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Roman Forum

Heart of Ancient Rome's Political & Social Life

Julius Caesar • Ancient Temples • Imperial Power

Explore → Get Early Access

🏛️ Your Perfect Roman Experience

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Daily 8:30 AM

Closes 1 hour before sunset

⏱️

2-3 Hours

Including Palatine Hill

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From €16

Includes Colosseum & Palatine

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Via della Salara Vecchia

Multiple entrances available

Neighborhood: Monti, Centro edge

Enter from Via dei Fori Imperiali

🧭 Why Visit

The downtown of the ancient world: senate house, sacred temples, triumphal arches, and the rostra where Antony spoke over Caesar. It reads as rubble until it suddenly reads as a city; go with a map or a guide and it comes alive.

🏛️ A Little History

For a thousand years this valley was Rome's civic heart, from kings through republic to empire. Medieval Rome grazed cows here ('Campo Vaccino') and mined the marble; excavation only began in earnest in the 1800s.

💡 Did You Know?

The Curia's bronze doors are replicas. The originals hang at St. John Lateran, moved in 1660. And the black stone floor of the Lapis Niger covers what Romans themselves believed, 2,000 years ago, was the tomb of Romulus.

THE OVERLOOK

From the Capitoline

Start above it. The terraces behind Piazza del Campidoglio give the whole valley in one look, free, before you ever buy a ticket.

View down the Roman Forum along the Via Sacra from the Capitoline — **The Via Sacra**From up here the Via Sacra reads as one street again, running the length of the valley toward the Arch of Titus.

Columns of the Temple of Saturn with the Roman Forum behind — **The Temple of Saturn**The eight granite columns of the Temple of Saturn, home of Rome's treasury, with the whole Forum stretched out behind them.

Basilica Julia ruins and the Forum valley with the Santa Francesca Romana bell tower — **The Basilica Julia**Looking down over the Basilica Julia, the law courts Caesar started, toward the campanile of Santa Francesca Romana.

GROUND LEVEL

Down on the Via Sacra

The Sacred Way strings the monuments together one by one, from the Curia to the temples.

Curia Julia senate house and the Column of Phocas in the Roman Forum — **The Curia Julia**The Curia Julia, the Senate house Caesar began, still stands to its full roofline. The lone column in front is the Column of Phocas, the last monument ever raised in the Forum, in 608 AD.

Three columns of the Temple of Vespasian and Titus below the Tabularium — **Temple of Vespasian and Titus**Three corner columns of the Temple of Vespasian and Titus stand right under the Tabularium, where the Forum meets the Capitoline.

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina with the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda built into it — **Temple of Antoninus and Faustina**The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina survived by becoming a church. The green doors of San Lorenzo in Miranda hang a full story above the ancient floor.

Bronze doors of the Temple of Romulus flanked by porphyry columns — **The Bronze Doors**The Temple of Romulus keeps its original fourth-century bronze doors between two porphyry columns, and the ancient lock is said to work still.

Column stumps on the floor of the Basilica Aemilia with the Curia behind — **The Basilica Aemilia**Column stumps mark the floor of the Basilica Aemilia, the Forum's great banking and business hall. The Curia stands behind.

THE TRIUMPH

The Arch of Titus

The oldest surviving triumphal arch in Rome, raised in 81 AD, with the spoils of Jerusalem carved inside the passage.

Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum — **The Arch of Titus**The Arch of Titus from the Colosseum side, raised in 81 AD. Its single opening became the model for triumphal arches from Constantine's next door to Paris.

Coffered vault of the Arch of Titus with a relief panel on the pier — **Under the Vault**Under the coffered vault, with the spoils-of-Jerusalem relief just catching the light on the pier.

Arch of Titus relief of Titus in a four-horse chariot crowned by Victory — **The Triumph of Titus**Inside the passage, Titus rides in triumph in a four-horse chariot, crowned by Victory. The procession on the opposite pier carries the menorah from Jerusalem.

FROM ABOVE

From the Palatine

Climb the ramp behind the House of the Vestals and the Forum rearranges itself into a map.

Temple of Romulus rotunda seen from the Palatine with the city behind — **The Temple of Romulus**The round Temple of Romulus from above. The city has leaned into the Forum for so long that church fronts and apartment blocks share the frame.

House of the Vestals pools from above with the Vittoriano in the distance — **The Vestals' Pools**The pools of the Vestals' atrium from the Palatine ramp, with the white marble of the Vittoriano closing the view.

View from the Palatine over the Forum toward the Colosseum — **Toward the Colosseum**From the Palatine the eye runs past the Basilica of Maxentius and Santa Francesca Romana straight to the Colosseum. One ticket, one walk, three eras.

THE FREE VIEW

From the Street

The railing along Via dei Fori Imperiali is the best free archaeology in Rome, at its best at first light and last light.

Roman Forum from the Via dei Fori Imperiali railing with the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina — **The Northeast Corner**The Forum's northeast corner from the Via dei Fori Imperiali railing: the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina at right, the Basilica of Maxentius and the Colosseum far left. This whole view is free.

Excavated ruins at the edge of the Roman Forum seen from above in evening light — **Evening at the Railing**Evening light on the excavated layers at the Forum's edge, seen from the railing above.

Early golden light on ruins and an olive tree in the Roman Forum — **First Light**First light rakes across the ruins below the railing. Come before eight and this walk is yours.

Live Prices & Availability

Stay Nearby

🛏️ Sleep in Monti

The Forum runs along Monti's edge toward the Capitoline. Stay in Monti and you can be at the entrance when it opens, with the whole valley of ruins to yourself for the first golden hour.

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Visiting Tips

Enter from Palatine Hill for no lines (Via di San Gregorio 30)
Visit early morning or late afternoon for best light and fewer crowds
Bring water - limited shade and can get very hot in summer

Navigation Tips

Download Rick Steves free audio tour for self-guided visit
Follow Via Sacra (Sacred Way) for chronological history walk

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need separate tickets for Forum and Colosseum?

No, one ticket covers Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Valid for 24 hours with one entry to each site. Book Colosseum time slot first, then visit Forum anytime within 24 hours.

Is a guide necessary for the Forum?

Highly recommended. The Forum is mostly ruins with little signage. A guide brings the stones to life with stories. Alternative: rent audioguide (€5) or use free Rick Steves app.

Should I visit Palatine Hill too?

Yes! It's included in your ticket and offers amazing Forum views plus imperial palace ruins. The Palatine Museum has excellent artifacts and is air-conditioned - perfect midday escape.

Best time of day to visit?

Early morning (8:30 AM) or late afternoon (2 hours before closing). Avoid midday sun in summer. The Forum is mostly exposed with limited shade. Golden hour provides best photos.

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