The Ticket System: How It Works
The Roman Forum does not have a separate ticket. It is part of an integrated access system covering three main sites:
- Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre)
- Roman Forum (Via Sacra and surrounding areas)
- Palatine (the imperial hill with palaces and gardens)
The only legal way to visit the Roman Forum is to purchase the combined ticket covering all three sites. There is no separate entry for the Forum alone.
2024 Prices
The following prices are indicative: always verify the current rates at coopculture.it before your visit.
Standard ticket (Colosseum + Forum + Palatine)
- Full price: €18
- Reduced (EU citizens 18–25 years): €2
- Free: under 18, disabled visitors with a companion, authorised guides
SUPER ticket (additional access to special areas)
- Full price: €22
- Reduced: €2
- Includes: Colosseum Arena (amphitheatre floor), House of Augustus, House of Livia, Temple of Romulus, Neronian Cryptoporticus
Note: the House of Augustus and House of Livia require an additional booking with fixed time slots. Places are limited.
Online booking: additional €2 booking fee
Where to Buy Tickets
Online (recommended)
- coopculture.it — the official website of the site manager
- Available up to 30 days in advance; some slots available just hours before
- Payment by credit/debit card
- Confirmation email with PDF to present at the entrance (digital or printed)
On site
- Main ticket office: Piazza del Colosseo (north side)
- Secondary ticket office: Via Sacra (Palatine/Forum entrance)
- Warning: on high-season days, queues can exceed 60–90 minutes
- Forum/Palatine-only tickets are often available even when the Colosseum is sold out
Authorised agencies and resellers
- Tiqets, Viator, GetYourGuide resell the official ticket with a small surcharge
- Useful if you prefer a single booking platform for multiple attractions
When Is It Free
Always free
- Children and young people under 18 (any nationality)
- Persons with documented disability + 1 companion
- Authorised tourist guides in the exercise of their profession
Free Sundays The Italian Ministry of Culture periodically organises free-entry days for everyone (the so-called domeniche al museo — museum Sundays). In recent years these have been held on the first Sunday of each month. The calendar is published on:
- coopculture.it
- beniculturali.it
Important: free Sundays do not necessarily apply to all sites in the combined ticket in the same way. Always check for the current year.
Ticket Validity
The combined ticket is valid for two consecutive days from the date of first use. This means:
- You can visit the Colosseum on the first day and the Roman Forum + Palatine the following day
- Or split your visit in any combination over the two days
- The SUPER ticket (with access to the House of Augustus) has fixed time slots that must be respected
Important: tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable once purchased online, except in cases of extraordinary closure.
How Entry Works with a Booking
- Online purchase: on coopculture.it you select the date and, for the Colosseum, the entry time slot
- Email confirmation: you receive a PDF with a QR code
- At the entrance: show the QR code at the turnstile (digitally on smartphone or printed)
- For the Colosseum: the booked time slot must be respected; for the Forum and Palatine, access is free within the two days of validity
Tickets for Special Areas
The SUPER ticket grants access to areas not included in the standard ticket:
Colosseum Arena: the amphitheatre floor — the surface where gladiators fought. Requires specific time slots; advance booking recommended.
House of Augustus (Palatine): the private residential rooms of the first emperor, with Second Pompeian Style frescoes. Access with limited numbers (approximately 20–30 per session), compulsory guide or audio guide.
House of Livia (Palatine): adjacent to the House of Augustus, with exceptional frescoes. Same access arrangements.
Temple of Romulus (Roman Forum): the building with original fourth-century bronze doors. Accessible with the SUPER ticket.
Neronian Cryptoporticus (Palatine): the underground corridor linking the imperial palaces, built by Nero.
Tips for Saving Time and Money
Buying online the day before is the best strategy: it avoids queuing at the ticket office and guarantees access. The €2 booking surcharge is negligible compared with the time saved.
The Forum and Palatine without the Colosseum: technically you cannot buy just Forum + Palatine. The ticket always includes the Colosseum. However, no one checks that you visit the Colosseum — the ticket is valid for both days and you can choose not to use it there.
Avoid unauthorised vendors: outside the Colosseum there are touts offering "discounted tickets" or private tours. These are invariably scams or services of inferior quality at standard prices. The official ticket is sold only on coopculture.it or at the physical ticket offices.
Online agencies (Tiqets, Viator): a legitimate alternative with a small surcharge. Useful if you already use a platform for other sites. They do not offer a lower price than the official channel.
Group and School Tickets
Groups: booking at least 2–3 weeks in advance is recommended in high season. Group tickets require coordination with the official ticket office.
School groups: free access for students under 18; accompanying teachers: check conditions on coopculture.it. Advance booking required.
Authorised guides: tourist guides authorised by the Lazio Region enter free in the exercise of their profession.
Ticket Office Hours
Colosseum ticket office (Piazza del Colosseo)
- Open daily
- Same hours as the site (closes before sunset)
Via Sacra ticket office (Palatine/Forum)
- Open daily
- Useful if you start your visit from the Forum rather than the Colosseum
Visit the Roman Forum with a Private Driver
The Roman Forum is at the heart of Rome. A private driver service removes every logistical concern.
Visit the Roman Forum with a private driver: comfortable and punctual transfers, while you focus on history. Service from €49. → Book your driver at myromedriver.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Roman Forum ticket cost? There is no separate ticket for the Roman Forum alone. The combined Colosseum–Roman Forum–Palatine ticket costs €18 full price (€2 reduced for EU citizens 18–25). Entry is free for under-18s.
Can I visit the Roman Forum without a booking? Yes: advance booking is compulsory only for the Colosseum in high season. For the Roman Forum and Palatine you can buy the ticket directly at the physical ticket offices without a booking, but you risk queuing.
When is the Roman Forum free? Under-18s always enter free. On certain Sundays (the ministerial domeniche al museo) entry is free for everyone. The calendar is published on coopculture.it and mibac.it.
Does the Roman Forum ticket include the Colosseum? Yes: the combined ticket includes the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine, and is valid for two consecutive days. It is not possible to buy just the Forum.
What does the SUPER ticket include? The SUPER ticket (€22) adds to the standard access: the Colosseum Arena, House of Augustus, House of Livia, Temple of Romulus, and the Neronian Cryptoporticus. Some of these areas require fixed time slots and advance booking.
Article no. 51 — TIER S — MON-03 Roman Forum + Palatine Type: PRACTICAL Words: ~1,600