roman forum entrance header

How to visit Roman Forum and skip the line ? (Updated)

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Visiting the Roman Forum is a must if you’re visiting Rome’s historic centre, but it’s one of the most popular tourist sites in Rome, which means it can get pretty busy.

The last thing you want is to spend any longer than necessary queueing for Roman Forum tickets, so here’s some more information about how you can perfect your visit.

What is the Roman Forum and for what was it used for?

Today the Roman Forum is a site of ancient Roman ruins that’s often visited by those also visiting the Colosseum.

What kinds of activities took place in the Roman Forum ? Back in its day, it was a hub of activity, home to the most important ancient government buildings, law courts, shops and markets.

Thousands of years later you can still explore the ruins of this ancient plaza, and get a feel for life in ancient Rome.

roman forum entrance
Roman_Forum

How to get to the Roman Forum?

The Roman Forum is next to both the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, but it has its own separate entrance. The Roman Forum entrance  is between the Colosseum and the Piazza Venezia.

Because of the positioning of the entrances and exits for the Colosseum, the ancient Forum and Palatine Hill, most people visit the Forum after visiting the Colosseum. This is because the Roman Forum entrance is located by the exit of the Colosseum.

If you’re taking the metro, you can get off at the Colosseo station, which is right by the Colosseum. The bus stop is also called Colosseo, which makes it nice and easy to remember if you plan on mixing up your travel methods.

roman forum entrance Palatine Hill rome
Palatine_Hill_rome

Do you need tickets to the Roman Forum ?

It’s possible to buy a ticket that just lets you into the Roman Forum, but combination tickets, which give you access to the Colosseum, the ancient Forum and Palatine Hill are much more popular, and much better value for money.

How much does the Roman Forum cost ? Check online here to see updated prices.

With a standard Colosseum ticket, you’ll have access to the Colosseum, the Forum and Palatine Hill, but if you were to opt for the Super Ticket (see here), you’d also have access to 7 other sites as well:

  • Neronian Cryptoporticus (an underground corridor)
  • Palatine Museum
  • Aula Isiaca
  • House of Augustus
  • House of Livia
  • Temple of Romulus
  • Santa Maria Antiqua
roman forum entrance S.U.P.E.R tickets rome
S.U.P.E.R_tickets_rome

How to visit Roman Forum ?

Because the ancient sites get very busy, it’s always best to book your Roman Forum tickets ahead of your visit.

By booking ahead you’ll avoid some of the long ticket queues that can build up outside the Colosseum and Roman Forum entrance, and you’ll know you’ll definitely be able to enter (the Colosseum has a limit of 3000 people, so some people may be turned away).

As well as booking in advance, planning your visit for off-peak hours can also make your trip much more enjoyable.

During peak Roman Forum hours (late morning and early afternoon), the Colosseum and Forum area can become incredibly busy, especially during high season, so try to plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon if you want to avoid the crowds.

roman forum entrance colosseum rome
colosseum_rome

How to skip the line at the Colosseum and Roman Forum ?

If you want to skip the line at Roman Forum, you can buy a skip the line ticket for the Colosseum. This way you can skip the line at Roman Forum, Colosseum and Palatine Hill.

You’ll still need to go through security at each of the entrances (no one’s exempt from that), but with a Forum skip the line ticket you’ll save yourself a lot of time when it comes to ticket and entrance queues.

Booking a guided tour is also a good way to skip the line, as your tour guide will lead you straight through any queues and into the attractions.

roman forum entrance Colosseum tour group
Colosseum_tour_group

Roman Forum Hours – When is best time to visit ?

The best time to visit the Roman Forum is either early morning (8:30am onwards) or late afternoon (1-2 hours before closing). These times are the least busy, so you’ll have more freedom to explore the Forum and take great pictures without tourists photobombing.

This is also when the lines for tickets and entrance will be shorter, so if you don’t have one of the Forum skip the line tickets, this will save you time when it comes to queueing.

roman forum entrance Early morning colosseum rome
Early_morning_colosseum_rome

What you need to know before visiting the Roman Forum ?

Security

Before you enter the Roman Forum, you’ll need to go through security, which can be quite a lengthy process, even if you have ancient Forum skip the line tickets. If you’re planning on visiting the Colosseum first and you have a set entrance time, get there an hour before, to allow time for the security checks.

Pickpockets

During the ticket queues, and inside the Roman Forum, make sure you keep yourself safe by keeping an eye out for pickpockets. Make sure your valuables are stowed away – don’t leave your phone hanging out of your back pocket!

Whilst there’s security on site, pickpocketing is still an issue.

Restrooms

Whilst there’s only one set of restrooms in the Colosseum, there are several toilets located within the Forum, so don’t worry you won’t be trekking around Rome trying to find one.

roman forum entrance Secutity Check
Secutity_Check

Is the Roma Pass worth it for the ancient Rome Forum ?

The Roma Pass is a tourist ticket that gives you access to several of Rome’s biggest attractions, including the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill.

Whilst the standard Colosseum ticket costs 12 euro, the Roma Pass costs 32 euro for 48 hours or 52 euro for 72 hours, but it includes travel perks, discounts and other attractions.

If you’re planning on packing a couple of days in Rome with attractions and sightseeing, the Roma Pass could definitely be worth it for you. If you make the most of the free travel, the discounts and free attraction entries, you’ll end up saving money.

However, if you only plan on visiting one or two attractions (the Colosseum, ancient Forum and Palatine Hill all count as one single attraction), it could be cheaper just to buy tickets for each attraction you want.

It’s also worth noting that the Roma Pass doesn’t give the same queue-skipping benefits as Roman Forum skip the line tickets.

roman forum entrance Roma Pass
Roma_Pass

Conclusion

So with a Colosseum ticket you can visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Whilst the order you visit them in is technically up to you, most people visit the Colosseum, then the Forum and then Palatine Hill, because of the locations of the entrances and exits.

If you want to save time and skip the line at the ancient Forum, you can purchase a skip the line ticket for the three attractions. Joining a guided tour is also a great way to skip the queues, and you’ll get a more detailed and personalised tour of the ancient sites.

Getting there early or later can be the best way to make the most of the day, as you’ll miss the bulk of the crowds, and have more space to enjoy the Forum fully.

You can buy your tickets in advance online through our site, so that all that’s left for you to do is turn up and enjoy the sights.

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