How to Reach Ostia Beach from Rome: A Complete Day Trip Guide
When I first arrived in Rome for my big adventure, I asked my taxi driver for some tips on what to do first. It was mid-August, and the city was baking in the kind of heat that makes you feel like you’re walking through an oven. Without missing a beat, he said, “Go to the beach.” The beach? I thought. I’m in Rome, why would I go to the beach?
But after just one day of sweating it out in 40-degree heat, I quickly ate my words. A day at the beach? Absolutely. So, I made my way to Ostia, and let me tell you, it was the best decision I made. Now, having learned the value of a beach day when you're in Rome, I want to share how you can get to Ostia Beach from the city, plus a few tips on how to make the most of your day there.
How to get from Rome to Ostia
The best thing about Ostia is how easy it is to get there from Rome. You don’t need a car, a fancy plan, or even much time. It’s a quick, budget-friendly trip.
To travel to Ostia, you can take the Rome-Lido train, also known as the Metromare. It departs from Rome’s Piramide station, which is easy to reach. Start by hopping on the regular Metro B line (the blue line) and head to Piramide station. Once there, follow the signs for the Roma-Lido train line. You’ll see it marked as the train heading toward Cristoforo Colombo.
As shown in the image, the train to Ostia runs every 20 minutes, so if you miss one, no stress! Another will be along shortly.
Since the Metromare is an extension of Rome’s metro system, the tickets work the same way as the rest of the city’s public transport. For example, if you have a 24-hour Rome pass, there’s no need to buy an extra ticket, you’re good to go! The journey to Ostia is also pretty short and takes about 30 minutes.
Now, for your stop: there are a few options depending on where you want to go. The most popular stop is Lido di Ostia Centro, which, as the name suggests, is close to Ostia’s centre and near the main beach. Personally, I prefer getting off at Stella Polare because it’s closer to my favourite free beach in Ostia (more on that below!).
How to spend your day in Ostia
In my humble opinion, Ostia is a very fun day trip from Rome. It is budget-friendly, but you can easily make it as expensive as you want. Below, I will describe the main activities you simply cannot miss when visiting Ostia.
Relax on the beach
It might speak for itself (since it is probably the whole reason you are going anyway, LOL), but when visiting Ostia, you absolutely have to relax on the beach. The coastline in Ostia is pretty packed and is divided into two types of beaches.
First, there are the private beach clubs (stabilimenti balneari), where, for around 10 to 20 euros, you can rent a sunbed, an umbrella, and sometimes, for a slightly higher price, access to showers and beachside service. If you have the budget and are up for a little luxury, the beach clubs are definitely worth it! At some spots, you can also just rent an umbrella for a few euros. I used to do this with a friend to avoid turning into sunburned lobsters.
Then, there are the public beaches (spiaggia libera), which are perfect for budget travellers. All you need is your own towel, and voilà—beach day complete! My go-to is this beach, and it is conveniently located near the Metromare stop I mentioned earlier, Stella Polare.
Explore the centre
The centre of Ostia isn’t very big, but it’s super cute. The main square is called Piazza Anco Marzio, which is located really close to the sea. The square has palm trees, benches, and often live music, creating a calm, peaceful vibe.
Besides the square, the centre has some jewellery stores, fashion boutiques, and plenty of restaurants, bars, and food spots. It’s a fun place to wander around, do some shopping, or enjoy some amazing food.
If I can recommend one spot, there’s this tiny shop right in the centre of Ostia called Paglia. They’ve been making krapfen since 1935, and oh my god, they are delicious. Krapfen are traditional Austrian and German doughnuts, typically filled with jam, custard, or cream. To be honest I have no idea how they ended up in Ostia, but trust me, you can’t miss these! At Paglia, they’re €1.50 each and come in all sorts of flavours: original (without filling), cream, chocolate, marmalade, and pistachio.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture since I had one last year, but you can check out their website or Google reviews for some tempting pictures. They look so yummy!
Why Ostia is worth visiting
For me, a trip to Ostia equals great vibes for the day. Even in winter, when I don’t go for a swim, it’s a wonderful place for a beach walk and to clear your head. What I didn’t mention in this article but plan to write about in the future is that close to Ostia beach, you’ll find Ostia Antica, a vast archaeological site. Ostia Antica is sometimes described as the Pompeii of Rome (minus the volcanic disaster), and I’d love to dedicate an entire article to this fascinating place. (Maybe also because I’ve never been there myself yet, whoops)
I hope this article has inspired you for a trip to Ostia, and I’d love to hear about your experience!
