Rome Lido Di Ostia

If you tire of geeking out at Ostia Antica, why not hit the surf? The heart of modern-day Ostia is just two stops away on the train, and it’s one of the most popular beach daytrips among Romans during the summer months. Lungomare Paolo Toscanelli runs along the waterfront; stroll along here and you’ll be able to quickly assess your beachgoing options. There are two types of beaches, public and club or private. Both kinds are in fact accessible to visitors, but you have to pay to access private beaches. Typical entry is about €4-5 at the bigletterie by the beaches’ main gates. The premium gets you a less crowded beach with better facilities (more bathrooms, etc.) and a more upscale clientele. However, you can enjoy the same dark sand and warm sea for free if you skip a few meters over to a public beach. Some free beaches are marked “ ingresso libero ” (free entry) at the gate; others are unmarked but don’t have a ticket counter.

Both private beaches and most public beaches rent folding chairs and umbrellas. Rentals at private beaches are slightly more expensive—both chairs and umbrellas cost about €6-7 each at private beaches and about €5 each at public beaches. Many private beaches also have snack bars; these are sometimes accessible to non-beachgoing patrons. Don’t fret if you get turned away, as snack bars not affiliated with beaches dot the Lungomare.

Lido di Ostia is two train stops down the Roma-Lido line from Ostia Antica. From B-Piramide (€1), at the top of the stairs, turn left and follow signs to Ferrovia Roma-Lido. Your Metro ticket includes the train ride to Lido Centro (35min., every 15min. daily 5:40am-11:30pm). To get to Ostia’s beach strip, take bus #62 to any of the stops along Lungomare Paolo Toscanelli—your Metro and train fare covers the bus as well.