Ostia Antica Archaeological Tour from Civitavecchia Skip-the-Line

Walk the ruins of Rome's ancient seaport, three kilometres from where the Tiber once flowed to the sea.

A nine-hour shore excursion from Civitavecchia Port to Ostia Antica, the archaeological remains of ancient Rome's harbour city, with skip-the-line entry tickets and private transport from your ship. The tour includes free time to explore the medieval neighbourhood and Giulio II Castle near the ruins, then lunch and beach time at Ostia on your own. A certified guide in the ruins is available as an upgrade. The driver speaks English and holds a name sign at the port.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ancient Ostia and Ostia Beach

• Visit Ancient Ostia archaeological site
• Walk in medieval neighborhood near ruins
• See Ostiense castle near ruins
• Lunch and free time at Ostia Beach

The experience

Ostia was Rome's seaport, built at the mouth of the Tiber some 30 kilometres west of the city. Silting moved the shoreline seawards over centuries, so the ruins now sit three kilometres inland, but the archaeological record is intact: apartment buildings with upper floors, the medianum-apartments where the commercial middle class lived, domus houses of the wealthy, hotels, brothels, bars, hundreds of shops, baths, communal latrines, guild halls, workshops like bakeries and fulleries, wall-paintings and graffiti. Skip-the-line tickets are included, so you walk straight in.

Your driver meets you outside the ship with a name sign and drives you to the site in an air-conditioned, licensed vehicle. Once there, you have free time to walk the medieval neighbourhood near the ruins and see Giulio II Castle, built in 1483 by the cardinal who became Pope Julius II. If you choose the guide option at checkout, a certified local guide leads you through the archaeological remains. Otherwise, you explore at your own pace. Lunch and beach time at Ostia follow, on your own expense at a local restaurant by the sea.

The whole excursion runs nine hours from pickup to dropoff at your ship. Public transport is available nearby if you want to move around independently, and the tour suits all fitness levels. One infant seat is available on request.

What’s included

• Port pickup and dropoff at your ship.
• air-conditioned, fully insured, licensed vehicle with a professional English-speaking driver.
• skip-the-line entrance tickets to Ostia Antica.
• a certified local guide in the ruins if you select that option at checkout.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private, with no tour guideGuide in English · 07:30This is a private tour, so only your group takes part. A professional English-speaking driver and a vehicle for the full tour are included. Also included: a further professional English-speaking driver and vehicle for the full tour, plus skip-the-line tickets to the Ancient Ostia Ruins. Not included: a tour guide. Pickup is included.

Private, no tour guideGuide in English or Italian · 07:30This is a private tour, so only your group takes part. A professional English-speaking driver and a vehicle for the full tour are included. Also included: skip-the-line tickets to the Ancient Ostia Ruins. Not included: a tour guide. Pickup is included.

Private, tour guide includedGuide in English or Italian · 07:30This is a private tour, so only your group takes part. A professional English-speaking driver and a vehicle for the full tour are included. Also included: a licensed local tour guide at the Ancient Ostia Ruins and skip-the-line tickets to the Ancient Ostia Ruins. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (5 to 17 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by ItalyBestExcursions

Is this one for you?Choose the option with the guide if you want context for the buildings and artefacts as you walk. Choose without the guide if you prefer to explore at your own pace and spend more time in the medieval quarter or at the beach. Either way, the private vehicle and skip-the-line tickets mean you move on your schedule, not a group's.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 17 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly can you see at Ostia Antica?

Ostia Antica holds the remains of apartment buildings, wealthy homes, shops, bathhouses, brothels, bars, bakeries, fulleries, guild headquarters and communal latrines: the everyday infrastructure of a Roman harbour city. Wall-paintings and graffiti survive on many structures, giving a picture of life in Imperial Ostia and the port of Portus.

How far is Ostia Antica from Civitavecchia Port?

Ostia Antica lies about 30 kilometres west of Rome. Your driver picks you up at the ship and handles the transport both ways, so you don't arrange it yourself.

Do I need a guide to understand the ruins?

A certified local guide in English is available as an upgrade at checkout. Without it, you walk the site on your own. Public transport is nearby if you want to explore the medieval neighbourhood or Giulio II Castle independently.

What is Giulio II Castle and where is it?

Giulio II Castle stands near the Ostia Antica ruins. Built in 1483 by Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, who later became Pope Julius II, it served as a prison for forced labour in the 19th century. You have free time to visit it during the excursion.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included. You have free time at Ostia Beach to eat at a local restaurant on your own expense. The same applies to drinks and any other food.