Ostia Antica

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Ostia Antica: Tours & Tickets

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5 Ancient Highlights of Ostia Antica

Located just on the outskirts of Rome, Ostia is the birthplace of the Roman Republic, located on the Tiber river. It's an essential visit for ancient history buffs!

  • Decumanus Maximus

    1. Decumanus Maximus

    Commencing at the Porta Romana, this was the main pedestrian walkway going through the town.

  • Baths of Neptune

    2. Baths of Neptune

    These baths contain intricate mosaics portraying god of the sea, Neptune, as well as some of the earliest Christian graffiti in the Roman Empire.

  • Agrippa's Theater

    3. Agrippa's Theater

    Agrippa was the right-hand man of Emperor Augustus. He commissioned this theater, completed in AD 196, which had 21 rows of seats for the public plus VIP areas.

  • Thermopolium

    4. Thermopolium

    Excavated during the First World War, this is possibly one of the first bars in Western civilization. Take a look at the ancient graffiti and paintings!

  • Museum Ostiense

    5. Museum Ostiense

    Do you need to cool off after your time spent exploring the ruins, or do you simply want to learn more? This museum and gift shop is waiting at the end of your walk.

Planning Your Visit

  • Sun-safe

    You'll be spending most of your time outside, so it's important to stay safe in the sun with sunscreen and a hat. Drink lots of water too! It can get warm in Italy even in the fall months.

  • Archeological news

    Like other sciences, archeology is never over - there are new developments going on all the time, so keep up to date on the website if you are fascinated by the latest findings from days gone by!

  • Group visit

    Ostia Antica is perhaps best experienced as a group - and with a guided tour in your language so that everyone's on the same page.

  • Day trip

    Although in relatively close proximity to Rome, you should still set aside a day to visit Ostia and not rush seeing this historic spot.

Good to know

  • When should I visit?
    Open 8:30AM. Closing times vary throughout the year and must enter an hour before closing.
  • Is it expensive?
    10 euros per adult
  • Will I need a guide?
    This ancient site is best explored with a guided tour to point out the history and give you a feel for the daily life of the people that once called this spot home.
  • How to get there
    Take Metro B and switch to Roma-Lido train at Piramide Station. Get off at Ostia Antica station. Cross over the blue bridge and walk straight until you reach the entrance.
  • Additional information

    • Great spot to escape the crowds in Rome. These are one of the few ruins you can this up-close!

    • Free entrance on the first Sunday of each month!

What people are saying about Ostia Antica

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 155 reviews

Wow, Maria Rita gave us an excellent tour of Ostia Antica! She met us outside the ticket office and proceeded to give the four of us a thoroughly fascinating experience. Maria had pictures to show us as we toured to give even more perspective and history. This site was not crowded, so we were able to find private spots to hear her explanations, take plenty of pictures, and imagine what life was like when this city was a thriving port. So much better than overcrowded Pompeii. Maria is an engaging, knowledgeable archeologist who imparted her enthusiasm for Ostia Antica during this wonderful tour.

Ostia Antica Guided Tour with Local Archaeologist Reviewed by Carol, 2/4/2020

Helpful?

Maria Rita was an amazing guide. She brought the large Ostia Antica antiquity site into a manageable tour. Not only is she a trained archaeologist, but she has knowledge about history and the arts. I booked a small group tour but was lucky enough to have a private tour with her. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and learning more about Italy. I wish I had turn this on the beginning of my trip instead of the end because I could have used the knowledge when visiting other places. Maria Rita is a delightful person who is very passionate about her job.

Ostia Antica Guided Tour with Local Archaeologist Reviewed by SUZANNE, 10/30/2019

Helpful?

Maria did an excellent job of explaining the history and architecture of Ostia Antica as we walked through the ruins. She used visual aids to help us imagine how it looked centuries ago and to increase our understanding. She is not only very knowledgeable about Ostica Antica having worked on the site as an archaeologist but also an excellent communicator and teacher to someone who knows nothing about archaeology or Ostica Antica. We highly recommend this tour.

Ostia Antica Guided Tour with Local Archaeologist Reviewed by Michael, 2/2/2020

Helpful?

Very enjoyable tour. the guide , sorry I can't remember her name, was very good. I enjoyed her dry humour. She was very knowledgeable. We met at Piramide station and she took us to Ostia Antica. A lovely relaxed visit. Thank you.

Ostia Antica Half-Day Tour from Rome by Train Reviewed by David, 10/19/2019

Helpful?

Maria Rita was an excellent Guide. She was knowledgeable, professional and polite. She was happy to answer questions and kept the exchange flowing. The tour itself was done at a very good pace.

Ostia Antica Guided Tour with Local Archaeologist Reviewed by Velda, 2/16/2020

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