We have a 7 hour layover in Rome coming from the US heading to Croatia and would like to visit Ostia Antica. Most on the info I'm finding gives directions for getting there via Metro from Rome....what's the best way to get there from the airport? Will we be able to store our luggage at the Rome airport?

There is luggage storage at Fiumicino airport.

It takes two buses and about 1-1.5 hours from FCO to the archeological site at Ostia Ontica.

On this page, click Fermata for Da and enter Aeroporto Fiumicino Arrivi internazionali and click Punto d'interesse for Per and enter Scavi Ostia Antica.

Sorry. Here's the link:
http://www.cotralspa.it/ENG/TrovaPercorso.asp

I don't think a 1-1.5hr bus is the best way to get to Ostia Antica. It's only about 5miles from the airport. Take a taxi. You could walk there faster than the bus.

Thank you!

My concern would be the taxi back. I've been to Ostia 4x (last visit 5yrs ago) and have never seen a taxi waiting by the entrance.

I assume that perhaps the people in the ticket booth would call one for you but I would want a 'Plan B'.
Like knowing the local taxi's phone # via an internet search and having someone here or elsewhere give you in Italian the phrase you would need "I'm at Ostia Antica SCAVI; Need to go to Fiumicino airport".
And either a phone card or a cellphone capable of making the call.

But in 7hrs from touchdown they must dock the plane, you must clear Passport Control, deposit your luggage and taxi to the site.

Visit the site.

Call for a taxi, ride to the airport, retrieve your luggage, queue at Check-in to check your luggage, go thru Security and get to your Gate before it closes.

Getting there and the visit is no problem but I would really worry about the return, how much time is actually needed from the phone call for the taxi to gate closing?
Regards, Walter

Thank you, Walter....seems as though perhaps I read somewhere it may be possible to pay a taxi to wait for you??? Would that be exorbitantly expensive? Anyone know about that? We have had some experience with "private drivers" in some place, such as London; don't know if that's an option near the Rome airport. In the DC area where I live, there is usually some "word of mouth" info about "private" drivers. But thank you, Walter, for warning us of this possible complication!

peggionthego, I have used this limousine service before and is pretty reliable.

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Hi! I want to know if you ended up going to Ostia Antica and how it was. I'm arriving at the airport at 9.30 am and have to "wait" there untill 8 pm, so I'm looking for something to do without going to Rome. I would appreciate any info on how you got there and back and whatever you can tell me.
Thanks!!

We haven't gone yet! Not until May 24th. Will try to post afterwards.

Hey peggionthego and solsito, how did your visit turn out? We're headed there this month and are worried about transportation back and forth from the airport. What would you recommend? Please share some secrets? Thanks so much!

Not sure, but I think you can take a regional train from the airport to Rome's Ostiense station, then get another regional train from there to Ostia Antica.

Actually, I think you need to transfer to the Roma-Lido metro at the Ostiense station. But they are right next to each other.