Scavi Archeologici di Ostia Antica

Lonely Planet review

Rome's answer to Pompeii, Scavi Archeologici di Ostia Antica offers a well-preserved insight into ancient Rome's once-thriving port, an easy 25km southwest of the city. You could happily spend a few hours here, snooping around the ancient restaurants, shops, laundries and houses. Highlights include mosaic-laced merchant guilds' offices on Piazzale delle Corporazioni, an uncannily hip-looking Thermopolium (bar), and the Terme di Foro, with its roomful of ancient toilets.

Grab a handy map of the site from the ticket office (around €2 ) or pick the brains of one of the multilingual guides who roam the site (usually around €5 per person for a one-hour tour). In summer the Roman theatre hosts Cosmophonies (www.cosmophonies.com), a series of concerts focusing on world music and opera.