To get from Rome to Ostia Antica, take Metro B or B1 from Termini to Piramide, walk to Porta San Paolo, then ride the LIDO line to Ostia Antica station. The archaeological park preserves the ancient port city, with major sites including the Theatre and the Capitolium.
- Suggested journey: 78 minutes from Termini, with a €1.50 fare on the route suggested by ATAC.
- Station to park: The destination pin for Ostia Antica is 750 metres from Ostia Antica station.
- Opening pattern: Tuesday through Sunday and public holidays, from 8:30 AM; closed Mondays, December 25 and January 1.
- Full-price combined ticket: €18, valid for eight consecutive calendar days across the park’s archaeological and museum sites.
Why visit Ostia Antica?
Ostia Antica is an archaeological park on the site of Rome’s ancient port city, with excavations and museums to explore.
Legend attributes Ostia’s founding to King Ancus Marcius in 620 BC, at a place associated with salt production at the mouth of the Tiber. Within the archaeological area, the Decumanus Maximus, Capitolium, Theatre and Piazzale delle Corporazioni give you a route through the city’s ancient remains. The Ostiense Museum adds another stop within the site.
The wider park includes several sites beyond the main archaeological area: the Imperial Harbours of Claudius and Trajan, the Necropolis of Portus at Isola Sacra, the Museum of Roman Ships at Fiumicino and Julius II Castle. Focus on the main excavations if you are planning a single visit; these other places broaden the picture of the ancient port landscape.
How do you get from Rome to Ostia Antica?
The suggested public-transport route from Termini takes Metro B or B1 to Piramide, then the LIDO line from Porta San Paolo to Ostia Antica.
The ATAC journey planner gives this sequence:
- At Termini, take Metro B or B1 to Piramide.
- Walk 150 metres from Piramide to Porta San Paolo.
- Take the LIDO line toward Cristoforo Colombo for eight stops, getting off at Ostia Antica.
The full journey from Termini is 78 minutes, with a €1.50 fare. Metro B and B1 run at displayed intervals of eight minutes, and the LIDO line at 20-minute intervals; these are service intervals, not departure times. For Rome transport connections around Termini, the Termini station and neighbourhood guide can help orient you before setting out.
The route is a useful fit for a day trip from Rome, but leave enough time for the transfers and the walk at the other end.
From Ostia Antica station to the archaeological park
Ostia Antica station is 750 metres from the destination pin for Ostia Antica.
Once you get off the LIDO line, continue on foot toward the archaeological park. The station-to-destination walk is a separate final leg, so account for it alongside the 78-minute journey from Termini when planning your arrival.
The park address is Viale dei Romagnoli 717, Rome. If you are using a mobility aid or have reduced mobility, the park allows entry in a personal vehicle with the appropriate permit and access to its internal parking area.
To reach Termini from a room at Toffa Place, allow about five minutes on foot.
Plan a route through the ruins
A visit can centre on the archaeological area’s main landmarks, with the Theatre, Capitolium and Piazzale delle Corporazioni among the named stops.
Choose a route that suits your time and mobility. The park describes a route from the internal parking area along the Tiber and Via dei Misuratori del Grano to the Capitolium near the House of Diana.
The road from the ticket office to the Ostiense Museum is fully wheelchair accessible, and the museum has an access ramp; the Piazzale delle Corporazioni is on that route.
Paths across the archaeological area can be uneven, so wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Left-luggage service is unavailable, so arrive with only what you can carry through the site.
Tickets, opening times and visitor facilities
- Ticket
- office closing are one hour before the stated closing time
The archaeological area opens at 8:30 AM Tuesday through Sunday and on public holidays; it is closed on Mondays, December 25 and January 1.
Closing time varies by season: 4:30 PM from October 25 through February 28 or 29; 5:15 PM from March 1 through March 31; 7:00 PM from April 1 through September 30; and 6:30 PM from October 1 through October 24. Last entry and ticket-office closing are one hour before the stated closing time.
The combined full-price ticket costs €18 and is valid for eight consecutive calendar days at the park’s archaeological and museum sites. The reduced ticket costs €2 for EU citizens aged 18 to 25.
Admission is free for EU citizens under 18, disabled visitors and their carer, and at all sites on the first Sunday of each month, according to opening hours. Temporary exhibitions may increase the ticket price.
Buy tickets at the ticket office with cash or electronic payment, or through the Musei Italiani app. The Ostiense Museum opens at 9:30 AM Tuesday through Sunday; its last-entry and exit times vary by season. It is closed on the first Sunday of the month and on other Ministry of Culture free-admission days.
The archaeological area has accessible restrooms, an unattended visitor car park open from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM and the Cafè degli Scavi.
Eating meals and picnicking are prohibited inside; the park has a cafeteria and dispensers for snacks and hot and cold drinks. Dogs are allowed on a leash, while drones are prohibited throughout the no-drone zone near Fiumicino airport.
What to check before travelling
Check the official site before you go for current park hours, ticket conditions and visitor arrangements, since these can affect when you arrive and what you can see. Pay particular attention to the seasonal closing time and last entry, especially if you are taking the train from central Rome.
If you are fitting Ostia Antica into a broader Rome itinerary, a one-day route from Termini to Rome’s historic centre offers a different way to organise time in the city.
FAQs
How long does the journey from Termini to Ostia Antica take?
The suggested route via Piramide, Porta San Paolo and the LIDO line takes 78 minutes from Termini.
How much is a ticket to the Ostia Antica archaeological area?
The combined full-price ticket costs €18 and is valid for eight consecutive calendar days at the park’s archaeological and museum sites. A reduced ticket costs €2 for EU citizens aged 18 to 25.
When is Ostia Antica closed?
The archaeological area is closed on Mondays, December 25 and January 1. It opens Tuesday through Sunday and on public holidays, with seasonal closing times.
Can you bring a dog to Ostia Antica?
Yes. Dogs are allowed inside the archaeological area when kept on a leash.