Ancient Ostia Antica Semi-Private Day Trip from Rome by Train with Guide
5
Ancient Ostia Antica Semi-Private Day Trip from Rome by Train with Guide
By City Wonders
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
If you want to see ancient Roman ruins, but don’t want to go as far as Pompeii, check out the ruins of Ostia Antica. Just a short distance from Rome, the coastal town rivals Pompeii for a collection of well-preserved ruins that hark back to its glory days as a thriving Roman seaport. Round-trip train transport from Rome is included, and you explore the ancient site with a guide.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- See Ostia’s impressive ancient Roman ruins without traveling far from Rome
- Waste no time with train tickets and Ostia entry tickets organized in advance
- Discover Roman baths and the amphitheater with just 12 people per group
- Bring beachwear to visit Ostia’s beach during free time after the guided tour
- English speaking tour guide
- Train ticket to and from Rome
- Semi Private group of 12 people max
- Ancient Ostia entrance ticket
- Entry/Admission - Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica
What's not included- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- From the central Rome meeting point, travel by train to the ancient Roman seaport of Ostia Antica. Hop off when you hit the coast and discover the town’s well-preserved ruins on a walking tour of the site. With your guide, see a medley of ruined monuments and temples, some of which date back to the fourth century. Pose for photos against sights, such as the Collegiate Temple and Ostia’s amphitheater, which would have once been the entertainment hot spot for thousands of Ostia residents. Stroll down the central Boulevard of Decumanus Maximus with tales of ancient Ostia ringing in your ears. Amble past statues and the mosaicked Roman baths and then visit the amphitheater itself as you learn about the events that typically took place there. After your tour, return to central Rome by train.
- Start:
- P.za Ostiense, 11, 00154 Roma RM, ItalyCafe 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.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3731OSTIA- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- 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.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3731OSTIA
From
AU$82.76
per adult
Select date and travellers
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- P.za Ostiense, 11, 00154 Roma RM, ItalyCafe 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.
- 1
- 2
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- 120mildam0 contributionsHighly recommended tour!Very informative tour! Our guide (unfortunately I forgot her name) was very knowledgeable and shared interesting stories. It was my second time exploring Vatican City with City Wonders and the stories and the tour itself was different, so it's nice to know that every time you can have a different experience with this organiser. It took around 3 hours and it is really enough as eventually you get tired and the mind cannot grasp so much beauty and information :)Written 21 January 2025
- 899christien0 contributionsFabulous Tour GuideWe had a fabulous guide. Had so much great information to share. Doi g this tour we cut thru lines and saved alot od time. highly recommend.Written 21 January 2025
- naomih4460 contributionsA must do when in Rome!A M A Z I N G!!! Everything was well organized, and the meeting point was easy to find and getting though the crowds was a breeze. Sylvia, our tour guide, made it such an amazing tour! She was so knowledgeable and made everything so fascinating. She was also pleasant and fun to be with and kept the entire group w thrilled with what she had to say. You could tell that she genuinely enjoyed what she does! My 24 year old son was ‘eh’ on going, but afterwards, he said he totally enjoyed it! Make sure you go to the top of the basilica, it’s with the additional $10 ($15 if you take the elevator part way).Written 20 January 2025
- Ting K0 contributionsPretty good tripIt was a very long drive almost 3 hours. When we booked it we didn't realize that pompei was within rome itself (lesson research map :-) We did have a great time was very interesting and educational. Our tour guide Clair was very good, funny, professional and helpful. We Appreciate her experience and knowledge. Our tour guide at pompei (sorry can't recall her name) but she wa a excellent and professional. Amalfi coast was beautiful. We recommend to go to pompei but prepare for a long driveWritten 20 January 2025
- BackPacker734150 contributionsYou should do thisGreat tour. Great guide. VERY knowledgeable guide! A Lot of walking and was a long tour so young kids might struggle. Our 2 boys (12 & 14) loved itWritten 20 January 2025
- GreenoreII0 contributionsDisappointingVery good guide to Pompei however the rest of the trip was pretty bad.. Why did it include Positano? We had expected a nice lunch but nothing was open at all. They should have sent us to a different town. We will go back to tours by locals rather than viator or trip adviser.Written 19 January 2025
- yoli2180 contributionsDay tourThe group was running late and moved us from the 0715 to 0730 tour. Meet up is at the fountain by the Museo side. There is a McD across the street for an early to go coffee before the tour meet up time. First stop was a store where you can buy sandwiches, pastries, drink, souvenirs, as well as use the bathrooms. In Pompeii we had a tour guide and were able to hear him through his microphone he used, and headsets we used. We were glad to have learned about and experienced this historical wonder. Next stop was Positano. Note the road to is very windy road, if you are prone to motion sickness, drink your medicine. From the big bus we had to use smaller shuttle buses. The town was picturesque and cute. Small souvenir shop in town. After Positano we heaed back to Roma with one restroom stop en route. Left at 0730, and returned at 2030. It was a fun, but long, day. Sonia was a great tour leader giving little stories about the places we stopped and so thoughtful in her recommendations for activities and restaurants around Roma. Thank you!Written 19 January 2025
- TanRunYu0 contributionsWonderful ExperienceOur tour guide was very knowledgeable. The trip started at the Vatican Museums, then Sistine Chapel, ended at St Peter’s Basilica.Written 19 January 2025
- 671zubairf0 contributionsPompeii, PositanoExcellent tour! Saw so much within the whole day and didn’t feel rushed. Viviana was an excellent tour guide. I would definitely tour with this company again.Written 19 January 2025
- saoirseg8550 contributionsBrilliant tripJohn was a brilliant guide, who kept us entertained on the trip to pompeii and sorrento from Rome. Would highly recommend this trip and if your lucky enough to get john as your tour guide. Great knowledge and made it better with the few cheeky jokesWritten 19 January 2025
- Jaushuwah R0 contributionsA good place to visit . Johnathan a must have guide.A good experience with Johnathan. Very informative and a good trip. Worth the time in Italy would recommend to visit and have funWritten 19 January 2025
- LRodbard0 contributionsVatican Museum TourWe thoroughly enjoyed our Vatican museums tour. Our tour guide Sylvia was absolutely outstanding. Her knowledge and enthusiasm was incredible. This tour has been the highlight of our trip so far. Would highly recommend.Written 19 January 2025
- augustone0 contributionsGreat tour and guideExceptional. So much was packed in. Would highly recommend them. We saw the Sistine chapel and the basilica and other sites. Guide was extremely knowledgeable.Written 18 January 2025
- GrandTour099098455900 contributionsWorth visitingVisiting the Colosseum in Rome was absolutely unforgettable! The moment you step inside, you can feel the weight of history all around you. It’s wild to think about how this massive arena was built so long ago and still stands strong today. Walking through the ancient stone corridors and looking out over the arena floor, you can almost hear the crowds and imagine the epic battles that once took place there. The architecture is mind-blowing, and the views from the upper levels are incredible—perfect for snapping some amazing photos. I definitely recommend getting a guided tour or audio guide to really appreciate all the history. It’s such a cool experience, whether you’re a history buff or just exploring Rome. Totally worth it and a must-see if you're in the city!Written 17 January 2025
- BackPacker4384930 contributionsGreat day in Italy!Viviana (tour leader) and Fabio (driver) were fabulous! Experts from start to finish! The day was very nicely paced. I enjoyed everything except the very cramped and uncomfortable bus ride!Written 16 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
97 reviews
Excellent
90
Very good
5
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Bamagirl440
Cullman, AL62 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We took this tour with City Wonders as the description sounded interesting and it was a lot closer than going to Pompeii. We were lucky enough to have Angela as our guide and we were stunned that this Ancient city gets so little attention. The ruins are well preserved and you can actually see how the people lived and worked. There are apartment complex ruins and houses dating back a thousand years ago as well as grain storage areas. We were told about life during that time and how the emperor gave his people two loaves of bread per day, public baths and theaters for entertainment. There are enough ruins left to be able to visualize the city as it was during that era and there is also a museum with artifacts found locally and throughout Italy.
Our guide Angela, was knowledgeable, personable and interesting and we learned a great deal on the tour. If you don’t add this to your itinerary when visiting Rome, you will be missing a great deal of history. One person on our tour had been to Pompeii the day before and remarked that this was was a better place to visit and not so far to travel. After your tour, you are free to see more in the park or return by train to Rome. It’s very easy to find the train station from the ruins. I would highly recommend this tour with Angela.
Our guide Angela, was knowledgeable, personable and interesting and we learned a great deal on the tour. If you don’t add this to your itinerary when visiting Rome, you will be missing a great deal of history. One person on our tour had been to Pompeii the day before and remarked that this was was a better place to visit and not so far to travel. After your tour, you are free to see more in the park or return by train to Rome. It’s very easy to find the train station from the ruins. I would highly recommend this tour with Angela.
Written 24 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa L
Memphis, Tennessee32 contributions
May 2022 • Family
My coworker and I used City Wonders to arrange a day trip to Ostia for a group of our students (college-age). Our guide, Angela, was a delight. She was hilarious and provided tons of useful information about what we were seeing.
We actually liked Ostia more than Pompeii—it was much less crowded and we felt that we saw way more in the same amount of time. Although a half-day tour can’t cover all of this site, Angela was excellent at suggesting additional things our group might want to see and providing directions for us to find them on our own. We will happily use this company the next time we are in Italy.
We actually liked Ostia more than Pompeii—it was much less crowded and we felt that we saw way more in the same amount of time. Although a half-day tour can’t cover all of this site, Angela was excellent at suggesting additional things our group might want to see and providing directions for us to find them on our own. We will happily use this company the next time we are in Italy.
Written 25 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Henry R
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Solo
I thoroughly enjoyed this trip! I recommend it for anyone who is curious about life in Ancient Rome and doesn't have the time, interest or ability to visit Pompeii. The site is incredibly preserved and very large and new parts are being excavated all the time. Importantly, it doesn't draw huge hordes of visitors so you won't feel jostled by large tourist crowds the way you might at other sites. The tour touches on some of the highlights and places the city in the context of the greater Roman Empire. Our tour guide Catarina was very knowledgeable, spoke very good English, and showed a real enthusiasm for the site and its history. The train to and from the site from Rome made it convenient to visit. I was back in Rome shortly after lunch and had the rest of the day to explore the city, but anyone can make Ostia a whole day affair by visiting the museum and cafe on site and just wandering around. This tour is definitely worth the time and the price.
Written 20 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter
Sheffield, UK11 contributions
Text advising trip was cancelled was sent with less than an hour’s notice when we had already travelled halfway across the city to get to the meeting point.
Probably did us a favour as our trip to the Vatican the day before was pretty poor. Getting to Ostia Attica was really cheap and easy; recommend you do it yourself.
Probably did us a favour as our trip to the Vatican the day before was pretty poor. Getting to Ostia Attica was really cheap and easy; recommend you do it yourself.
Written 11 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Paradise46882287788,
Thank you for posting your review.
We are very sorry about your experience.
Like many companies in the travel industry, City Wonders faced an unprecedented post-pandemic surge in demand during the past few weeks. This combined with Covid-related impacts caused operational issues, which we are working around the clock to resolve as quickly as possible.
We have passed on your feedback to our Guide Manager and our Product Management teams and we can assure you that they will act on your advice to improve our tours going forward and to ensure that other customers do not encounter similar issues.
City Wonders regards feedback from our customers as invaluable, because it allows us to adapt our tours to be the best that they can be.
Kind regards,
Federica
City Wonders
Written 12 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bart G
Delray Beach, FL480 contributions
Excellent ruins to visit when in Rome! It was such a nice break from the crowds of Rome. You meet up with a tour guide at a train station and from there you take a train together (about 30 minutes) to just outside of Rome. Ostia was the main port city for Ancient Rome. Over time the river changed direction and parts of it silted up. The ruins here are superb and it is was well worth a half day visit. Our tour guide, Laura , was very knowledgeable and entertaining. She had great enthusiasm for the site and made sure we were comfortable. Tips: Wear comfortable walking shoes as there are many cobblestone , and pack some water and snacks. There is a gift and snack shop on site; we had about a twenty five minute break. You have the option of staying on in Ostia to tour more, visit the nearby beach or return to Rome via train.
Written 18 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
151lauryf
5 contributions
Aug 2022
This trip was amazing. Our tour guide had a combination of historical knowledge, linguistic talent and acting ability that made Ostia Antica come alive for us. I would love to find out who he was and if I can book him again with City Wonders.
Written 17 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geert H
2 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
On 17 September, we took a trip to Ostia Antica.
The meeting place was clear and the guide was well on time to explain all the practical arrangements.
We had a passionate and professional guide who brought the ancient city back to life and gave clear insights into life in a Roman city.
It was a good mix of explanation and giving time to immerse yourself in the city and to take some pictures.
Nice that after the guided walk you could still stroll around the complex freely.
Thanks to Caterina for the excellent explanation and guidance!
The meeting place was clear and the guide was well on time to explain all the practical arrangements.
We had a passionate and professional guide who brought the ancient city back to life and gave clear insights into life in a Roman city.
It was a good mix of explanation and giving time to immerse yourself in the city and to take some pictures.
Nice that after the guided walk you could still stroll around the complex freely.
Thanks to Caterina for the excellent explanation and guidance!
Written 29 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JBirdCA
Oakland, CA23 contributions
July 2024 • Family
A nice half day trip from Rome (more or less). Easy to get to by local metro. You get to see a whole port town in much less crowded conditions than Pompeii. There aren’t as many frescoes maybe, but you do get the mosaic floors, and if you are trying to do it from Rome, it can take up much less of your day. We went in the morning, had lunch at their cafe, then went to spend the afternoon at a beach. It was a great way to spend the day. There is much more to see and do on the entrance ticket than what our family did, but the kids were bored of ruins after the Coliseum and Forum also, and it was very hot, so an afternoon at the beach was just right for us.
Written 29 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
philvirta
Milford, MI47 contributions
June 2024 • Couples
If you like to study ancient Roman history in a laid-back, uncrowded setting, I recommend Ostia Antica. The city didn't have the dramatic ending that Herculaneum or Pompeii did. Ostia Antica was a port city that fell into disuse when the shoreline moved. You can still walk through ruins of houses, public baths, toilets, and marketplaces. It has it's own mini-coliseum, too.
Written 27 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aggiemom21
Southlake, TX72 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
What a wonderful tour we had with Angela in August 2024 for Ostia Antica (Group - English at 9:15 am). Ostia Antica is a spectacular ancient port city that is just outside Rome yet rivals Pompeii (where we had been early in the week) in scope and detail. It was broiling hot but Angela made the tour upbeat, fun and informative. We have been on many tours and Angela of City Wonders is one of the best tour guides we have ever encountered. Her passion, humor, enthusiasm and depth of knowledge made the tour so very special. We particularly enjoyed the lack of crowds and free access to so many interesting ancient homes (many extensive), businesses (even a mill), baths (huge with mosaics) and places of worship. The commercial marketplace behind the theater was fascinating. Each ancient marketer decorated his stall with a stunning detailed business mosaic and these mosaics are still in place for us to enjoy today. Be sure to bring water, comfy shoes and a personal fan because Ostia Antica is enormous and hot but so very worth every moment.
Written 23 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Question about the meeting point. The description says to met at Cafe Piramide, facing the Pirmide metro and with a pyramid near by. However, the map is showing the meeting point near Termini station, the major train station in Rome, and I don't believe it is near Cafe Piramide. Which location is correct?
Written 22 April 2023
We met at Cafe Piramade, which is opposite the huge pyramid monument. You then get the train from Pirmide metro to Ostia.
Written 23 April 2023
Can I take a train from the airport? If so, which one and to which stop? Thanks! KF
Written 1 November 2019
The train station is Pyramide which is in southeast Rome. We took Uber from our hotel but I'm sure you can make connections from the main train station.
Written 1 November 2019
Can we stay in Ostia after the tour and then take the train back on our own?
Written 7 August 2019
Our guide gave us the option of riding back with her or staying longer and taking a later train.
Written 8 August 2019
Gibt es auch eine Tour in deutscher Sprache?
Written 27 July 2019
Our tour began at the Piramide Train Station. A rep and our guide met us outside before boarding the train. We took a cab to the train station
Written 16 July 2019
Is it possible to travel to the airport easily after visiting Ostia Antica? We have a late afternoon flight and would like to visit here before. By train there from Rome is easy but wondered if there are trains or buses to the Airport nearby, or perhaps a taxi rank? Thank you.
Written 25 September 2018
You could take the train from the station at Ostia back to Rome and then transfer to the metro at the end of the line (Piramide Station) and take the train to Termini. From here you can catch the Leonardo Express to Fiumicino Airport (trains depart from platform 23 or 24). I'm not sure what you'd do with any suitcases you might have though.
Written 3 October 2018
Showing results 1-10 of 13
Buy it with
Top rated
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.