Roman Forum: Tickets, Hours, and What to See

Walk through history at the Roman Forum, where ancient Rome's political and social life unfolded. Buy tickets in advance to avoid long queues.

The Roman Forum is one of Rome’s most iconic attractions, offering a fascinating glimpse into the heart of ancient Roman civilization.

Once the bustling center of political, social, and religious life, the Forum is now an open-air museum filled with grand ruins, temples, and monuments like the Temple of Saturn, Curia (the Senate House), and the Arch of Septimius Severus.

A visit to the Forum is often paired with the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, as one ticket grants access to all three.

As you wander through its ancient streets, you’ll step into the world where emperors ruled, and citizens gathered for public speeches and festivals.

This article covers everything you must know before booking Roman Forum tickets.

Top Tickets

# Priority entrance ticket
# Priority entrance with Arena Floor
# Priority entrance with video guide

It’s highly recommended to book your Roman Forum tickets in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.

Key takeaways

You can book Roman Forum tickets online, by phone, or at the Colosseum counter. Online booking is recommended to skip long lines and secure availability, especially during peak seasons

The Roman Forum is often visited with the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, as a single ticket grants access to all three sites. Different ticket options, such as priority entrance or guided tours, are also available

Visitors spend around 90 minutes at the Colosseum, 60 minutes at the Roman Forum, and 30 minutes at Palatine Hill

The ideal time to visit the Roman Forum is either early in the morning at 8.30 am or around 5 pm to avoid crowds

Key highlights in the Roman Forum include the Arch of Titus, Basilica of Constantine, Temple of Vesta, House of the Vestal Virgins, and Temple of Julius Caesar, among others

What’s ahead

Frequently asked questions

Things to know before booking tickets

You can book Roman Forum tickets online or at the venue. However, purchasing at the attraction may involve long wait times, especially during peak hours. Online tickets help you skip the queue, are often cheaper, and allow you to choose a preferred time slot in advance. Booking online also ensures availability and prevents last-minute sell-outs. After the purchase, tickets are emailed to you, and you can enter by showing the e-ticket on your smartphone—no printouts needed. For any Colosseum entrance ticket, arrive at the gates at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time.

Roman Forum tickets

With more than seven million visitors annually, the Colosseum gets sold out often. Thus, it makes sense to buy Roman Forum tickets in advance.

Visitors can buy the tickets along with the Colosseum and Palatine Hill – all three sites are seen together.

All these tickets get you free tourist assistance at the Touristation office at Piazza d’Aracoeli, 16, if you need help.

Priority entrance ticket

This ticket is the cheapest and fastest way to enter Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. You get: 

  • Priority entrance into the Colosseum
  • Access to the Colosseum’s first and second floors
  • Access to the permanent and temporary exhibitions of the Colosseum
  • Access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
  • A free downloadable map of the Colosseum

While booking the ticket, you must select a time slot, and on the day of your visit, reach the ‘Individual Entrance Gate’ half an hour before the time mentioned on your ticket.

Validity: 24 hours

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €31
EU Citizen (18 to 25 years): €17
Child (up to 17 years): €5 (onsite for city sightseeing)

Buy This Ticket

Recommended


Priority entrance with Arena Floor

This ticket is the most popular option for exploring the Colosseum and Roman Forum.

It offers a truly unforgettable experience, granting access not only to the Roman Forum but also to the Arena and the 1st and 2nd floors of the Colosseum.

The arena, the base of the Colosseum, is where the legendary gladiator battles once took place.

Validity: 48 hours

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €48
EU Citizen (18 to 25 years): €24
Child (up to 17 years): €5 (onsite for city sightseeing)

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The Lapis Niger, a black marble stone within the Roman Forum, is said to mark the tomb of Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome? According to legend, Romulus founded the city after killing his twin brother Remus in a fierce rivalry!

Priority entrance with video guide

Besides priority entrance into the Colosseum’s first and second floors, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, this ticket also gets you a video guide. 

The state-of-the-art video guide on the Colosseum is the best way to immerse yourself in the incredible history of ancient Rome.

To use this ticket, head to the ‘Individual Entrance Gate’ at the Colosseum and enter through Line 3, which is reserved for ticket holders. 

After passing the turnstile, you can collect the video guide for the Colosseum at Box 12 and 13 by showing your smartphone ticket.

Validity: 24 hours

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €49
EU Citizen (18 to 25 years): €35
Child (6 to 17 years): €5 (purchase onsite)

Buy This Ticket

Guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum

This ticket gets you a skip-the-line entrance to both attractions.

A local expert helps you on an immersive guided tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum and takes you back to the gory glory days of the once-mighty empire. 

This 3-hour tour is available in English, Italian, French, and Spanish, and you can select your language on the ticket booking page.

All visitors get a headset for the guided tour. 

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €72
Child (up to 17 years): €45

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Opening hours

Roman Forum opens at 8.30 am daily, except on Christmas and New Year.

From March to the end of August, the attraction closes at 7.15 pm; in September, it closes at 7 pm; and in October at 6.30 pm.

During the lean season of November to February, the archeological site closes at 4.30 pm.

Interested in free entry to the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, St Peter’s Basilica, and Sistine Chapel? Buy the Omnia Card

Best time to visit

During peak season, the best time to visit the Roman Forum is around 5 pm.

Most of the crowds will have left, the temperatures will be cooler, and you can enjoy a beautiful sunset over the ruins.

The next great time to visit the Forum is right when it opens at 8.30 am.

The crowds are smaller, and the morning temperatures are still comfortable.

Peak months at the Roman Forum

The peak tourist season in Rome is from April to October.

If you plan to visit the site during these months, you can only avoid the crowd by booking your tickets in advance.

But even then, you won’t be able to avoid the lines at the security line.

The Rome Tourist Pass is a super saver. For just €97 per person, the pass includes entry tickets to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Pantheon and a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica. You also get a 10% discount code, which you can use (five times!) to get discounts on future purchases.

Free entry to the Roman Forum

On the first Sunday of every month, visitors can enter the attraction for free.

Since everybody can get in without buying a ticket, it often results in long waiting times.

If you are below 18 years of age, entry is anyway free for you.

EU citizens between 18 and 25 years old get discounted tickets, too.

Pin
Roman Forum is highly rated on Tripadvisor and we feel that the money you will spend on buying the tickets will be well worth it.

The Roman Forum houses the Lacus Curtius, believed by ancient Romans to be a “Gateway to Hell?” Legends say a Roman warrior named Marcus Curtius sacrificed himself by leaping into the chasm to save Rome.

How long does the tour take

Most visitors cover the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum in around 3 hours.

Visitors typically spend 90 minutes at the Colosseum, an hour at the Roman Forum, and 30 minutes at Palatine Hill.

Since the Forum tickets are valid for 2 days, some tourists explore these three sites over two days.

Combo tours

With so many must-see attractions in Rome, combo tours have become a popular choice for visitors.

These tours often include access to key sites like the Roman Forum and help you save up to 20% on ticket costs.

Colosseum + Roman Forum + The Vatican

If you are on a budget, we recommend you buy the Best of Rome Pass, which gives you skip-the-line entry to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Once activated, this combo ticket is valid for three consecutive calendar days.

It also offers free entry for children under six, disabled visitors, and their carer. It’s an easy, cost-effective way to make the most of your Roman holiday!

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €115
Child (6 to 17 years): €95

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Colosseum + Roman Forum + Mamertine Prison

This tour starts with a self-guided tour of Mamertine Prison, using a tablet to explore the site’s history in about an hour.

This prison was once home to vanquished emperors, kings, and even Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

You can then walk 15 minutes to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum for your skip-the-line entry to continue your discovery of these iconic sites.

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €35
EU Citizen (18 to 25 years): €9
Child (6 to 17 years): €5

Buy This Ticket

Roman Forum with Roma Pass

The Roma Pass is Rome’s best tourist pass, offering free entry to select sites, discounted tickets at many attractions, and free public transportation within the city.

It comes in two forms – the 48-hour Pass and the 72-hour Pass.

48-hour Pass: You can visit one Museum or archeological site for free. Within these 48 hours, you get a reduced ticket price at all other Roman attractions.

72-hour Pass: You can visit two Museums or archeological sites for free. And within 72 hours, you qualify for a reduced price at all tourist destinations in Rome.

The Roma Pass also allows free use of the city’s public transport network.

How to use Roma Pass for Roman Forum

As per Roma Pass, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill count as one attraction. 

You can visit all three sites for free, either on the same day or over two days.

For instance, you can visit the Colosseum one day and the Roman Forum/Palatine Hills the next (or the other way around).

However, you can’t split your visit between the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill – you must visit both archeological sites on the same day.

At the Roman Forum, you’ll discover monuments dating back to the sixth century BC, offering a glimpse into ancient Rome’s beginnings.

The site is tied to Palatine Hill, one of Rome’s legendary Seven Hills, where you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the Forum.

Cost of 48 hours Pass: €32
Cost of 72 hours Pass: €58

Kids under six years old can use public transport and visit all museums and sites in the city for free, and adults with Roma Pass can accompany them.

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The Roman Forum stands on what was once a marshland. Thanks to the Cloaca Maxima, one of the world’s oldest sewage systems still in use today, the Romans drained the area and transformed it into the heart of their political and social life!

What to see in the Roman forum

During your visit to the Roman Forum, 16 monuments are a must-see. Check out our list –

Arch of Titus

The Arch of Titus is the oldest of the Roman arches, located on the Via Sacra.

After the death of Titus, it was erected by his successor, Domitian, to pay homage to the capture of Jerusalem.

Titus, who became the Emperor in 79 AD, is depicted in his chariot accompanied by the goddess of Victory.

Basilica of Constantine or Maxentius

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Image: Romawonder.com

The Basilica of Constantine or Maxentius was the last Basilica constructed in the Forum Romanum.

Emperor Maxentius started the construction in 308 CE, and the grand building housed a massive statue of Constantine.

History has it that Constantine altered the original plan of the Basilica to suit his tastes and needs better.

Temple of Romulus

This circular temple was built in A.D. 307 and dedicated to Romulus, son of Emperor Maxentius.

When Romulus died, his father commissioned the temple and had him deified.

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina

Temple of Antoninus and FaustinaPin

The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina is an ancient Roman temple adopted as a Roman Catholic church, namely, the “Chiesa di San Lorenzo” in Miranda.

It is situated in the Forum Romanum, on the Via Sacra, opposite the Regia.

It was converted into the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda in the 12th century.

When Emperor Charles V visited Rome in 1536, the columns were disengaged from medieval masonry.

Temple of Vesta

The Temple of Vesta is one of the holiest buildings in ancient Rome.

It contained the Sacred Fire, which is of great importance to Rome.

Rome’s sanctuary was dedicated to Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth, and over whose cult the Vestal Virgins presided.

The present remains indicate that the temple was circular, with 20 slender columns supporting the roof.

House of the Vestal Virgins

Adjoining the Temple of Vesta is the house of the Vestal Virgins.

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Image: Colosseumrometickets.com

There are statues of the head vestals with inscriptions of their virtues on the pedestals in the courtyard.

The sacred Palladium has drawings of Pallas Athene brought by Aeneas from Troy and various ancient statues kept in the House of the Vestals.

Temple of Castor and Pollux

Castor and Pollux were called the Gemini twins, the twin sons of Zeus and Leda.

Three Corinthian columns are the only things that survive from the Temple of Castor and Pollux.

They were originally built in 484 BC by the son of the dictator Aulus Postumius and then rebuilt in the reign of Tiberius in the first century AD.

Santa Maria Antiqua

It is one of the oldest Roman churches.

It was founded in the 6th century AD in parts of the Roman Forum built under Emperor Domitian.

The Church displays a collection of wall paintings as one of the few artistic exemplars in the world of the development of Roman art.

Temple of Julius Caesar

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Image: Digitales-forum-romanum.de

Augustus (Caesar’s nephew) built the temple of Julius Caesar to commemorate the spot where his body was cremated and to honor his memory as God.

People still visit this temple to pay respects to the great ruler.

Basilica Aemilia (Emilia)

The Basilica Aemilia was built in 179 BC and is situated at the entrance of the Forum.

Four Republic-era Basilicas were constructed in the Forum, out of which only Basilica Aemilia has substantial remains left today.

It was known to be a public meeting spot and was restored many times between 55 and 34 BCE.

The Curia or Senate House

The Curia was a meeting place of the Roman Senate that was turned into a church to prevent destruction.

It is one of the most protected buildings in the Roman Forum.

The first Curia was devised in the time of the kings because of fires and other damage.

Forum Main Square

Forum Main SquarePin
Image: Romecitytours.com

It is a rectangular forum (Plaza) at the center of Rome, surrounded by the ruins of ancient government buildings.

The Main Square is also known by its Latin name, Forum Romanum.

It is said that the Forum has been there since the earliest times and has remained in use even after the city’s decline.

Column of Phocas

Opposite the Curia is the newest remains from ancient times, the Column of Phocas.

Erected in 608 A.D. in honor of Emperor Phocas, this single column is one of the last monuments to be placed in the Roman Forum.

Arch of Septimius Severus

The Roman Senate and residents traditionally constructed arches honoring victorious emperors.

Deep marble reliefs on the arch depict episodes from wars.

The arch is considered the spot of the Umbilicus Urbis, the symbolic center of Rome.

Rostrum or Rostra

The Rostra is a large platform built in Rome that has been there since the imperial periods.

Rostra gets its name from the six rostra, captured at Antium in 338 BC.

This elevated spot was used by the then magistrates, politicians, advocates, and other orators while speaking to the assembled people of Rome.

Temple of Saturn

Built around 497 BC, the Temple of Saturn was one of the most important and respected parts of the Republic of Rome.

Temple of SaturnPin
Image: Ancient.eu

This temple housed the treasury, which had the Roman Republic’s reserves of gold and silver.

The Temple of Saturn was often damaged by fire and was repeatedly rebuilt in the 4th Century AD.

Visitors can recognize the temple by its eight weathered Ionic columns.

How to reach

The Roman Forum, Colosseum, and Palatine Hill are all located in the same archaeological area of Rome. 

The Roman Forum is located between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum.

Address: Via della Salara Vecchia, 5/6, 00186 Roma RM, Italy. Get Directions.

If you buy the standard entry ticket for all three attractions, you can walk freely between these three attractions and explore them over two days. 

You can reach the attraction by car or public transportation.

By Bus

Board the bus 30, 51, 81, 83, 85, 87, 118, 160, 170, 628, C3, or n716 to reach Ara Coeli/P.Za Venezia bus stop. Take a five-minute walk to reach the forum.

Teatro Marcello bus stop is only a 5-minute walk from the Roman Forum. Board bus 44 or 716 and get down at Teatro Marcello.

By Car

If you’re traveling by car, turn on your Google Maps and get started.

There are enough parking garages around the attraction.

FAQs about the Roman Forum

Here are a few frequently asked questions about the Roman Forum:

How can I get tickets to visit the Roman Forum?

You can purchase tickets at the site’s entrance or online through the official website or authorized ticket vendors. Booking tickets in advance is recommended, especially during the peak tourist season.

What is included in the Roman Forum ticket?

A standard ticket usually includes access to the Roman Forum, Colosseum, and Palatine Hill. All these are nearby, and the ticket grants entry to these attractions.

Is there a combined ticket for multiple ancient Roman sites in the area?

Yes, there is a combined ticket for multiple ancient Roman sites. A combined ticket allows access to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum. This ticket is a cost-effective way to explore all three historic sites.

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Researched & written by
Jamshed is a versatile traveler, equally drawn to the vibrant energy of city escapes and the peaceful solitude of remote getaways. On some trips, he indulges in resort hopping, while on others, he spends little time in his accommodation, fully immersing himself in the destination. A passionate foodie, Jamshed delights in exploring local cuisines, with a particular love for flavorful non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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