Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tickets 2026: €18, Two Passes Explained

Most people searching for Roman Forum tickets don't realise they're choosing between two different €18 passes — and picking the wrong one means either missing the Colosseum or paying for a timed slot you can't actually get. Here's how the two tickets work, and which one fits your day.

In 3 minutes:

• The 24-hour combined ticket (€18) covers the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine. It's what most visitors want, but the Colosseum interior slot is the part that sells out.
• The Forum Pass SUPER (€18) skips the Colosseum and instead opens the Forum, Palatine, and eight SUPER sites — and it almost never sells out.
• Same price, opposite trade-off. If the Colosseum is why you're here, take the combined ticket. If it's sold out or not your priority, the Forum Pass is the better day.

How much are Roman Forum and Palatine tickets in 2026?

There are two ways in, both €18:

• 24-hour combined ticket — €18 (€16 + €2 fee). Colosseum first and second levels, the Roman Forum, and the Palatine Hill, valid 24 hours from your timed Colosseum entry.
• Forum Pass SUPER — €18. The Roman Forum, Palatine, and eight SUPER sites, but not the Colosseum. Valid for one entrance on one day; bought online, it's usable any day within 30 days.

Both are €2 for EU citizens aged 18–25 and free for under-18s. The Full Experience tickets (underground and arena €24, or Attic €26) also include the Forum and Palatine and stay valid for two consecutive days.

Can you buy a ticket for just the Roman Forum and Palatine?

Yes, and it's the part most guides gloss over. The Forum Pass SUPER (€18) covers the Roman Forum and Palatine without the Colosseum, and it adds eight SUPER sites that the standard combined ticket doesn't: the Domus Tiberiana (reopened in 2023 after decades closed), the House of the Vestals, the Palatine Museum, and others on a rotating schedule.

For the same €18, you're making a straight trade: the Colosseum interior, or eight quieter sites including imperial rooms most day-trippers never see. If you've done the Colosseum before, or its slots are gone, the Forum Pass is the richer half of ancient Rome and it doesn't carry the sell-out risk.

Do the Roman Forum and Palatine sell out?

Rarely, and this is the practical reason to know the Forum Pass exists. The Colosseum interior is timed entry with a hard cap, so its slots vanish within hours — and the underground and arena within minutes. The Forum and Palatine are a large open site without that limit, so the Forum Pass SUPER is almost always available on the day, even when the Colosseum shows nothing. If your Colosseum date is gone, you can still spend the morning in the Forum and on the Palatine and see the Colosseum from outside. Our Colosseum sold-out guide covers the full fallback list.

What most visitors get wrong

They skip the Palatine. Almost everyone walks the Forum and leaves before climbing the hill. The Palatine is where Rome began, where the emperors built their palaces, and where the best views over both the Forum and the Circus Maximus are. It's the quieter, greener, more rewarding half of the same ticket.

They enter from the wrong side. The Roman Forum side entrance on Via della Salara Vecchia usually has a shorter security queue than the Colosseum-side gate, and it lets you walk the Forum in morning light before the Colosseum crowds spill over.

They treat it as a quick stop. Budget 2 to 2.5 hours. The Forum takes an hour on the main path; the Palatine and its museum add at least another.

Frequently asked questions

How much are Roman Forum and Palatine tickets in 2026?

There are two €18 options. The 24-hour combined ticket (€16 + €2 booking fee) covers the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. The Forum Pass SUPER, also €18, covers the Roman Forum, Palatine, and eight SUPER sites but not the Colosseum. Both are €2 reduced for EU citizens aged 18–25, and free for under-18s.

Can you buy a ticket for just the Roman Forum and Palatine?

Yes. The Forum Pass SUPER (€18) covers the Roman Forum and Palatine plus SUPER sites like the Domus Tiberiana and the House of the Vestals, without the Colosseum. It's valid for one entrance on one day, and if you buy online you can use it any day within 30 days of purchase. It's the ticket to get if you're skipping the Colosseum or its interior is sold out.

Do the Roman Forum and Palatine sell out like the Colosseum?

Rarely. The Colosseum interior runs on strict timed entry with a hard cap, which is why it sells out. The Roman Forum and Palatine are a large open archaeological area without the same minute-by-minute limit, so the Forum Pass SUPER is almost always available even when the Colosseum shows nothing.

How long do you need for the Roman Forum and Palatine?

Budget about 2 to 2.5 hours for both. The Forum alone takes an hour if you walk the main path, and the Palatine adds another hour or more once you factor in the imperial palaces and the viewpoints over the Forum and Circus Maximus. Most visitors rush the Forum and skip the Palatine, which is the quieter and arguably more rewarding half.

What are the Roman Forum and Palatine opening hours?

The area opens at 9:00 AM. Closing is seasonal: 7:15 PM from 29 March to 30 September, 6:30 PM from 1 to 24 October, and 4:30 PM from 25 October to 28 February. Last admission is usually about an hour before closing. It's also free on the first Sunday of each month, with no booking and long queues.

Planning the whole visit? Our Colosseum tickets guide covers the ticket tiers and how the underground compares, and things to do in Rome covers the neighbourhoods, food, and free sights around the ancient centre.

Book Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine on GetYourGuide — free cancellation