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Ostia Antica Day Trip from Rome: Explore the 'Better Pompeii' with Semi-Private Guided Tour
4.8
476 Ratings
Roma
Embark on a journey to Ostia Antica, deemed ‘The Superior Pompeii’ by authorities in the field. Just a stone’s throw away from Rome, experience this fascination in an intimate small group capped at 12 individuals! Ideal for those yearning to delve into the intricacies of antique Roman ruins but pressed for time to visit Pompeii.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- 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.
What's Included
- Round-trip train ticket from Rome
- Knowledgeable English-speaking guide
- Exclusive semi-private group (max 12 people)
- Admission to Ancient Ostia included
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
- 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.
Location
P.za Ostiense, 11
Piazzale Ostiense
Cafe Piramide, when facing the Piramide metro (Line B – the blue line) stop on your right hand side is the cafè, just in view of the train tracks and the exit from the trains. You can recognize the cafè by the white umbrellas on the tables outside.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(476 Ratings)
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Julia_s
Jul 7, 2024
Beautiful tour and an excellent guide! - Our guide Laura was warm, funny, and very well-informed! She really made the experience special. Ostia Antica was beautiful and Laura’s insights and details about the site were invaluable - it would not have been half so interesting without her guidance!
Review provided by Viator
Rosalbam690
Jun 29, 2024
Great tour of archaeological site not far from Rome - This was an excellent tour, with lots of information and history and less crowded than Pompei. There is plenty of places to rest in the shade during the heat and small coffeeshop to have a break. Our guide Alberto was very good.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Philvirta
Jun 27, 2024
Uncrowded Ancient Ruins - If you like to study ancient Roman history in a laid-back, uncrowded setting, I recommend Ostia Antica. The city didn't have the dramatic ending that Herculaneum or Pompeii did. Ostia Antica was a port city that fell into disuse when the shoreline moved. You can still walk through ruins of houses, public baths, toilets, and marketplaces. It has it's own mini-coliseum, too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maria_s
Jun 24, 2024
Amazing and surprising! - Angela was a fount of knowledge and experience filled with passion for the history. This place showed how the ordinary people lived and cannot be compared to Pompeii. It is a place to explore rather than just visit.
Review provided by Viator
Jan_j
Jun 20, 2024
Great guide, very good tour - Nicolette’s sense of humor about Roman history, her passion for sharing that history, and her assistance in getting us back to Rome for another adventure.
Review provided by Viator
930enidw
Jun 18, 2024
A Fascinating Archaeological Site - Small group tour, maximum 12. Our guide Laura was excellent, friendly and very informative. Plenty of stories to really bring this site to life. She added to the whole historical experience of this extensive & fascinating site, which doesn't always feature on the tourist map, but deserves to be visited more.
An easy excursion by train from Rome.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Abby_p
Jun 13, 2024
Surreal day outside of the city. - This is truly a special place. Get out of the city to see an entire ancient town with the best mosaics. You actually get a complete picture of how people lived. Theater, markets, homes, restaurants, kitchens, baths, burials, forums, it goes on and on! And we basically had the place to ourselves. This was easy and one of the best things we saw on our trip to Rome! Also has a wonderful cafe on site.
Review provided by Viator
Camper42971390512
Jun 7, 2024
Ostia Antica experience - Our trip to Ostia Antica was, in a word, wonderful. We were so fortunate to have, as our guide, Angela. She was so knowledgeable about the history of the site and very patient in answering any of our questions very thoroughly and in a way that made the whole experience fun and enjoyable. Would very highly recommend this your and especially, this guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jbirdca
Jul 29, 2024
More Roman Ruins, less crowded than Pompeii… - A nice half day trip from Rome (more or less). Easy to get to by local metro. You get to see a whole port town in much less crowded conditions than Pompeii. There aren’t as many frescoes maybe, but you do get the mosaic floors, and if you are trying to do it from Rome, it can take up much less of your day. We went in the morning, had lunch at their cafe, then went to spend the afternoon at a beach. It was a great way to spend the day. There is much more to see and do on the entrance ticket than what our family did, but the kids were bored of ruins after the Coliseum and Forum also, and it was very hot, so an afternoon at the beach was just right for us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lisamulhol
May 23, 2024
Ostia Antica - This was a truely special tour 25 mins out of Rome to see the remains of Ostia Antica without hordes of people. Our guide Caterina was knowledgeable and funny. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
