Has anyone combined Rome and Ostia Antica?

[Quizine]

This may be a long shot, but we (two adults) are going to Rome later in the year. We were thinking of extending the trip and doing a few days in Rome and a few days on the coast at Ostia, and visiting the Ostia Antica Roman site while there.

I was looking at the seafront in Ostia on the map, it looks OK but not fantastic (to me anyway), so I wondered if anyone had stayed there and if so what did you think of it?

We stayed in a campsite near Rome but never got to the beach at Ostia. We did do Ostia Antica, it was fabulous. I would go back to Rome just to see it again. We drove to it but there is a metro station beside it.

Did Ostia as a day trip eons ago (over 15 years)... But I suspect that you can spend more than one day and still never see the full extent of the site. It is amazing though and well worth taking the train up. We stayed in Rome near to the train terminus which at the time was considered a bit of a dodgy area...(not too sure if that's the case now though!).
As a day trip, a really long day with loads of walking..but if you are young and fit and able, isn't an issue.
Have a fab time!

Thanks all. Did you/could you get a guide to take you around Antica, or did you just wing it yourselves?

I'll look it all up later, but insider info is invaluable!

Winged it, but with some prior knowledge.
Depends on what you want; I'd found Rome really busy and loud- Ostia by comparison was a lot more chilled, quiet and easy to walk around and just get totally lost in the history.
Might be worth a guide if you want to thoroughly understand the layout of the city and to get more information but when I visited, it wasn't really necessary/ didn't feel it would have added to the experience.

@Dinorattle1 thanks for that. I've a huge interest in this type of thing. The OH not so much so that's why we are splitting it up between Rome and Antica (staying in Rome first, then Ostia by the sea and going to Antica from there) so that each of us gets a chance to do what we like to do!

I think I'll get maps and tourist guides to download -( on the to do list), as sometimes having a guided tour can be a bit intense and you can't linger at look at things at your own pace.

I think I'll really enjoy this. Thanks again, it's good to hear from someone who's been there!

It’s very easy to do as a day trip from Rome on the train. We’ve done that a couple of times. Really worth going, it’s a fabulous and huge site.

I like both Ostia Antica and Lido Di Ostia - done both as day trips from Rome.

We stayed at Ostia in a flat about 10 mins walk from the sea and 10 mins walk from the station, for a week. We went into Rome by train for day trips. Ostia itself is quite ordinary but I liked it.

Absolutely adored Ostia Antica.

Hi, I got that feeling that Ostia Lido was kind of "ordinary" too, but I've no problem with that at all, as long as there are a few nice Trattorias and restaurants we are happy. Are there a few decent ones around the town? OH can sit on the beach all day if he wants, and I can trundle around the Antica site at my own pace.

We are thinking of a hotel on the sea front. Some of them look like dumps but there are one or two with OK reviews. Our needs are not 5 star anyway! And Another bonus, a short taxi to get to the airport for the flight home!

Ostia Antica is magical, but it's easy to do as a day trip. It's like staying in Greenwich instead of Central London.

I did a guided tour of OA, we met the guide at Pyramid station. It's an amazing place, and well worth the visit. Think I did it with via Tours, but it's a while ago know.

The Square Coliseum is on the same train line I think. Thats also worth a look if you like Art Deco.

We have awkward dietary requirements in our family so always struggle to find places to eat but I remember finding some nice ones. But fine diners we are not (although there was a McDonald's in Ostia and we didn't have to resort to that).

The thing that surprised me most, because I hadn't been to the Italian seaside before, was having to pay to go on the beach. Alien concept for British me!! There was a public beach but actually it was much better paying to go on one once I got my head round beaches not belonging to everyone like they do here.