Ostia is the nearest beach town to Rome. Tourists might be more familiar with Ostia Antica, the ruins of the old Roman port. During the summer months it is an excellent day trip, combining a visit to the sea with one of the most interesting monuments shedding light on what a typical Roman city looked like 2000 years ago.
Ostia, suburb of Rome
History and description
The official name of what is really a suburb of Rome and not a city is Lido di Ostia. It is located about 25 kilometers east of the capital. This makes traveling there quite cheap, since you can use one normal Rome transportation ticket to get all the way there.
Modern Ostia is located directly on the beach. The ruins of the ancient harbor, are about three kilometers inland, however.
Tourist attractions
Ostia‘s main tourist attraction is Ostia Antica. The ruins of this old port can be visited from 8.30 AM until (more or less) one hour before sunset. Admission is 6,50 Euros. Mondays closed. Ostia Antica‘s history is of course less spectacular than that of Pompeii, but its ruins are far better preserved. There is an Ostia Antica stop on the Ostia-Lido railway line.
For the Castle of Ostia you get off at the same stop. It was built towards the end of the 15th century. When, walking through the Ostia Antica archeological site, you notice that there are bits missing of the various buildings, the chances are great that these bits were used when constructing the castle.
Beaches
The beach is no more than a short walk from the last stop on the Ostia Lido train line, which leaves from the Stazione Ostiense in Rome.