Rome

Domus Aurea Tour-Golden House of an Emperor With VR Experience

Rome, Italy

Domus Aurea Golden House of an Emperor Private Tour

1 hour 35 minutes
Offered in: English

Overview

Venture into one of the most ornate villas built during the Roman empire with this tour that includes a virtual reality experience. Known as the “Golden House”, this vast pleasure palace built by Emperor Nero once boasted rooms decorated with frescoes that later inspired Raphael and Michelangelo. Learn about the villa’s history and architecture from your guide and visit the special exhibition dedicated to Raphael inside.

Visit one of Rome’s top ancient palaces overlooked by most tourists
Use VR headsets to see what the villa looked like at the height of its glory
A guide for insights into the construction of the villa and its interiors
Includes a guided visit to the special Raphael exhibit in the Octagonal Room

What's Included

One admission to the Domus Aurea
compulsory guided tour (Only Authorised by Domus Guide)
VR-Glass during the weekend and summer everyday domus authority arranged

Admission to other sites
Private transportation

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Via della Domus Aurea, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
***IMPORTANT NOTICE: After your Viator booking confirmation must wait for the next confirmation email where send your Actual voucher to go directly to the Domus entrance 20 minutes before joining the tour authorized by Domus Aurea. please don’t go with a viator voucher to the Domus Entrance!

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Ticket Redemption Point

Via della Domus Aurea, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

What To Expect

Domus Aurea

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Domus Aurea

1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Inside the Domus the temperature is around 10 degrees. Appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended
The Domus Aurea does not have a cloakroom for visitors and it is not possible to leave it in a trolley case.

It is not possible to leave luggage.
Photographic and video shooting of the multimedia reproduction of the Stufetta del Bibbiena in room II are strictly forbidden.
After receiving your Viator voucher don't go to the attraction directly with the booking voucher which is not your entry ticket. kindly wait for us and we will communicate with you via email or WhatsApp to send to your direct E-voucher 48 hours before your trip to go there directly to join the tour .
Refunds will not be issued if the activity is missed due to late or non-arrival.
VR-Glass during the weekend and summer everyday domus authority arranged
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

3.5

41 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 41 reviews

Don’t Trust this Vendor they are TERRIBLE

Brett_S, Feb 2024

Canceled without notice at the last minute .. no communication.. stated “bad weather” .. it was 60 degrees Fahrenheit … poor vendor, very disappointed

Response from Host, Feb 2024

We are sorry for the inconvenience, domus is an restricted site which is not our property, it's an Italian government property, we are tour operator company and as same we booked in advance ticket with domus office and sell through online. So if they cancel our reservation to show the weather issue then we have to do the same things . We are not horrible company as it's not a horror movie production. Before post any feedback first read the instructions .thanks for your understanding.

Not what I expected.

Bronwen_T, Jan 2024

Seeing the actual building, learning about all the discovery and seeing the faded frescoes and thoughts on what the rooms might be used for was what I was looking for. Instead we heard a great deal about Egypt. While a part of Nero's life, it certainly wasn't the main focus of his life. As the previous guests were leaving we hear such wonderful comments on the tour!!! I honestly couldn't get out of there fast enough. While our tour guide was sweet she didn't have the best command of the English language and she was very soft spoken. In a group of 6 I missed a lot of what she had to say. I would also have liked to purchase the book but they didn't sell any items there. So if you're early go to the Palatine book shop ahead of time. We were the last tour of the day on our last day in Rome. No book for me. I was awestruck by the building. The drawings of the complex, and amazed at the short time it took to build all of it!! It truly is amazing and I would suggest going to see it anyway as many parts are gone and still crumbling. Who knows how much time it has left. We will go again and fingers crossed we get a better guide.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

This is domus tour we are not the authority and guide of the domus tour, we are a tour operator company that took the booking and provided the ticket to join the domus tour, domus authority organizes this tour with a domus guide if the guide is not good it's to our responsibility this information is mentioned into the tour itinerary, so next time before book any service firs tread the tour all details then please book with private online companies, thanks for your feedback!

Disappointed

Christy_E, Dec 2023

This was the biggest waste of time and money. We left early it was so bad. The tour guide literally told us nothing about the building we were in - what different things we saw were used for, etc. Instead it was all about Egyptian history (which apparently Nero was fond of). I can read history on the internet, I wanted to hear about the Domus.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

VR is not available

Catherine_F, Nov 2023

Very very disappointed to find that this tour does not exist at all. When we arrived we found that the VR is not offered during the week. The Domus Aurea runs the tours and told us that at this time of year it is not offered on weekdays and that all tour companies and vendors are aware. We declined to enter as this was the point of our visit. And to clarify - I did reach out and converse via email prior to purchasing with a viator rep who assured me the vr would be happening. Had I not been assured of it I would not be as frustrated with the dismissive reactions to my complaint. We did use viator for other experiences with good results but the lack of accountability to this obvious mistake on their part would make me hesitant to use again.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

You guys are really poor tourist overall in tourism history. First thing you didn't booked directly with domus website your tour .you booked with private company and domus authority if didn't provide the VRA glass during the weekend it's not our responsibility. We can't do anything if they don't provide it. Our other clients also like you didn't receive the VR glass but they really don't like you guys who already did the chargback , it's not a free service and only for the VR glass you didn't paid. So looks how poor tourist you are which you already proved. Tourist like you definitely not a real traveler who didn't do any traveling around the world. Otherwise they after the tour you can't take full money from your bank. It's really low mentality you guys already showed which other tourists can understand easily. Thanks for your feedback.

A not to be missed Roman experience

Kathleen_F, Nov 2023

An incomprehensible archeological wonder 50 feet below the entrance that is full of architectural majesty and mystery. The virtual reality experience at the end is the glue that puts the imagination to rest.

Venue Not delivered as promised

Hope_J, May 2023

You canceled my tour and substituted a festival. Very disappointing and unprofessional. You also never answered my emails about refunding my money for 11 tickets.

Response from Host, May 2023

we informed you before and you guys accepted the tour festival to join us and we paid the domus for the tour in the afternoon, so if you don't go to join then its not our fault, if domus operates a festival tour and we have to offer this tour for all, it may domus not operating any general tour. so we informed all of our travelers what is available. we did our best to prove you with the best service, we are sorry for the inconvenience

Magic

Katarzyna_L, Feb 2023

The virtual reality experience is really a fantastic addition to the tour. You will travel in time. Highly recommended!

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Thanks for your feedback!

Tour of Nero's Domus Aurea was Indeed Golden

Nathan_G, Oct 2022

Great tour of what's left of Nero's palace. The tour takes only about an hour, but in that short time, you'll get to see amazingly preserved frescoes, hear interesting stories from an archaeologist guide, and, best of all, you'll be treated to a virtual reality tour of Nero's palace. That was definitely the highlight. It's like a form of time travel that will bring you back nearly two thousand years to wander through Nero's palace. You'll even exit through the front to view Rome as Nero would have seen it from his palace. Really neat. If I could give this tour six stars, I would, just for the virtual reality part.

Ancient Ruins Brought to Life

Arthur_Y, Oct 2022

Our tour guide was very good and the movie and VR experience really brought these ancient ruins to life.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

thanks for your feedback!

It was super ! We have...

jan_g, May 2022

It was super ! We have done before bur now with the 3th dimensional glasses … it was super and …we have two super guides !!! We like it !!!

Response from Host, May 2022

thanks for your feedback

Go 'Underground' to Experience the Oldest Part of Rome!!

DeborahW_W, Jan 2022

Daniele and the Domus Aurea tour are fantastic, a real must-do in Rome! Meeting was timely and the value of being able to see inside the 'Golden House' of Nero was priceless. Daniele was so knowledgeable and passionate about this Roman treasure and it made the ancient experience come alive. Small group kept the tour moving along and the newly opened part of the excavation was worth it. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Jan 2022

thanks for your very wonderful feedback to us !

Spectacular rip off

Olga_C, Oct 2021

It was most unprofessional terrible tour I have ever had. I paid £207 for a two hour private tour for me and my son. We had 30 min basic explanation in very bad English. I knew more than the guide. Then the guide took us out of Domus just to fill time . He showed us olive trees around the museum. At this point we and American couple who shared tour with us left. I will demand refund

Response from Host, Oct 2021

what we mentioned in our tour that we provided with our private guide . even your vaccination card was not valid when Domus security checked the vaccine card. but our guide requested to allow clients like you. Domus inside nobody can't stay more then 45 minutes, and in our tour category in viator written very clearly the information ***from Monday to Thursday : limited visit to the Ottagona room and neighboring rooms, including the immersive exhibition, with compulsory accompaniment*** so the later domus our private guide show to the travellers neighbours of the domus Arura which we mentioned. So there had nothing to say if you didn't read well the service before booked them. Then later justice like that you just think you paid money. And very easily send us feedback 1* next time read the instructions and tour description definitely book anything before. And our other USA travelers they did the tour till finished. they never left the guide which you guys just think about the money. if you had a main reason about the money so why you booked this tour. definitely, our other 2 travelers wrote 5* feedback soon.god bless you .

Golden experience!

Mary_M, Oct 2021

The Domus Aurea with the special Raffaello exhibit was wonderful! Our guide Daniele was very knowledgeable and personal. A special experience!

Response from Host, Oct 2021

thanks for your wounder explanation also to mentioned our guide who is the specialist only for this special tour, a guide full of the knowledge of culture and history in Rome.

No hubo realidad virtual

Aureliano_H, Dec 2023

No hubo realidad virtual. El uso de casco de realidad virtual solo es fines de semana . Leyendo la descripción muy a detalle si dice eso en paquete , pero todo en la publicidad del tour te infiere a que hay la realidad virtual. Igual los de taquilla prefieren la compra directa en lugar del voucher externo que es solo un cupón para el cambio al boleto que ellos te venden ahí

Response from Host, Mar 2024

hello, we are sorry for the inconvenience, this tour fully depends on domus authority to provide the VR glass during the tour, we are a tour operator and they sell tickets to us with VR glass, during the tour, if they don't provide this is not our responsibility, again we are sorry for everything!

Impressionnant

Marc_J, Oct 2022

Un rendez-vous avec l'Histoire . La réalité virtuelle est remarquable . Être sur place et mettre le casque permet de bien comprendre .

Response from Host, Oct 2022

thanks for your feedback !

Ho pagato questo tour...

Luigina_P, Oct 2022

Ho pagato questo tour anche per la realtà virtuale. Ma chi l'ha vista questa realtà virtuale? All'ingresso ci hanno spiegato che non era compresa. Allora bisogna essere più seri quando si offrono prodotti on line e non ingannare le persone che pagano profumatamente il servizio offerto (€ 28,00 senza realtà virtuale contro € 11,00 con realtà virtuale). Esperienza negativa...mai più!!!

Response from Host, Oct 2022

yes, you booked with viator and we are a private company not selling tickets which the retail price, you think the price will be always what is the actual price, so why you guys didn't buy from the domus website? before buying anything from a private company first read properly then buy , thanks

Molto interessante

Giovanni_S, Aug 2022

Impressionante antico e nuovo con la realta' virtuale. Ottimo acompagnamento della organizazione locale

Response from Host, Aug 2022

muchas gracias. nos alegra que te haya gustado todo. esperamos verte pronto de nuevo.

Likely to Sell Out