Half-day trip from Rome
The best Ostia Antica tours
A small-group tour with the train included, a skip-the-line ticket with audio guide and a short guided walk with gelato, all a short trip from Rome: here is which one to pick, with honest advice on whether a guide is worth paying for, the sun on an open site, and closed days and train works.
See our 3 picks
The best Ostia Antica tour is the small-group tour of Rome’s ancient port, from €100 with the train included. On a budget, the official ticket costs €18 and is valid for 8 days. A skip-the-line ticket with an audio guide costs from €27. On your own, take the Rome-Lido train from Porta San Paolo to the Ostia Antica stop, says the city’s tourism site.
Our 3 picks for Ostia Antica
A small-group tour from Rome, a ticket with an audio guide and a short guided walk on site.
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from €100 per person Our top pick 4 hours 4.9 (73) reviews on GetYourGuide
Small-group tour of Rome’s ancient port
A 4-hour tour for up to 10 people with a licensed English-speaking guide. The round-trip train ticket and skip-the-line entry are included. You meet at Piazzale Ostiense in Rome.
Best for A first visit, history fans
Check availability: Small-group tour of Rome’s ancient port on GetYourGuide -
from €27 per person 2 hours 4.3 (65) reviews on GetYourGuide
Skip-the-line ticket and audio guide
An entry ticket with an audio guide you download. There is no live guide. Bring ID and arrive early: no-shows get no refund.
Best for Your own pace, on a budget
Check availability: Skip-the-line ticket and audio guide on GetYourGuide -
from €103 per person 2 h 30 min New, no reviews yet
Guided walk with gelato
A 2.5-hour guided walk for a small group, with the entry ticket and a gelato at the end. It also visits the medieval village and its castle. Not for children under 14, says the listing.
Best for Adults who want a short guided visit
Check availability: Guided walk with gelato on GetYourGuide
Ostia Antica tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Guide | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small-group tour of Rome’s ancient port | €100 per person | 4 hours | Licensed guide, train included | A first visit, history fans | Rated 4.9, and the train is sorted for you. |
| Skip-the-line ticket and audio guide | €27 per person | 2 hours | Audio guide only | Your own pace, on a budget | The cheapest way in with a commentary: from €27. |
| Guided walk with gelato | €103 per person | 2 h 30 min | Guide and gelato | Adults who want a short guided visit | New on GetYourGuide, so no reviews yet. It is the only pick with the medieval village. |
Small-group tour of Rome’s ancient port
€100 per person4 hours 4.9 (73)
Details
- Guide
- Licensed guide, train included
- Who it suits
- A first visit, history fans
- Why we picked it
- Rated 4.9, and the train is sorted for you.
Skip-the-line ticket and audio guide
€27 per person2 hours 4.3 (65)
Details
- Guide
- Audio guide only
- Who it suits
- Your own pace, on a budget
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest way in with a commentary: from €27.
€103 per person2 h 30 minNew, no reviews yet
Details
- Guide
- Guide and gelato
- Who it suits
- Adults who want a short guided visit
- Why we picked it
- New on GetYourGuide, so no reviews yet. It is the only pick with the medieval village.
- Group size: the small-group tour takes up to 10 people.
- None of the 3 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- All 3 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Ostia Antica tickets
An Ostia Antica ticket costs €18 on the official site (ostiaantica.cultura.gov.it, 25 October 2026). It is valid for 8 days in a row. EU citizens aged 18 to 25 pay €2. Entry is free on the first Sunday of the month.
A guide costs more. The ticket with an audio guide costs from €27, and the small-group tour from €100 with the train. Pay for a guide if you want the story. The official ticket is enough if you just want to wander.
- Official ticket
- €18
- EU, ages 18–25
- €2
- With audio guide
- from €27
- Small-group tour
- from €100
Day trip from Rome to Ostia Antica
Ostia Antica is one of the shortest day trips from Rome: the tours here run 2 to 4 hours.
The small-group tour meets in Rome and takes the train with you. The other two start at the site, so you get there on your own.
Rome to Ostia Antica by train
Take the Rome-Lido train from Porta San Paolo, next to Piramide metro, to the Ostia Antica stop. The walk from the station is straight, but there is a steep footbridge at the exit, says the city’s tourism site.
A normal BIT ticket (€1.50, 100 minutes) is valid on the line; stamp it when you start. The line has works in 2026, so check the live notice before you go. No official page we read gives the journey time.
Planning a longer ride too, like the Rome Bari train? Our guide to trains from Rome covers it.
Things to do in Ostia Antica
At Ostia Antica you walk the streets of ancient Rome’s port. The listings point to these highlights.
- The theatre: a large outdoor theatre from Roman times.
- Square of the Guilds: on the small-group tour, with the Baths of Neptune.
- Temples and mosaics: on the guided walk with gelato.
- Homes and shops: houses, laundries, bakeries and fountains.
- Medieval village and castle: on the guided walk with gelato.
Liked the ruins? Pompeii makes a longer day: see our Pompeii day trips from Rome.
Tips for Ostia Antica
Check the day and the train
The site is closed on Mondays, 25 December and 1 January. The Rome-Lido line has works in 2026, so check the live notice.
Bring sun protection
From late spring to early fall, bring sun lotion, sunglasses and a hat, says one listing. The site is outdoors.
Watch closing time
From 25 October to the end of February, the park closes at 4:30 p.m. Last entry is one hour before closing.
Bring ID
Two picks ask you to bring a passport or ID card.
If your plans change
All three picks offer free cancellation. The audio-guide ticket gives no refund if you don’t show up.
Ostia Antica: questions and answers
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Is Ostia Antica open on Mondays?
More Ostia Antica tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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Sources (8), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Rome editorial team.