Official Information
Official site: https://ostiaantica.cultura.gov.it/
Official tickets & info: https://parcoarcheologicostiantica.it/it/orari-e-tariffe/
Online purchase: CoopCulture official ticket shop or via the Musei Italiani app
Address: Viale dei Romagnoli 717, 00119 Roma (Ostia Antica), Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
Typically open Tuesday–Sunday from 08:30 or 09:00, with seasonal closing times; closed most Mondays and on some national holidays. Last entry generally 1 hour before closing. Always confirm current hours on the official site.
Ostia Antica is often described as a quieter, more immersive alternative to Pompeii. Once the bustling harbour city of ancient Rome, it preserves streets, apartment blocks, shops, warehouses, baths, and temples in a vast archaeological park surrounded by pine trees and countryside. Because the site is less crowded than Pompeii and closer to Rome, it’s ideal for travellers who want to imagine daily life in an ancient Roman town without tour-bus chaos. The standard visitor route starts at the ancient necropolis and city gate, then follows the Decumanus Maximus through bakeries, taverns and apartment houses decorated with mosaics and fresco fragments. Highlights include the theatre (which still hosts performances), the vast Baths of Neptune with black-and-white marine mosaics, the Case a Giardino insulae, the Mithraeum of Felicissimus, and the so‑called Piazzale delle Corporazioni with mosaics advertising ancient shipping companies. Because many buildings stand two or three storeys high, you get a real sense of urban scale rather than scattered ruins. Signage is clear but the park is large, so plan at least half a day; full-day visits are common for archaeology fans. There are shaded picnic areas, a café and basic services, but you should still bring water, sun protection and comfortable footwear. Mosquitoes can be present in warmer months, so repellent is useful. Families appreciate the open spaces for kids to explore, while photographers love the combination of ruins and Mediterranean light. To get there from central Rome, most visitors take a regional train from Piramide/Porta San Paolo to Ostia Antica station and walk 10–15 minutes to the entrance. Tickets can cover multiple sites within the Ostia Antica park network and may offer multi-day validity, so check the official pages for integrated options, free-entry days and any temporary closures before you lock in dates.