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Located in a former marshy valley separating the Capitoline and Palatine Hills, the Roman Forum is a rectangular plaza that evolved from a cemetery to a marketplace and then into a monumental center with government buildings, temples, and basilicas. It is the heart of ancient Rome, serving as the center for political, religious, commercial, and judicial activities. Included with Colosseum tickets, my partner, our friends, family member, and I entered and walked among the ancient temples, arches, and ruins, giving a real sense of what life was like in imperial Rome. Because it's so vast, it never feels too busy despite all the visitors there. Exploring freely without a guide gave us the space to really soak it all in. Most of the roads were uneven stones or dirt roads with frequent stairs, too. At the top, Palatine Hill is a massive archaeological site that was once the home of many Roman emperors. The word "palace" derives from the word "palatine" since this was where the emperor's palaces were. The best areas are up on the highest levels. The views were wonderful, seeing the entire Forum and Rome. Each site has its own history, and it's worth either taking a guided tour or downloading an audio guide to fully appreciate what one's seeing. This is a must-visit for anyone interested in history. It's awe-inspiring, humbling, and truly brings ancient Rome to life.
Be prepared to come for a hike if you want to cover all the corners and to see everything. The distance is quite long and can be tiring. It took about 3 hrs to cover some major features of this roman forum. It would have taken longer and it would have been more exhausting to cover everything. We were tired so we gave up and exited. The view is majestic and the architecture is full of details and its surprising that it was done centuries ago... Definitely worth coming to this place!
So much to see and so much to do once you are done with the colosseum next door It has a museum and so many ruins to walk about and hike lol I mean wear comfortable shoes and be careful as it's uneven and slippery at times and it was sprinkling a little that day but I love that there are all the free water fountains to refill a bottle of water This is a big chunk of your day or all day if you do this with the colosseum A lot of people at times but the sites really make you think and contemplate
This is where ruins go to mingle and tourists go to sweat. It's like walking into a really confusing group chat from 2,000 years ago, where nobody deleted their messages and everyone spoke in Latin. Once the bustling epicenter of Roman life including politics, religion, business, betrayal, casual and often stabbings, you know, it's now a glorified rock garden with excellent tourism advertising. And don't worry if you can't tell your basilica from your bathhouse, just follow the nearest tour guide waving a flag and shouting dates no one's writing down. Definitely go see this chaotic, sun-drenched maze of broken glory, ancient gossip, and just enough signage to keep you confused in 4+ languages. Just remember, you are not the problem if nothing makes sense.
The Roman Forum is near the Colosseum and you can enter if you visit within 24 hours using your Colosseum ticket. The grounds cover a fairly large area and can be warm if toured in middle of day. We used an audio tour to provide more information about the different ruins. It's amazing to see all the different structures. The Forum was government buildings,temples, also later on churches. Bring bottle of water, there are fountains to refill. Worth touring, just be prepared for standing and walking a lot if you combine the Palatine and Forum together.
The Roman Forum The ruins of Ancient Rome. Literally, takes you back in time. Like you are in the Twilight Zone lol It's so cool though! Tons of fun to walk around and immerse yourself in the ancient ruins. And there's a ton of great photo opportunities! It's just so pretty. You can't go wrong with visiting the Roman Forum! 10/10
How lucky are we, that we have access to these incredible places in 2024? How fortunate that there are teams dedicated to preserving the structures, the histories, the meanings? And there is so much - SO much - history, meaning and story here. We opted for a guided tour because we wanted to take advantage of their advertised ability to get access to all the places we wanted to get access to (this was a combo tour, the Colosseum and the Forum, and they lied about what they'd be able to do for the tour group.) We were there in mid-August, so it was hot. And crowded. The Forum was much easier to maneuver because of the sheer amount of space available for tourists, but it was still crowded. Our guide pointed out some of the interesting structures, told us some of the history and meaning behind what we were looking at and kept us moving at a decent pace. I do admit that after a while, my mind kind of turned off. Like, I wanted - I so badly wanted - to hear it all and absorb all the history - but the heat, the standing in the sun, my own exhaustion...it all conspired to beat me. After a while, I wandered off a bit, taking pictures of things in the opposite direction of where our tour guide was pointing, zoning out on the things I was seeing. And I'd like to end this post with appreciation for the many water fountains sprinkled around the grounds of the Forum. We definitely took advantage of them, refilling our water bottles every time I saw a fountain, even if it meant breaking from the group to do so. The hydration helped, for sure.
I really enjoyed the Roman Forum more than I thought I would. I did have a superb tour guide named Barbara that took us around for 90 mins. There is so much history there and I learned so much about the Roman Senate as well. This was the heart of Rome. It was busy in the forum at spots but we went in late October when there aren't as many tourists in the city. Highly recommend buying tickets in advance and getting a tour guide.
The site was once the political, religious and commercial hub of the Roman empire. The Forum fell into disrepair after the fall of the Roman Empire until eventually it was used as pasture land in the Middle Ages. The area was first excavated few hundreds of years ago, and the excavations continue to this day. I think this place is totally worth visiting as convenient and not far away from the colosseum.
Walked around during Independence Day so there were absolutely no crowds around. I went back a different day to explore the inside and it was beautiful. To see it all, do plan to be there for more than a few hours. Once you leave, you cannot re-enter so I do suggest you bring snacks if you can and some water.
2 years ago
6 years ago
The Roman Forum while intriguing at first lance, ultimately cries out for interpretation and clarification. There is so little left from the original structures that the visitor finds it difficult to envision more than stone floors and pillars. There are few written description as you walk from one end to the other. To fully appreciate the forum requires a guided tour, pictures of the original structures, a guide book, an audio-guide or a smart phone app.. Rick Steves has a good one. Tickets can be purchased individually but most visitors buy the combo-ticket, (Forum, Colosseum and Palantine Hill. Tickets can be purchased on line and are time specific. If you are purchasing your ticket on site get your ticket at the Palantine Hill entrance, it is a shorter line. The "Forum was the center of Roman social, religious and political life. Notable structures include: Arch of Titus (82 BC), Arch of Septimius Severus (293 C.E.) celebrating his victory or the Parthians (Iran), the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine (the giant statue of Constantine is now in the Capitoline Museum), the Curia Julia (Roman Senate) which was started by Julius and finished by Constantine, the Rostra or public speakers platform, the Temple of Castor & Pollux (the twins), the Temple of Concordia (167 BCE) which was dedicated to the goddess of peace, Concordia, Temple of the Divine Julius (42 BC) the cremation site of Julius Caesar, the Temple of Saturn (79 BCE), the Temple of Vespasian (87 CE), and the Temple of Vesta and the House of the Vestal Virgins. It is a little round temple where the sacred flame was kept perpetually alive by the Vestal Virgins. The forum lies in what was a marshy area drained by Cloaca Maxima, the world's first large scale sewer system. It is in an open area that lies between the Capitoline and Palantine Hill. There area few public water fountains but the summers can see temperatures well above 90 degrees F. with little shade. read more
6 years ago
If you are ever in Rome, make sure you visit the Roman Forum. It's amazing to see from a distance which we did at the beginning of our trip in Rome, but once you get to take a closer look at all the ruins, it's fascinating. It's so amazing when you think about how the Roman Forum used to be a popular place people would go to every day. We learned about how it used to be a center for politics from our guide and we got to admire the intricate designs of all the old, broken-down buildings. The fact that we could all get so close to something hundreds of years old and basically relive it as we walked through it made the experience really special. I'm so glad I took pictures. read more
7 years ago
There is SO much to see here, that it is practically mind-blowing. I recommend getting a guided tour from whichever tour you prefer because there really is a lot to take in. The arches, ruins, and array of other sites here are just phenomenal. It's truly a special place to take in, considering all the history around you. read more
9 years ago
The day before our visit to the Roman Forum, our private guide to the Vatican gave us the most valuable tip; you'll be disappointed by the interior of the Colosseum, but you'll be amazed by the Forum and the great pictures you can take of the Colosseum from there. But go in the late afternoon. He was right!!! The following day, we were standing in front of the Colosseum and thrilled to be there. Such a mighty structure standing the test of time, an icon whose images you've seen your entire life. But as promised, we were underwhelmed by the interior. Then we proceeded to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. With so many underwhelming, overbilled sites across Rome, the Forum was a rare attraction that actually exceeded its reputation! With such wonderfully refurbished ruins, you can vividly imagine what it was like to walk the streets of the centerpiece of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago. We marveled at the sophistication that existed so many thousands of years prior to our existence. The craftsmanship and details were remarkable for such a primitive time. We've visited many, many ruins throughout the world, Turkey, Egypt, Malta, Peru, Hungary, you name it. But these were so expansive, so advanced for its time, so aesthetically pleasing, so historically important. And you'll have perfect, unobstructed views of the Colosseum's exterior from here. But what about the block-long lines during the high season? Here's the trick! Go on a Sunday afternoon around 3.5 hours before sunset (about 5:00 p.m. during the summer). Visit the ticket office just down San Gregorio Street from the southwest corner of the Colosseum (don't stand in line at the busier ticket office at the Colosseum). Buy tickets for the Forum and Palatine Hill only. You'll have no line, no stress, no hordes of tourists. Within the first hour, you'll begin to notice that you practically have the place to yourselves. The throngs of people who visited the site early in the morning are worn out and back at the hotel. The sun will dip to the perfect angle for glorious shots of the western walls of the Colosseum. About two hours in, you'll almost be alone in the compound as you're now 30 minutes from closing time. Spend another half hour leisurely strolling through these magnificent ruins. One hour before sunset, they close up shop after you've spent 2.5 hours on a peaceful visit to one of Rome's most iconic locations! read more
I had no idea that the Roman Forum was so expansive! You can literally spend the entire day just taking in all the ruins and getting a feel for what things must have looked like way back then. We bought a package deal online before arriving in Rome which also included the Roman Forum. Well, after spending and hour to an hour and a half at the Colosseum, we spent the rest of the day taking in everything at the Forum! There is that much to see! Some of the highlights of fragments of things you will see in here: -Temple of Castor and Pollux -Temple of Saturn -Temple of Vesta -Temple of Venus and Roma -Temple of Antoninus and Faustina -Temple of Caesar -Temple of Vespasian and Titus -Temple of Romulus -Arch of Septimius Severus -Arch of Titus They also have a small Museum with plenty of fragments and pieces of sculptures that were found around the area. Plenty of signs with great information on them to help fill you in on what was there and what it was used for during those times. This ended up being a pleasant surprise to me and I greatly enjoyed my time in here. No visit to Rome would be complete without a long, thorough trip thru the Roman Forum! 5 stars. read more
The Roman Forums, a must see when in Rome, right next to the Colosseum. Spacious enough for many tourists to walk around and explore. The only downside is because it's mostly dirt, the concrete portions do get very muddy! Also it's all outdoors so if it rains, you will get caught in the rain. Bring an umbrella. This attraction is included in the Roma Pass plus it lets you skip the line- worth getting! read more
5 years ago
**My visit took place in January of 2020** The Roman Forum is an immense place to visit. A payed tour is not required you can go and walk around freely around the historic landmark. The great structures are sure to take your breath away. There are different buildings you can go into while you are on the lower level of the forum. As you walk the ruins, you can see some of the broken down pillars of what used to be. A sense of nostalgia hits you as you think what could have been if you live in those times. Although it can get crowded, this place is big enough where you won't be shoulder to shoulder with other people. A map is giving to you per your request so that you have a general idea of where you are at. Pro tip... you can use Google maps too . There is a trail that gets you to the upper level where you can reach the Palatine Hill and a garden that overlooks the whole forum. I highly recommended. Follow me and my adventures @Sin_Aguayo_Canelito fb:Sin Aguayo read more
7 years ago
8 years ago
We carried our Rick Steve's portioned out book with us to tell us where to walk and to bring back to life each section of what we were looking at. It takes a little imagination but like most historical sights, is astonishing once you take a breath and think about what it took, in both imagination and physical strength to create these cities so long ago! We recommend the Colosseum and Palatine Hill if you have not seen these as well. *Beware of people who will harass you while you stand in line, who wear Skip the Line jackets and look like these people, or are these people, and sell overpriced and outdated and/or already used tickets. They are onsite known scammers. Stay away from them. read more
This is my favorite tour that I was a part of in Italy. It's a lot more walking than most of the other tours I went to but it was worth it. My tour guide gave a lot of great history and she was very funny. It was amazing to learn the deep history of all the architecture and to see the amazing detail that was put into everything. read more
It's free from the outside front view but if you wish to walk through the site, then you have to have a purchased ticket and then enter. If you purchase a colosseum ticket then it may include entry to the forum, which I had. They do minor security check through the x-ray machine. You don't have to take out your devices or anything if you bring a bag, just slide it in. You'll see a lot of rocks spaced out and broken pillars if you walk inside but you can still get a good picture from the front fyi without purchase. read more
Historical, felt like I was stepping back in time. It's a wonderful place to visit especially if you're a history buff. It was included in the package for visiting the Colosseum. Our guide was absolutely horrible. She took us to two stops and then explained THE ENTIRE forum to us without walking us around- reminding us to "keep this in mind" while we walked around on our own. Not much of a guide. What I mean to say is that, chose your guide wisely! It impacts your experience there. Wear good and comfortable walking shoes, this place is ancient school so the paths are nonexistant or hard on your feet. The view from the top isn't that great. There's not a lot of great picture moments, but it's great to walk through history. Going up the hills is pretty but doesn't give you any jaw dropping views. Still worth it though! read more
The Roman Forum and Palantine Hill are absolutely incredible. There is so much history here and walking around these ancient buildings and remains is surreal to say the least. This is obviously one of the top can't miss sights of Rome. The one thing I didn't realize is how HUGE it is. You could easily spend all day here roaming around the Forum and Palantine Hill. Throughout the grounds there are several museums and ticketed areas. To get in you need to purchase tickets at the entrance to the Palantine Hill/Roman Forum. We didn't realize that and missed out, so definitely keep that in mind. Also, if you are going in the summer (I went mid-September) do yourself a favor and bring sunblock/hat/shade umbrella anything to keep the sun off. You'll be in direct sunlight a lot. read more
Why should you be excited to see a bunch of rocks? Because it's been here before your great-great-great-great grandmother's mother was born! Because this was the seat of imperial Rome that has been here for thousands of years and has survived earthquakes, rain, fires, battles. Because it's cheap to see, entrance fee is €12 and it includes admission to the Colosseo too! Plus the lines here are much shorter than the Colosseo, so make sure to stop by here first. Download the trip advisor or the Rick Steeve's app which seems to be more popular, so you can save €5 from renting the audio guide. Any money saved goes towards vino! ;-) read more
13 years ago
What is left of the Forum and the Palantine Hill doesn't look like much at first, but there are so many interesting stories about these crumbled rocks and pillars! Your ticket from the Colosseum gets you through the gates so be sure to purchase your ticket in advance on www.tickitaly.com Some of my favororite sights of the Forum included: 1. Arch of Constantine 2. House of the Vestal Virgins 3.Temple of Julius Caesar We didn't spend money on a tour guide and instead opted to listen to the free Rick Steves audio tour I had downloaded onto my iPhone. http://www.ricksteves.com/news/travelnews/0602/italy-audio-tours.htm The tour is very entertaining and Rick Steves will tell you everything you would want to know about the Forum. read more
This used to be the centre of life for the people of Rome. Like much of the city, it is basically ruins, but it is still pretty impressive to stand here and remember that the entire known world would be ruled from here. Actually, it was much more than just a place where the empire was ruled, namely because the senate building is long gone. However, the forum was basically the town square, and all the important buildings and temples surrounded it. Here you can find the remains of the temple of Saturn, and the temple of Julius Caeser. Needless to say this place is nothing short of impressive. read more
After touring the Colosseum, we walked to the Ruins. What a sight! To begin with, Rome is continually unearthing history, which I find fascinating. The landmarks are nothing less than amazing. And well preserved. It was fun to envision what life was probably like for the citizens who lived in these structures. We toured in the late autumn, so I suggest bringing a layer of clothing and an umbrella, which was invaluable! Take your time while walking the grounds. There is just too much history to miss if you hurry through it all. It is quite humbling to think of how creative and intelligent the architects were in that time- and we think we are smart! It is mind-blowing to see the large, heavy blocks and columns, and figure how they were moved and lifted to build the palaces. This is definitely a don't-miss area of Roma! read more
6 years ago
As the former center of Roman culture, and now home to the ruins of several important ancient government buildings, The Roman Forum (AKA Forum Romanum or Foro Romano) is included in the ticket price of a Coliseum visit and easily visited during the same day. Offering a pleasant walk, plus descriptions of the area in Italian and English, expect crowds during peak times and plan accordingly depending on how much you want to see and/or read. read more
11 years ago
Tips for exploring the Roman Forum: - Split your visit with the Colosseum! You're given a two day pass to visit the two places since it can be a bit much to squeeze both into one day. - Come early! Don't wait for the lines to build since once you're inside, you don't want to be stuck with the crowds and especially not the tour groups... - Wear good, sturdy walking shoes because these are the ruins of the Roman Forum. Paths are uneven, rocky, and dusty or even muddy on rainy days (dark shoes are best) - Be well-rested! It's a lot bigger than you think so be ready to explore and do some walking. I was here for about two hours and I didn't even get to see everything. If it weren't for the rain and hunger setting in, I could easily spend more time just wandering around here. read more
This place is amazing! There's nothing like literally walking into the past. This was one of the few times on our European vacation that we allowed my son and nephew to roam free without parental guidance. This was mostly because the Forum was surrounded by walls/gates and because they had a cell phone and were required to check in with us every 30 minutes. This allowed both the adults and teens the freedom to wander at will and enjoy everything at their own pace. The forum is quite large, so we didn't actually see them until they were getting hungry - a couple of hours later. We purchased a combo pass for the Colosseum and The Forum and enjoyed them on different days (a it's not possible to see both in one day if you plan to spend quality time at each). read more
Another must-see in Rome. I believe it's 12euros to enter the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill area. These two are connected and you only have to pay once. There are a lot of area to cover, so make sure you have some comfortable walking shoes. It's just unbelievable to see what's left after so many years. I couldn't help but think "Hmm, I wonder what it was like back in the days" when I was walking around aimlessly. Nothing fascinate me more than the beautiful structures and columns in the Forum area. Even rubbles looked awesome as I stand and imagine what it used to look like. There's a lot of walking, please be sure to bring a water bottle and keep hydrated. read more
Everything I had read about the Roman Forum indicated that it was the silly little brother of the Colosseum. After venturing through the forum - I can tell you first hand that it is not a landmark that should be missed when visiting Rome. Located right next door to the Colosseum the Forum is a lot larger than I thought it was going to be... but then again it was the center/downtown of the city back in the day... so why wouldn't it be huge. What was once a beautiful square of shops, statues, and government buildings is now ruins. Ruins that have been preserved, ruins that are still being uncovered, it's really a fascinating sight. We spent close to an hour wandering around before heading back to our bus... fyi - the views from the top of the hill are spectacular. Another gem in Rome, be sure to use your ticket from the Colosseum (its basically a 2for1 deal) and check it out. read more
6 years ago
Top sights in Rome. Buildings, temples and square date back over 2000 years. Not crowded after September, it's the best time to visit and comfortable sunny weather. read more
Buy a single ticket online to get into the Roman Forum and the Colosseum to avoid the line, although there was not much of a line for us when we got in. The ruins are a fantastic piece of history three years of high school Latin couldn't teach me. There were signs that helped explain the different ruins and areas we were seeing. You could see the entire Forum in 10 minutes or in 2 hours, depending on the time and care you take to look, take pictures and examine. A must visit when in Rome! read more
7 years ago
I don't think words can put this place into perspective. Absolutely marvelous. We went on a guided tour for €25 and came away 3 hours later with more knowledge about this place than I would have imagined. When going I highly recommend purchasing a guided tour. You find out so many stories and actually understand what you are looking at. read more
6 years ago
The Roman Forum is exactly what you expect to see when site seeing ancient Rome. Some tips prior to visiting, - Assuming you booked your trip ahead, prebuy your ticket online for the day you plan to visit. Buy the ticket that includes the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forums. It is only 12 euros plus a processing fee of 1.50 euros. - Wear sunscreen, very little shade! - See the Colosseum first before visiting Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, you would spend the most time here and the crowds are a lot less at the other two sites. There was no queue here to enter. Pretty much walked in and explored on my own. Palatine Hill over looks the Roman Forum. So many buildings and amazing architecture masterpieces here. I could just stand and stare and picture how huge these buildings used to be. The 3 huge columns were my favorite of the sites here. Expect to spend some time here. Lots of great photos to take. Also right outside the forum, make sure you check out the Julius Caesar Statue. read more
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Foro Romano - landmarks - Updated May 2026
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