Ancient Ostia Small Group Day Trip from Rome

Rome, Italy

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 25 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.

The beautifully preserved ruins of Ancient Ostia were founded in the 4th century BC and were once inhabited by over 100,000 people. Ancient Ostia is commonly referred to as "The Better Pompeii" due to the astonishing, highly-preserved condition of its buildings. Structures include taverns, baths, apartments, groceries and theatres - and their intact state so strikingly exceeds that of the Roman Forum, Imperial Forum and Pompeii, that it seems a misnomer to call them 'ruins'.

Walk the main street, the Decumanus Maximus, while your tour guide brings the stones around you to life. The Roman statues that line the walkways are in such perfect condition you'll feel as though you are walking amongst the ancient Romans themselves! You'll even be enticed to take a dip in the Baths of Neptune, which are crowned by a impressively intact mosaic of the sea god being drawn by a four horse chariot. And if you are a theatre fan, you'll enjoy Ancient Ostia's amphitheatre ' whose structure is still so stable that you will be able to take your place in the stands as 3,500 Roman spectators once did back in 12BC when it was first constructed.

Your fluent English speaking tour guide takes care of all train tickets and making sure you everyone gets off at the right stop. All entrance tickets are included and all of the major sites will be covered in a 2.5 hour leisurely walk through the ruins - including but not limited to Ostia's Amphitheatre, Forum of the Corporations, the Collegiate Temple, the public tavern and public baths.

Note, walking tour is 2.5 hours. The complete duration is 4 hours with train trip to and from Ancient Ostia.

USD $56.18

Traveler Reviews

Review by: Jonbay	April 2012
Our guide was well informed and enthusiastic and she kept the whole tour interesting from start to finish. She established a good rapport with the group and was always ready to answer questions.

Review by: Pearl A	November 2011
Our guide was wonderful! The information she imparted was both helpful and informative without being dry! She truly knew her material and was adept with her people skills. A truly great experience.

Review by: Dean C	November 2011
The tour guide was great. She knew her stuff and made the whole tour a wonderful experience.

Review by: Geoffrey W	October 2011
Only four of us on this tour plus our very well informed guide. We loved this tour.

Review by: Jennifer H	October 2011
Ostia was such a fantastic site and our guide, Tiffany, was great as well. The site is so well preserved and Tiffany knew every detail. It was also great to use the train system instead of a typical tour bus.

Review by: Catherine	October 2011
Rachael the guide brought the Ostia ruins alive with her extensive knowledge of life in Roman times. This was a terrific day spent discovering everyday Roman life in a busy port town

Review by: DanG	October 2011
Ostia Antica was well worth the visit, well preserved, so much to see and a real tonic after the tourist-packed centre of Rome. Our guide Tongy was knowledgeable, passionate about his subjects and able to inform and entertain on matters ancient and modern! You get a real sense of the scale of the town and a glimpse of every day life in a thriving commercial centre, different from our modern towns and yet mundanely familiar - check out the takeaway and the public toilets!

Review by: rvicere	October 2011
The Swiss tour guide we had was very informative and personable, which made the tour that more interesting to engage in. He was very helpful getting us back to where we needed to go after the tour ended. (i believe he also went longer than the expected tour time) which was a plus.

Review by: Aaron L	September 2011
Our tour guide, Ashley, did an excellent job! She is a native English speaker so understanding her was very easy and she was very knowledgeable about the history of everything on our tour! Thanks again Ashley!

Review by: LINDA D	September 2011
the trip was great. the guide was knowledgeable and was a student of archeology. It was a small group and that made it even better. The only complaint I have is that the meeting point could confused with another cafe across the street because that also had red umbrellas. We were waiting at the wrong cafe.

Review by: Richard V	September 2011
Great trip. Ostia was very cool. Our guide Ashely was awesome.

Review by: Barbara M	September 2011
The tour is fascinating. The Ostia ruins are like a small Pompeii with hardly any people. Our guide was very knowledgeable and very pleasant. The tour covers almost all the ruins and is very enjoyable. The meeting point is easy to fine and everything goes smoothly.

Review by: Stiklebrik	August 2011
The guide was helpful, informative and interesting, looked after our group very well, answering any questions. Ostia itself was amazing, lots to see!

Review by: Rich	August 2011
Once again well organised. A great place to visit away from the crowds of Rome central. guide was excellent

Review by: Jana	July 2011
They're right, better than Pompeii!

Review by: Dennis B	June 2011
Friendly guide from the US, Michigan..interesting stuff to learn and see if you're into Roman history (Which I am)

Review by: David	June 2011
Rachael was an excellent tour guide; had excellent knowledge of the history of the site, could tell a good story (she was Irish), and she made the day a bit more special. We only had five in the tour group, which made it feel like a very personal tour. Really liked the fact that you caught a suburban train to the site, and could stay on at the site after the tour was finished. Ostia Antica is a sensational Ancient Roman site, especially with regard to the quality of the mosaics, and we would highly recommend it.

Review by: Alexis	June 2011
Rachael was an excellent guide: extremely knowledgable and quite entertaining. It was good to have a guide to explain to us the workings of this ancient port city.

Review by: Jonathan B	June 2011
Great half day trip. Everything thing was organized and the guide was great, he really brought the history to life. I Visited both Pompeii and Ostia and liked the quiet more personal experience of Ostia compared to the overcrowded Pompeii. I'd recommend this trip to anyone who likes to visit the ancient cites of Rome

Review by: Lynne S	June 2011
This tour is a MUST do if you have time in Rome. Our guide, Alex, was knowledgeable and very excited about her subject. She made Ostia come alive with her passionate description of everyday life. We learned so very much on that trip and it helped us when we were in the ruins of Carthage, Tunisia later on in the trip with a different guide in ruins that were not as well preserved.

Review by: sherry c	May 2011
Our tour guide, Massimo, was outstanding!

Review by: Martha E	May 2011
Beautiful day. Small group of 7. Great guide in Alex, a native of Chicago who lives in Rome and was VERY knowledgeable, capably answering our many, many questions. about Ancient Ostia and the daily life of its inhabitants. Tour was extremely interesting and just pure pleasure. Come prepared to walk on stone surfaces. Bruce and Pat, Longview, WA USA

Review by: LINDA ANN W	May 2011
This was a great tour but required a lot of walking on uneven surfaces in Ostica. The site is about 25% excavated. Our guide was excellent and very informative. He met us promptly at the train station and stayed with us until we returned there after the tour. He appeared to enjoy his job. His English was good.

Review by: Pamela J	May 2011
The guide was very knowledgable but be prepared for lots of walking and being on your feet the entire time (about 5 hours) except for a short break that was too close to the end of the tour.

Review by: Jennifer A	May 2011
Tour guide was excellent. Ostia was interesting but her knowledge made it even better.

Review by: Darin W	May 2011
Small tours often provide a greater experience than the standard tours. Our guide Rachel was incredible (and easy on the eyes). Her willingness to provide details about what we were seeing and her overall attitude to being in Ostia aided the tour. She always answered questions and was willing to provide other tour suggestions in the Rome area. Thanks Rachel! You're great, but you still can't have my Guinness hat no matter how Irish you are. ;)

Review by: Mark S	May 2011
Interesting tour - the guide was an archeologist, so she had a lot of detailed information to share. Tour price included train tickets and entry fees. Our group was very small - only 2 or 3 other people. We learned a lot about life in the ancient world, right down to what people ate, how they maintained hygiene, and how they washed togas using an ammonia-based "detergent" from a most unusual source. There was a break for food and rest rooms, and an option to stay longer to explore further - with paid train tickets back. Ostia is similar to, but very different from Pompeii -- we were actually able to enter many of the ancient homes, restaurants, and schools, explore to our heart's desire, whereas entry into most ruins in Pompeii was roped off. The area is extensive - wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen. The tour was well worthwhile and will take the better part of a whole day if you want to explore more on your own.

Review by: Miranda M	April 2011
Great tour, great tour guide, and some awesome scenery!!

Review by: Dan	March 2011
Tour guide Vivianna took us through the ruins and we enjoyed this tour.

Review by: Joseph W	January 2011
Awesome tour guide. I forgot her name, but she was very knowledgeable and friendly. This trip to Ostia is a must! Also, I would definitely take advantage of a guide. Without a guide, we would have been lost and bored. Thank you.

Review by: Centzon Totochtin	November 2010
I had a Fantastic experience on this tour. The guide, Vivianna, was knowledgeable, friendly and the tour was very well paced. This is a must in Rome for anyone interested in the ancient past.

Review by: Charles W B	November 2010
Only 5 people on this tour so a lot of inner-action with everyone. Great guide and spent a lot of time seeing Ostia at a leisure pace, it was wonderful.

Review by: Aaron A	November 2010
Our guide was very knowledgeable and thorough. Seeing these ruins was amazing, especially with only a group of 5. It was very intimate, fun, and enjoyable. Highly recommend.

Review by: Anthony H	November 2010
Marcello our guide was great. He was knowledgeable and very personable. I had a great time on this tour.

Review by: Gavin C	November 2010
Guide was interesting and informative and we saw everything without being rushed. Would recommend tour to my friends.

Review by: Kristina M	October 2010
Definitely worth the trip. Guide had thorough knowledge of the area and offered plenty of time and insight into the various ruins.

Review by: Kristi L	October 2010
My husband, 8 year old daughter and I enjoyed this trip. I recommend seeing it before Pompeii, otherwise you might be disappointed by how small Ostia is in comparison. Our guide was very knowledgeable, however this guide did not use the microphone / headsets the others did and it was sometimes difficult to hear what she was saying. This was a very peaceful and relaxing trip and it was nice to have a break from the hustle and bustle of Rome.

Review by: Nina M	October 2010
Ostia is an easy tour to do (so close to Rome!) and too-often missed. We took this as an alternative to Pompeii and were not disappointed. The site is absolutely massive and very well preserved. On our four hour tour we were only able to see a quarter of this impressive site. Our guide Rachel was very well informed, fun, and made the whole city really come to life with her knowledge and some fun facts. We enjoyed this day trip very much and will recommend Ostia and to anyone we know going in the future. Thank you thank you!

Review by: ANDRE P	October 2010
We really enjoyed the grounds at Ostia and would recommend it to anyone who loves Roman history. The ruins are in fact ruined so you had to imagine things as they were. Our guide Vivianna was wonderful and made sure she always spoke to us in the shady areas. It was a nice pace from the bustling city. My children learned a lot about Roman life becasue of the tour and it kept their interest up ( they are 10 and 12) . They wished a school classroom could operate as this tour did. Just be prepared for the train to not be air conditioned and dirty. You have to have a little interest in history to appreciate this tour. I enjoyed booking with Viator from their website to the clrity of the meetup points to the caliber of the guides. I would only travel with Viator in other cities I might visit.

Review by: Joanna R	October 2010
A 'must include' on any trip to Rome. The mosaics are spectacular.

Review by: Janet D	October 2010
Thank you, Viator, for this wonderful tour of the ancient Roman city of Ostia. For tourists unable to find the time to go to Pompeii, Ostia is just as informative as to the way the ancient Romans lived, worked and played; and the site is just a 30 minute train trip from the centre of Rome! The tour guide was well-informed and friendly, and her enthusiasm for Ostia rubbed off on the small group of eight.

Review by: Stanley S	September 2010
Nice day.

Review by: Richard W	September 2010
Wow! What a place, but only to be done with a knowledgeable guide - and ours was great - knew his stuff but also great company.

Review by: Anonymous, Canada	July 2010
Fabulous guide, small group and quite site. This place had it all. We learned a lot and didn't have to fight crowds. It was easy to find guide at meeting spot and easy to get to. The ruins are very well preserved and the tour was just the right length. A really great tour of some well preserved ruins to give an insight into the past.

Review by: Ian R, United Kingdom	June 2010
Fantastic. Dark Tours guide was very informative about his subject and friendly.

Review by: Sandra R, Australia	May 2010
This tour of Ostia, with Massimo, was fantastic. We had a small group and an extremely informative leader whose passion and knowledge of Ostia brought history to life. Travelling to and from Ostia by train was much better than being in a coach, quick and comfortable. Massimo ensured that the pace we moved through the site allowed sufficient time for explanations, photo taking and asking questions. A great day and one I would highly recommend.

Review by: Jennifer M, United States of America	May 2010
Great day trip, guide Tiffany was excellent. Downside was few toilets and the hike to the site and through the side can be hardy, please warn to wear closed toe, comfortable shoes and not stroller friendly. We were constantly held back by the stroller and persons emptying shoes.

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	April 2010
It is indeed "a better Pompeii" - less crowded, better preserved and closer to Rome. We were staying in Rome and made both trips, to Ostia and Pompeii. While Pompeii was more expensive it did not inlude entrance tickets or tour guide and it took around 3 hours to get to Pompeii. Ostia was only a short train ride away. The tour guide picked us up from outside a cafe. He was very friendly and knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. The group was small 6 people so we all could ask questions. Great day out, and I still remember all the facinating stories of what the life was like in Ostia centuries BC!

Review by: Kevin R, United States of America	April 2010
Our expert guide was great.

Review by: James B, United States of America	December 2009
I highly recommend this tour. It is very near Rome - only a short train ride away and our guide was wonderful.