Are the Imperial Fora part of the Roman Forum ticket?

Generally no. The Roman Forum ticket from the Parco archeologico del Colosseo covers the Forum and Palatine. The Imperial Fora are managed separately by the city; you can see most of them free from Via dei Fori Imperiali, and Trajan’s Markets museum sells its own ticket. Check both official sites for current arrangements.

Is Trajan’s Column in the Roman Forum?

No. Trajan’s Column stands in the Forum of Trajan, the largest of the Imperial Fora, near Piazza Venezia. It is free to view from the street. The Roman Forum is a few hundred metres south, in the valley below the Capitoline and Palatine hills, and requires a ticket to enter.

Which is worth more time, the Roman Forum or the Imperial Fora?

For most first-time visitors the Roman Forum deserves more time, because you can walk among the temples, arches and Senate House. The Imperial Fora are impressive but mainly seen from above at street level. Combine them: thirty minutes along the Imperial Fora, then two hours in the Forum and Palatine.

Roman Forum vs Imperial Forums: What’s the Difference?

Panoramic view of the Roman Forum with the Temple of Saturn and Santi Luca e Martina — The Capitoline end of the Forum, where most first-time visitors take their photos.

What is the difference between the Roman Forum and the Imperial Fora?

The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) grew over centuries as the original political, religious and market centre of the city. The Imperial Fora are five separate monumental squares built next to it between about 46 BC and AD 113 by Julius Caesar, Augustus, Vespasian, Nerva and Trajan to add space and glorify their rule.

In practice: the Roman Forum sits in the valley between the Palatine and Capitoline hills and needs a Parco archeologico del Colosseo ticket. The Imperial Fora line both sides of Via dei Fori Imperiali, are mostly seen free from the street, and are managed by the city of Rome.

Roman Forum pins (1–2) versus the Imperial Fora along Via dei Fori Imperiali (3–8). Orientation only. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

How do they compare for a visitor?

	Roman Forum	Imperial Fora
Built	Gradually, from roughly the 7th century BC	Planned, about 46 BC–AD 113
Highlights	Temple of Saturn, Curia, Arch of Septimius Severus, House of the Vestals	Trajan’s Column, Forum of Augustus, Trajan’s Markets
Ticket	Combined Colosseum–Forum–Palatine ticket	Street views free; Trajan’s Markets museum has its own ticket
Managed by	Parco archeologico del Colosseo	Roma Capitale (Sovrintendenza Capitolina)
Time needed	2–3 hours with the Palatine	30 minutes from the street; 1–2 hours with the museum

What are the five Imperial Fora?

Forum of Caesar: the first, with three re-erected columns of the Temple of Venus Genetrix. Forum of Augustus: dominated by the podium of the Temple of Mars Ultor and a high fire wall. Temple of Peace (Forum of Vespasian): largely under the modern road. Forum of Nerva (Transitorium): a narrow passage-forum with the carved colonnacce. Forum of Trajan: the largest, with Trajan’s Column and the brick Markets on the hillside.

Why are photos often mislabelled?

Many online photos labelled “Roman Forum” actually show Trajan’s Forum or the Forum of Caesar, because they are photographed from the same road. If you see a tall carved column or semicircular brick market halls, you are looking at the Imperial Fora. Eight free-standing columns on a high podium below the Capitoline is the Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum.

How do you visit both in one go?

Walk Via dei Fori Imperiali from the Colosseum toward Piazza Venezia to see the Imperial Fora for free, then enter the Roman Forum at Largo della Salara Vecchia, roughly halfway along. Add Trajan’s Markets if you want to walk inside an imperial complex. Prices, ticket names and time slots are set by the Parco archeologico del Colosseo and change; check the official ticket page before buying.

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Reviewed October 2026. Ticket names, prices, hours and open areas change — always confirm on the official pages.

Frequently asked questions

Are the Imperial Fora part of the Roman Forum ticket?: Generally no. The Roman Forum ticket from the Parco archeologico del Colosseo covers the Forum and Palatine. The Imperial Fora are managed separately by the city; you can see most of them free from Via dei Fori Imperiali, and Trajan’s Markets museum sells its own ticket. Check both official sites for current arrangements.
Is Trajan’s Column in the Roman Forum?: No. Trajan’s Column stands in the Forum of Trajan, the largest of the Imperial Fora, near Piazza Venezia. It is free to view from the street. The Roman Forum is a few hundred metres south, in the valley below the Capitoline and Palatine hills, and requires a ticket to enter.
Which is worth more time, the Roman Forum or the Imperial Fora?: For most first-time visitors the Roman Forum deserves more time, because you can walk among the temples, arches and Senate House. The Imperial Fora are impressive but mainly seen from above at street level. Combine them: thirty minutes along the Imperial Fora, then two hours in the Forum and Palatine.