Ancient Ostia Antica Semi-Private Day Trip from Rome by Train with Guide
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Escape to Ostia Antica and see why experts are calling it "The Better Pompeii". It is just a step away from Rome and you'll travel in a personalized small group with maximum 12 people! The perfect half day trip from Rome for those seeking to learn more about ancient Roman ruins but do not have time to travel to Pompeii.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children under the age of 18 might be requested to show their ID card at the entrance of the site, so please bring it with you on the tour.
While our day trips are typically of a fixed duration, external factors may occasionally extend tour times slightly. We appreciate your understanding and planning as we strive to provide you with the best possible experience.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Train ticket to and from Rome
English speaking tour guide
Semi Private group of 12 people max
Ancient Ostia entrance ticket
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
What To Expect
Rome
Meeting place prior to start the tour
Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica
Your tour starts at a meeting location in Rome, where you’ll meet your guide, who provides your round-trip train ticket. Then hop aboard the train for the ride southwest of Rome to Ostia Antica, which lies near the coast. When you arrive, take a 2.5-hour leisurely walking tour through the ancient ruins, noting their highly preserved state for which this archaeological site is so renowned. Dating as far back as the 4th century BC, the ruins include structures like an amphitheater, the Forum of the Corporations, the Collegiate Temple, taverns and public baths. Once home to more than 100,000 people, Ostia was the port city of Ancient Rome. Walk along the main road, Decumanus Maximus, while your guide tells you stories about life in town. Admire the intact Roman statues that line the walkways; pass by the Baths of Neptune, crowned by a mosaic that depicts the Roman god of the sea behind a 4-hourse chariot; and take a seat in the amphitheater, which dates back to 12 BC and was built to hold 3,500 spectators. Shops and apartments make up some of the smaller buildings. When your time at the site is up, you’ll return to Rome by train.
Options
Ancient Ostia Small-Group Day Trip from Rome
Reviews
572 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Worst guided tour!
Daniele M,
Nov 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
2.00Don’t waste your money with this company! Very poor guided tour… But the site is interesting, so get there by the train ( very easy) and pay for an audio-guide.
A rarely visted gem with lots of secrets to uncover
frederikg518,
Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This may well have been my favorite visit of my entire time in Rome. Our guide Alberto was highly knowledgeable and was able to provide a lot of great context for the places he was showing us. Ostia Antica is not on the radar of many of the people who flock to Rome, so we had large portions of the archeological park to ourselves, with some truly remarkably well preserved ruins. Walking through the rooms of a Roman Bath, being able to see wherefrom they were heated, getting a feel for how you would have moved through the place in ancient times. Wandering the commercial market, seeing the mosaics declaring that this was the office for trade with the provinces of Africa, Egypt or Asia. That you could hire longshoremen at this shop or buy cordage at that one. I have visited quite a lot of different ruins in the past few years, and this one instantly neared the top of the list. Don't miss the museum within the Archaelogical Park either. It was definitely worth a visit.
Do it yourself
juliann h,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
2.00The archeological park itself was really worth seeing. However, the guide Martina was as exciting as dry toast. I could have gotten more information delivered in a more expressive way from the audio guide that you can purchase with your entry ticket.
The Best Ostia Antica Tour!
Currie R,
Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Liv our tour guide was fantastic. She is knowledgeable, energetic, and personal. I would recommend the tour of Ostia in a heartbeat! The best!
Great day trip with Liv
M2356YMmatthewg,
Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Liv was awesome! The tour was very informative, well paced, and funny. I’d absolutely recommend taking this half day trip to anyone looking to escape the busyness of Rome for a few hours.
Walking around ancient Ostia. I recommend.
618pammym,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a fantastic tour. Please let me say, dont go unless you are interested in ancient history and archaeology. So our guide was Roberto (Rob) He was fantastic. A great storyteller. I have learnt so much. We had a whole morning walking around Ostia and finding our so much. Its a very big site. So get there you meet the guide outside Pyramide Metro cafe. Its easy. After the tour we enjoyed lunch at the fabulous cafe on site and then looked around the museum which has all the statues and mosaics and stuff they found. Its amazing. You could easily make a full day of it but having the guide was the best part. Thank you.
Loved Ostia Antica ! Loved Laura !
Julie R,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a great tour! We met and traveled by train together from Rome to Ostia Antica. Our group was under 15 people and our guide Laura Luongo was maybe my favorite guide I've ever had. She wss able to really help us understand Roman life in this area . Laura is from Naples and her warm, kind but tough nature helped us plow through crowds of teen visitors in our path and adjusted as needed to always meet the needs of her group. I loved this tour! Ask for her. Ostia Antica is so worth touring --no tine for Pompeii?, do this tour w Laura. Pro Tip : Also, be sure to read the additional info about the meeting point. Look for text the morning of to be at meeting point about 20 min early ❤️
This a must do tour!!
neilm262,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Laura was a great I thought she was knowledgeable ,infectious and shared amazing stories about Ostia Antica. Her passion for history kept my attention. I definitely enjoyed being a part of this tour and would recommend as a “must do”
Stunning archaeological park well worth visiting and a peaceful location
louisei516,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Beautiful location to visit and very interesting We would have liked a little more detail about more of the buildings which would have been easier with a headset as then the guide could have talked more as we moved from area to area
Ostia is an amazing taste of Ancient Rome. Alberto is amazing guide!!!
FarAway207443,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an awesome experience. A lot of people don’t think to go here but it is just as nice of a site as Pompeii and only a short train ride from Rome! For the price it is truly an unbeatable experience. It was a nice half day tour and the our guide, Alberto, was phenomenal he was so knowledgeable and friendly. I went with my wife and son and Alberto was very engaging for the kids. 10/10 would recommend
From €49.00
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Operated by City Wonders Ltd