Last Updated on October 15, 2024 by Soumya
Visiting the Roman Forum and want to find out all about Roman Forum tickets, opening hours, and guided tours? You’re at the right place.
We have just the perfect Roman Forum travel guide for you.
Rome’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to three iconic monuments: the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum.
The Colosseum refers to the ancient amphitheater. Palatine Hill housed the palaces of Roman emperors, and the Forum was the official center of the Roman Empire.
After writing an in-depth travel guide for the Colosseum, I was inspired to create a similar one for visiting the Roman Forum because there are so many things to do and see at the Forum.
As you take time to plan your Italy trip, make sure to have this Roman Forum guide in your Rome arsenal. Here, you will find everything you need to plan an epic trip to the Roman Forum, including ticket details, opening hours, history, and the best things to do at the Forum in Rome.
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What is the Roman Forum in Rome?
The Roman Forum, or Forum Romanum for Latin, is a rectangular-shaped plaza in the center of Rome.
Many centuries ago, the Forum was the heart of all events and gatherings in the city. It was where Romans held elections, affairs of public speaking, commercials, criminal trials, and gladiator matches.
Shop and stalls lined these streets. Many of the oldest and most significant government offices were at the Roman Forum, or nearby.
The Roman Forum’s historical impact is overwhelming because it was once the epicenter of Ancient Rome and was known to be the most important and celebrated meeting place in history.
Nowadays, the ruins of the Forum in Rome are open for exploring and touring.
If you want to learn about the history of Italy, particularly the capital city, Rome, visiting the Forum is one of the best things to do in Rome – after the Colosseum, of course!
📖 Read Next: Ultimate Guide for Visiting the Colosseum in Rome, Italy
History of The Roman Forum in Rome
According to legends surrounding the Forum, it was initially built as a sign of an alliance between the creator of Rome, Romulus (he lived on Palatine Hill), and his rival, Titus Tatius (he occupied Capitoline Hill).
Since a valley was conveniently located between the two settlements, the rulers decided to build a forum there, where the two communities could meet due to their newly acquired peace.
People first began meeting here when the Roman Republic was founded in 500 BC. It gradually expanded over time, especially noticeably during Julius Caesar’s reign. Caesar even had to acquire additional ground to make space at one point.
However, as time passed, more political and economic gatherings started happening in other areas. The Forum was used less frequently. Gradually, it fell into disuse, and most of it was destroyed around the time the Roman Empire began to decline in 410 A.D.
When you are at the Forum, imagine all the great Roman emperors who addressed their people right here, with looming columns and precisely carved sculptures in the background. It gives you goosebumps, right?
✦ Pro Tip: Visiting Italy? Check out this epic 3-day itinerary for Rome.
The Roman Forum in the Recent Past
A famous archeologist, Carlo Fea, rediscovered the Forum in 1803, but it took over a hundred years to thoroughly search the site and excavate the ground.
If you look closely, you might still see the structural damage to the concrete caused by the heavy rains of 2008.
In 2020, Italian archeologists discovered a sarcophagus without a clear understanding of who it was for. Many debates eventually led them to believe that it might have been built for Romulus, the city’s founder.
Now, the Roman Forum is a top-rated tourist attraction. Visitors can take walking tours around the Forum and experience the vast architecture of Ancient Rome firsthand.
Archeological diggings are still active today because historians are sure that many secrets lie beneath the grounds of this ancient plaza.
✦ Pro Tip: Visiting the Roman Forum on this excellent guided tour with a local is the best way to experience Roman history.
Best Things to Do at the Forum in Rome
The Roman Forum is filled with incredible things to do, most of them ancient buildings and temples. Here are some of the unmissable ones.
Via Sacra
Via Sacra is the main street that crosses this establishment.
According to legends, this street is where Romulus won over Titus Tatius. Not only that, but Via Sacra was also used to march the leaders triumphantly after every big win.
Later on, the street was used for military parades.
Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
After walking Via Sacra, stop at the Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina.
A remarkable building in the Roman Forum, this temple is hard to miss. Its ten looming columns will catch your eye in an instant.
Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius built the temple for his wife Faustina, who died in 141. This made her the first empress to be deified.
After Antoninus’s death, the temple was re-dedicated to both of them.
Between 600 – 800 AD, the temple was incorporated into the church of San Lorenzo.
Temple of Saturn
The Temple of Saturn is the most iconic of all surviving buildings in the ancient plaza. After all, this is the temple we always see in pictures of the Roman Forum, don’t we?
This is one of the oldest sacred sites in the Forum. It was dedicated to Saturn, the Roman God of seed-sowing and agriculture.
The Temple of Saturn was initially built in the 5th century BC, destroyed by a fire, rebuilt in 42 BC, and restored between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. The eight ionic columns that we see today belong to the 1st century BC.
Since Saturn was the God of agriculture and food, this temple was essential to the Romans. It functioned as the State Treasury and a storehouse for the Empire’s reserves of gold and silver.
It was also home to bronze tablets inscribed with the Law of the Twelve Tables. It also functioned as a safehouse for state archives, standards, and official weighing scales.
The Curia Julia
What looks like a plain, unexciting building from the outside once was the meeting place of the Roman Senate.
The Curia Julia is probably the world’s oldest senate building.
Julius Caesar commissioned the Curia in 44 BC, but Augustus Caesar completed it in 29 BC. A fire damaged the building in the 2nd century, after which it was restored.
Today, it is one of the best-preserved buildings in the Forum, which was eventually turned into a church dedicated to St. Adrian in the 7th century.
Septimius Severus Arch
You cannot miss the ruins of Septimius Severus Arch, one of the most impressive monuments in the Roman Forum.
Built in 203 AD to commemorate Emperor Septimius Severus’s victories over the Parthians, the triumphal arch stands out among the ruins of the Roman Forum today.
It is almost 70 feet high, made of white marble, and has four reliefs (in various states of repair) showing scenes from the Parthian wars.
Practical Information for Visiting the Roman Forum
Location of the Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is located very close to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. The three are in a triangle in the heart of Rome, within minutes of walking distance from each other. So, travelers often combine all 3 in one day tour.
All three of these legendary places are easily reached by buses, tram, and metro if you are staying a little further away!
Here’s the Google Maps location of the Forum in Rome.
How to Get to the Forum in Rome?
The simplest way to the Forum is to take the metro to the Colosseo Station (Google Maps) on Line B. The Roman Forum is just 5 mins away from the station.
You can also take the tram. Tram 3 or 8 stops at Piazza del Colosseo (Google Maps), where you can walk to the Roman Forum.
Bus Lines 51, 75, 85, and 118 also connect to the Roman Forum.
Of course, you can always take a cab. Just be ready with cash, as some will not accept card payments.
Roman Forum Opening Hours
The Forum is open daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm except on December 25th and 31st.
The opening hours are longer in summer, fall, and spring. Please check the official website before visiting.
Roman Forum Tickets and Prices
It is a good idea to buy a ticket that combines visits to all three supersites (as the Romans called them)—the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum.
This ticket includes 1 timed entrance to the Colosseum and 1 open entrance to the Forum and the Palatine Hill within 24 hours of visiting the Colosseum.
One important point to remember is that you will need a free ticket for kids under 18 years old, including small ones in strollers. Be sure to reserve them online in advance. More information on free tickets here.
✦ Pro Tip: Be sure to book your Roman Forum tickets in advance because the lines are really, really long!
Best Tours for Visiting the Roman Forum in Rome
Tours of the Roman Forum
I recommend touring the Roman Forum with a local tour guide. These tours are usually very insightful and help you see beyond the rocks and colors.
Usually, these tours include long, thorough walks through the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. Some tours also include other famous monuments, such as the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. I find the ancient Rome tours extremely satisfying.
Here are a few great Ancient Rome tours to choose from.
DIY Tour of the Roman Forum
If you are a DIY person, you can always travel independently and explore Rome’s gems, including the Roman Forum. There is a lot to take in. So, be prepared to spend at least a couple of hours at the Roman Forum.
Wear good shoes because there’s a lot of walking, with mostly no shade.
My last piece of advice would be to take your time. Soak up as much as you can, and do not leave until you have learned everything you want to know. Just have fun!
Visiting the Roman Forum? Pin this Ultimate Roman Forum Travel Guide.
