired through the network of zoological facilities coordinated by the EAZA or were born at the Bioparco itself.

During your visit, you will encounter many different animals, both big and small, such as giraffes, deer, lions, and monkeys. Besides the larger animals, there is also a reptile house where you can find reptiles, amphibians, birds, and invertebrates.

There are also a couple of aquatic animals, and I must say, I never expected to see penguins in Rome, but well, here we are.

While walking through the Bioparco, I almost forgot I was in Rome. Its location inside Villa Borghese makes it feel like a peaceful oasis, and if you are looking for a quiet escape from the hectic city, I would highly recommend coming here.

Ticket prices and opening hours

At first glance, the ticket prices for the Bioparco seemed a little expensive to me. However, since the money also goes towards things like research and conservation, I personally think the price is understandable.

A regular ticket to the Bioparco costs 19 euros. There is a reduced ticket price of 14 euros for senior citizens, children up to 10 years old who are taller than one metre, and groups. Children under one metre tall can enter the Bioparco for free, together with carers for disabled people. Disabled visitors pay an entrance fee of 11 euros.

The opening hours are quite extensive, but they do depend on the season in which you visit. From January 1 until March 28, the park is open from 09:30 until 17:00. From March 29 until October 24, the Bioparco stays open a little longer, from 09:30 until 18:00. From October 25 until December 31, the opening hours return to 09:30 until 17:00.

During spring and summer, there are extended opening hours until 19:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, which is definitely good to know.

The last entrance to the park is 60 minutes before closing time, so keep this in mind when planning your visit. Some animals also enter their night quarters before closing time, including the reptile house, which also closes 60 minutes before the park itself closes.

If you want to buy tickets for the Bioparco, you can either purchase them online through the official website or directly at the ticket counter. Personally, I bought my ticket directly at the entrance and encountered no problems at all.

How to get to the Bioparco di Roma

As mentioned in the introduction, the Bioparco di Roma is located inside Villa Borghese, one of the most beautiful parks in Rome. The official address is Piazzale del Giardino Zoologico 1, located on the edge of the park.

To get there, the easiest option is probably the metro. You can get off at Flaminio station on Metro Line A. If you are not very familiar with the public transportation system in Rome, I also wrote a helpful guide about public transport in Rome, which might make your trip a little easier. From Flaminio station, it is about a 20-minute walk to the zoo.

There are also several buses that stop near Villa Borghese, from where it is around a 15-minute walk to the Bioparco. A good stop to get off at is Victor Hugo/Museo Bilotti. Buses 61, 89, 160, 490, 495, and 590 all stop here.

Is the Bioparco di Roma worth visiting?

Now, of course, an important question is whether the Bioparco di Roma is actually worth visiting. If you are only in Rome for a couple of days, I would say you could probably skip it. However, if you are visiting Rome for a second time, travelling with children, or staying for a longer period, I would definitely say it is worth it. When the weather is good and you are looking to spice up your stroll through Villa Borghese, I absolutely recommend visiting the zoo.

What I especially liked about the Bioparco is that they have picnic areas where you can relax, as well as playgrounds if you are visiting with children. They also indicate specific feeding times for certain animals, so you can watch the feedings during your visit. Of course, there are also small restaurants, kiosks, and toilets throughout the park, so overall I think it makes for a really lovely day activity.

The Bioparco itself is quite large, and if you want to see everything without taking long breaks, I would say you need around two hours. However, if you are visiting with friends or family and want to include a picnic or some playtime, I would recommend setting aside a few extra hours to fully enjoy the experience.

Conclusion

Even though I always have mixed feelings about visiting zoos, I had a great experience at the Bioparco di Roma. The weather was great, and it was lovely to see all the animals. If you have ever visited the Bioparco di Roma, I would love to hear your opinion about it, and if you are planning your visit, have fun at the zoo!

With much love,
Juliette