Best time of day & day of the week to visit Roman Forum?

Posted by reina on 05/09/25 07:38 AM

I'm going to Rome for the first time during the Festa della Repubblica long weekend. I'll be in the city from Friday May 30 through Sunday June 1, departing on the actual holiday of Monday June 2. I understand this long weekend means the city is extra busy...oh joy!

I was planning to visit the Roman Forum on Saturday because I really prefer to explore Trastevere and go to the Botanical Garden on the Friday. But I've read the Roman Forum is less busy on weekdays than the weekend. Do you think it will actually be less busy if we go on Friday instead of Saturday?

Also, we are very late risers so we wouldn't get to the Forum until probably 2-3pm when the sun is very strong. I'm wondering if it's worthwhile to go later. If we go to the Forum at 5pm, will the heat actually be any less than at 2-3pm?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Posted by Volva

UK (London - Chelsea Harbour)

05/09/25 09:38 AM

303 posts

Late afternoon on a Friday or Saturday is likely to be pretty hellish, from a crowd perspective and a heat perspective.

I don’t know why you are late risers, but if it is just a preference thing (and not a physical or health limitation) I would encourage you to get up as early as you can to avoid the worst of the heat and crowds.

Different city/situation, but I will say that my country music performer brother played a show in Florence one night a couple of years ago and then made himself get up at 7:00am so he could meet me at the Uffizi at 8:00 and beat the crowds. He has since then thanked me more than once for insisting he arrive early enough to actually see things in comfort. By the time we left the place at 10:30am the crowds were already CARNAGE, and my brother could see why I had insisted.

Same with the Forum. Cooler breezes and some elbow room is available early. Later, it is always a scrum. :-(

Posted by Linda

Vignola, MO, IT

05/09/25 03:56 PM

741 posts

You're not going to beat the crowds on a holiday weekend. Expect big crowds and anything less will be a plus.

Posted by reina OP

05/13/25 04:17 AM

5 posts

Thank you both for your input! I didn't realize how much a difference going earlier in the day would make. I had thought that the crowds would be thinning out as the heat increased by late afternoon.

So we were thinking of getting up "early" and arriving at the Forum on Sunday at 11:30am. Hopefully it's not too bad!

Posted by markcw

Los Angeles

05/14/25 06:22 AM

1543 posts

So we were thinking of getting up "early" and arriving at the Forum on Sunday at 11:30am. Hopefully it's not too bad!

Actually bad - admission is free on the first Sunday of each month.

Last admission is at 6:15, and closing is 7:15. I would rather risk going at a later hour on Friday or Saturday - maybe 4PM. We were there for the All Saints Day holiday period - there was a long ticket-holder line waiting to get in, but the crowd dispersed once inside.

Posted by reina OP

05/14/25 05:26 PM

5 posts

Oh, I didn't realize there is free entry then. That is extremely helpful to know!

So you're thinking 4pm until closing could potentially be quieter than the early afternoon period (i.e. 12-3pm)?

Posted by markcw

Los Angeles

05/14/25 09:18 PM

1543 posts

If you look at open slots for Colosseum tickets on a given day, I recall that there was usually better availability later in the day - that may hold for the Forum as well. It's a big place, so the crowd spreads out once inside, and fewer seem to venture up to the Palatine Hill. And if it turns out that you don't have time to go inside, there are great views looking down into the Forum from the outlooks at the rear of the piazza outside the Capitoline Museums.