# Mausoleum of Augustus, Rome

> The Mausoleum of Augustus is the round tomb of Rome's first emperor and his family, begun in 28 BC and about 90 metres across. After a long restoration it reopened in 2021: small groups enter by booking, and tickets are cheap (about €5). A visit takes around 45 minutes, and the Ara Pacis stands opposite.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/mausoleum-of-augustus

- City: [Rome](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome), Italy
- YesGo score: 53/100 (Yes, go)
- Time on site: 45 min
- Opening hours: Usually Tue–Sun, timed slots by booking
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Ticket: ≈ €5, online booking required
- Days: Usually Tuesday–Sunday, timed slots
- Format: Small groups with museum staff
- Outside: The ruins are visible free from the square
- Time needed: ≈ 45 minutes
- Location: Piazza Augusto Imperatore; opposite the Ara Pacis
- Coordinates: 41.90611, 12.47639
- Facts checked: 10.11.2026

## Key facts

- **28 BC** — Augustus began the tomb for himself and his family (source: English Wikipedia)
- **≈ 90 m** — diameter — the largest circular tomb of the Roman world (source: English Wikipedia)
- **AD 14** — Augustus himself was buried here (source: English Wikipedia)
- **Concert hall** — in the 19th–20th centuries it housed an auditorium (source: English Wikipedia)
- **2021** — reopened to visitors after restoration (source: English Wikipedia)

## Mausoleum of Augustus tickets and booking

Entry is **by booking only** on the Rome municipal museums website: pick a date and slot, and you'll join a small group. Guides put the ticket at about **€5**, less for Rome residents. It's usually open **Tuesday to Sunday**, closed Mondays. Near-term slots go quickly, especially at weekends, so book about a week ahead.

## A short history

**Augustus** began the mausoleum in **28 BC**, soon after becoming sole ruler of Rome. It was a colossal drum about **90 metres** across: concentric walls holding an earth mound planted with cypresses, crowned by a bronze statue of the emperor. Two Egyptian obelisks flanked the entrance — now on the Esquiline and Quirinal — along with bronze tablets of his 'Deeds'.

His relatives and heirs were laid to rest here, and Augustus himself in **AD 14**. After the empire fell it was plundered; in the Middle Ages the Colonna family made it a **fortress**. Later it became a garden, an 18th-century arena for shows and, in the 19th and 20th centuries, a **concert hall** seating thousands.

## What you'll see inside

Small groups follow the ring corridors between the concentric walls to the **central chamber** where the urns of Augustus and his family stood. You'll see original tufa and travertine masonry, traces of cladding and the marks of every later use — fortress walls, garden, theatre — with screens and multimedia filling in the story.

From the newly landscaped **Piazza Augusto Imperatore** above, you can see how far the monument has sunk: the ancient ground level is several metres below today's streets.

## What to see

- **Concentric walls** — the rings of masonry that held the mound.
- **Central chamber** — where the urns of the imperial family rested.
- **Piazza Augusto Imperatore** — the redesigned square with ramps down to the monument.
- **Ara Pacis** — across the road, in its glass pavilion by the Tiber.
- **San Rocco and San Girolamo** — churches at the square's river edge.

> **Pair it with the Ara Pacis** The Ara Pacis is just across the road, and both are Augustus's monuments: see the altar's procession of his family first, then go down into the tomb where those same people were buried. Together that's about two hours.

## How to get to the Mausoleum of Augustus

1. Metro line A to **Spagna** or **Flaminio** — 10 minutes on foot.
2. Buses 70, 81 and 628 stop at Piazza Augusto Imperatore.
3. From [Piazza del Popolo](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/piazza-del-popolo), 7 minutes along Via di Ripetta.
4. From the [Spanish Steps](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/spanish-steps), 10 minutes via Via dei Condotti and Via Tomacelli.

## Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if Augustus interests you and you've booked a slot: the tomb was closed for decades, so getting inside is a rare chance — and inexpensive. The interior ruins are modest; the scale and the story are the point. Even without a booking, it's free to see from the square on your way to the [Ara Pacis](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/ara-pacis).

## Before you go

Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser.

- [ ] Book a slot online about a week ahead
- [ ] Make sure it isn't a Monday
- [ ] Arrive 10 minutes early
- [ ] Pair it with the Ara Pacis opposite
- [ ] Walk on to Piazza del Popolo along Via di Ripetta

## Ancient Rome: compare and choose

Ancient sites in Rome rated by YesGo.

- [Pantheon](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/pantheon) — YesGo score 82/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · ≈ €5
- [Colosseum](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/colosseum) — YesGo score 73/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · ≈ €18
- [Roman Forum](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/roman-forum) — YesGo score 63/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €18 with Colosseum
- [Circus Maximus](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/circus-maximus) — YesGo score 63/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
- [Trajan's Column](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/trajans-column) — YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 15 min · Free
- [Capitoline Hill](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/capitoline-hill) — YesGo score 58/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
- [Castel Sant'Angelo](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/castel-sant-angelo) — YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €15–20
- [Arch of Constantine](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/arch-of-constantine) — YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 15 min · Free
- [Palatine Hill](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/palatine-hill) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €18 with Colosseum
- [Mausoleum of Augustus](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/mausoleum-of-augustus) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · ≈ €5, booking
- [Largo di Torre Argentina](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/largo-di-torre-argentina) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free from street; walkways ≈ €5
- [Pyramid of Cestius](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/pyramid-of-cestius) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free outside
- [Appian Way](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/appian-way) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free
- [Domus Aurea](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/domus-aurea) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ €18, with VR ≈ €26
- [Mouth of Truth](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/bocca-della-verita) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Donation ≈ €2
- [Baths of Caracalla](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/baths-of-caracalla) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ €8
- [Catacombs of Rome](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/rome-catacombs) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €10–12 with guide
- [Ara Pacis](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/ara-pacis) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ €13–15
- [Theatre of Marcellus](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/theatre-of-marcellus) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free
- [Vatican Museums](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/vatican-museums) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €25
- [Capitoline Museums](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/capitoline-museums) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ €15–19.50
- [Baths of Diocletian](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/baths-of-diocletian) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Basilica free; museum ≈ €10–12
- [Basilica of San Clemente](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/san-clemente) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Upper free; excavations ≈ €10–12
- [Imperial Fora](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/imperial-fora) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free from the street; museum ≈ €13–15
- [Testaccio](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/testaccio) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free
- [Palazzo Massimo](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/palazzo-massimo) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ≈ €10–12 combined ticket
- [Ostia Antica](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/ostia-antica) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €12–18
- [Hadrian's Villa](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/hadrians-villa) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €12–15

## Augustus on the Campus Martius

The Ara Pacis in Meier's pavilion, the Mausoleum of Augustus opposite, then up Via di Ripetta to Piazza del Popolo.

1. [Ara Pacis](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/ara-pacis) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ €13–15
2. [Mausoleum of Augustus](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/mausoleum-of-augustus) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · ≈ €5, booking
3. [Piazza del Popolo](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/piazza-del-popolo) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free

## Don't mix it up

The Mausoleum of Augustus isn't Castel Sant'Angelo, which was Hadrian's mausoleum on the other bank of the Tiber. Both are round, but Augustus's is a century and a half older.

## Tips

- Booking is compulsory — about a week ahead.
- The Ara Pacis is across the road.
- You can see it free from the square.
- Usually closed on Mondays.

## Questions

### How much is the Mausoleum of Augustus?

About €5 according to guides; online booking required.

### How do you visit the Mausoleum of Augustus?

Book a timed slot on the Rome municipal museums site; visits are in small groups.

### Where is the Mausoleum of Augustus?

On Piazza Augusto Imperatore opposite the Ara Pacis, 10 minutes from Spagna metro.

### When was it built?

Work began in 28 BC.

### Who is buried there?

Emperor Augustus and members of his family and dynasty.

### How long does a visit take?

About 45 minutes.

## How we checked

History and dimensions from English Wikipedia. Price, days and booking procedure weren't confirmed on the official site at the time of checking — hence the 'checking' badge.

## Sources

- Rome municipal museums (Sovrintendenza Capitolina): Mausoleo di Augusto
- English Wikipedia, Mausoleum of Augustus

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