Piazza del Popolo
Rome, Italy
MAXXI, Rome
i
Photo: Elenuar58, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Ticket
- ≈ €12–15, depending on exhibitions
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Opening hours
- Tue–Sun ≈ 11:00–19:00
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
i
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 2 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Closed
- Mondays
- The piazza
- Free — with a café and installations
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Location
- Via Guido Reni 4A; tram 2 from Piazzale Flaminio
Key facts
2010the museum opened in Zaha Hadid's building
Sourcei
English WikipediaStirling Prizewon by the building in 2010
Sourcei
English Wikipedia2 museumsMAXXI Art and MAXXI Architecture under one roof
Sourcei
MAXXI websiteConcrete and glasscurving galleries under a louvred glass roof
Sourcei
English WikipediaFlaminiothe district near Renzo Piano's Auditorium and the Olympic Village
Sourcei
English WikipediaZaha Hadid's building
Zaha Hadid designed MAXXI, and the building, opened in 2010, is the main reason to come. It flows like a riverbed: long concrete galleries curve, cross and overhang each other, while a louvred glass roof filters light in soft bands. In the central atrium, black staircases hang in mid-air — one of the most photographed spots of 21st-century Rome.
It won Britain's Stirling Prize for the year's best building. Outside, a massive cantilever with a panoramic window juts over the piazza, as if about to lift off.
Exhibitions
Two museums share the building: MAXXI Art, for contemporary art, and MAXXI Architecture, with archives and shows on 20th- and 21st-century architecture. There's no permanent display in the usual sense — the galleries host changing exhibitions of painting, installation, video, photography, design and architects' projects. Check the programme online before you go; it also sets the ticket price.
Who was Zaha Hadid?
Zaha Hadid (1950–2016) was a British-Iraqi architect and the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize. Nicknamed the 'queen of the curve', she avoided right angles in favour of flowing lines; her other works include Baku's Heydar Aliyev Centre and London's Aquatics Centre. She won the MAXXI competition in 1998, and the decade-long build made it a symbol of a bold new Rome beside the ancient one.
How the visit works
You enter through a glass foyer with the ticket desk, bookshop and café. From here five galleries on three levels curve like tubes, linked by stairs and ramps, so every visit feels a little different; Gallery 5 at the top ends in a window over the rooftops of Flaminio.
What to see
- The atrium's black stairways — the museum's signature shot.
- Gallery 5 — the top gallery with its panoramic window.
- Temporary exhibitions — art, architecture, photography.
- The piazza — free, with installations and a café.
- Bookshop — architecture and design titles.
- Renzo Piano's Auditorium — 10 minutes away.
The Flaminio district
MAXXI sits in Flaminio, a calm district north of the centre. Nearby are Renzo Piano's Auditorium Parco della Musica, three beetle-shaped concert halls, the Ponte della Musica over the Tiber and the 1960 Olympic Village. It's modern Rome without the crowds.
The piazza in front often hosts installations, and summer brings outdoor concerts and cinema. It and the café are free — sit and watch the building.
How to get to MAXXI
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- Metro line A to Flaminio, then tram 2 to Apollodoro — 10 minutes.
- Buses 53, 280 and 910 to Via Guido Reni or Via Flaminia.
- From Piazza del Popolo, 25 minutes' walk up Via Flaminia.
- The Auditorium Parco della Musica is 10 minutes away on foot.
Is MAXXI worth it?
Yes, if contemporary architecture and art interest you, or you've done ancient and Baroque Rome and want a contrast. Hadid's building impresses even people who skip the exhibitions. If you love only the classics, spend the time in the centre.
Before you go
Ready: 0 of 5Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser.
You are ready for the visit
Rome's museums: compare and choose
Museums in Rome rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Sistine Chapel | 64 | 30 min | Vatican Museums ticket ≈ €25 | 3.0 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castel Sant'Angelo | 57 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €15–20 | 2.8 km |
| Domus Aurea | 49 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ €18, with VR ≈ €26 | 4.7 km |
| Ara Pacis | 47 | 1 h | ≈ €13–15 | 44 min walk |
| San Luigi dei Francesi | 47 | 20 min | Free | 3.2 km |
| Galleria Borghese | 45 | 2 h | ≈ €18 | 45 min walk |
| Vatican Museums | 44 | 3 h | ≈ €25 | 45 min walk |
| Capitoline Museums | 43 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ €15–19.50 | 4.1 km |
| Baths of Diocletian | 42 | 1 h | Basilica free; museum ≈ €10–12 | 3.9 km |
| Galleria Doria Pamphilj | 39 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €16–18 | 3.6 km |
| Palazzo Farnese | 39 | 1 h 15 min | Paid, booking only | 3.7 km |
| Imperial Fora | 38 | 1 h | Free from the street; museum ≈ €13–15 | 4.1 km |
| Palazzo Barberini | 37 | 2 h | ≈ €15 | 3.4 km |
| Villa Farnesina | 37 | 1 h | ≈ €12 | 3.8 km |
| Palazzo Massimo | 34 | 2 h | ≈ €10–12 combined ticket | 3.9 km |
| MAXXIyou are here | 32 | 2 h | ≈ €12–15 | — |
| Ostia Antica | 31 | 3 h | ≈ €12–18 | 24.4 km |
Popolo to Flaminio
Piazza del Popolo, then up Via Flaminia to MAXXI and Renzo Piano's Auditorium.
- Piazza del Popolo30 min · Free
- 36 min walk from the previous stopMAXXIyou are here2 h · ≈ €12–15
2 places · about 3 h 6 min with walks · 36 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- The building itself is the main exhibit.
- The piazza and café are free.
- Closed on Mondays.
- Renzo Piano's Auditorium is nearby.
Questions
How much are MAXXI tickets?
About €12–15, depending on exhibitions.
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday–Sunday around 11:00–19:00; closed Monday.
Who designed MAXXI?
Zaha Hadid; it opened in 2010.
How do I get to MAXXI?
Metro A to Flaminio, then tram 2 to Apollodoro.
What is there to see?
The building itself, with its floating black stairways, and changing art and architecture exhibitions.
How long do you need?
1.5–2 hours.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- MAXXI official website
- English Wikipedia, MAXXI
Top YesGo picks: Rome
Pantheon
Rome, Italy
Trevi Fountain
Rome, Italy
Colosseum
Rome, Italy
St Peter's Basilica
Rome, Italy
Sistine Chapel
Rome, Italy
Archbasilica of St John Lateran
Rome, Italy
Roman Forum
Rome, Italy
Circus Maximus
Rome, Italy