Emperor Nero built the extravagant Domus Aurea imperial house in the 1st century AD.
It was the largest house ever erected in Rome during that period.
Due to its size, luxury, and use, archaeologists called it ‘Versailles in the heart of Rome.’
The attraction, which spanned a vast area between the Palatine, Esquiline, and Caelian Hills, was an architectural marvel of its time.
This article shares everything you should know before buying tickets for Domus Aurea.
Table of contents
| Tour | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2-hour guided group tour of Domus Aurea | €91 |
| 90-minute Domus Aurea, Nero’s Golden House tour | €xx |
Things to know before booking tickets
You can book tickets for the Domus Aurea online or at the attraction.
If you arrive at the venue to buy tickets, you must line up at the counter. During peak times, these lines can get long, and you will waste your time.
Online tickets for the Domus Aurea tour are usually cheaper than those sold at the venue.
You also get your preferred time slot when you book online and in advance.
Online tickets also help you avoid last-minute disappointments when tickets get sold out.
To book tickets, visit the ticket booking page and select your preferred date, time, and number of tickets.
After the purchase, you will receive the tickets in your email. You don’t need to take any printouts.
Show the e-ticket on your smartphone and exchange your voucher with the TOURISTATION staff located next to the gate of Via di Domus Aurea.
Look for staff with a red jacket and an orange umbrella.
Domus Aurea tickets
Exploring Emperor Nero’s luxurious palace near the Colosseum is a fascinating experience!
You can pick from two ticket options – a 2-hour guided tour or a shorter 90-minute tour.
2-hour guided group tour
Enjoy a unique opportunity to explore one of Rome’s most exclusive ancient sites with a 2-hour tour.
When you walk inside the excavated remnants of Nero’s Golden House (Domus Aurea), you’ll be taken back to the Roman Empire’s magnificent glory.
Learn about Nero’s interesting life and times.
If any traveler has mobility concerns, please get in touch with the activity provider during the booking process to get suitable accommodations.
A valid student ID must be shown on the tour day to earn the student discount.
Please note that students must pay the full admission fee if they do not have valid IDs.
Cost of tickets
Domus Aurea ticket is priced at €91 for all visitors aged 18 years and above.
Children aged five to 17 get a €10 discount and pay only €81 for entry.
Infants up to five years old get free admission.
Adult (18+ years): €91
Child (5 to 17 years): €81
Student (18 to 24 years): €81
Infant (up to 4 years): Free
90-minutes quick tour
This 90-minute tour will help you discover Nero’s Golden House, the Domus Aurea, and its luxurious past.
See the relics of wealth from the past, such as exquisite frescoes and marble walls.
A professional guide will help you learn about the site’s underground lakes, soaking baths, and rotating dining rooms.
A passport or ID card for children is a must.
Cost of tickets
Domus Aurea ticket is priced at €50 for all visitors aged 13 and above.
Children aged 12 and below can also buy tickets at the same price.
Adult (13+ years): €50
Child (up to 12 years): €50
Buy a Roma Pass and visit one or two of Rome’s top attractions with access to public transport. Choose either a 48-hour or a 72-hour pass and get direct entry into the city’s famous gems.
Frequently asked questions about tickets
Here are some questions tourists ask before purchasing their tickets for Domus Aurea in Rome.
Children aged up to five years can enter the attraction free of cost.
Yes, tickets are available at the venue’s ticket office. However, the tour has a very high demand and limited slots, so getting them online in advance is better.
Visitors can present their tickets on mobile devices, but printed tickets are also accepted at the attraction. You can show your smartphone ticket at Via della Domus Aurea and Via Nicola Salvi. Show your voucher to the Touristation staff carrying an orange umbrella next to the gate. Exchange your smartphone ticket for an official ticket.
The Museum has limited slots every day at 9.30 am, 10 am,11:45 am, 2 pm, 3.45 pm. Entry is allowed for no more than 23 people in one slot. Arrive well in advance of your preferred timeslot, keeping in mind the time for a thorough security check before entry.
Entry to the attraction after you miss your slot will not be allowed under any circumstances.
The attraction offers discounted admission tickets to children aged between six and 11 years.
Unfortunately, the attraction does not offer a dedicated student discount on admission tickets. However, children aged up to five get free entry, and children between six and 11 get reduced tickets.
The attraction does not offer a military discount on its admission tickets.
The Roma Pass has not yet included the attraction in its go-to sightseeing list.
This attraction of Rome has a strict non-refundable ticket policy.
This means that once you purchase tickets, you cannot receive a refund regardless of the reason for cancellation or no-show.
This policy applies to all ticket types, including adult, child, and discounted tickets.
The attraction does not allow you to change the date and time of your visit under any circumstances.
The attraction is an all-weather experience, so all tickets are final.
The Domus Aurea tour is not suitable for wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments.
Entrance to the attraction is accessed via Colle Oppio Park.
The temperature in the domus is around 10 degrees. Appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Wear proper walking shoes because this tour includes steps, staircases, and uneven ground.
It may be essential in some areas, but not always.
The tour lasts about 90 minutes to 2 hours (depending on the type of ticket you have booked).
Timings
Domus Aurea opens at 9.45 am and closes by 5 pm from Monday to Sunday.
If you booked a guided tour, check your tickets for timings, which may vary.
The guided tours usually take 90 minutes to 2 hours.
However, if you are a history or archaeology buff, you may prefer to spend hours exploring the palace and its surroundings.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit the Domus Aurea of Rome is when it opens at 9.45 am.
Early mornings are usually less crowded, allowing ample time to explore the attraction peacefully.
Weekends and holidays are busy with tourists, so weekdays are best for a calm and uninterrupted trip.
What to expect
If you’re a history or archaeology buff, you’ll be smitten with this secret underground palace.
Impressive excavation work has revealed the hidden part of the Domus, and many areas are now open to the public.
You will see how the palace became Nero’s power symbol.
The palace was adorned with a grand statue of Nero himself, the Colossus Neronis, which stood at the entrance.
When you visit the attraction, you will see the remains of the architecture, including rooms, corridors, and the layout of the complex. Some parts have frescoes, wall paintings, and remnants of the once-elaborate decorations.
Your guide will provide historical insights into Nero’s reign, the Great Fire of Rome, and the significance of the Domus Aurea in Roman history and architecture.
What not to miss at Domus Aurea
Here are some major highlights that you shouldn’t miss on your tour.
The mighty corridors
Walking into the Domus Aurea is like entering a maze of wide hallways.
Long and wide with high ceilings, the corridors are now built of exposed brick.
Many of the original decorations are gone, but many are still visible.
But even when they are not, the Domus Aurea’s hallways leave a lasting effect.
Their size is a resounding testimony to the size of this palace.
The frescoes on the walls and ceiling
The tour focuses on architectural features and highlights some of the stunning paintings and mosaics that still exist today.
Although most decorations are broken, enough illumination makes it easier to find them and makes the experience rewarding and pleasant.
The Pompeian style, Andromache frescoes, the famous Hector in the final room, and Anubis are worth mentioning.
The mosaic and Ulysses and Polyphemus
The Domus Aurea has several water basins, one of which has a unique mosaic depicting Ulysses and Polyphemus.
The mosaic adorns the ceiling and is both beautiful and historically significant as one of the first examples of figurative mosaic work.
The convivium room
The dining room is one of Domus Aurea’s oldest surviving and most interesting rooms.
Unlike the others, this room still has its original mosaic floor and wall paint.
The XV-century ceiling holes
Several large holes can be observed in the ceiling of Domus Aurea’s rooms.
Built in the XIV century by thieves, they climbed down into the Domus to steal important materials and jewels!
The holes are intriguing, and the story behind their formation is one aspect that sets the Domus Aura apart.
The octagonal room
The trip concludes with the octagonal room, which is unique.
According to ancient historians, the Domus had a spinning dining room, and the effect it must have left has been replicated with a light show.
How to reach
The Domus Aura is in Rome’s city center, more precisely on Oppian Hill.
Address: Via della Domus Aurea, 00184 Roma RM, Italy. Get Directions
You can either drive to the attraction or use public transport.
By Metro
If you take B1 or MEB (Blue Line), get down to Colosseo (the nearest metro station) or Cavour (850 meters from Domus Aurea).
By Bus
You can get down at the Colosseo (Buses: 51, 75, 85, 87, 117, nMB, 400 meters) or Cavour/Annibaldi (Buses: 75, 117, nMB, 650 meters) bus stops.
By Car
You can take your car or rent a cab to Domus Aurea in Rome.
To get a start, open Google Maps and start navigating!
Car Parking
There are several parking lots near Domus Aurea.
Sources
# Viator
# Get Your Guide
# Which Museum
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