One of the Best Day Trips from Rome: Ostia Antica

If you feel you could use a break from Rome’s crowded scene, I suggest a day trip to Ostia Antica, Rome’s ancient harbor, one of the best day trips you could take from Rome.

About Ostia Antica

Ostia was a major harbor of the Roman Republic and the early Roman Empire times. At its peak, it was probably home to 60000 to 70000 people.

It was the seaport of Rome, at the mouth of the Tiber River. Many of the goods Ancient Rome needed came through the sea from North Africa, Spain, or the Middle East. They arrived on large ships to Ostia, then traveled upriver to the metropolis.

Day Trip to Ostia Antica

How to get to Ostia Antica from Rome

Take the train from Porta San Paolo station to get to Ostia Antica. You can reach the station by metro (Line B to Piramide station) or bus 23 from the city center to Ostiense/Piramide station). Read my post about the hectic transport in Rome for some useful information. The train ride takes about 25 minutes. From the station, walk about 10 minutes to the archaeological site entrance.

A visit to Ostia Antica – What to expect

You can find info about the schedule here. The archaeological park is closed on Mondays, and the entrance is free every first Sunday of every month. Otherwise, the entrance ticket is 12€. You can buy a map at the entrance or get an audio guide.

The park is quite large, an entire city excavated. It’s not as well preserved as Herculaneum or Pompeii, but there is a lot to see. Also, it’s not too crowded, and you have the chance to walk on Decumanus Maximus in Ostia at your own pace.

You will probably wander for a few hours through the park. The highlights are the theater and a lot of exquisite Roman mosaics. The theater in Ostia is one of the few Roman Theaters still hosting events. Around the Forum, there were workshops for every trade. The mosaic in front of each shop depicts the items sold so anyone could easily find the right shop. Some of them are quite impressive.

Useful tips

The archaeological park has a few places for a picnic if you bring a packed lunch. If you don’t, there is also a coffee shop where you can have lunch or a drink. The food is good, but a bit expensive. If you plan to go to the beach too, you might want to have lunch there.

A Virtual Tour of Ostia Antica

If you only have enough time to see the major tourist attractions in Rome, you can also visit Ostia Antica virtually. I wasn’t a big fan of virtual tours, but since the pandemic started, I can appreciate this alternative to classic travel. I still prefer the real thing, but you can get a taste of a place from the comfort of your sofa.

Lido di Ostia (the beach)

While you’re in Ostia, you might want to go to the sea as well. The modern Ostia is close by, maybe 10 minutes by train, so it is well worth the extra time to complete your day trip from Rome.

How to get to Lido di Ostia

Either from Rome-Porta San Paolo or Ostia Antica, you have to take the train towards Cristoforo Colombo station. The stop you want is Lido Centro. From here you can take bus 1, but in my opinion, you don’t need it, you can easily walk to the beach.

What to expect

The seafront in Ostia is packed with private beaches and restaurants with very few free beach patches. I guess it’s really crowded in summer. However, in October, the beach is pleasant, and you can take a walk on the sand, have a bath or just have a beer at any of the restaurants or cafes overlooking the sea.

This was my day trip to Ostia, a mix of history and sea. Next, my list of 17 Free Things to do in Rome.

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Do you like visiting Roman ruins? Tell me about your favorites in the comments below!

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