An entire Roman city to explore

At Ostia Antica you don't visit a single monument: you explore a whole city. You walk along paved streets, step inside the houses, and climb the tiers of the theatre. Here are the highlights you shouldn't miss on your visit.

The Decumano Massimo

The city's backbone is the Decumano Massimo, the long paved main street that runs through the entire site. Following it, you pass baths, shops, warehouses, and houses: it's the perfect thread to find your way and picture daily life in the port of Rome.

The Roman Theatre

One of the most striking spots is the Roman Theatre, built in the Augustan age and still used for summer performances today. Climb the tiers for a fine view over the site; behind the stage opens the Square of the Guilds.

The Square of the Guilds

Right behind the theatre, the Square of the Guilds is one of the most fascinating places in Ostia: a vast porticoed space that once housed the offices of merchant and shipowner guilds. On the ground, stunning mosaics depict ships, animals, and trade symbols, marking the business of each office. It's a unique record of commerce in ancient Rome.

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The Baths of Neptune

Among the bath complexes, the Baths of Neptune stand out, famous for their large black-and-white floor mosaics depicting Neptune on a chariot drawn by sea horses, surrounded by marine creatures. From a terrace you can admire them from above in their full extent.

The Thermopolium

To understand everyday life, don't miss the Thermopolium: the ancient Roman "bar" or snack counter, with its marble counter, frescoes illustrating the food on sale, and the rooms where customers ate. It's one of the most vivid and "human" glimpses in all of Ostia.

The houses, the mosaics, and the Capitolium

Rounding out the visit:

  • The insulae, the multi-storey working-class apartment blocks, ancestors of the modern condominium.
  • The domus, the private homes, with their mosaics and frescoes.
  • The Capitolium and the Forum, the religious and civic heart of the city.
  • The Museo Ostiense (Ostia Museum), with the sculptures unearthed during the excavations.

How to plan your visit

To catch the best of it, follow this order along the Decumano:

  1. Necropolis and entrance (Porta Romana)
  2. Baths of Neptune
  3. Roman Theatre and Square of the Guilds
  4. Thermopolium and the houses
  5. Forum and Capitolium
  6. Museo Ostiense (Ostia Museum)

Allow at least 3 hours to see everything without rushing.

Frequently asked questions

What must I absolutely see at Ostia Antica? The Decumano Massimo, the Roman Theatre, the Square of the Guilds with its mosaics, the Baths of Neptune, the Thermopolium, and the Forum with the Capitolium.

What is the Square of the Guilds? A vast porticoed space behind the theatre, where the offices of merchants and shipowners were based. On the ground, the mosaics mark each one's business with ships and trade symbols.

What is the Thermopolium of Ostia? It's the ancient Roman "bar," with a marble counter and frescoes of the food: one of the most vivid glimpses of daily life in the ancient port city.

Can you visit the Roman Theatre? Yes, you can climb the tiers, and in summer it still hosts performances. Behind the stage opens the Square of the Guilds.

How much time do you need to see everything? At least 3 hours, better half a day: the site is huge and packed with things to see.

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Article #305 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026