Rome Travel Forum

I have looked allready from web-sites,but Iīm not sure have I understood right,because Iīve found two(at least) different kind of instructions.So can someone tell,how we should go?
Should we first go by metro to some trainstation or can we go straight from termini?We have rented a flat near Pantheon,so thatīs were weīll start.How long it takes to go?When we are in Ostia,can we walk to ruins,or do we need to take a bus or something?I have been there 16 years ago,but that time I sat in my sisterīs car,and waited untill we were there-I canīt remember was it far from anything,because we went all the way by car.My sister lived in Ceccina(or something like that)in Rome.I wouldnīt want to waiste time by finding easiest way when we are in Rome.I donīt even remember how long it took to walk around there,and was there any restaurants or bars near.We might have visited some beach,but I donīt remeber how far from ruins..I only remember I loved the ruins.
By the way:is there any swimming pools in Rome?I mean where we could just go to swim for a while,or are they only for hotels?Iīm not sure if we would,but just in case..

Hello,

Getting to Ostia Antica is really easy. First take the metro to the piramide station. At that station you will change to another train. This station is really two in one. Get off the metro train and go through the archway to the other station. It really is that simple. From there find the train that is going to Ostia Lido. The easiest way I have found to do this is to look inside the train at the list of stops it makes. There is a clock above each train that will tell you when it leaves so make sure you have a least 5 minutes to look so you don't get caught on the wrong train. The list of stops is on the inside above every door. Find the one that says Ostia Antica on it and that is your train. I have tried reading the schedule and even asking the people at the booths but they have never been very helpful so I came up with this plan for finding the correct train and it has never failed me yet. (Don't do this on the metro because the trains only stop for about 30 seconds and you will get stuck on the train). These trains leave at a scheduled time so you can take a minute or two to check the stops. Once on the train pay attention to the stops. It takes about half an hour to get to the stop you need. After you get off at Ostia Antica stop, cross the foot bridge of the high way and continue straight ahead to the ruins. You can walk inside the ruins, rent an audio guide, take a picnic lunch or eat in the cafeteria. It is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. This trip can be done in the morning and still give you the entire evening to enjoy in Rome.

As for hotels and pools, I believe at most hotels you can pay to use the pools if you are not a guest of the hotel. Contact the specific hotel to see.

Donna

Donna has given you a delightfully detailed description of the trip to and in Ostia Antica(!).

I will note that since you are near the Pantheon, the Metro won't be very convenient for you as the nearest Metro stop is a pretty good walk.

It looks like there is an express bus (#30) that leaves from the Piazza Navona area (which is a short walk from the Pantheon) and heads south to the Stazione Ostiense. Your temporary landlord should know where the 'rinascimento' stop is (or the guys in the local bar).

How will you know where to get off? Well, you can ask your fellow passengers where 'stazione ostiense' is - any Roman will know - or you may notice that large white pyramid stuck into the walls of the City - it's hard to miss...the station should be the next stop after the stop near the pyramid...

Remember that when you get on the #30, you want to go in the direction of Laurentina (which is a Metro stop in EUR in the south of Rome). If the link works, here is the map of the route:
http://trovalinea.atac.roma.it/zoom_in.asp?VediFermate=off&VediLinee=off&VediRivendite=off&percorso=30R&idmtram=8879&xmax=2312746&ymax=4644158&xmin=2308402&ymin=4632789&tipologia=EXP&linea=30&circo=NO
You start at 'rinascimento' and get off at 'staz. ostiense'. The 'rinascimento' stop is where the yellow dot next to 'Parione' is, and the station is the 6th stop down...

Bill

You have to take metro B to Piramide and then Roma-Lido train. The only trains leaving from Piramide station are the ones going to Ostia, so you can't catch wrong train. There are several in the station at the same time, though, so check from which platform the next train leaves. Trains depart every 15 minutes on workdays. It's a 25-minute ride to Ostia Antica and then just a five-minute walk to the ruins. I have to admit that the ruins seemed quite boring to me, but it was after five days in Rome seeing loads of amazing sights which that wonderful city has to offer. To the beach, it's another 15 minutes by train to the end of the line. On your way back, it's better to change to the metro either in Eur Magliana or San Paolo Basilica stop, because the metro trains get crowded in Piramide after train from Lido has arrived.

If you were starting at Termini, then, yes, take Metro B. However, since Termini is in the wrong direction to Ostia Antica from the Pantheon, the direct express bus makes more sense...because otherwise you would have to walk a while (15 to 20 minutes) to the nearest Metro stop at Piazza Barberini, then take Metro A to Termini to swith to Metro B...in your case, because you aren't particularly close to a Metro station, the direct bus makes more sense (except perhaps at rush hour)...and you'll get to see more of Rome that way ;-)

Bill

Thanks for you all.Last time I was at ostia,I had also been in Rome for some days,but I still loved it.So different we are..My mother allways says,that "you allways go to see those stones".When ever we see ruins,we go there.I donīt know why.maybe I like to imagine,how it would have been to live in that time,and I imagine what the houses have looked like and so on.My parents have a book of Ostia Antica,where you can see photos of today,and drawings of how the houses have been.
I know that Piradide-station-I have 4 guidebooks of Rome(just bought 4.th this morning..Now I must stop).I allready looked,that we might walk there.We use to walk 20 to 30km or even more every day,when we are at holliday.that way you see the most,and donīt have to worry about right stop.And then you can eat more pasta and ice cream without feeling guilty ;)
Of course to ostia we have to take the train(good to know,that they leave so often),but maybe we could walk to Piramide.We have 10 days,so we are not in hurry.Iīll just check Ostia Anticas opening times before we leave-Iīve allready been at web-page.Iīm starting to have travel-fever..Start to understand that itīs so soon!