Is there a queue at Palazzo Braschi?
For the permanent collection, hardly ever. The Museo di Roma is the city's own museum of Rome's history, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. It's housed in the palace rebuilt for Pope Pius VI's nephew, Luigi Braschi Onesti, and its windows look down onto Piazza Navona, one of the busiest squares in Rome. Most of the people in the piazza never come inside.
The exception is the big temporary exhibition. Keith Haring runs until 11 April, and shows like this bring a younger, local crowd, school groups and weekend visitors. That's when the ticket desk at Piazza San Pantaleo gets a line and the exhibition rooms fill up.
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Go when it’s quiet: see live crowds and the hourly forecast.
Which ticket should you buy?
There are three options. The museum and the exhibition are priced separately, so pick based on what you want to see.
For the exhibition and combined tickets, the reduced rate applies to EU citizens aged 6-25 and over 65, active teachers, journalists, and holders of the or a . and go free. For the ordinary museum ticket, check the museum's "Concessions and free admission" page to see who qualifies for €7.50.
Getting in without the wait
- Use the Piazza San Pantaleo entrance (number 10), on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, where the ticket office is. The palace also has an address on Piazza Navona, but the desk is on the San Pantaleo side.
- Book the exhibition online for a weekend visit, and arrive at 10 am.
- See the exhibition first, before it fills, then go up to the quieter permanent collection.
- Don't come at 6:15 pm. Last entry is an hour before closing.
What to see inside
The grand staircase
The palace's most theatrical feature: a monumental double staircase lined with 18 red granite columns, with stucco reliefs drawn from the myth of Achilles. A Roman statue of Neptune stands at the foot.
A gilded carriage
In the entrance passage, look for an ornate painted and gilded gala sedan carriage, made for an 18th-century wedding in Naples.
Second floor: Rome's public life
Rooms of paintings showing the papal city's festivals, ceremonies and celebrations, including a vast canvas of a pageant for Queen Christina of Sweden. There are city views of Piazza del Popolo and the Tiber at Castel Sant'Angelo, and a wooden model of the Trevi Fountain. Further on are the Braschi family's private apartments, with frescoes, stucco and a small, beautifully painted Etruscan Room.
Third floor: the windows over Piazza Navona
Rooms on how the city developed, including fragments of buildings that have since disappeared, with landscape frescoes of Lake Nemi in the Nemi Room. The real draw here is the view straight down onto Piazza Navona and Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers. Few people know you can see it from above.
Keith Haring
The headline exhibition, from 6 October to 11 April, brings Haring's bold, political pop art to Rome. Guided tours of the show run at weekends: on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings. Book online, at the desk or on 060608.
When is it busiest?
Crowds by day and time
From the typical weekly visitor pattern for Museo di Roma - Palazzo Braschi, based on Google’s popular-times data.
Tips for different visitors
History lovers
Rent the €4 audio guide. The permanent collection is about how Rome looked and lived, and the labels don't tell you everything.
Art lovers on a short trip
This is a museum of the city more than a fine art collection. If paintings are your priority, Galleria Doria Pamphilj or Galleria Spada nearby may suit you better. Come here for the staircase, the views and the Haring show.
Families
The exhibition family ticket (€22 for two adults and their under-18s) is good value, but it can only be booked by phone on 060608.
Wheelchair users
The museum says it's fully accessible: a platform stair lift at courtyard level connects to a lift serving all three floors.
Getting there
The ticket office is at Piazza San Pantaleo 10, on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II at the southern end of Piazza Navona. The palace's other side faces the piazza (Piazza Navona 2).
- Bus: the lines along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, including the 40 and 64 from Termini, stop right outside.
- Tram: line 8 to Largo di Torre Argentina, then about 5 minutes' walk.
- On foot: 5 minutes from the Pantheon and 10 from Campo de' Fiori.
On your way in, look at the corner of the palace on Piazza di Pasquino. The battered ancient statue there is Pasquino, Rome's most famous "talking statue". For centuries Romans pinned anonymous satirical verses to it, and people still do.
FAQs
How much does the Museo di Roma cost?
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€13 full and €7.50 reduced for the permanent collection. The Keith Haring exhibition is €17 (€15 reduced), and a museum + exhibition ticket is €25 (€19 reduced).
Is the Museo di Roma free for residents?
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Yes, for the permanent collection, if you live in Rome or its metropolitan area and show proof of residence. MIC card holders also get in free. The free entry doesn't cover the exhibition.
Is the Museo di Roma open on Mondays?
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No. It's open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am-7 pm, and closed on Mondays, 1 May and 25 December.
How long is the Keith Haring exhibition on?
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From 6 October to 11 April, at Palazzo Braschi.
Do I need to book the Museo di Roma in advance?
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Not for the permanent collection: buy at the desk with no booking fee. For the Haring exhibition at weekends, booking online is worth the €1 fee.
Heading to Museo di Roma - Palazzo Braschi?
See how busy it is right now and the quietest hours for your date, then walk in when the line is short.
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How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other, and dated so you know how fresh it is. Last checked 11 November 2026. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.
