Recently Viewed
Ostia Antica Day Trip from Rome: Explore the 'Better Pompeii' with Semi-Private Guided Tour
4.8
550 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.
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:
24 hours
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…
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(550 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Arielle_c
Jul 28, 2025
Fantastic tour with fewer crowds - This tour is great for anyone who is interested in ancient Roman history and architecture. It was not crowded, so we could really get close to the points of interest. Our guide (Roberto) did an excellent job explaining many of the features of the town, the shops, and how archaeologists have done work there. At the end of the tour we could choose to leave, or continue exploring the grounds, including the Museum, which was fascinating. The tour involves stairs, uneven ground, and transferring on and off a train, so it might be challenging if someone has limited mobility.
Review provided by Viator
Gillian_r
Jul 13, 2025
Fantastic tour! - What an excellent tour! We decided to do this tour rather than face the crowds at Pompeii and we are so glad we did so. Our tour guide had amazing history knowledge and was entertaining and informative. We really understood how life was at the time. There were very few people at the site and our guide found shady sites for us to stand in.
Review provided by Viator
Meryl_b
Jul 8, 2025
Alberto, our guide, was... - Alberto, our guide, was wonderful. He met us at a train station in Rome and took us, on the train, to Ostia Antica. He knew about all the buildings we saw and explained it well. It was not very crowded. This place is a gem.
Review provided by Viator
Stefan_p
Jul 5, 2025
Understanding the real Roman lifestyle - This was really an insightful tour into a complete Roman city ruin. Provided a very real understanding of how the Romans lived and thought. Our host Alberto provided a clear view of how The Romans lived and the history of this particular city. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to truly explore the Roman day to day experience. Family was initially skeptical of “archaeological” tour (I was quite excited) but they all found the tour enlightening and enjoyable - no regrets at all. If traveling with teenagers - maybe offer them option to continue trek after tour to go to Ostia beaches just 1-2 stops further down rail from Ostia Antigua.
Review provided by Viator
Toby_f
Jul 5, 2025
BEST tour and tour guide, Alberto - We booked this tour to go on with our neighbors from home who happened to be in Rome the same time as us! This is a MUST DO especially if you do not have the time to visit Pompeii! It was incredible and our guide, Alberto, was fantastic! We appreciated not only his knowledge but, the tempo in which he tours. He showed us the most “important” ruins then gave us the option stay longer or head back. It was perfect!
Review provided by Viator
Noelene_s
Jul 2, 2025
Must see - Ostia Antica has so much to see in understanding Romes past. It should be on everyone’s must see list.
Review provided by Viator
L4812crkimw
Jul 1, 2025
Great Tour with Kat - Fantastic tour to a unique spot that was really worth it. Fabulous that it wasn't crowded as well. Our tour guide Kat was excellent; she brought ancient Rome to life and told many interesting facts and stories about Ostia Antica. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maps42992072870
Jul 26, 2025
Guide was not interested in working today. - Guide ( never introduced herself) didn't want to work today. When asked questions either said she didn't know or made up an incorrect answer. We learned more after the tour using Wicipedia and Google. Supposed to be a 4 hour tour. She cut it short after 2.5 hours. Left us in the park ( after getting us lost and backtracking twice) to get out on our own. The 2.5 hour "tour" including the train down and her break. She said she had to "get to work". She walked fast and ahead of the group the entire time. Gave no background information. People wanting to take photos or read the information along the path were left behind. Basically she rode the train with us and got us into the park. She did stop a few times to talk BUT if you were not there when she started talking she wouldn't wait or repeat. Only 4 in the group so not a large group to manage. We obviously didn't have the guide others have written about.
The guide made what sounded like an interesting tour terrible.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jamiecp94co
Jul 23, 2025
Guide did not pitch up. - Arrived at the meeting point well before scheduled time as instructed. The tour guide did not pitch up. One of the group called the tour operator about 10 min after the tour was supposed to start and was told that the guide could not make it to the meeting point so the tour was cancelled. Very disappointed that the tour operator didn’t contact anyone in the group to say that the tour was cancelled. Ended up getting the train to Ostia Antica and buying tickets at the entrance ourselves. Trains were frequent and cheap. Ended up paying less than half of what the tour cost doing it ourselves. Claimed a full refund.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Richard_h
Jul 20, 2025
Guide did not show up - 10 mins after tour was due to begin:
We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience, but we regret to inform you that your tour cannot proceed as planned today. Unfortunately, the guide has been unexpectedly delayed en route to the meeting point and will not arrive in time to conduct the tour.
Review provided by Viator
