How to Visit Ostia Antica

Let’s start with the basics. Ostia Antica is the remarkably well-preserved ancient port city of Rome, located about 30 minutes by train from the Eternal City. In antiquity, Ostia was strategically sited at the mouth of the river Tiber where it flowed into the Tyrrenian sea (today it is 4km inland), allowing it to function as a vital commercial hub for the Roman empire.

Its status as the center of Rome’s vast import and export network at the heart of the Mediterranean meant Ostia soon became an extremely important city, and its extensive well-preserved ruins offer a fascinating look into what life was like in the ancient world.

You’ll no doubt have already spent quite a bit of time exploring ancient ruins in Rome – after the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill and all the rest, it might be tempting to skip another ancient archaeological park. Not so fast! There are some crucial differences that make Ostia unmissable in our book.

• Firstly, the main ancient sites in Rome itself are all monumental in nature. They speak to the grandeur of empire, to the great deeds of famous men and the limitless scope of ultimate power. But they tell us relatively little about how ordinary people lived in antiquity. Visiting Ostia, by contrast, feels like immersing yourself in the fascinating yet ordinary daily lives of ordinary people, separated from us by a vast stretch of time but little else. The experience of wandering through a largely intact Roman town, through baths and warehouses, shops, apartments, public toilets, theaters and much more immersed in the trees and rolling hills of the lovely Lazio countryside is truly unforgettable.
• Secondly, and just as importantly, are the crowds. Or rather, the lack of them! Despite its superb state of preservation, Ostia Antica never seems to get too busy. After battling the endless flow of people in the Colosseum, this will definitely feel like a most welcome respite. It’s perfectly possible to have large swathes of the city virtually all to yourself, which makes the experience of exploring so much more enjoyable.
• Finally, the fact that Ostia is such an easy and cheap day trip from Rome only adds to its must-visit status. Keep reading to find out how to get to Ostia from central Rome.

Founded as far back as 620 BC as a military outpost, Ostia Antica was initially established to exert Roman control over the Lazio coast. Ostium means “mouth” in Latin, and refers to the settlement’s strategic location at the mouth of the Tiber River. What began as a minor fortification soon evolved into a bustling commercial hub as Rome expanded, with the city proper springing into being sometime in the 4th century BC.

The first important industry here was salt, which was extracted from nearby marshes. As the Roman Republic grew into an empire, Ostia Antica became the primary gateway for goods entering the capital from across the Mediterranean. This trade was crucial for sustaining Rome’s rapidly expanding population.

The city’s proximity to both the Tiber River and Rome’s main roads, Via Ostiense and Via Portuensis, allowed for the swift movement of goods into the capital, solidifying Ostia’s role as Rome’s most vital commercial port. By the middle of the second century AD, Ostia had transformed into a thriving city of around 50,000 inhabitants, with impressive infrastructure including warehouses (known as horrea), markets, and port facilities.

Ostia also housed offices for merchants from across the empire, as seen in the mosaics of the Square of the Corporations, which detail the various trades conducted there, including grain shipping, transportation of luxury goods, and even elephant handling.

During its peak, Ostia not only served as a critical trade center but also mirrored the urban life of Rome. The city had its own theater, public baths, temples, and residential districts. However, by the 5th century AD, with the decline of the Roman Empire and shifting trade routes, Ostia’s importance began to wane. Eventually, the silting of the Tiber and coastal erosion pushed the city further inland, leading to its abandonment.

Ok we might be biased, but we’d definitely recommend taking a guided tour of Ostia Antica primarily due to the sheer size and complexity of the site. Covering over 100 acres, the wonderfully preserved ruins are extremely varied and conceal many fascinating corners that you’d be liable to miss exploring on your own – especially given many of the park’s most interesting sites lack accompanying information panels. Taking advantage of a guide’s expertise, you’ll gain a better understanding of how ancient Romans lived, worked, and socialized here.

Further complicating the picture for the unprepared visitor is the long history of the city: Ostia offers up a layered archaeology of ancient Rome, featuring structures from different periods, all jumbled together. Part of a knowledgeable guide’s job is explaining how these disparate elements fit together, helping you to understand the evolution of Rome’s ancient port over the centuries. They can also highlight smaller, easily missed details like mosaics, frescoes, and the fascinating evidence of Roman engineering and technological prowess.

A bewildering variety of goods arrived in Ostia every day from the most distant corners of the known world. The following are just a few of the most important: grain from Sicily, Sardinia and Egypt; olive oil from Puglia, Spain and Tunisia; wine from Gaul (France); marble and precious stones from Turkey, Greece and the Near East; spices, perfumes and luxury fabrics from across Asia.

This merchandise was stored in the highly organized horrea, which featured specialized areas for different products, elevated floors to keep goods dry and stringent fire safety measures – Ostia’s imports were of immense value to the Roman state, and their appropriate preservation was a top priority for the city’s administration.

More sinisterly, Ostia was also a major center for the Roman slave trade. Slaves were brought here from conquered territories across the empire, from as far away as Northern Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. They were auctioned in Ostia before being transported to various parts of the Roman Empire, including Rome itself, where they served in households, farms, factories and workshops.

Ostia was also where many of the wild animals destined for the games at the Colosseum arrived from far-flung shores. Exotic animals such as lions from Africa, tigers from Asia, bears from Scotland and even African elephants were shipped through Ostia. The traffic in wild animals was a lucrative business, as can be seen from mosaics in the Square of the Corporations.

For our complete guide to what you need to see at Ostia Antica, see our dedicated article here: 10 Things You Need to See at Ostia Antica.

What follows is a brief summary of some of the highlights you should look out for when visiting the ancient port city.

Ostia’s ancient theater, built in the 1st century BC, could seat up to 4,000 people. With its impressive cavea and decorated stage backdrop featuring glaring theatrical masks, it’s one of the best-preserved examples of Roman theaters anywhere – and is still used today for concerts and theatrical events!

This ancient Roman “fast food” spot served quick meals spiked with the ubiquitous garum (a pungent fish sauce) and brimming goblets of wine to busy punters. You can still see the take-away counter where thermopolium staff dished out the daily goods, as well as a shrine to Bacchus and Mercury on the wall that ensured the shop’s continuing good fortune.

Built in 120 AD, Ostia’s Capitolium was a temple dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. Wherever the Romans went, they imposed a similar city plan centered around a religious and civic center known as the Forum. Based on the capitol in Rome itself, Ostia’s grand Capitolium has long lost its precious marble veneer and today presents an imposing appearance in exposed brick.

Ostia’s communal public latrines reflect advanced Roman plumbing. A marble bench with 20 seats led to a drainage system flushed by water. Patrons used sponges on sticks for hygiene, showcasing the Roman solution to bathroom needs in antiquity.

In this grand square, we get a vivid glimpse into the various kinds of commerce that sustained Ostia’s economy. This was where the offices of important guilds and merchants were located, adorned with mosaics depicting various vocations from grain importers to shipbuilders, fish merchants and slavers. At its center, a temple dedicated to Ceres, goddess of agriculture, symbolized the city’s dependence on grain.

We think Ostia is just as rich in archaeological treasures as the much more famous Pompeii further south, but you won’t find anything like the volume of visitors here. Of course, both Ostia Antica and Pompeii are fascinating ancient sites, but offer different experiences. Ostia Antica offers a well-preserved glimpse into daily Roman life with expansive ruins and mosaics, and it tends to be far less crowded than Pompeii, making for a more relaxed experience. Its proximity to Rome also makes it ideal for a day trip from the Eternal City.

Pompeii is larger and arguably even better preserved than Ostia, and boasts unforgettable plaster casts of the victims of Vesuvius’ eruption, but it’s more challenging to visit on a day trip from Rome (it’s still doable on a guided tour, however). Pompeii also gets way more crowded than Ostia, especially at the height of summer. For a quieter and more accessible visit, Ostia Antica is preferable; if you are looking for grand adventure and drama, Pompeii is your best bet. Better yet, why not visit both sites?

A small cafe-restaurant is located within the archaeological park, and it’s a perfectly adequate spot to grab a pick-me-up sandwich, drink or cup of coffee. The bar is situated right at the center of the park in an area where you’ll also find bathrooms and a gift shop.

If you’re looking for a more substantial lunch after a morning visiting the ruins, then head to the nearby medieval borgo (village) of Ostia Antica, centered around an imposing castle. It’s just a few minutes walk from the archaeological park, and this lovely little warren of streets is home to some excellent restaurants.