Our fun and informative Ostia Antica tour offers an uncrowded experience of ancient Rome in miniature guided by an archaeologist or classical historian expert. This half-day private trip departs from and returns to your Rome hotel using comfortable transportation in a luxury car or minivan. Whether you’re the ultimate history buff or a family fan of rich storytelling, this Ostia Antica tour has you covered with tons of sights full of stories.

Ostia Antica is Rome's answer to Pompeii, and though it lacks the volcano backdrop, it is every bit as impressive. In fact, when it comes to atmosphere, ancient Rome's port wins hands down. It's an intimate, lived-in kind of place. The wonderfully preserved ruins are compact and shady, perfect for a hands-on exploration, and provide a tantalizing glimpse into daily life in ancient Rome.

You can wander into the neighborhood taverns, where wall paintings depict some of the dishes on offer and the refrigeration system consists of huge jars sunk into the floor. There are corn mills, their grindstones still in place. Offices of shipping companies in the Forum of the Corporation have floor mosaics showing the commodities dealt in, while the public latrine must have been a great place to pick up the day's gossip.

Walk through history whilst uncovering the secrets of a Roman port city whose apartment buildings, taverns and grocery shops are still intact. Today we take you on a carefully sketched trip to this beautiful and evocative archaeological park canopied with Umbrella Pines and Cypresses. During your walk through the ruins, your guide will provide enlightening insights into the cultural and social life of this ancient thriving city frozen in time.

Ostia Antica Tour at Glance

Relive the glory of the Roman Empire on an easy half-day trip from Rome. Settle into your comfortable vehicle and on a brisk 40-minute ride you will be whisked back to 2,000 years ago! On the way, your guide provides historical background and intel that will set up the context for understanding the site.

Your visit starts at Via delle Tombe, which leads you to the Porta Romana, one of the city's three gates. This is the beginning of the Decumanus Maximus, the main thoroughfare that crosses the city from north-east to south-west. Upon entering you will straightaway step back in time into a typical ancient Roman town boasting unique well-preserved temples, theaters, forums, basilicas, houses, shops, inns, baths, and workshops.

Every stone and archway is just an empty structure without the stories that make it come alive in our minds. Our guide will not only accompany you through what used to be a center of business, politics, and society in ancient Rome but will also guide you through the history of the place. Leisurely walk through the ruins while your guide introduces you to a host of characters who lived there, from the hydraulic engineers of the baths to the High Priestess and tavern owners.

Ostia Antica is rich in cultural and archeological treasures and offers an opportunity to explore Roman-engineering skills. All of the major sites will be covered including but not limited to Ostia's Amphitheatre, Forum of the Corporations, and the Collegiate Temple. 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.

Ostia Antica Tour with Kids

Unlike so many other ancient ruins, Ostia Antica makes for an interactive visit – you can climb into the ruins, touch them, admire them from up close and walk the streets that centuries ago welcomed weary travelers from the sea. Far from being ‘just another ruin,’ Ostia Antica feels like a living, breathing city. With its own fire department, laundries and apartment buildings, it’s not much of a stretch to imagine what life was like here. And with the right kid-friendly guide on a quiet day, the line between past and present never seemed so thin.

If your family is interested in continuing to explore ancient Roman history, we recommend our Kid Friendly Ancient Rome Colosseum Tour, our Rome Underground Private Family Tour, and our Rome Mythology Family Tour, three of our most popular kid friendly tours in Rome.