Many travelers in Rome are often overwhelmed at just how much there is to see in Rome. Of course you plan the major sites: the Coliseum, the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and so on (if I keep going this will take up 500 pages). That being said, if you have ample time in Rome and want to get a bit off the beaten path, you may have considered if you should visit Ostia Antica.

Ostia Antica was a major port town during Ancient Rome. It is essentially Rome’s version of Pompeii, but without as disastrous of a backstory. You can stroll around the remnants of the ancient city, learning about the shops, baths, and homes.

You can purchase tickets in advance here or at the ticket office on-site. The first Sundays of every month are free and there are also several free days offered throughout the year, so check your schedule if you might be lucky and have your travels fall on one of those days.

Getting to Ostia Antica

To start your visit to Ostia Antica, you’ll head to Piazza Ostiense, which is next to the Piramide metro stop (you can’t miss the giant pyramid next to it). It is about a 25 minute walk from the Coliseum and Trastevere. From here, you’ll hop on the regional train. You can either buy your ticket in cash at the shop next to the turnstiles or tap your credit card to pay and enter.

Get on the Romalido train heading the direction of “Cristofo Colombo” (check the small screen to confirm which platform) and once your train arrives you can pick any seat. Pay attention as your trip should be able 30 minutes and you’ll get off at the “Ostia Antica” stop.

Planning How Much Time to Spend

If you don’t pay for the audioguide, you are going to likely be extremely bored and confused. Unless you have a separate tour guide feeding you information, the audio guide is well worth the extra Euros. Otherwise, you’re just wandering around looking at ruins without much background. At the ticket office, you can opt for a 3 or 5 hour audio guide tour. YES, there is that much to explore! Ostia Antica is massive!

Now, Enjoy Your Visit to Ostia Antica!

As soon as you enter Ostia Antica, you find yourself smack dab in the middle of one of the former main streets of the city, the pathway leading up to the city’s main gate.

Only as you continue to make your way down the streets is when you truly start to comprehend the size of this place!

The large, structural highlights for me included the Theater, Naptune’s Baths, and the Capitoleum.

Do you notice anything about these photos? There are no other people. The grounds are nearly empty!

Since Ostia Antica isn’t in the city center, it gets less crowds. As you can see, it’s almost as if having an entire ancient city to yourself!

Ostia Antica was a thriving town during its true heyday during the Roman Empire. Due to its convenient location along the sea, it thrived as an important port town.

But wait…today it isn’t by the sea. How so?

In fact, today Ostia Antica is about 4km from the sea. Centuries back, as the river silted up, the town slowly lost its power due to being a port city. This, and along with other catastrophes (invasions, etc) led to Ostia Antica’s demise.

Shockingly, we can thank Mussolini for most of how we see Ostia Antica today. As preparation for the World Fair in Rome, he ordered for excavations of Ostia Antica (he wanted to show off the unique Roman ruins).

Due to the war, the World Fair never took place. However, 2/3 of the excavations were completed around this time.

Overall, I took about three and a half hours walking around Ostia Antica and I still felt like I was rushing near the end of my visit. It is so much more expansive than one may realize, so I repeat: plan enough time!

Julius II Castle

Down the street you can also check out the Julius II Castle, which is likely included in your visit to Ostia Antica entrance fee. Given the tower is just a 5-10 minute walk down the street, it’s worthwhile to check out. Granted, there isn’t too much to see.

The Castle was built in 1483 and named after its commissioner Pope Julius II, who at the time was a Cardinal in Rome.

However, be on alert. I only have one picture in the tunnel after I rounded a corner and found myself eye to eye with a rat the size of a small dog. I stopped dead in my tracks before turning around and squealing as I ran out of the castle. The Italian workers stared at me, a tad disgruntled for making so much noise. I couldn’t remember the word for rat in Italian, but I blurted out “C’e un topo, un topo!” Which means “there is a mouse.” They chuckled to themselves and I carried on, slightly mortified.

I formerly apologize to the city of Rome because the paragraph above may make their visitations plummet.

Need more help planning your trip to Rome? Check out some of my other popular posts about The Eternal City:

• My Favorite Hidden Gems in Rome
• How to Visit the Tivoli Gardens at Villa D’Este
• Best Gelato in Rome, Italy

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