domus aurea virtual reality tour

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Domus Aurea Tour (Nero’s Golden House)

Explore Nero's incredible Golden House and relive the excesses of the ancient emperor

Price 69 €

(103 Reviews)

• tour overview
• tour description
• tour reviews

duration 2 hours

group size Max. 22

Tour Overview

Descend into the lost world of ancient Rome and relive the opulent life of antiquity’s most notorious emperor on our exclusive tour of Nero’s Golden House. The emperor’s vast palace - known as the Domus Aurea because its every surface glittered with gold – was ancient Rome’s most spectacular building, and scarcely believable highlights included a rotating dining room open to the starry night sky and a massive artificial lake. Nero’s immense party pad was bulldozed and buried to make way for the Colosseum shortly after his suicide, but on this tour you’ll have the unique opportunity to wander its soaring halls again accompanied by an expert archaeologist. We’ll be able to envisage the palace in all its original glory just as it was in the time of Nero himself - keep your eyes peeled and you might just catch a glimpse of his ghost roaming the abandoned halls! *** All participants 18 and over must book as adults, there is no older student discount available for this itinerary, and due to new regulations for Domus tickets, all participants must provide full names immediately upon booking ***

• Exclusive access to the Domus Aurea
• Tickets and reservation fees
• Expert English-speaking archaeologist guide

• Stunning ancient frescoes
• The Octagonal room
• The Room of Achilles and Skyros
• The Room of Hector and Andromache

Tour Description

Discover ancient rome's best kept secret.

Your tour begins immediately after a brief introduction to the site's historical context provided by our archaeologist. Don your hard hat and you are ready to start your journey! 

We offer two special experiences on this tour: an incredible exploration of the colossal spaces of Emperor Nero’s villa, the famous Domus Aurea (Golden House), recently reopened to the public in a remarkable state of conservation, that gives you the chance to relive the splendour of the palace's rooms, gardens and incredible porticos. 

We only offer this tour of Nero’s Golden House on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Fascinating History of Nero's Golden House

The Domus Aurea was an enormous complex of buildings, courtyards and gardens that extended from the Palatine Hill to the Esquiline Hill in Rome, covering the whole of the Oppian Hill - that’s an area of over 90 hectares!

Nero's main residence was on the Palatine, and from there an incredible number of buildings branched off which are still connected today via giant underground arcades (such as Nero’s Cryptoporticus, still accessible today and part of his Domus Transitoria on the Palatine Hill, which was destroyed by fire in 64 AD). Much more than a house (domus in Latin), it was a city within a city that unfolded around a vast artificial lake, the Stagnus Neronis (where the Colosseum would later be built). The buildings were surrounded by cultivated land, vineyards, pastures and forests filled with all manner of domestic and wild animals. In the main courtyard of the Domus stood a colossal statue, representing Nero as the Sun God. The pavilions on the Oppian Hill alone consisted of 200 rooms, many of them rediscovered by archaeologists, and which you will explore on our visit to Rome's most exclusive site. 

The huge complex of the Domus Aurea was designed for the emperor’s enjoyment in his free time. There he could stroll and feast with guests whilst enjoying beautiful works of art. The Golden House itself is a wonder in terms of architectural elegance and was filled with prized paintings and sculptures, many of which were collected or confiscated by the emperor in various provinces of the Roman empire. Probably among these were the original bronze of the Dying Gaul and the Galatian Suicide, taken from the Acropolis of Pergamon, and the famous statue of the Laocoon, which was found during the Renaissance and today can be found in the Octagonal courtyard of the Vatican Museums. If you want to learn more about this magnificent statue and see it for yourself, check out our  Immersive Vatican Museums tour.

Nero undertook the creation of The Domus Aurea after the terrible fire of July 64 AD, which blazed for nine days and destroyed as many as 10 of the 14 districts into which the city was divided. The damage was extensive, and many perished. According to legend, Nero enjoyed the spectacle of Rome in flames, which reminded him of the destruction of Troy. However nothing could be further from the truth - his own Domus Transitoria was badly damaged and historical sources tell us that the emperor returned quickly from Anzio to Rome - about 70 km away - to coordinate relief efforts. Nevertheless, his enemies spread the word that Nero himself had started the fire in the Circus Maximus and from there it was simply unstoppable. Most likely to create a scapegoat for himself, Nero blamed the Christians and instigated one of the most famous and bloody persecutions in history. Among the murdered Christians, the apostle Peter was crucified; centuries later, the site of his burial would become St. Peter’s Basilica. 

Incredible Architecture and Jaw-Dropping Frescoes

Nero entrusted the project of his Golden House to his renowned architects, Severus and Celer. The works were completed at an incredible speed, with many of the contructions being completed in just 4 years. The remarkable life of Nero came to an end in 68 AD, when Nero committed suicide before the army and the Senate could find him to sentence him to death for killing his mother, Agrippina, and his wife. Despite Nero’s immensely controversial life, he was proud of the achievement of the Domus: the ancient historian Suetonius cited him as saying: "Good, now I can at last begin to live like a human being. He died shortly after, aged just 31.

Suetonius described the rooms as follows: parts of the house were overlaid with gold and studded with precious stones and mother of pearl. All the dining rooms had ceilings of fretted ivory, the panels of which could slide back and let a rain of flowers, or of perfume from hidden sprinklers, fall on his guests. The main dining room was circular, and its roof revolved slowly, day and night, in time with the sky. Seawater, or sulfur water, was always on tap in the baths.

Suetonius coined the name of the Domus Aurea (Golden House) because "everything was covered with gold and covered with precious stones and shells." The most impressive spaces of the Domus Aurea are unquestionably the various rooms and courtyards, many of which have been completely restored and are part of our unique tour. 

Wander through the incredible halls of Nero's pleasure palace

Our Domus Aurea tour starts in what was a huge porch with columns; we then move on to a grotto containing a large bath with a small waterfall - even though the space is covered, it is anything but dark. Light enters from the side windows of the porch: accentuated in the changing reflections of the water, it bounces off alabaster walls and ceilings and creates a wondrous light, much like a spotlight on a river. Here we're close to the original pentagonal courtyard, which is remarkable in terms of size and structure, and just a stone’s throw from the lush gardens. From here the tour continues to the east wing of the Golden House, where the architects Severus and Celer reached the pinnacle of their trade in the Octagonal Room, the architectural heart of the complex. We'll pause for a moment before admiring the two adjacent rooms: the Room of Achilles and Skyros and that of Hector and Andromache, absolute treasure-troves of brilliantly preserved frescoes.

Next, we proceed to admire the most exclusive of all the spaces: the Octagonal Hall itself, where the magnificence of Nero’s palace never fails to leave us stunned. Our gaze is automatically drawn to the ceiling which is perforated by the form of an open eye that would have revealed an infinite expanse of space filled with stars. From this romantic and ingenious viewpoint, Nero’s fortunate guests would lie on couches and feast whilst admiring the cosmos and the works of art in the centre of the room. This incredibly ambitious structure was a unique innovation in Roman architecture, and it is no coincidence that it became a model to be emulated - such as in the majestic Pantheon.

Read more on our blog:  Nero's House of Gold and his eccentric life

Buried, Forgotten and Rediscovered: The Domus Aurea after Nero

After the death of Nero, a time of political instability followed. The emperor Vespasian firmly took hold of the reins of empire, and headed in a new direction with his government. The gardens of the Domus Aurea, disliked by the people and the senators as a symbol of Nero’s clear abuses of power and waste of money, were returned to the Romans. In just ten years the site of the original artificial lake of the Domus was transformed into a huge amphitheatre, inaugurated by Vespasian's son and new emperor Titus in the year 80 AD to host gladiator battles, which by then were very popular throughout the empire. The giant statue of Nero, created in the image of the Sun God, was moved near the entrance of the amphitheatre using 24 elephants! It was from this colossal likeness that the adjacent amphitheatre took its name - the Colosseum.

Over the coming decades the emperor Trajan successfully inflicted lasting damage to the posthumous memory of Nero, damning his name and ordering the destruction of any artifact bearing his name or image. The Domus Aurea was buried by the majestic Baths of Trajan; the Domus Aurea, a kingdom of light, was scattered and cast into the shadows where it became a kingdom of darkness.

It was only in the early 1500s that interest in the Domus was reawakened, thanks to the irrepressible passion for ancient texts and remnants that animated the culture of the Renaissance. Renaissance artists often braved dangerous conditions and ventured on nocturnal expeditions into these damp tunnels, looking for evidence of Rome's past. The most noble among these expeditioners was the Umbrian painter Pinturicchio, handsomely rewarded by the Borgia pope Alexander VI for decorating his apartments in the Vatican palace. Torch in hand, he ventured into the Domus' caves accompanied by Raphael and his assistants, where they studied and sketched the strange tangled forms and bizarre figures they saw in its frescoes. Inspired by these underground journeys, he reproduced what he saw in many of the Renaissance palaces he was hired to decorate. The artists' signatures are still engraved on the ancient ruins, and our archaeologist will help you to locate them and appreciate their meaning.

Amazing 3-D Animations on our Domus Aurea Tour

What we offer on this guided tour is a real Roman journey to discover the city's ancient splendour - a voyage into both the palace's physical remains and virtual recreations of what has been lost, bridging the gap between modern times and the days of Nero. Thanks to today’s technology, we can superimpose a virtual reality of the past onto the incredible ruins of the Domus Aurea - thick walls traversed by light flooding in from arcades, and beautiful fountains tinkling merrily in porches beyond. Even the palace's fragmentary frescoes are recreated in their entirety, and in their splendidly vivid colours we can admire the famous "grotesque" style that captivated the Renaissance artists who ventured into its dark tunnels, at first with no idea of where they were. Thanks to these virtual recreations, today we can appreciate Nero's love of art and the striking works housed within his Domus Aurea as never before - indeed, as only the emperor Nero himself and a few select guests enjoyed it in the past. For Nero’s palace was designed for the pleasure of only one man: himself. Once a palace of light before it was cast into centuries of darkness, today it is again illuminated, throwing its rays onto porches and windows, onto marbles and precious gems that endlessly fragment and disperse their light. You will see what Nero saw as you stroll unnoticed through his great palace. As you do you can almost feel a foreboding presence, threatening and lost in distant steps that echo down the centuries.

After your two hour tour you will have a new knowledge of Ancient Rome, taking home not only beautiful photos but also great memories of a truly unique experience.

Tour Reviews

5.0 (103 reviews)

I highly recommend it, it is an amazing sight not to be missed. The tour guide was great and very knowledgeable. The excavations are still ongoing and it was very cool to be walking around such an enormous structure that is still in the process of being discovered. The renderings throughout provided an extra visual and the virtual reality was a great experience. We were part of a small group and had two children with us, an 8-year-old who enjoyed the virtual reality and a 1-year-old. We had no problem pushing a stroller around and we were not required to wear any hard hats. My only complaint was that our tour time was changed a few times from 9:45 am to 9:30 am to 3:30 pm but the original booking on Viator never updated with the new times so it was a bit confusing. There was a phone number provided to call that spoke English which helped to clarify and confirm the booking.

Stephanie - Aug 10, 2024

I loved this tour! The VR and video aspects really help you to visualize the palace at the height of its beauty. My guide was wonderful. Smart, extremely knowledgeable and funny. She brought the space alive. Seeing ancient frescos and tiled floors was a real thrill.

Kati - Aug 03, 2024

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Book Domus Aurea Tickets & Tours in Rome

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Top things to do in Rome

Visiting the Domus Aurea, the Golden House

Domus Aurea is the former home of Emperor Nero built on the Oppian Hill after the great fire in 64 AD destroyed a major part of the city. Also known as Nero’s Golden House, Domus Aurea now stands as testimony to the glorious and historic past of Rome. Read on to know more about why you should take the Domus Aurea tours, what you can see there, how to reach the attraction, the facilities available, and more.

Why Visit the Domus Aurea in Rome?

• Fascinating History: Domus Aurea boasts of a fascinating history and is believed to be the biggest house to have ever been built in Rome at the time. It was built in a remarkably short time and was personally overseen by Emperor Nero himself
• Beautiful Artworks: The palace is home to some beautiful works of art including frescoes, mosaics, and paintings depicting women and floral and mythological scenes.
• Get A Glimpse Of Nero’s Extravagant Lifestyle: The Domus Aurea tours offer a glimpse into the luxurious and extravagant lifestyle of Emperor Nero, who built the palace for pure pleasure instead of a place he could reside in.
• Beautiful Scenery: The palace boasts of stunning views of the surrounding lake, vineyards, and fields that have remained relatively untouched since Emperor Nero's day. It also houses the beautiful gardens of Colle Oppio Pavilion.
• Virtual Reality Experience: Get a glimpse of Domus Aurea’s glorious days through special lighting effects and illuminated reconstructive panels specially designed to give visitors a virtual 3D reality experience.

Your Domus Aurea Ticket Explained

Guided Tour of Domus Aurea with Virtual Reality Experience

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

• The best and only way to access this beautiful archaeological site in Rome is by opting for a guided tour.
• These tickets allow you to explore Emperor Nero’s former palace and hear fascinating stories and interesting trivia about the history of Domus Aurea from an expert guide.
• You also get to enjoy a virtual reality experience that offers a glimpse into the site’s glorious past.

Cancellation Policy

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Explore the Domus Aurea in Rome

Octagonal Room

One of the most beautifully preserved rooms in the Domus Aurea is the Octagonal Room. This eight-sided room opens into five small chambers with remains of frescoes in some of them, and also has an opening for light to come in. The room was believed to have been covered in mosaics and used as a dining room to host parties.

Domus Aurea Convivium Room (Dining Room)

Another interesting and carefully preserved room inside the palace is the Domus Aurea Convivium Room, which continues to maintain its original wall paint and mosaic floor. Historians believe that the room was painted black to hide the stains that the smoke from the open fire would create on the walls.

Frescoes on the Walls and Ceiling of the Domus Aurea

The Domus Aurea is home to some beautiful frescoes and mosaics, most of which are damaged and continue to pose a challenge to archaeologists wanting to preserve them. You will be able to spot them with the help of good lighting and an expert guide. Some of the notable ones include the Pompeian-style frescoes, depictions of Anubis, and the Hector and Andromache frescoes.

Ulysses and Polyphemus Mosaics

One of the most prominent mosaics is one that depicts Ulysses and Polyphemus located on the vault of the Nymphaeum inside Domus Aurea. Located high on the ceiling, this octagonal artwork with gold leaf traces is important because it is one of the first and finest examples of figurative mosaics. It depicts Ulysses offering some wine to Polyphemus.

Colle Oppio Pavilion

The south of the Domus Aurea is home to the magnificent gardens of the Colle Oppio Pavilion. Soak in the breathtaking views of the surrounding lake, vineyards, ornamental fountains, and fields that have remained almost untouched since Emperor Nero's day. The gardens span over 125 acres and extend into parklands and lakes.

Plan Your Visit to Domus Aurea in Rome

Domus Aurea is open from Friday to Sunday from 9 AM to 6:15 PM.

Closed: It remains closed from Monday to Thursday.

Best Time to Visit

Entry to the Domus Aurea is limited therefore you will not experience too many crowds either in the high season or low season. You are advised to book your tickets in advance to secure your spot at the Domus Aurea when you visit.

Address: Via della Domus Aurea, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Getting There

You can reach Domus Aurea via bus, metro, or taxi.

• By Bus: Board buses 51, 75, 85, or 87 and get off at the Colosseo bus stop. The meeting point is just a 5-minute walk from there.
• By Metro: Board metros MEB or MEB1 and get off at the Colosseo station. The meeting point is just a 5-minute walk from there.
• By Taxi: You can also hail a cab which will drop you to the park entrance. The main door is hardly a 2-minute walk from there.

There are two entrances to the Domus Aurea - Via della Domus Aurea and Via di Serapide.

The Via della Domus Aurea is located just a few steps away from the Colosseum while Via di Serapide is located near the Colle Oppio Pavilion.

• Domus Aurea can only be accessed through guided tours.
• There are no cloakrooms or storage facilities available at the site.
• The Domus Aurea tours include an expert guide, which is why no audio guides are available.
• There is a ticket desk at the entrance from the Oppian Hill Park in case you need any information.
• Drop in at the bookstore located at the entrance before or after your tour.
• There are toilet facilities available at the Domus Aurea.

• The tour is wheelchair accessible.
• The use of the Oculus Rift device for prolonged periods is not recommended for children under 13 years of age as well as people affected by epilepsy or serious eye diseases.
• The attraction in itself is partially accessible to wheelchair users since excavation work is still in progress. Those with reduced mobility may not be able to access all sections of the palace.

Here are a few restaurants near Domus Aurea for you to dine at:

• Royal Art Cafe Roma: This upscale Italian restaurant offers spectacular views of the Colosseum along with delicious food, drinks, beer, and wine located just 210m away.
• Pasqualino Al Colosseo: Enjoy a traditional Roman meal at this restaurant 400m from the Domus Aurea while soaking in the magnificent views of the Colosseum and the neighborhood. 
• Ristoro Della Salute: Gorge on a wide selection of pizzas, pastas, salads, meat and fish items, and other traditional dishes while sipping on some heady cocktails at this nearby restaurant 230m away.
• Hostaria Al Gladiatore: Located in Piazza del Colosseo about 290m from the Domus Aurea, this restaurant is known for its Mediterranean and Roman cuisine especially carbonara, gricia, amatriciana, and cacio e pepe.

Imperial Rooms ( 120m ), B&B Domus Aurea ( 200m )

Hotel Lancelot ( 290m ), Hotel Capo d’Africa - Colosseo ( 220m )

Palazzo Manfredi ( 50m ), Hotel Celio Roma ( 180m ) 

• Book your tickets online and well in advance because the attraction can only be accessed via a guided tour and admission to the site is limited.
• Don’t forget to wear a face mask.
• Make sure you wear comfortable footwear since you will have to do a lot of walking inside Domus Aurea.
• Make sure you’re wearing a jacket or something warm because temperatures inside the palace can be as low as 10 degree Celsius.
• Domus Aurea is shut on weekdays as restoration work is still in progress.
• Avoid carrying luggage or any big suitcases or backpacks since there is no storage facility available at Domus Aurea.
• Photography is permitted inside the attraction. However, taking pictures or recording videos of the multimedia production or virtual reality experience is strictly prohibited.

• Colosseum: Located in the center of the city just across the street from the Domus Aurea, the Colosseum is the largest standing amphitheater in the world that once hosted gladiator games. Visit the Colosseum and learn about its bloody past and fascinating history.
• Roman Forum: Originally a marketplace, the Roman Forum was the place where public meetings, gladiatorial combats, and law courts took place. It was lined with open-air markets and surrounded by ruins of important government buildings of the time.
• San Pietro In Vincoli: Built during the 5th century, San Pietro In Vincoli is a Roman Catholic titular church and minor basilica that houses Michelangelo’s statue of Moses and the relic of Saint Peter's chains when he was imprisoned in Jerusalem.
• Borghese Gallery: Located in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana, the Borghese Gallery houses the greatest collection of Bernini statues and several paintings and artworks by artists like Bellini, Raphael, Titian, Rubens, and Caravaggio.
• Palatine Hill: The most famous of the seven hills in Rome, Palatine Hill is considered the birthplace of the Roman Empire because it was home to several aristocrats and emperors of the time. It is now largely an open-air museum housing excavations from the hill and other ancient sites of Italy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Domus Aurea Tickets

A. Yes. Domus Aurea tickets are available online . Book in advance to secure your spot on your Domus Aurea visit.

A. The Domus Aurea tour tickets include access to the palace, an expert guide fluent in English and Italian, and a virtual reality experience depicting the glorious past of the ancient Roman attraction.

A. No. Currently, there are no discounts available on Domus Aurea tickets.

A. The Domus Aurea tour tickets cannot be cancelled or rescheduled.

A. Domus Aurea is a palace built by Emperor Nero Claudius in 64 AD.

A. The Domus Aurea tour tickets include access to the Octagonal Room, the beautiful gardens of Colle Oppio Pavilion, Domus Aurea Convivium Room, and the stunning frescoes and mosaics drawn on the walls and ceilings of the palace.

A. There are no skip-the-line tickets available for Domus Aurea tours since entry to the attraction is limited to 20-25 visitors at a time.

A. It takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to complete a Domus Aurea tour.

A.   Domus Aurea is open from Friday to Sunday from 9 AM to 6:15 PM.

A. The Domus Aurea is located in Parco del Colle Oppio (also known as the Oppian Hill Park) in Rome, Italy.

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More currencies, domus aurea experience with virtual reality.

Explore Emperor Nero's former pleasure palace with an expert guide by your side. Relive the glory of the Golden House through an immersive reality experience.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Domus Aurea - Nero's Golden House along with a virtual reality tour of its glory back in ancient Rome.

Virtually whizz past Nero's underground galleries where he hosted his wild parties, to the Great Hall adorned with gold and precious stones.

Listen as your multilingual guide narrates how Nero had an artificial lake built st the palace, that was later replaced by the Colosseum.

Marvel at the frescoes and mosaics that served as inspiration for Italian greats like Michelangelo and Raphael.

Did you know? It's believed that Nero started the Great Fire of Rome intentionally to clear land for this Golden Palace!

Entry to Domus Aurea

English and Italian-speaking guide

VR headsets

Cancellation policy

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Your Experience

Domus aurea in 3d.

Get an idea of Emperor Nero's taste in extravagance with this guided tour of his Domus Aurea, or the Golden House, which was designed purely for pleasure. Once consisting of 300 rooms, the massive structure is estimated to have a total area 25 times that of the Colosseum. Allow your imagination to turn the excavation site into a glorious structure of gold, jewels, and ivory. Special lighting effects, illuminated reconstructive panels, and video mapping of the entrance gallery will help you along your quest. A complete Oculus immersive reality experience will reconstruct the Sala della Volta Dorta just as it should have been in Nero's time.

Nero's Golden Palace

Take a moment to marvel at the rare intricate frescoes and vibrant mosaics that have withstood the test of time. When the site was unearthed, great Italian artists like Michelangelo and Raphael were lowered into it, where they admired and drew upon the existing frescoes for inspiration. Along with a look into Roman antiquity, the tour will also grant views of the surrounding lake, vineyards, and fields that have been relatively untouched by time since Nero's day.

Know Before You Go

Accessibility.

• This experience is not suitable for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.

Additional information

The Domus Aurea is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Guests can use the Forum Pass to visit the Imperial Forum, the Roman Forum, and the Palatine in a single tour.

The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill will remain open for one hour every Sunday as a single tour.

Keep in mind that guests will need to collect the ticket from the office to enter Palatine Hill and the Forum.

All guests must go through an airport-style security check at entry for maximum safety. Expect to stand in line.

It is not necessary to print out the ticket, guests can show them on their smartphones.

Small dogs are allowed inside the open areas of the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill only.

Therapy dogs are allowed inside with documentation.

The venues shall remain closed on the following dates: October 6,

November 3 & 4, December 1.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your visit to avoid any delays.

Meeting Point

Meet your guide at Domus Aurea .

Address: Via della Domus Aurea, 00184 Roma RM, Italy.

Get Directions to the Meeting Point

Getting There

The closest bus stop is Colosseo. It is a quick 5-minute walk to the meeting point.

Board buses 51,75,85, and 87 to get you there.

The closest metro station is Colosseo. It is a quick 5-minute walk to the meeting point.

Board metros MEB and MEB1 to get you there.

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Colosseum & Domus Aurea Virtual Reality Tour | Semi-Private

What to expect

This tour is currently unavailable as we are waiting for the Colosseum to re-open this venue. In the meantime, we recommend our top-rated Express Colosseum Gladiators Gate & Arena Floor tour as a great alternative.

LivTours Colosseum and Domus Aurea Virtual Reality Tour is a must for visitors interested in getting a visual idea of what Ancient Rome looked like 2,000 years ago. You will enjoy LivTours exclusive priority access during this entire tour. You and your semi-private group, of no more than six people, will be guided throughout the Colosseum with an expert local guide sharing with you the tales of gore and glory as you look down on the very arena floor where battles were fought, as it all comes to life!

Your journey does not stop here, as your guide will accompany you and your semi-private group just a short walk outside the Colosseum to the ornate Domus Aurea, Nero’s Golden Palace! Strategically built for Nero right in the heart of the Eternal City. You will gain an understanding of the connection between the world’s greatest arena and the world’s most hated emperor, Nero.  Virtual reality reconstructions of this palace will give you an idea of the wealth and opulence of the Roman Empire in its prime!

Why book this tour

• Enjoy an outstanding semi-private tour of the Colosseum with a dedicated expert guide
• Hear stories about one of the most infamous emperors of Rome - Emperor Nero
• Experience the still preserved Emperor Nero's home, the Golden House, firsthand
• Soak up the details of what daily life was like in Rome over 2,000 years ago

Semi-Private tours and experiences are guaranteed six participants max.

Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)

Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English

Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system

Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions

Tour gallery

Read more about your Colosseum and Domus Aurea Tour

**All Colosseum tours require photo ID for all participants; plan to bring your passports on the day of your tour. Failure to show identification will result in the denial of entry to the site.**

Your LivTours Semi-Private Colosseum and Domus Aurea Tour starts just outside the Colosseum Metro Station, where you and your semi-private group will be met by your expert LivTours guide. You guide will then accompany you into the Colosseum with priority access, allowing you direct entry! Once inside, you will be given a brief intro of this impressive 160-foot high structure, which was once the site of gladiator games, mass crucifixions, and exotic animal fights – to name just few uses!

Your expert guide then take you to ancient Rome’s greatest arena, the Colosseum. Making your way up into the seating area, you are sure to be inspired as you stand where over 50,000 Roman spectators once stood in high anticipation of the games. It is here that one million lives were lost in battles, as crowds roared at the gore and emperors smiled with grim satisfaction. The Colosseum is undoubtedly one of the greatest entertainment venues in the world and your expert tour guide will bring the ancient battles to life.

Nero’s Golden Palace – the Domus Aurea Once you have finished exploring the Colosseum, you and your semi-private group will now take a short walk to the Colle Oppio Park,  located just down the street of the Colosseum. Upon arrival, you will be given hard hats to wear during your discovery of the home of one of the most notorious emperors in all of Roman history – Nero. You may have heard these stories of the great Roman fire during Nero’s reign, but it is likely you have not heard what he did afterward. He built himself a palace, covering a mere 200 acres as only Emperors can do. You and your semi-private group will be seeing a few of the highlights of this extravagant home.

By now you will have a good idea of what ancient Rome really looked like through virtual reality simulations. At the Domus Aurea you will enjoy Augmented Reality of Nero’s Golden Palace and what it would have looked like when it was at its height.

Your LivTours guide will accompany you to this active excavation site, so get your hard hats on! Travelers will be left in good hands with a Domus Aurea official English-speaking tour guide who specializes in either Art History or Archeology. Please note that your group will now increase in size (up to 22 people) as per Domus Aurea excavation ground policy. The archeological guides are just as passionate about history.

LivTours has combined two iconic sites of ancient Rome – the Colosseum and Domus Aurea – so you get a complete overview of the life of an average citizen from 2000 years ago and learn how it differed from that of a wealthy citizen or even an emperor.

This Tour Includes

• As seen on National Geographic Travel
• Priority entry into the Colosseum
• Main Floor & 1st Ring
• Domus Aurea Archeology and VR Tour

Know before you go

• Guests with limited mobility or accessible needs will find difficulty with this itinerary proposed in this tour. In order to ensure a barrier-free tour with alternative routes, please book the private version of this tour.
• Please note that all Colosseum tour starting times are subject to change based on ticket availability.
• All Colosseum tours require photo ID for all participants ; plan to bring your passports on the day of your tour. Failure to show identification will result in the denial of entry to the site.

Our Sustainable Tourism Promise

LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry.   LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism  and how LivTours is contributing, click here .

About our Semi-Private tours

All LivTours Semi-Private Group Tours are limited to 6 guests per tour guide. Our commitment to maintaining our uniquely tiny group sizes can sometimes be a little tricky, mathematically speaking. For example, we want to ensure that traveling families and friends can tour together so on rare occasions we may add one or two guests in order to not split groups. On that same note, you may also find yourself on tour with less than six people! We thank you for your understanding and flexibility .

Fun and interesting tour

We chose this tour for 2 reasons: it included the Domus Aurea (Nero's Golden House which is totally underground) and also had the virtual reality tools, which we figured would help get our two pre-teens more interested. For these reasons -- and many more -- this was a fantastic tour which we can heartily recommend. (By the way, the virtual reality glasses make it fun for the adults as well as for the kids!)

Colosseum and Domus Aurea

We had the best experience throughout the whole tour - every place was amazing but what really made the tour so great was Giulia! She was so welcoming to our group and paid attention to what we were interested in and wanted to see. We can't say enough great things about her! The Virtual Reality was very cool because it helped you to visualize what it would have looked like back in time. At Nero's palace we had an archeologist take us underground -- just fascinating. Overall, it was the best tour we had in Italy!

Don't miss Nero's Domus Aurea when you visit the Colosseum

Our guide, Tom, was full of very interesting and memorable information. This small group tour was fantastic. Seeing the Colosseum is one thing but seeing the above and underground Colosseum is absolutely the way to go. Nero's Golden House is awesome as well. It's all buried underground and it's amazing to see how they are slowly excavating the many rooms. This tour will always stick in our memories as "one of the better ones".

A great tour for the whole family

What a great tour! Melanie is full of facts and tells the story of these amazing historical places in such a way that she takes you back in time! This was our last tour in Rome and she was awesome! She genuinely loves her job and her enthusiasm reflects it in her work. This was one of the highlights for my two teenagers thanks to Melanie keeping their attention and making ancient Rome come alive for them! A once in a lifetime experience!

Excellent tour

My wife and I visited Italy for our honeymoon. On our last day in Rome we spent the afternoon with a small group led my Melanie touring the Colosseum and Nero's palace. The sights were spectacular and brought to life by Melanie’s knowledge, enthusiasm and passion. 3 hours flew by as we walked through ancient Roman ruins and listened to Melanie paint a picture of Rome during its rise and fall. We highly recommend this tour, even more so if you’re lucky enough to have Melanie as your guide.

Choose dates later / Buy as a gift

By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here .

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