# The Mausoleum of Augustus: Hours, Tickets and How to Visit the Reopened Tomb

How to book a slot at Piazza Augusto Imperatore in 2026, what the visit includes, and how to combine it with the Ara Pacis

The Mausoleum of Augustus is the circular tomb the first emperor built for himself in 28 BC, in the field of the northern Campus Martius, a short walk from the Tiber and from today’s Via del Corso. It was one of the largest funerary monuments in the ancient world. For years it stood closed, a brick cylinder in a traffic square. After a long restoration it is open again, and the visit goes inside the original structure, not just around the outside.

This is a booked, timed entry. Turning up without a reservation is the usual way to be turned away, especially on a weekend.

# Hours, tickets, and booking

In 2026 the mausoleum is generally open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with last entry at 6:00 p.m. It is closed on Monday, and on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December. Confirm the day on the official booking channels before you go.

A reservation is required. Slots are often every 30 minutes, in small groups. Weekend times can sell out several days ahead. Book through the official civic channels, commonly the 060608 service or the city’s ticket partners, not from a tout on the square. The standard ticket is typically €5, or €4 reduced, with the audioguide included. Admission is usually free for children under 6, for residents of the Comune di Roma with a document, and on the first Sunday of the month, when you should still reserve a slot. The mausoleum is also listed on the Roma Pass circuit; check the current pass rules when you book.

Allow 50 to 60 minutes once you are inside, plus time to arrive at the meeting point a little early. The route leads through the outer corridors and into the core of the tomb, with reconstructions and audio to make sense of a building that has lost its marble and its mound.

# What you see

You are not walking through a decorated palace. The visit is about the plan of the tomb: concentric walls, burial chambers, and the scale of a monument that once rose as a planted mound with a statue at the top. Later centuries used the building as a fortress, a garden, and even a concert space. The restoration leaves those layers visible rather than inventing a perfect Augustan finish.

The Ara Pacis, the altar Augustus dedicated in 9 BC, stands in its modern museum only a few steps away, on the river side of the same square. The two monuments were meant to be read together: peace and dynasty, altar and tomb. They are separate tickets today. If you have the energy, do both on the same morning, with the mausoleum first if your slot is early.

# Getting there and combining the visit

The entrance is on Piazza Augusto Imperatore. Metro Line A to Spagna or Flaminio, then about ten minutes on foot, is the usual approach. Buses stop at Largo dei Lombardi and along the Corso. The square itself is open and paved; the interest is inside the cylinder and, next door, at the Ara Pacis.

A walk along the Tiber from here is straightforward, toward Ponte Cavour or up toward Piazza del Popolo. The Rome by Finzi guide to a couple photoshoot along the Tiber covers this stretch of the river if you are planning time outdoors after the tomb. Late light on the embankment is often kinder than midday in the square; the sunset photoshoot guide for the Tiber explains how that hour works. If you only have a short window in the historic center, the one-hour photoshoot route is a reminder that this area is a neighborhood of its own, not a quick detour from the Trevi Fountain.

# Practical notes

• Access: The current route is designed to be manageable, and wheelchair access can be arranged with notice. Ask when you book rather than on the doorstep.
• Temperature: The interior is more stable than the square. In summer that is a relief; in winter it can still feel cool.
• Photography: Personal photos are often allowed, but follow the staff and any signs about flash or tripods.
• Monday: The mausoleum is closed. The Ara Pacis has its own timetable; do not assume both buildings rest on the same day without checking.

# Frequently asked questions

Is the mausoleum the same ticket as the Ara Pacis? No. Book and pay for each visit separately, unless a current pass or combined offer says otherwise.

Can you visit without booking? In practice, no. Treat the reservation as part of the ticket.

How close is it to Piazza del Popolo? About ten to fifteen minutes on foot, depending on your pace and the lights on the Corso. It is close enough to combine, not so close that you should leave a booked slot to chance.

Book the official slot, arrive early, and leave time for the altar next door if Augustan Rome is the point of the morning.