Pompeii VS Ostia Antica

Long day trip from where? From Naples or Sorrento, no problem. From Rome, it's a long day trip but could be done. Whether or not it's a must see depends on your interest in Roman ruins.

Been to both. Really enjoyed Pompei. did the trip from Sorrento, easy bus tour + climbed Vesuvius.

Would not recommend doing Pompei from Rome.

Ostia is really easy from Rome, maybe a 45min metro/train ride, then a block to walk to the entrance.

Get a guide for either one of these sights to get the most. We didn't get one at Ostia, and regretted it. Fun to walk around the ruins, but didn't know the history or extra info a guide can provide.

Pompei is crowded, Ostia is not.

I loved Pompei, one of those things I needed to check off my list. Ostia was a different trip (just this November) it was something to do one day from Rome.

Seems like Pompei has more to see, more artwork, the plaster remains of people. both sights are very large, and you could spend more than 1 day there.

So, as the other poster said, if you are trying to see one of these sights from Rome...choose Ostia. If you are based in Sorrento, do Pompei.

David

Ostia is very charming, also Tarquinia and the Etruscan Necropolis... I also love Tivoli Gardens, I beleive you are looking forward to side trips from Rome...This is one of them if not Ostia.

also, aside form Pompeii, you have Herculaneun that is outstanding, they are crowded that is true as they are famous, but close by you can find Oplontis and Villa San Marco, also 2 small treasures in the Vesuvian Area.

Thanks,
Cinthya

We choose Ostia Antica because we weren't interested in Naples.

We really liked Ostia Antica. It wasn't crowded. You could easily spend an entire day and not see everything. And it was close to Rome so saved a lot of travel time on our vacation.

If I were going back today, I would still pick Ostia Antica unless my travel plans were taking me near Pompeii.

I've been to both Ostia & Pompeii on bus tours from Rome. Much preferred the Pompeii tour. It was a long trip, but just being in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius was incredible!