Roman Forum in Rome

In Italian: Foro Romano

The Roman Forum is one of the most fascinating places in Rome for several reasons, where one can best immerse themselves in the history of the city. This is already thanks to the vastness of the archaeological site, which is nearly 600 meters long. Additionally, it houses numerous and varied remains, some of which are very well preserved, including temples, public buildings, commemorative arches, etc. It was indeed the heart of Roman civic life, a place for celebrations, commerce, worship, and city administration.
The buildings currently visible date from different periods. Over time, the oldest monuments were buried under the earth or used as foundations for new constructions.
The visit to the Roman Forum, along with the Colosseum, is our number 1 in our Top 30 to see in Rome.

Information, Access, and Hours of the Roman Forum

The Roman Forum

24-Hour Cumulative Ticket (Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill) valid for 24 hours OR Super Forum Pass Ticket valid for 30 days (Roman Forum, Imperial Forums, and Palatine Hill).
Full price 16 € (+ 2 € reservation fee); Reduced price 2 € (+ 2 € reservation fee) for EU residents aged 18 to 24.
Free for EU residents under 18 and in other cases.
Sites: Official Archaeological Park website, Tickets and guided tours on GetYourGuide

Opening Hours of the Site

Ticket offices and entrances close one hour before the site closes.

• January 2 to February 28: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• March 1 to 26: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
• March 27 to August 31: 9:00 AM – 7:15 PM
• September 1 to 30: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• October 1 to 29: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
• October 29 to 31: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• November 1 to December 31: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Guided Tours of the Roman Forum and Tickets

Guided tour options and entry tickets for the site:

Description and History of the Roman Forum

The Roman Forum was for centuries the main square of the city, around which ancient Rome developed. It was the place for commerce, business, religious worship, politics, city administration, justice, and even prostitution. The Forum was constantly crowded with lawyers, priests, litigants, and merchants. It was customary for politicians to address the people from the platform of the Rostra.

View of the Forum from the Tabularium

It was around 600 BC, under the Etruscan king Tarquin the Elder, that the marshy land of this area was drained, notably through the Cloaca Maxima canal. Then, it was paved and became the center of the city.
Major public buildings were erected there, such as the Arch of Septimius Severus, whose reliefs depict Rome’s victories over Eastern peoples, the Rostra decorated with the prows of captured warships, the public tribunes, or the curia where the Roman Senate convened.
Along the Via Sacra, which runs through the Forum from east to west, victorious generals paraded to give thanks at the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill. This path passed by key religious monuments like the Temple of Saturn, the Temple of Vesta, with the House of the Vestals where the sacred fire “of the power of Rome” was maintained by the Vestal virgins, or now by the Church of Saints Lucius and Martin.

A showcase of Roman power, by the 1st century BC, the area became too crowded. Julius Caesar took advantage of this to build another forum, further increasing his prestige. Later, under the Empire, it was expanded with other forums, including those of Augustus and Trajan.

For Further Reading

• On Wikipedia: Roman Forum on Wikipedia
• On Rome-Roma: Roman Forum

Selection of Accommodations Near the Forum

Selection of hotels, rooms, and apartments near the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, sorted by price and distance:

• Good hotels and accommodations sorted BY PRICE within 600 meters of the Roman Forum
• Good hotels and accommodations sorted BY DISTANCE from the Roman Forum

Gallery

Other Useful Information

The Roman Forum on the Map of Rome

FAQ and Visiting Tips

• Buy your tickets in advance
  Book online through the official website or platforms like GetYourGuide or Tiqets to avoid long queues. Opt for the 24-hour cumulative ticket (16 €) including the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, or the Super Forum Pass (30 days) if you plan multiple visits to the Roman Forum.
• Choose the right time and allow enough time
  Visit early in the morning (from 9 AM) to avoid crowds and heat, especially in summer (July-August). Plan for about 2 hours for a standard visit, or 3 hours if you also explore Palatine Hill or join a guided tour. The site is vast, 600 meters long.
• Take a guided tour of the Roman Forum
  It would be a shame to visit Rome and discover this extraordinary site without historical and descriptive insights that reveal the significance of the Roman Forum in Rome: find a guided tour
• Spot key monuments: The Arch of Septimius Severus, the Curia, the Temple of Saturn, the House of the Vestals, the Via Sacra, or the Arch of Titus.