I will be in Rome for 4 days. I would like to visit Ostia Antica on the 4th day assuming I've seen all the sights on my "must see" list during the prior 3 days. If I do visit Ostia, I'd like to take a tour with a tour guide but I don't want to book it ahead of time as I've done with my other tours because I won't know until day 3 if I'm going to go to Ostia or not. If I do decide on the fly to go to Ostia, are there a lot of guides hanging around the entrance that I could hire for a tour? If so, have any of you taken a tour with a guide from the entrance & how was the tour? Any input is appreciated.
Posted by
Newburyport, MA
683 posts
We visited Ostia in 2006. We did not use a guide and found it a fascinating place. We pretty much had the place to ourselves, as it is not a major tourist site and is not located in Rome itself. Ostia was once the busiest place in the West, as it was Rome's port. It is worth seeing
Posted by
Walnut Creek
51 posts
We had a guide with Angel Tours. His name is Rossa (I have no idea if I'm spelling that correctly). This tour isn't on their website, but you should contact them to see if it's available. We just did it in January with a day's notice.
Robin
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Our experience is similar to Paul's. When we were there (early June) there was no one else there. There were no guides hanging out at the entrance. I am assuming you would have to prearrange a tour. The RSteves' guide did a pretty good job.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
1317 posts
Sheron, I went to Ostia Antica (loved it!) on the RS Rome tour and our guide just turned us loose with RS's Rome book. I really enjoyed getting to just wander around and explore the place on my own, so if you have the guidebook you may not need the guide.
Otherwise, like the other posters noted, there aren't any guides hanging around the entrance, so you'll need to pre-arrange one. You might consider getting in touch with Ron in Rome www.roninrome.com and seeing if he can either help you or recommend someone else.
Posted by
Victoria, BC, Canada
372 posts
http://www.ostia-antica.org/touristguide.pdf
Perhaps you don't need to arrange a tour, but do it on your own?
Posted by
Tucson
137 posts
Found this awesome website re: Ostia Antica. Thought I'd share!