Do you need to know where to buy Roman Forum tickets? It’s actually much easier than you’d imagine.
The Roman Forum is one of Rome’s many ancient marvels. Located between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, at its peak it was an important center of life in ancient Rome. It was the site of public gatherings, combat, trials and elections, and was home to grand temples and monuments – the ruins of which can still be seen to this day.
There is no other way to put it: this is a site you must absolutely visit, especially if it is your first time in Rome.
So you will be wondering: how can I get tickets to the Roman Forum?
Don’t worry! Continue reading this post, and I will share the most useful information to help you plan your visit and make the most of it. But first, let me tell you a bit more about this incredible attraction!
The History Of The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum was the center of ancient Rome’s government, and became the political and commercial heart of Rome around 500 BC at the time of the founding of the Roman Republic. Here you’d find administrative and government buildings, but it was also the center of commerce in Rome and a place for public speeches.
During the Roman Republic (509-29 BC), the Roman Forum expanded massively. Additions included arches, statues, and basilicas alongside other buildings which were intended to be gathering places for various purposes.
More additions took place during the Roman Empire, with the last major expansion taking place in 312 AD during the reign of Emperor Constantine. Sadly, many of the most ancient of the buildings at the site were destroyed in 410 during the sack of the city by the invading Visigoths.
During the Middle Ages, the Forum fell into disrepair. Known then as Campo Vaccino (literally “Cattle Field”), it was used for grazing livestock.
In 1803 archaeologist Carlo Fea excavated the site, thus rediscovering the Roman Forum. However, most of the excavations took place in the early 20th century, and continue to date.
The most notable landmarks at the Roman Forum include:
TEMPLE OF SATURN – Built around 498 BC, it’s one of the Roman Forum’s earliest religious buildings. It had a dual function as a treasury, as the deity Saturn was associated with agriculture and therefore prosperity. Money was managed and stored here, almost like an early bank.
CURIA – The Senate House was the place for political meetings and various governmental events. In the 7th century AD, it was converted into a church, and today it is one of the most intact buildings in the Forum thanks to restoration work through the centuries.
VIA SACRA – The Roman Forum’s main thoroughfare connected up the main sites in the area, stretching all the way to the Colosseum from the Capitoline Hill. During the reign of Emperor Nero (37-68 AD) it was paved and had colonnades added on either side.
ARCH OF TITUS – One of the nicest arches in Rome, it was built in 81 AD by Emperor Domitian, it was intended to honor his brother, the former Emperor Titus, and his victory during the Siege of Jerusalem (70 AD). Check out my post The Most Beautiful Arches In Rome.
TEMPLE OF CASTOR AND POLLUX – Dedicated to the twin-brother demigods, Castor and Pollux, this temple was built in 484 BC to commemorate the victory of the Battle of Lake Regillus in 495 BC.
ROSTRA – This was the place in the Roman Forum where people could give speeches. It was decorated with the remains of ships taken as trophies from the Battle of Antium in 338 BC.
TEMPLE OF VESTA – The 7th-century building, complete with the surrounding House of the Vestal Virgins, features a circular structure that remains to this day. Worship of the goddess Vesta – deity of the hearth, home, and family – usually took place in everyday Roman homes.
Where To Buy Roman Forum Tickets
Buy Roman Forum tickets at the door
You can actually buy tickets to the Roman Forum at the door. This is how I got my tickets last time I was in Rome. I was simply walking along Via dei Fori Imperiali, thought I would like to go in, and simply got myself a ticket and walked in.
Roman Forum tickets are the same that – in theory (and more about this below) – you will be using to access the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. That’s right: one ticket, three incredible attractions – and for a very convenient price.
Ticket counters are found at the various access points of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which are found at the Arco di Tito, the Varco Vignola in Via di San Gregorio, Largo della Salara Vecchia, Carcere Mamertino and the Colonna Traiana in Via dei Fori Imperiali.
Tickets bought at the door cost €16 for adults and €4 for EU citizens between 18-25 years of age; whereas children and people with disabilities can go in for free.
It would seem perfect, but I actually only recommend this way of getting Colosseum and Roman Forum tickets if you don’t wish to visit the Colosseum. Indeed, these tickets allow you access to the Colosseum within 24 hours from your first access.
However, while you can get tickets to the Colosseum and then visit the Roman Forum whenever you wish as long as it is within the next 24 hours, you can’t quite do the opposite (that is, visit the Roman Forum first, and then the Colosseum). That’s because access to the Colosseum is subjected to a very strict time slot system, and availability is extremely limited.
Get tickets via the official site CoopCulture
This is the most budget friendly way of getting Roman Forum tickets.
The Roman Forum tickets official site is CoopCulture. This is the same site you can use to get tickets to other historic sites in the Italian Capital and throughout Italy. A single ticket purchased through the site is valid for 24 hours from when it is first used.
Tickets on CoopCulture are available 30 days in advance – this means that (for example) on 30 May you can buy tickets up to 29 June, but no further.
Your ticket will include:
- One entrance to the Colosseum at a specific time-slot that you have to select when you purchase the ticket;
- Open entrance to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Imperial Forum;
- Admissions to exhibitions currently ongoing.
You can check ticket availability and choose a time slot for the Colosseum on the website – it’s pretty easy to use. You can also call CoopCulture to check availability – their number is +390639967700.
Tickets bought on the Roman Forum tickets official site cost €18 – that’s €16 for the ticket and €2 for the online booking fee.
If you have a Roma Pass (more about that in a bit), you’ll still have to book your reservation for the Colosseum – the booking fee is €2.
Tickets purchased from CoopCulture cannot be rescheduled once your time slot for the Colosseum is booked. You also won’t be able to get a refund in case you cancel. So definitely make 100% sure that you’re visiting the Colosseum and the Roman Forum on the day you want to go.
You should also note that you cannot collect your tickets at the desks of any of the sights included in the ticket. Instead, your ticket has to be printed off in advance or you can use a mobile ticket.
If you are traveling with children you still need to make sure they have secured a free ticket for a pre-booked time slot at the Colosseum; this also needs to be printed off in advance (or use a mobile ticket).
You can get your Colosseum and Roman Forum tickets on CoopCulture here.
Get Roman Forum tickets on third party sites
If you want straightforward skip-the-line tickets, this is the best overall option.
There are a number of different third party sites that you can use to purchase tickets for the Roman Forum. These sites offer up a similar service where you can book online or via telephone. Different websites offer different packages.
These third party sites are easy to use and usually have excellent customer service. The only downside with these sorts of websites is that they are slightly more expensive than booking through the official CoopCulture website – but honestly it’s just a matter of a couple of euro, which is great when you can’t find tickets on the official site.
In fact, third-party booking sites will be your best bet if you are trying to purchase tickets at the very last minute.
Examples of third-party booking sites include Tiqets, GetYourGuide and Viator. Some tickets that they offer don’t just include the Roman Forum, but are tailor-made ticket packages that include sites other than the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Imperial Forum.
Get your tickets on Tiqets here. You can also use the early bird function which sends you a reminder as soon as tickets are on sale.
Go on a guided tour of the Roman Forum
Of all the available options, this is the one I recommend the most.
A guided tour of the Roman Forum allows a more in-depth visit to this ancient site. There are a number of different tours that you could opt for. The cheapest is a self-guided audio tour, which is around €6 per person in addition to the ticket.
The plus point of the audio guide is that it comes in various different languages. The con is that it’s not an actual guide, you can’t ask questions and it can be quite generic, not offering as much information as a knowledgeable guide would.
To book an audio-guided tour of the Roman Forum, click here.
Taking a guided tour with a live guide will really bring the Roman Forum to life. The guide will help to explain the detailed history of the site, helping to enrich your experience.
Tours range in prices, depending on the company or individual guide, but typically start at €30 depending on what they include. They can be individual / private or in groups – each one with its own set of pluses and minuses.
One thing you should definitely do is book your guided tour way in advance, especially if you’re visiting during tourist season.
My personal recommendation is this guided tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill that also goes to the Colosseum Arena and Underground. It’s run by local company Touriks, it’s the one I took and loved.
For a very comprehensive tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, click here or here.
For the most budget friendly tour of the Roman Forum – perfect if you have already visited the Colosseum and already have your tickets – click here.
For a classic tour of the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Colosseum, click here. If you’d rather go on a private tour, click here.
Get the Roma Pass
The Roma Pass is a fantastic option for those who want to see a number of different museums and historic sights in the city. There are different passes that you could opt for and in most cases you will have to go to the CoopCulture site to select a time-slot for your visit (and pay the €2 booking fee) for the various attractions included in the pass.
Rome Tourist Card
Of all the Roma Pass options, this is by far the best one – though also the most expensive one. It gives you access to five attractions and upon getting the pass you can also easily select the time-slot of your visit directly on the site, without having to jump from one site to the other.
Contrary to all other pass options, this one includes the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, as well as a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Get your Rome Tourist Card here.
Roma Pass 48 Hours
For €35 this pass gives you access to a long list of historical sights, museums and monuments in Rome including the Roman Forum, Mausoleo di Augusto and the Capitoline Museums. As the name suggests, you’ll have 48 hours to visit as many as you can.
You’ll also be able to use the pass to ride on the city’s public transport network free of charge for 48 hours from the moment of validation. The first site you visit is free, after which you can use the pass to get discounted prices to museums and archaeological sites within that time period.
Keep in mind the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are not included.
You can get your 48-hour Roma Pass here.
Roma Pass 72 Hours
Much the same as the above, except this time it costs a little more – €55. The difference, apart from the longer time period, is that you are able to have access to the first two sites you visit for free. After this, the pass gives you discounted entrance fees as mentioned above.
Keep in mind the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are not included.
You can get your 72-hour Roma Pass here.
Other Useful Information
Roman Forum tickets official price
The Roman Forum tickets official site shows the following prices:
Full price: €16
European citizens between 18-25: €4
Children; those with disabilities; visiting on the first Sunday of each month: free.
There is an additional €2 fee for online bookings, which are mandatory.
Roman Forum opening hours
From 27th March to 31st August, the Roman Forum is open daily from 9:00 am to 7:15 pm. Last admission is one hour before closing.
For the rest of the year, it is open every day from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm. Again, the last admission is an hour before closing. Note that the site is closed on the 25th December and the 1st January.
Accessibility of the Roman Forum
Access to the Roman Forum has improved in recent years, with new pathways and installations providing increased access for those using wheelchairs or people with limited mobility.
Having said that, the Roman Forum is not fully accessible. You can however book a specialist tour for those with disabilities that provides better access to the sights within the Forum.
There is a barrier free walkway with a smooth surface that starts at Via Sacra and passes by a string of the Forum’s top sights, including the Temple of Romulus, the Temple of Vesta, and the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina.
Toilets and other facilities at the Roman Forum
You will find several toilets marked with “WC” signage.
Drinking fountains called nasoni are located within the Roman Forum, so make sure to bring your own bottle to refill, especially if you are visiting on a hot day!
How to get to the Roman Forum
The nearest metro station to the Roman Forum is Colosseo (Metro Line B).
Buses will stop at the Fori Imperiali bus stop. Bus routes include 75, 81, 673, 175, 204. Tram Line 3 also stops here.
Further Readings
These other posts may be useful when planning your trip to Rome:
- The Most Important Landmarks In Rome
- The Best Rome Travel Tips
- The Best Itinerary To See Rome In 3 Days
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