Ostia Antica is an archaeological park in Rome, at Viale dei Romagnoli 717, where you can explore the remains of an ancient city built at the mouth of the Tiber.
For a Rome history day trip, plan around the park’s seasonal closing times and allow for uneven paths across the site. Porta San Paolo is about an 8-minute walk from Hotel Pyramid, which offers rooms in Rome.
- Location: Viale dei Romagnoli 717, Rome.
- Opening pattern: Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays, from 8:30 AM; closed Mondays, December 25 and January 1.
- Ticket basics: The combined full-price ticket is €18 and covers the park’s archaeological and museum sites for 8 consecutive calendar days.
- Site planning: Closing times vary by season, and last entry is one hour before closing.
Why choose Ostia Antica for a day trip
Ostia Antica gives you a view of Roman urban life through the remains of a city built at the Tiber’s mouth. The park presents the city’s foundation by Rome’s King Ancus Marcius in 620 BC as a legend, rather than a confirmed historical account.
Its archaeological features include the Forum, baths, public warehouses, guild seats, multi-storey residential buildings and the Capitolium. These remains give the site a broader focus than a single monument: as you plan your visit, you can take in civic, commercial and residential parts of the ancient city.
How do you get from Porta San Paolo to Ostia Antica?
Porta San Paolo is a station area and the starting point for a railway route towards Ostia Antica. For more context on moving around the neighbourhood, read about how to get around Rome from Piramide.
The park is at Viale dei Romagnoli 717, Rome. Check the official site before you go for current journey details and any changes to services; the park’s official site is the place to verify travel information alongside entry arrangements.
Ostia Antica tickets and opening hours
The archaeological area opens at 8:30 AM from Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays. It is closed on Mondays, December 25 and January 1. Seasonal closing times determine how long you have on site.
Closing is at 4:30 PM from October 25 to February 28 or 29, 5:15 PM from March 1 to March 31, 7:00 PM from April 1 to September 30, and 6:30 PM from October 1 to October 24. Last entry is one hour before closing, and the ticket office closes one hour before the stated closing time.
The combined full-price ticket costs €18 and is valid for 8 consecutive calendar days across the park’s archaeological and museum sites. EU citizens aged 18 to 25 can buy a combined reduced-price ticket for €2, also valid for 8 consecutive calendar days.
Tickets are available at the ticket office by cash or electronic payment, or through the Musei Italiani app. Temporary exhibitions may increase the ticket price. Admission is free at all park sites on the first Sunday of each month, subject to opening hours.
How should you plan time across the archaeological site?
Start by checking the closing time for your visit date, then work backwards from the last-entry deadline. The park’s spread of remains includes public and residential spaces as well as the Forum and Capitolium, so give yourself time to move between areas rather than arriving close to the final entry time.
Paths can be uneven, with changes in level, obstacles and tripping hazards, and some areas are not fully accessible. The park warns that visiting may require considerable physical effort. Comfortable clothing and shoes are recommended, and there is no left-luggage service.
Access, facilities and a return-trip checklist
Routes designed for visitors with mobility difficulties or wheelchair users are concentrated primarily in the Ostia excavation area. The route from the ticket office to the Ostiense Museum is wheelchair accessible, and the museum has an access ramp.
Visitors with reduced mobility may enter with their own vehicle if it displays the appropriate permit, and use the site’s internal parking area.
If you are planning time in the neighbourhood, you can consider what to see around Ostiense on foot.
Meals and picnics are not allowed inside the archaeological area. The park identifies the Caffetteria degli Scavi and dispensers for snacks and hot and cold drinks as options.
Dogs are allowed, but must remain on a leash throughout the visit. Drone use is prohibited throughout the site, including at very low altitude, because the area is within the no-drone zone near Fiumicino Airport.
Before setting out, check the park’s current hours and travel details, plan for the site’s uneven paths, and leave luggage elsewhere. That preparation helps you make use of the opening window without relying on services the park does not provide.
FAQs
Where is the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica?
The park is at Viale dei Romagnoli 717, Rome.
What days is Ostia Antica open?
The archaeological area is open Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays. It is closed on Mondays, December 25 and January 1.
How much is a combined ticket for Ostia Antica?
The combined full-price ticket costs €18. The reduced-price ticket for EU citizens aged 18 to 25 costs €2.
Can you bring a dog to Ostia Antica?
Yes. Dogs are allowed inside the archaeological area but must be kept on a leash throughout the visit.