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Original poster

Long shot maybe, but has anyone stayed in Ostia Lido by the sea near Rome?

14 replies

vandelier · 14/04/2025 18:48

Am interested in seeing Rome, it's one of the few places I haven't been to yet in Europe (well places that interest me that is!).

Thinking of late May and I know it's getting closer, or September if May is not working out. Anyway, as I'd like to see Ostia Antica as well as Rome itself, and the Jubilee is on in Rome now so things are busy and prices have jacked up a bit for hotels, I was thinking of staying in Ostia Lido (beach place) and going into Rome by train on a couple of the days. It's a shortish journey. I could get to Antica aswell as it's up the road really from the Lido.

I suppose it's doable and would mean the best of both worlds, so I just wondered if anyone has been? I'd be going for a minimum 7 days.

OP posts:

TheFutureIs · 14/04/2025 23:15

Not been yet, but booked in for a week in August. It looks like a lovely town with easy connections to Rome. Easy trip to the airport too

KnickerlessParsons · 14/04/2025 23:39

Rome is easy to get to from Ostia on public transport.

We camped there about 15 years ago and didn’t think much of the place.

fiveIsNewOne · 15/04/2025 00:03

We've stayed in Ostia last April close to beach.
The idea definitely is workable.
Few points

We took local bus to Ostia Antica no problem. There is a small castle across the street from the main entrance which was included in the ticket. It's tower has a good view.

There were great green public parks with huge pine trees.

When selecting hotel be aware that the public entrances to beach are a bit scattered, so it might be a few more minutes around even if you have see view.

Read reviews, some places have very basic packed food breakfast, while the others have real food and choice.

We took a bus from airport to Lido. That was a bit tricky. It was different public transport company (other than the city line) and they didn't accept cards. The main way to pay is installing their app, but I haven't managed to install it and create an account, not sure if it is even possible without a local phone number. There should be one specific newsagents in the airport hall selling paper tickets, but we didn't find them and the bus stop wasn't marked that clearly either - the private bus companies running to Rome center are much more visible. It might work differently now, but worth checking in more details if you consider it

We haven't go to the Rome in the end, we were there earlier and decided to send the whole 4 days we have around Lido, going north and south by the beach (it was walkable, but can be slightly risky, depending on the high/low tides)

libertineagain · 15/04/2025 00:36

We stayed in Rome for a week last August (in a hotel with a pool which was much needed). We went to Ostia Antica- one of my favourite places I've ever visited. The scale of the place is amazing. We then visited Ostia Lido but I wasn't that impressed. Beaches are private and we arrived about 3pm so wasn't worth paying the fees for. The bit by the station seemed quite ropey. There are very few non-Italian tourists - just something to be aware of. I had wanted to go there as it was on the tv series, I May Destroy You.

libertineagain · 15/04/2025 00:45

I will add that train tickets are €1.50 for 90 minutes and you can get out to the lido for that from Rome. Personally I'd do that rather than staying there. Ostia Antica is worth a full day. The entry ticket includes the castle which we didn't visit.

harriettenightingale · 15/04/2025 01:04

We went last year in October, just used the trains to get about which were really convenient. Much cheaper than staying centrally, got an Airbnb type apartment for 5 nights. Second that Ostia Antica is amazing, so glad we visited.

TheFutureIs · 15/04/2025 08:35

Any top tips for restaurants/bars @harriettenightingaleI’m so excited for our first family holiday

harriettenightingale · 15/04/2025 13:27

I can’t remember the names but there are several nice pizzeria/drinks/ ice cream type places within a short walk from the Ostia Lido station heading towards the beach, my DSC were perfectly happy there! We did spend three full days in central Rome though.

SweetChilliGirl · 15/04/2025 13:49

Ostia Antica is fantastic. We also went to the town of Ostia. It was OK. We had a nice seafood meal and the kids enjoyed the beach but I wouldn't have wanted to stay there. We stayed in Rome for eight days and there was so much to do.

BalloonSlayer · 15/04/2025 14:03

We stated in Ostia, the town itself is nothing special but I liked it a lot. We went into Rome most days, it was really quick and easy. Ostia Antica was fabulous.

Original poster

vandelier · 15/04/2025 18:14

Thanks so much everyone for your info and advice. I'm not sure now if staying at the beach/Lido is such a great idea, since it seems to be just OK.

However, I'm not into beaches really, just like looking at the sea lol!, and since I don't want to spend the entire time in a busy crowded Rome city either, I might chance it. Ostia Antica is no.1, Rome no.2, and relaxing on the hotel balcony or on their terrace on the Lido is no.3. So I should be able to do all three comfortably!

Just in case I change my mind and decide to stay in Rome itself, has anyone got recommendations for a decent hotel that has balconies with the rooms, and bonus points if it has a terrace or garden too. Am prepared to pay extra for those as I'm sure they come with a premium.

OP posts:

fiveIsNewOne · 15/04/2025 18:50

If you care more about watching sea than beach it sounds good.

The beach isn't nice enough for stay on the beach holiday, but it is there, waves are nice, and storm coming from the see to the Lido pier was very impressive.

For hotels - be aware that there is a road and the row of beach bars between then and the sea.
We had something like 2nd floor room with balcony and it was ok, we saw over them directly to the sea.

Original poster

vandelier · 15/04/2025 19:01

fiveIsNewOne · 15/04/2025 18:50

If you care more about watching sea than beach it sounds good.

The beach isn't nice enough for stay on the beach holiday, but it is there, waves are nice, and storm coming from the see to the Lido pier was very impressive.

For hotels - be aware that there is a road and the row of beach bars between then and the sea.
We had something like 2nd floor room with balcony and it was ok, we saw over them directly to the sea.

Thanks for the info, it's good to hear from someone who has been there! I was walking around with the google map man (😊), and it looked fine to me. My needs are not great, as long as I can walk along by the sea, there are some ok restaurants (other than Mcd and kfc type), a coffee shop or two and a mini market I'll be fine.

I just thought that for somewhere close to Rome, by the sea, near Ostia Antica and the airport it was not that well known, and there might be a reason for that! I wonder if there is much aircraft noise being so close to the airport?

Otherwise, I think it might be worth a punt. There are some nice hotels with balconies overlooking the sea, there on the front.

OP posts:

fiveIsNewOne · 15/04/2025 20:11

I don't remember aircraft noise being an issue, nor seeing it in reviews and worrying about it.

There was a touristy market near the pier on some days.

One day we went to the port area, there is a small bird watching reserve (but open only some days).
I was surprised how dirty a small area between the port and river mouth was, but the place where see waves meet the river was impressive.

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