Four ways to see the Forum
The Roman Forum and the Palatine can be visited on your own with an entrance ticket, on a general guided walk run by a tour company, on a special interior visit or on a guided evening visit. They differ in price, group size and what they let you enter.
The archaeological park runs a few guided visits itself. Most general tours come from private companies. Their prices and departure times change, so this page compares the types and the park's own offers rather than rating companies. Always check the exact product description before you pay.
The tour types compared
What each one is and what to ask before you book.
| Type | What it is | Check before you book |
|---|---|---|
| Independent visit | Entrance ticket and your own route through the ruins | Time slot, name on the ticket, which sites are open |
| General guided walk | A company guide leads a group through the Forum, often with the Palatine | Whether the Palatine, the entrance fee and your language are included |
| Interior visit | A special tour of one site, such as the Horrea Piperataria | Day, language, group size and the price split |
| Evening visit | A guided walk after the day closes, on Fridays in 2026 | Booking window, name rules and the stations |
Do not assume a tour includes the Palatine, the SUPER sites or a German or English guide. Only book when the description says so.
Our picks: guided tours
Three guided ways in: with the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine only, or the Palatine with the Domus Tiberiana.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Forum and Palatine Hill walk with a live guide
A live guide, headsets and entry to the Forum and Palatine Hill are included. The Colosseum, food and tips are not.
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Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill with a licensed guide
Entry to the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill is included, plus a licensed guide and headsets. The arena or underground only comes with the matching option.
Check availability →
Palatine Hill, Domus Tiberiana and Forum with a guide
A licensed English-speaking guide and entry to the archaeological area are included. The Domus Tiberiana depends on availability and opening. The Colosseum is not part of it.
Check availability →Roman Forum guided tours
Guided walks of the Forum and the Palatine, small-group visits and combined entries with the Colosseum, with live prices and availability.
The tour the park runs: Horrea Piperataria
A concrete example with fixed details.
What you see
The Horrea Piperataria were spice warehouses under the area of the Basilica of Maxentius. The tour covers several building phases and uses walkways and multimedia. It is not a replacement for a full Forum and Palatine tour.
When it runs
On Mondays. Italian at 12:15, English at 11:30 and 14:00. The group has up to 10 people and the tour lasts 75 minutes: 45 minutes of explanation and 30 minutes of multimedia.
The price
€26, made up of €18 for the Forum Pass SUPER and €8 for the guide. Reduced it is €2 entrance plus €8 for the guide. If entrance is free by law, you still pay the €8 for the guided part.
Ticket prices →Where to meet
At the Largo della Salara Vecchia entrance, with the staff on duty.
What to check before you book
The wording differs more than the prices do.
Entrance fee
Some tours include the entrance and some do not. A tour price is not an entrance price, and a company package is not an official ticket price.
Names on tickets
Tickets carry a name and can be changed only once, in narrow cases. Ask when the name is added and what happens if it is wrong.
Palatine and SUPER sites
Say yes only when the description says Palatine included. The House of Livia is closed for restoration and the House of Augustus is closed on Mondays.
Language
Do not assume a daily departure in your language. Check the date and language of each departure.
Security
A guided ticket goes through the same security check as every other visitor. No tour skips it.
The evening visit
One special programme, with its own rules.
In 2026 the park runs a guided evening visit called A Night at the Roman Forum. It takes about 75 minutes on Fridays from 19:30 to 22:00, with last entry at 20:30. Groups are limited to 25 people, and booking is required. The price is €35 for adults, made up of €18 for the Forum Pass SUPER and €17 for the guide. Reduced it is €19, and with free entrance the guide costs €17. Children under 6 enter free. The walk follows the Via Sacra, the central Forum, the Vestals' House and the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. Check the calendar for the dates in your travel week. More on the Forum at night.
For other tours in Rome, including the Colosseum, see Rome tours.
Going without a guide
An independent visit works well if you plan the order of the ruins. The map and route page suggests a sequence from the Largo della Salara Vecchia entrance to the Palatine. It is a planning aid, and closed paths and interior opening times come first.
The park lists a route with fewer steps from the House of the Vestals to the Temple of Romulus, the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, the Forum square and the Curia. The Palatine still has slopes and uneven ground, so do not expect the whole site to be fully accessible. Do not climb on columns or wall blocks, and keep to the marked paths.
Roman Forum tours: frequently asked questions
Do I need a guide for the Roman Forum?
No. You can visit on your own with an entrance ticket. A guide helps you make sense of a field of ruins. Choose the type that matches how much you want explained.
Does a tour include the entrance ticket?
It depends on the tour. Some include it, some add it as an option and some do not. The park's own Horrea Piperataria tour is priced as entrance plus €8 for the guide.
How big are the groups?
The park allows at most 25 people including the guide, and from 9 people the guide must use a whisper system. Special offers can be smaller, such as 10 people on the Horrea Piperataria tour.
Can a tour skip the security check?
No. Every visitor goes through the same security check, and the tour ticket does not change that.
Is there an English tour every day?
Do not assume so. The park's Horrea Piperataria tour runs in English on Mondays at 11:30 and 14:00. For company tours, check the date and language on the product page.