The Colosseum and the Imperial Forums represent the heart of ancient Rome. Visiting both sites is a unique experience that allows you to immerse yourself in the history of the Roman Empire.
The Roman Forums were the nerve center of ancient Rome: every decision passed through here!
Later imperial ones were built to give prestige to the great Roman emperors.
Did you know that the ticket for the Colosseum also includes the Imperial Forums and the Palatine? And that there are guided tours that let you discover hidden secrets of these wonders? A visit to the Colosseum cannot be called complete if you don’t admire these areas as well!
In this guide I’ll explain everything you need to know to make the best arrangements: read on and you’ll receive information on tickets, guided tours, and useful tips for visiting the Colosseum and the Forums without stress!
WAIT! If you would like to visit the Colosseum and the Forums, let me give you a piece of advice: book your ticket online in advance to avoid queues at the ticket office: discover the heart of Imperial Rome without standing in line!
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Colosseum and Roman Forum + Audioguide Ticket
Fast-track access and audio guide included: explore Colosseum and Roman Forum with one ticket.
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Colosseum and Imperial Forums: journey into ancient Rome
Capriccio with ruins of the Roman Forum, painting by Claude Lorrain
The Colosseum is the most famous amphitheater in the world: its construction began in 70 AD at the behest of Vespasian and was completed by his two sons Titus and Domitian.
The Roman Forum, on the other hand, was the political, religious and economic center of ancient Rome.
Later, the Imperial Forums were built by successive emperors to bring prestige to their figure.
They consisted of five monumental squares erected by Julius Caesar, Augustus, Vespasian, Nerva and Trajan between 46 B.C. and 113 A.D.
By purchasing a ticket that allows access to both tourist sites, you can get many benefits! By visiting them together, you will be able to:
- Admire the Colosseum, a symbol of the Roman Empire.
- Explore the Imperial Forums, a true open-air museum.
- Climb the Palatine Hill, the hill where, according to legend, Romulus founded Rome.
Fun fact: The Imperial Forums were not part of the Roman Forum, but were built later by various emperors to expand the political center of the city since there was no room to build further in the area of the Roman Forum.
Tickets for Colosseum and Imperial Forums
View from the monument to Victor Emmanuel II
Types of tickets available
| TICKET | PRICE | BOOK |
| Standard ticket | From 25€ | Book Now |
| Full Experience Ticket | From 21 € | Book Now |
| Ticket with guided tour | From 36 € | Book Now |
| Night Tour | From 65 € | Book Now |
Standard ticket
With one need you can access both the Colosseum and the Roman Forum and Palatine. A unique opportunity at an incredible price!
You will be able to avoid the queues at the ticket office and ensure your right to access the sites on the date you have booked, plus buying the package will save you money!
It is especially suitable for those who want to make a complete visit at a fantastic price, living the experience in their own time to be captivated by the splendor of ancient Rome!
Considering that the price starts from only 25 euros, this makes it the cheapest ticket of all and, considering the richness of the offer, it is also one of the most popular packages!
Don’t wait if you want to secure the best price: book your visit on the day of your choice now!
Full experience ticket
This ticket gives you access to the Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine and also gives you the option of adding access to the Arena (optional).
But the benefits don’t end there: you’ll also get an audio guide to learn more about Roman history and the nature of what you’ll be visiting.
This package also gives you a wide choice at a phenomenal price! Compared to the standard ticket, it also gives you access to the arena and provides you with a valuable audio guide!
It is ideal for those who want to visit Colosseum, Forum and Palatine possessing a greater historical knowledge, to deepen their knowledge more, as well as having the opportunity to walk on the very famous arena, the scene of gladiator fights!
The price starts from 21 euros, to which must obviously be added the eventual access to the arena. The possibility of also having the audio guide makes it one of the cheapest packages in proportion to the amount of benefits.
If you also wish to visit the arena, it may be the right ticket for you: in case you don’t want to wait, it is better to reserve all access already.
Combination ticket with guided tour
A combination ticket that allows you to visit both the Colosseum, the Forums and also the Palatine. All enhanced by the presence of an expert guide who will make your visit unique and unprecedented!
The main advantage of this package is the presence of the guide who will recommend glimpses where you can take wonderful photographs and who will tell you everything you need to know about ancient Rome!
This tour is designed for those who do not want to give up the best possible insight even at the cost of spending a little extra.
However, the price is still unique: from only 36 euros you can enjoy a much more complete experience than the standard ticket offers.
From 50 euros, on the other hand, you can also add access to the arena: you will step on that mythical sand while your guide tells you how the performances were held in front of more than 50,000 spectators!
It’s hard to find a better package than this one: maximum performance at a very minimal expense! One of the most popular packages for our visitors.
Night ticket
Admission to the Colosseum and the Forums during the “Golden Hour”: sunset! Visit the Colosseum with a few people inside as the last soft lights of the day chase and reflect on the travertine of the amphitheater!
An English-speaking guide will accompany you during the most romantic hour to discover the magnificent Roman Forum and the symbol of Rome’s history: plus, you’ll skip the line at the ticket office!
Ideal for those who want to avoid the big crowds and enjoy these attractions in an atmospheric atmosphere, all in the company of an experienced guide who can make sure you learn the most from your visit.
Starting at anincredible price of only 65 euros you can enjoy an unparalleled experience during this twilight tour that even includes the Arena!
And whatever you choose, remember that only by purchasing your ticket online can you ensure line-free entry!
The best-selling
Colosseum and Roman Forum Ticket + Audio Guide
Fast-track access and audio guide included: explore Colosseum and Roman Forum with one ticket.
from 25€
Full Ticket
Secure payment
Instant confirmation
Mobile ticket
Guided tour Colosseum and Imperial Forums
Vintage photograph of the characteristic Colonnacce
A guided tour is the best choice if you want to know everything about the Colosseum and Imperial Forums.
Only in this way, in fact, will you have the chance to discover secrets and details that would otherwise go unnoticed.
As you have already seen, there are different types of guided tours: you can choose the one that best suits your needs!
Types of guided tours
- Classic Tour (2-3 hours): Colosseum, Forum and Palatine with expert guide. In the course of a single tour, you will explore all these three attractions: you will see the buildings of the emperors in the heart of ancient Rome, the most famous amphitheater in the world, and the Hill on which, according to legend, Romulus founded the Eternal City. Accompanying you, your guide will take you through all of Rome’s most important historical moments: from the legend of its founding to the decisions made in the forum to the spectacular fights in the Colosseum.
- Special Access Tours: Thanks to some special tickets, you can also visit parts of the Colosseum not accessible to everyone. By purchasing full packages you will also be able to access, again without queues, the basement and the Arena floor to see up close the place where the shows were staged. Only with this option will you be able to see for yourself how the ancient Romans managed to organize such complex and majestic events.
- Evening Tour: Exploring the Colosseum and the Forums under the stars, with a unique atmosphere, is an indescribable experience. Only those who have given themselves this thrill know what it means: if you wish to find out, you need only one click.
Why choose a guided tour?
Choosing a guided tour is the best way not to miss anything of Italy’s most famous monument!
For example, did you know that the Colosseum is listed among the 7 wonders of the modern world? And that during the Middle Ages the Frangipane family used it as a palace-fortress, even having a wooden walkway built inside for patrols?
only by relying on expert guides will you discover anecdotes and curiosities that will leave you speechless and make your visit unforgettable.
Moreover, especially in the Forums, but not only, it is not always easy to understand what you are admiring considering that they are ruins: a guide will be able to explain it to you in the best way possible, making you appreciate the visit more and contextualizing what you will observe to its function in the society of the past.
This will allow you to move through the ruins understanding every part of the Forum and maximizing your time.
At the end of the experience you are sure to be rewarded for delving into history with compelling reconstructions and narratives that, combined with the opportunity to see the archaeological sites live, you will surely not forget once you return home!
Tip: Guided tours sell out quickly. Truly experienced escorts are not an endless number! If you want to have a trained person with you who can make the most of your visit, book your expert tour leader in advance!
Colosseum and Roman Forum + Guided Tour
Explore Rome’s two most iconic sites with the help of an expert guide.
from 41 €
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Instant confirmation
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How to arrange a visit to the Colosseum and the Forums
View of the Forum with Temple of Venus, painting by Edward Lear
Length of visit
- Colosseum only: visiting the Colosseum takes about one and a half/two hours. Clearly, the visit time is subjective: it depends on your level of interest and your desire to linger and observe any details. The time may increase if you also plan to access the undergrounds.
- Forums and Palatine: about an hour and a half is required for the Forums and Palatine. Again, the duration is approximate and you may also need to take more time. As with the Colosseum, a guide could help you make better use of your time by speeding up the visit while making it richer.
- Full visit: for a full visit you will need about 3.5 to 4 hours.
One suggestion: if you want to enjoy the visit to the fullest without rushing, consider taking half a day.
Only then will you be able to observe and learn all that the Forums and the Colosseum have to offer and teach you: this area was the beating heart of all of Rome’s history and hides very important parts of history in every corner!
Best time to visit
For a visit that is as crowd-free as possible, it is helpful to take into account a few tricks!
The best times to visit the Colosseum and the Forums are early in the morning, from the time the site opens, and late in the afternoon before it closes.
Temperatures are less hot in the morning (to be considered for spring and summer) and there are fewer entries than during peak hours.
The time of day with fewer people inside the sites, on the other hand, is late afternoon: if you love the calm this time of day is for you, but be careful: you can enter up to an hour before closing and you will have to be careful not to waste time completing your visit.
So remember the best times for a visit free of crowding:
- Early morning (08:30 – 10:00)
- Late afternoon (17:00 – closing)
Frequently asked questions
Tickets for the Imperial Forums start at 18 euros and also give you access to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill.
To buy Colosseum tickets, it is advisable to move in advance and purchase them online: this is the only way to take advantage of several benefits. First of all, there are discounts for organized packages, plus you can secure your entry and be entitled to priority access with which to skip the line.
A full visit takes about 4 hours. The time is, of course, approximate and the duration will vary depending on your interests and how in-depth you are during the visit. In any case, it is advisable to think about having a half day to visit the area considering the large number of points of interest to admire.
With one package you will be able to access the Colosseum, the Forums and also the Palatine. You can also add admission to the Arena floor for an even more complete experience.
Conclusion
View of the Roman Forum, painting by Giovanni Paolo Panini
Well, here we are at the end of this little in-depth look at the Colosseum and the Imperial Forums. We’ve discovered together everything you need to know about visiting the Flavian Amphitheater and Imperial Forums, which tickets to choose, and why a guided tour can make the experience even more fascinating.
You also discovered that there are also exciting evening tours. I’ve indicated how long, approximately, a visit to the Forums and Colosseum lasts, and also given you tips on the best times to access the sites.
Finally, I have answered the most frequently asked questions, but we remain available should you have any others to help you plan your visit!
We’d also love to hear from you if you’ve already visited the Colosseum and the Forums: if you’d like, please share your experience with us in the comments!
If you are a Roman history buff, you cannot miss this opportunity! This is where Rome was born and developed: you will be able to visit its beating heart and the quintessential symbolic monument of Romanity!
What are you waiting for? If you don’t want to miss this opportunity, book your ticket to enjoy great benefits: history is waiting for you!
The best-selling
Colosseum and Roman Forum Ticket + Audio Guide
Fast-track access and audio guide included: explore Colosseum and Roman Forum with one ticket.
from 25€
Full Ticket
Secure payment
Instant confirmation
Mobile ticket
