We will be in Rome 5 days in July and hope to see Ostia Antica, Villa d'este, Pompeii. How would you recommend we get to these attractions? Is it worth getting booking a tour/a guide or is it easy to find our own way there? Which guide companies would you recommend?

Thank you
Michpeg

With only five days, I wouldn't do both Pompeii and Ostia Antica. You're not leaving yourself that much time for Rome!

There have been many threads on these destsinations, with directions, etc. Try entering the info in the "search" box to get more info.

Pompeii is down near Naples, so best to take a train from Roma down to Napoli, then transfer to the Circumvesuviana train (one floor below the Centrale station) to the 'Pompeii Scavi' exit. It takes a long time to walk around Pompeii as it is very spread out. I would suggest taking an early morning train down from Rome to give you all day to see Pompeii. There are audio/paper guides at the entrance that you can buy so not necessary to take a guided tour. However, if you do want a guided tour, best to book that with a company up in Rome that has a coach/shuttle provided down there and back to make it a complete package.

You can take the local Metro out to Ostia Antica (approx. 30 mins away). You can get out to Villa D'Este in Tivoli via train from either Roma's Termini or Tiburtina train stations (45 mins-1 hour, depending). Once you arrive at the station, there is a local bus that you can take to the Tivoli gardens entrance. Also, while out at Tivoli, I would suggest a visit to Villa Adriana (Emperor Hadrian's villa) on the way back towards the train station. It's a fascinating place to visit as well.

The Villa d'Este is at least half a day, or a whole day if you add Hadrian's Villa. Ostia Antica is also at least half a day. Pompeii is a complete day.

Do you really want to spend half of your time in Rome outside of Rome?

No,you don't!I think Ostia Antica is a nice easy daytrip.Also,a half-day riding the Archeobus to see Aqueducts,the Appian Way(Via Appia Antica) Catacombs,is great fun.

(search here for more Archeobus info-it's a hop-on,hop-off bus)

Thanks for the info.

I meant to say we hoped to do one of these excursions.

I am new to message boards. Thanks for the clues.

Michpeg

Hadrian's Villa is wonderful. One of my favorite places when I was in Rome.

I read something recently about a boat tour that goes to Ostia but I haven't any of the details. If I find out more info, I'll post back.

THere is a boat to Ostia - I checked it out when we were planning our visit, but it leaves very early [for me] and doean't acutally give you much time at the site itself. WE got the metro to Piramide, then the train from the interconnected ostiense station in the direction of the lido, alighting at ostia antica! One ticket covers both parts of the journey. Including the walk to the site - just follow the signs - it took about an hour. WE really enjoyed the excursion, and spent the best part of the day there, having lunch in the cafe, and a drink at the little bar near the station.
We also went to Tivoli on the bus, again via the metro, this time to ponte mammolo. Rick Steves says that if you want Hadrian's villa, you should get the bus marked "Autostrada" - otherwise get th one for Tivoli and alight opposite the tourist information office [in a park area on the other side of the road] . Obtain a map from the office, and walk into the town - The villa d'este is down a little street on your left. WE loved it and were very glad we had gone. We also enjoyed walking around Tivoli, and found a very nice restaurant off the beaten track called cafe Rosa. I can't comment on the train as we went on the bus, but it might be cooler- the bus trip even in April was hot. I agree with OPs that with only 5 days, you should pick only one of these trips and cross Pompeii off your list altogether. Good luck!