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Domus Aurea

Domus Aurea, Rome: Hours, Address, Domus Aurea Reviews: 4.5/5

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Domus Aurea

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Domus Aurea
4.5
1,365
#71 of 2,224 things to do in Rome
Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks
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9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
About
The imperial estate of Nero was built in 64AD, which is comprised of a series of pavilions, set in an articulated garden with an artificial lake in its center.
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Tours & experiences
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Centro
How to get there
  • Colosseo • 4 min walk
  • Fori Imperiali-Colosseo • 4 min walk
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Popular mentions
4.5
1,365 reviews
Excellent
1,001
Very good
232
Average
61
Poor
39
Terrible
32
Grantshadow
New York City, NY175 contributions
Could be magical place if not for robot guides
Dec. 2021
Utterly boring, unimaginative, robot tour guides ruined what should have been a lively tour through the impressive palace of one of history's most colorful rulers. The two women I had, one English and one Italian guide, were utterly useless "here is a stucco illuminating a man and woman...." , and slowed things down to the point where I had to apologize to my guests. Tour guides like this are what destroy people's interest in history. Maybe in the future they'll just let people go through in their own time and read the signs or get audio guides so they aren't slowed down by these drones.
Written 31 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
elonfirenze
Florence, Italy29 contributions
Incredible spaces, experience somewhat ruined by poorly thought out tour
Nov. 2021
Important note: GOOGLE MAPS GIVES THE WRONG LOCATION (11/21). Entrance is from the Via della Domus Aurea.

Absolutely incredible spaces but oh heavens, the tours!! There’s a great welcome video that gives lots of information with great visuals. At that point, guides should either give a quick tour through the villa, allowing visitors to feel the power and majesty of this millennia-old buried villa, OR they should go through more slowly, using visual aids like iPads or printed posters to help guests envision what it might have looked like in Nero’s time. Instead, our guide tried to explain at great length, in words, how this wall here related to the east courtyard, and what that floor might have looked like, and how this area was a mirror image of this other, and on and on. It was as tedious as it was absurd — because we knew from the opening video that wonderful reconstructions have been made, which would be so much better than verbal description and so much more meaningful seen in the actual space! Maybe put this lower down on your list until they figure out a better experience.
Written 28 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
shakirayork
York, UK549 contributions
Near to Coloseo Metro
Nov. 2021 • Friends
Always since a child wanted to visit Nero’s Golden House. Seems to now to be open at more times. It’s huge of course. Quite difficult to walk around ref the shingly surface, which is not helped by people allowing their children to dredge the surface with their feet. Obviously will take a huge time to archaeologists to find out all about the huge huge palace. The guide was reasonable if a little vague and unfocused. The easiest place to enter is almost next to the Coliseum Metro, otherwise you end up on a unmarked hike up hills and down dales. Two or three mins from the metro. Up into a park which is not so well kept. The way from Monti is baffling. Includes just signs for Rome zoo for some reason.
Written 13 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Louis C
14 contributions
Beware Google Maps
Oct. 2021
The excavations of the Domus Aurea are far more extensive than when I first saw it in 2004. Much more to see and you can begin to appreciate the vastness of the building. Beware, however, if you use google maps it will take you on a wild goose chase and dump you far from the entrance: the actual entrance is a stone’s throw from the Colosseum. We were one of three groups walking and walking and getting nowhere until we found a local and he pointed us in the right direction.
Written 4 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
David P
1 contribution
A completely worthless exhibition.
Sep. 2021 • Solo
The weekday tours are absolutely worthless. You barely get to see anything of Nero's palace (which is probably why you'd consider going there in the first place). Instead, you're getting something that looks like a parody of an interactive exhibition. It's something you'd imagine that some pretentious art student might do as a school assignment and it tells you virtually nothing about the history of the place. Definitely not worth the 13 €.
Written 1 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
ginsengNewYork
new york1,168 contributions
BETTER VISITS DURING THE WEEKEND ! DE PREFERENCE LE WEEKEND!
Aug. 2021
Watch out : Weekdays visits are possible, but are unguided and shorter. Hence, it is preferable to book a visit on Saturdays or Sundays.
However, if, like me, you can only visit on a weekday, it is still worth it !
One cannot help but being impressed by the engineering and sheer scale of this complex that included several buildings, large gardens and a huge lake.
A complex that Nero's successors tried to annihilate ( buildings were vandalized then buried, the lake was dried up to give way to the Colosseum, etc, etc).
Therefore, what is called the Domus Aurea, is a large archaeological zone, a work in progress whose most beautiful space is the "cenatio rotunda", an octagonal dining room that rotated on itself, was cooled by a diverted spring, and was topped by an immense ceiling in the shape of a celestial vault, lit during the day by a huge occulus.
Presently (august 2021) there is a special exhibit on Grotesque art, which is derived from the decorative frescoes of this very palace. It is very interesting (spanning from Raphael to Surrealism), and interactive as well (great for children and grown ups).
In the white heat of summer, visiting these large cool rooms is pure delight!

To get there, you have to find the Parco del Colle Oppio, off via Nicole Salvi, right across from the Colosseo. Enter the parc, home to students, old ladies feeding pigeons, and homeless, and on your second left, up a small hill, you will find the unassuming entrance to Domus Aurea.
ENJOY !
Written 17 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
kgkjgkjg
Washington DC, DC187 contributions
interesting
Aug. 2021
The experience has changed, at least during covid. No hard hats and no VR goggles. But what you do get is still impressive and interesting.
Written 14 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
tiz S
Rome, Italy190 contributions
Refined wall paintings
Jun. 2021 • Couples
The “golden house” is monumental and charming. You can tell Nero was truly in love with the arts. The rooms’ vaults and walls are decorated with refined, sophisticated, and delicate wall paintings in fourth pompeian style. It was interesting to see one of the earliest ceiling mosaics ever (the one with Ulysses) and the famous hall with the so-called golden vault. Through the holes of this vault the famous Renaissance artists such as Pinturicchio and Signorelli lowered themselves down to admire and copy the wall paintings. The exhibition about the Grottesche in the octagonal room was great but I was disappointed with the section dedicated to the spread of the Grottesche around the world - there was no mention of the Raphael Loggias in the Hermitage commissioned by Empress Catherine II in the late 1780s.
Written 27 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jon L
Olathe, KS242 contributions
Time travel to ancient Rome
Jan. 2020
We were in Rome 10 years ago and I don't think they even had tours back then, so I wanted to finally see this. Buy your tickets online in advance, they only tour on weekends in small groups. We wore hardhats and walked through what they've excavated of Nero's palace from the first century. We had an English-speaking guide, and they do a fantastic (multimedia) job of explaining what you're looking at. At one point, you put on some VR goggles in a room and they bring the room to life, as it was, overlooking the valley with Nero's artificial lake (before they built the Colosseum there later.) It was incredible, like time travel. Cannot recommend this more highly. Also, the Google maps directions to the entrance are wrong. Ignore them, you'll get lost.
Written 19 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
majesty318
Rahway, NJ1,620 contributions
The best thing I did in Rome
Jan. 2020
This was without a doubt one of my top two experiences in Rome. First off, to find the entrance, use the CoopCulture website (where you book the tickets) and go to the map. This will allow you to open in Google maps and the pin is exactly the coordinates for the entrance. If not, it is a bit tricky to find.

I was early and they checked me in but advised I needed to wait until the exact start time. We were a small group, fewer than 10 people, which was great - everyone could see and hear. The ruins are just incredible - how is it possible for such a vast and impressive palace to be underground, and so well-preserved! and it also contains the most incredible virtual reality experience; you truly feel you are in the palace as it was in ancient history.

Because they are still excavating, you can only do the tour on the weekends. Your ticket cost goes toward the cost of continued excavation/ restoration. So it's not only fascinating but also a good cause.

Seriously do this. It is stunning.
Written 4 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Domus Aurea
Domus Aurea is open:
  • Sun - Sat 9:00 am - 6:30 pm
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Domus Aurea tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 12 Domus Aurea tours on Tripadvisor