Visiting Pompeii: is it worth it, what to see and 12 tips
Visiting Pompeii, the ancient Roman city in southern Italy that was destroyed by a volcano, is on a lot of people’s travel bucket lists – it had been on mine since I was little!
I’ve been to Pompeii twice, but before my first visit I felt quite overwhelmed, so I did a ton of research. In this complete guide to visiting Pompeii I’ve pulled everything together for your visit: how to buy tickets, what to see, the best time to go, how to get there, info on guided tours and all the practical advice you’ll need – tried, tested and completely updated for 2026.
Contents
Is Pompeii worth visiting?
Absolutely yes, and probably for longer than you think.
If you’ve visited an archaeological site before, then you might be expecting more of the same from Pompeii – a couple of hours looking around, some information boards to read, some terracotta pots to glance at. That’s not Pompeii at all. The enormous scale of Pompeii hits you the moment you walk through the gate, and it’s much more like taking a city break back in time than visiting a museum.
On a trip to Pompeii you’ll see streets, grand houses, temples, theatres, restaurants, gardens, baths and public squares – all the things you’d see if you were visiting a modern-day city. You’ll also see the city’s seedier side at the famous Lupanar brothel, and the tragic body casts of Pompeii residents who didn’t make it out in time.
What to see at Pompeii: must-visit highlights
The excavated part of Pompeii covers about 44 hectares (109 acres), or roughly 60 football pitches. You won’t see everything in one visit, but here are the highlights that are worth prioritising. I highly recommend taking a guided tour; if you do, you’ll definitely see a lot of these (but not all) while you’re with the guide.
You can see the locations for all these sights on my Pompeii Google Map.
The Forum
The Forum is the heart of the ancient city and the natural starting point for any visit, especially if you enter through the Porta Marina as most visitors do.
The wide open square was surrounded by temples, market buildings and the basilica (law courts), and gives you the best sense of how grand Pompeii once was. Vesuvius looms very visibly over the north end, which is rather sobering once you know the history.
The Lupanar (brothel)
The Lupanar is the most-visited building in Pompeii, so be prepared to queue to get in. The stone beds are still there and the wall paintings above each doorway served as a sort of menu. If you want a proper look rather than a shuffle through with the crowds, head there when the site opens or towards the end of the day.
House of the Faun
One of the grandest private houses in the city, named after the famous bronze dancing faun that stood in the entrance hall. The mosaic floors are stunning – the biggest is a massive battle scene that originally covered an entire room.
House of the Tragic Poet
This is where you’ll see the Cave Canem (“Beware of the Dog”) mosaic, one of Pompeii’s most famous sights. It’s beautifully preserved and one of those small details that reminds you that this was a real place with real people (and dogs!)
The Forum Baths
The best-preserved public baths in Pompeii (although there’s been quite a lot of reconstruction here), and a good illustration of how sophisticated Roman daily life actually was. You can clearly see the separate rooms for hot, warm and cold bathing, as well as the changing rooms with shelves for clothes.
Garden of the Fugitives
This corner of the old city is where the largest group of body casts is displayed – 13 people, including children, who were sheltering here when the end came. The plaster casts capture their final moments with terrible clarity.
House of Venus in the Shell
My favourite villa at Pompeii and worth visiting for the rear garden wall, which is covered by a huge, gorgeous fresco of Venus reclining in a shell. It’s near the amphitheatre, in what feels like the posh part of the site.
The Amphitheatre
Built in 70 BC, this is the oldest surviving Roman amphitheatre in the world. It’s at the far end of the site from the main entrance, so allow plenty of time to get there and don’t underestimate how long it’ll take walking on uneven Roman roads. The capacity was around 20,000 people, roughly the same as a medium-sized modern concert venue.
Teatro Grande
The large theatre dates to the 2nd century BC and was carved into a natural slope, in the Greek style. About three-quarters of the original seating survives, which is enough to give you a real sense of how it would have felt full. It occasionally hosts live performances; during those times it’s closed to visitors but you can still have a look over the wall.
House of the Vettii
One of the most recently-restored villas, the Casa dei Vettii, reopened in 2023 after a 20-year restoration. It was owned by two wealthy freedmen – ex-slaves who’d done very well for themselves and is famous for its frescoes and sculptures. The owners were very into Priapus, the god of fertility, and there are some pretty explicit pieces of art around the villa.
Villa of the Mysteries
If you have time, the Villa of the Mysteries is a wonderful addition to your visit to Pompeii. It’s technically outside the main site but it’s included with the Pompeii Plus ticket, or you can pay an extra €8 at the Porta Ercolano gate. The villa is famous for a set of large, vivid and extraordinary well-preserved frescoes, depicting scenes that are still debated by historians.
The walk there takes you through the Necropolis, with large, ornate tombs belonging to Pompeii’s most prominent citizens. The Villa of the Mysteries closes earlier than the rest of Pompeii, so plan accordingly.
What happened at Pompeii?
In AD79, Mount Vesuvius erupted. The force of the explosion blew the entire top of the mountain off, sending rocks, ash and dust over 10 miles into the sky. The rocks and ash rained down on Pompeii for nearly a full day. Most residents had already fled the city but around 2,000 people stayed behind.
When, finally, a flood of thick volcanic ash, poisonous gases and superheated rock hit Pompeii at nearly 100 miles an hour, the city was buried underneath millions of tonnes of volcanic debris.
The victims’ bodies decomposed where they’d died, leaving body-shaped spaces in the hardened ash. Almost 2000 years later, archaeologists were able to pour plaster into these spaces, revealing the last moments of the victims and creating Pompeii’s famous body casts.
Pompeii has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.
How to have the perfect day at Pompeii
Pompeii is easily worth a full day of your trip. With a two-hour tour, plus two or three hours on your own you can get a taste for the city, but you’ll want more time than that to see it properly.
On my first visit we arrived at around 10.30am and didn’t leave until closing time, and I’d have happily stayed longer. A peek into a house here or a temple there, and the time soon adds up.
It’s worth bearing in mind that the main sights are quite far from each other. The Amphitheatre and the Garden of the Fugitives are both at the opposite end of the site from the Porta Marina entrance, and walking on the uneven roads makes distances feel even further.
Suggested itinerary for one day at Pompeii
Morning
I recommend booking a morning tour, so meet up with your guide at the entrance. They’ll probably tell you to meet at either Porta Marina or Piazza Esedra; both are close to the train station from Sorrento or Naples.
Most tours cover the Forum, the Lupanar, the baths, the Teatro Grande and one or two houses in about two hours. This gives you the orientation you need before exploring solo.
Late morning
After the tour, head to the highlights that weren’t covered on your tour; perhaps the House of the Vettii which is a bit outside the central area, or the Villa of the Mysteries if you’re up for a longer walk.
Lunch time
Take a break at the main cafeteria on the corner of Vicolo di Tesmo and Via dell’ Abbondanza for lunch. The queue can be long in peak season, so going slightly later helps. Or break out your packed lunch.
Afternoon
Walk to the Amphitheatre at the far end of the site via the House of Venus in the Shell. These are a significant walk from the Forum end but worth the effort, and the streets here are so pretty, with trees and flowers.
After the Amphitheatre, head to the the Garden of the Fugitives, then work your way back through the quieter streets.
Late afternoon
Visit the Antiquarium near the Porta Marina exit to see artefacts from the site and perhaps pick up a souvenir at the gift shop.
How to get to Pompeii
Pompeii is in the Campania region of southern Italy, 15 miles south of Naples and 150 miles south of Rome. It’s 16 miles from the lovely resort town of Sorrento and 22 miles from Positano, on the Amalfi coast.
The Circumvesuviana train from Naples or Sorrento
The best way to get to Pompeii from Naples or Sorrento is by the local train, the Circumvesuviana, which links busy Naples to pretty Sorrento. Its name comes from the fact that it travels around the base of Mount Vesuvius.
The station for the ruins is Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri (Google Maps link), which is less than five minutes’ walk from the Porta Marina entrance.
The train can be very busy and has a reputation for pickpocketing, but I’ve travelled on it multiple times and there’s no reason to be scared – keep your bag close and your wits about you and it’s perfectly safe and convenient.
Campania Express – the fancy tourist train
There is an alternative to the Circumvesuviana, the Campania Express, which guarantees you a seat and has air con, but it only runs a few times a day and is very expensive – it would have cost me €25 for the return trip from Naples versus €6.60 on the normal train.
The Campania Express is worth it if you’re travelling between Naples and Sorrento with luggage though, or if you absolutely must have a seat. You can book Campania Express tickets online.
Pompeii from Sorrento
If you’re travelling from Sorrento or one of the other resorts along the coast, the easiest and cheapest way to get to Pompeii is to take the Circumvesuviana local train to the ruins. From Sorrento, the train takes between 25 and 30 minutes, which is almost certainly going to be quicker than driving or taking a taxi. A single ticket from Sorrento to Pompeii costs €2.80.
Pompeii from Naples city centre
Visiting Pompeii from Naples is an easy day trip, and Napoli’s great rail connections make the train the easiest way to get to the ruins.
The Circumvesuviana trains run on their own tracks and have a separate station to the main line trains to other cities in Italy. There is a Circumvesuviana station connected directly to Naples Centrale, called Napoli Garibaldi, but I highly recommend catching the train from Naples Porta Nolana station (Google Maps link) rather than the more popular Garibaldi. It’s only a few minutes’ walk around the corner from Naples Centrale, and since Porta Nolana is the start of the Circumvesuviana line, you’ve got a much better chance of getting a seat on what can be very busy trains.
Get on a train that’s headed for Sorrento and get off at Pompei Scavi – Villa Dei Misteri. The journey will take around 30-40 minutes. A single ticket from Naples to Pompeii costs €3.30.
Pompeii from Naples cruise port (Stazione Marittima)
If you’re arriving in Naples on a cruise ship, you’re likely to dock at Stazione Marittima (Google Maps link). From there, you could walk the 1.2 miles to Porta Nolana station on the Circumvesuviana line, take the metro from Municipio to Piazza Garibaldi (then walk around the corner to Porta Nolana) or catch a bus.
If you’d prefer a simpler option for your trip and not rely on public transport, there are shore excursion options.
Pompeii from Rome
It’s possible to visit Pompeii on a self-guided day trip from Rome thanks to Italy’s amazing high-speed trains. If you choose the fastest train from Rome Termini to Naples Centrale you’ll be there in 1 hour 13 minutes. Tickets are very reasonably priced if you book in advance.
From Naples Centrale, head down to the Circumvesuviana platforms (or walk the 10 minutes to Porta Nolana station) and take the local Circumvesuviana train to Pompei Scavi – Villa Dei Misteri.
A guided tour from Rome, a direct coach transfer or even a private tour is another option for visiting Pompeii from Rome on a day tour.
Pompeii from the Amalfi Coast
It is possible to do a day trip to Pompeii from the Amalfi Coast on public transport but it’d take at least 2 hours. Instead, I recommend either breaking up your trip with a night in Naples or Sorrento and using one of those as a base for a Pompeii day trip, or booking a package which includes your transport, tickets and a guided tour at Pompeii.
Driving and parking
If you’re planning to drive to Pompeii, it’s worth knowing that there are no official Pompeii car parks, but there are lots of places to park around Porta Marina and between the Porta Marina and Piazza Esedra entrances. One of the most recommended is Pompei Parking Zeus near Porta Marina.
Pompeii tickets: what to buy and where to buy them
Like many popular tourist sites, Pompeii is struggling with increasing visitor numbers and overtourism. In response, they’ve brought in ticket slots and extra restrictions on ticket sales.
From 16 March to 14 October, entry is split into morning slots (9am to 1pm) and afternoon slots (1pm to 5.30pm). Morning sessions are limited to 15,000 visitors and the afternoon to just 5,000.
Bring your ID!
The new ticket rules for Pompeii require visitors to show an ID document like a passport or national ID card when buying or picking up tickets, including if you’ve bought a tour with skip the line access or if you’re visiting with an Artecard. This might mean longer queues at the ticket offices or entrance gates. If you buy your ticket online you’ll be asked for the name of each person in your party.
Ticket types
There are three ticket types. Most visitors will only need the Pompeii Express ticket, and that’s the ticket included in most ‘skip the line’ guided tours.
If you want to visit the Villa of the Mysteries then the Pompeii Plus ticket might be worth it, although you could also just see how you feel on the day and pay the extra fee at the gate. If you think you’ll want to spread out your visit over multiple days or if you’re a real Pompeii completist, the 3 Day ticket might be worth the extra few euros.
| Ticket name | Price | Includes |
| Pompeii Express | €20.00 | Main Pompeii site only. |
| Pompeii Plus (sometimes written Pompeii+) | €25.00 | Main Pompeii site and 3 suburban villas: Villa of the Mysteries, Villa of Diomedes, Villa Regina in Boscoreale with Antiquarium. Artebus shuttle bus between sites. |
| 3 Days | €30.00 | Main Pompeii site, Villa of the Mysteries, Villa of Diomedes, Villa Regina in Boscoreale with Antiquarium, Oplontis, Villa Arianna, Villa San Marco, Archaeological Museum of Stabiae. Artebus shuttle bus between sites. |
Booking tickets online
You can either book your official Pompeii tickets online at vivaticket.com (the only official booking platform) or buy them at the ticket offices at Porta Marina, Piazza Anfiteatro and Piazza Esedra. If you buy online you’ll receive your ticket as a PDF to print or show on your phone. There’s a small booking fee on top of the ticket price.
Visiting Pompeii with an Artecard
Pompeii is included in most versions of the Naples area’s official tourist card, called the Artecard. There are lots of versions, and it does get pretty complicated, so I’ve written a full post comparing all the different Artecards with my recommendation for which Artecard is best (spoiler, it’s the Artecard 365 Lite, and it’s an absolute bargain). I used an Artecard myself for my most recent visit to Pompeii.
If you visit Pompeii with an Artecard, you can’t book a ticket online, so it’s a good idea to get to the site relatively early. Head straight to the Piazza Esedra entrance (Google Maps link) – it’s another 5 minutes’ walk past the Porta Marina entrance coming from the Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri station – and look for the signs showing the queue for Artecard holders.
Show your Artecard’s QR code, then your ID; for me as a UK citizen it needed to be my passport. The ticket assistant will then give you your ticket. I was visiting Pompeii with my partner and I was a bit surprised that we only got one ticket (with his name on) but apparently that’s normal. Once you’ve got your ticket you can go through the ticket gate and enter the site. You can also use the code on your ticket starting TL50 to download an audioguide from the My Pompeii app.
The Artecards only include the main Pompeii site (the equivalent of a Pompeii Express ticket), but I was able to pay an extra 8 euro to visit the Villa of the Mysteries.
If you’re planning to visit Herculaneum, the Archaeological Museum in Naples or other museums and attractions in the Naples area in addition to Pompeii, then the Artecard will save you a fortune. I used an Artecard 365 Lite on my last visit to Naples and it paid for itself several times over.
Free tickets on the first Sunday of the month
Visiting Pompeii is free on the first Sunday of every month but it does get very busy! You can avoid the queues for free Pompeii tickets by booking them online.
If you’re looking to save money and will visit several sites around Naples I’d recommend getting an Artecard instead and visiting at a quieter time.
Best time to visit Pompeii
The best time to visit Pompeii is April to early June or September to October. You get comfortable temperatures for walking the large, largely unshaded site, longer summer opening hours, and smaller crowds than the peak of July and August. I visited in mid-April and thought it was perfect.
Visiting Pompeii in spring
March, April and May can be the best time to visit Pompeii and all the other attractions in the area. March can be a little chilly with a few days of rain, but cooler temperatures are good for exploring the ruins.
Pompeii is open as normal on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, which in 2027 falls at the end of March (Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027). Trains and buses to Pompeii will also be running but to a holiday schedule with reduced frequency.
I visited Pompeii, Vesuvius and Herculaneum in mid April and thought it was the perfect time to take a trip to this part of Italy. The weather was warm and sunny but not too hot, and at both Pompeii and Herculaneum the spring flowers were beautiful. Summer opening hours start on April 1, giving you an extra two hours to explore (I needed it!).
Visiting Pompeii in summer
If you visit Pompeii in June, July or August, you’ll need to prepare for high temperatures, but there are some interesting extra events during the summer that could make summer the best time for you to visit the ruins of Pompeii.
During June and July, there are often theatrical and music performances in the Roman Teatro Grande or occasionally in the Amphitheatre.
Long, warm summer evenings allow for other events too, including evening walks, concerts and theatrical performances.
Visiting Pompeii in autumn
The autumn or early winter months of September, October and November can still be good months to visit Pompeii. September and October are both still warm and sunny, and the summer opening hours at Pompeii last until the end of October.
In November you can expect more rain in the bay of Naples and cooler, but still comfortable temperatures.
Visiting Pompeii in winter
December, January and February are the low season for tourism in the Bay of Naples, and if you visit during this time you should find the archaeological sites quieter than normal.
If you’re staying anywhere other than Naples you may find that shops and restaurants that cater mainly for tourists are closed for the winter, but prices are cheaper in the ones that stay open. Christmas in Naples looks absolutely magical, with lots of festive lights and crib displays.
Pompeii opening times in 2026
In the summer months (1 April until 31 October 2026) the site is open 9am to 7pm, with the last entry at 5.30pm. Access to some houses is restricted after 6pm.
During winter (1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027), Pompeii is open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm, with the last entry at 3.30pm. Access to some houses is restricted after 4.15pm.
Pompeii is closed on Christmas Day (25 December) and New Year’s Day (1 January). It used to close on 1 May, but that’s no longer the case.
Where should I stay for visiting Pompeii?
If you’re planning a trip to Pompeii, a big decision is where to stay. Most people choose to either stay in Naples or Sorrento when visiting Pompeii – both places have lots to do and are roughly the same distance from the ruins but they offer really different vacation experiences.
Since it’s such a big part of what to know before visiting Pompeii, I’ve put together another post with the best places to stay to visit Pompeii along with advice on areas, how to get to Pompeii from each place and what to expect.
Tips for your visit to Pompeii
1. Don’t take a big bag into the ruins
The level of strictness at Pompeii varies a lot but it’s best to assume that the staff won’t allow you to take large bags or luggage into the ruins. Anything above 30cm wide, 30cm tall and 15cm deep isn’t allowed – as a rough guide that’s a little bit smaller than the size you’d be allowed as a free bag on a budget airline.
As well as being for security, it’s also to reduce damage to the ruins themselves from people rubbing against the walls with their bags. There were a small number of luggage lockers at the entrance when I visited, plus baggage storage at the station, but it’s best to leave bulky bags at your accommodation.
Even if you are allowed to take your bag inside, the massive size of the site means that trying to explore while carrying heavy luggage isn’t a great idea, and it’ll restrict you from getting inside some of the most famous buildings. The Lupanar (brothel) house with its famous wall paintings is a particularly tight squeeze.
2. Do take a water bottle
There are drinking water taps all the way along the main thoroughfare where you can refill your bottle with safe drinking water for free. You’ll be doing a lot of walking and it can be very hot. As a bonus, many of the taps are set above Roman troughs so you’ll get to feel a little bit like a real Roman.
3. Consider bringing a packed lunch (and definitely bring snacks)
There are cafés, ice cream/drinks stands and souvenir shops outside all three entrances to the site, but it’s important to remember that you can’t leave the site and go back in using the same ticket. Luckily, there’s also a restaurant, cafeteria and wine bar inside the ruins (Google Maps link).
The restaurant has table service with à la carte and tasting menus, while the self-service café has sandwiches, pizza slices, salads and snacks. Outside in the courtyard there are stalls selling coffee, pastries, ice creams and alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks.
There’s another small café near the Teatro Grande (Google Maps link), but that one is mainly for coffee, drinks and light snacks. There’s one further café just behind the Forum but that one’s closed for refurbishment as of April 2026. There are toilets at both the current cafés and I’m assuming that the toilets at the Forum café will reopen when the café does.
You can also take your own food and drink into Pompeii, which is a good thing when the sheer scale of the place might mean you’re nowhere near one of the cafés when you get hungry. The queues can be long at the cafeteria as well in peak season, and if you have dietary needs then it’s best to bring something you can eat.
Even if you don’t bring a packed lunch, it’s a good idea to take a snack or two, especially if you’re planning on spending the whole day in the ruins.
4. Beware of the touts outside the ruins
When you get off the train, you’ll notice a little office outside the station with an official-looking sign offering tickets. Ignore it – the actual official ticket office is inside the gate, a couple of minutes’ walk away.
On my first visit we also got hounded by people offering tours as we walked from the station to the entrance; it wasn’t quite as bad on my latest trip but it does still happen. If you want to be sure of getting a quality tour, you should book online, where you can read reviews and understand exactly what you’re going to get.
Again at the station, you should beware of anyone offering to help you with the train ticket machine; they’ll want money from you for their help.
5. Do take a guided tour of Pompeii
I do highly recommend getting a guided tour of Pompeii. The ruins are huge and confusing with little signage, and understanding a bit more about what you’re seeing makes a huge difference to how much you’ll enjoy your day in the city. There are a few ways to take a tour.
Booking a tour in advance
If you want to be certain of getting on a quality tour in your language and at the right time, or if you want a private guide for your group, you can book a tour in advance.
Most of the Pompeii tours that you can book in advance will include entry tickets. This small group tour with an archaeologist has great reviews and includes skip-the-line entry tickets.
Top-rated Pompeii tours
Pompeii entry ticket and guided tour with an archaeologist
Priority Access Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius Full-Day from Sorrento
Pompeii and Herculaneum Small Group Tour with an Archaeologist
Tour on arrival
You can get a tour on arrival at Pompeii, which is what I did the first time I visited. Official Pompeii tourist guides tout as you’re queuing for tickets *inside* the gate at Porta Marina and Piazza Esedra, between 9am and around 2pm. They wear a big official pass around their necks and offer tours in several languages. Tours tend to set off when enough people have gathered.
Alternatively, starting in March 2026, the Pompeii authorities have started offering 90 minute organised tours based around two themes. The first explores civic Pompeii and leaves from Porta Marina Superiore, while the second explores daily Pompeii and leaves from Piazza Anfiteatro. Each tour costs €8 per person and has space for up to 25 people. You can book tickets at the ticket offices.
While this is a great move and the tours are very cheap, I’m not sure I’d rely on being able to get on one. It’s also worth bearing in mind that Piazza Anfiteatro is at the opposite end of the site to the entrance where most visitors arrive at the site.
Audio guides
Lots of people swear by audio guides like the free Rick Steves one or the one that you can get on the (rather flaky) My Pompeii app. While it’s better than nothing, I don’t think it compares to a good guide. I’m really glad that I got a tour to start my first visit – I wouldn’t have fully appreciated the site even with an audio guide and definitely not with just a map.
We had a great guide who’d been a little boy when Vesuvius last erupted in 1944 and he really helped bring the city to life for us. You’ll move quickly and see a lot in two hours, but don’t expect to see the whole site – it’s just too big.
6. Do get a map of the Pompeii site
While you’re at the entrance, do pick up one of the free maps of the Pompeii site or use my Pompeii Google Map which shows all the key sights.
The signage is a lot better than it used to be, but the site is still pretty confusing; most streets look the same, there aren’t many landmarks (other than the ever-present Vesuvius) and the grid system means it’s easy to get lost.
7. Do wear good shoes
The roads are dusty and uneven underfoot and some of the stones are slippy so you’ll want something comfortable with decent grip. Pompeii is definitely not the place for heels. If you wear sandals, expect your feet to be absolutely filthy when you leave!
8. Do protect yourself from the sun
On sunny days, take a hat, sunscreen and some kind of cover-up, even if it doesn’t seem that warm when you’re setting off from Naples or Sorrento. Both of my visits have been in April with temperatures of around 20-22 degrees so not super hot weather, but both times it felt much hotter at the site.
There’s very little shade throughout much of Pompeii (as most of the buildings don’t have a roof!), and the white stone can mean lots of reflected light. An umbrella or parasol could be a good idea on particularly sunny days. There’s nowhere to buy sunscreen inside the ruins.
Like many places, summer weather in this part of Italy is becoming increasingly hot – during summer 2023 temperatures at Pompeii hit 40° celsius (104° Fahrenheit). I’d highly recommend trying to plan your trip to Pompeii to avoid heatwaves, but if it’s unavoidable, then consider getting to the site as soon as it opens so you can see as much as possible during the coolest hours of the day.
9. Do take the time to get some background before your trip
The more you can read up about Pompeii, the more you’ll get out of your visit. I watched a BBC documentary on YouTube and read Robert Harris’s novel Pompeii before we left – not academic at all but it really helped me make sense of what had happened here when Vesuvius erupted.
If you want a more in-depth discussion of the myths around Pompeii and how people may have actually lived, Mary Beard’s book Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town is excellent and easy to read.
Even if you plan to take a guided tour (and you should), it’d be useful to read the guide book in advance so you can make your own hit list of places you want to visit in Pompeii after the end of the tour.
The official, free Pompeii guide book and map that you get at the site (sometimes known as the red book) has recently been put online as a PDF.
10. Do get a different perspective
by visiting Herculaneum, a few stops along the Circumvesuviana train line from Pompeii and another easy trip from Naples or Sorrento. Herculaneum was also destroyed when Vesuvius erupted, but it’s much quieter than Pompeii. Herculaneum is also much better preserved and many of the buildings still have their upper storey intact.
The tragedy wrought by the eruption feels even more immediate at Herculaneum – by the Roman shoreline are boat houses full of the skeletons of the people who tried to shelter there.
11. Do climb Mount Vesuvius
Visiting Pompeii is unmissable, but it’s an awe-inspiring experience to go to the top of Mount Vesuvius and see (and smell) the smoke that still rises up from the crater.
From the upper car park where buses drop you off, it’s about a mile to Vesuvius’s crater, all uphill. It’s a fairly shallow gradient but it’s fine, dusty gravel underfoot so can be tough going.
At the top, walk around the crater at least until you get to a jaggedy part with some steps as the crater looks different from different viewpoints. Try to spot Capri and Ischia on the horizon and Pompeii below and look out for puffs of sulphury-smelling smoke to remind you that it’s still an active volcano!
Read my complete guide to climbing Mount Vesuvius
Our visit to Vesuvius took around 4 hours from leaving Ercolano station to returning back to Ercolano.
12. Make sure you give yourself enough time
There are lots of tours that let you visit Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius and Herculaneum in one day, but that seems very rushed to me.
We did it in two days – one full day for Pompeii and another where we visited Vesuvius in the morning and Herculaneum in the afternoon (travelling from Sorrento), and that felt about right to us.
The two archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum are both very moving (not least because of the body casts at Pompeii and the skeletons at Herculaneum) and for me it was worth taking some extra time so it wasn’t too overwhelming.
Related posts
If you found this guide to visiting Pompeii useful, you might like these other posts about places to visit in the Bay of Naples.
- Where to stay when you visit Pompeii
- How to visit Herculaneum, the “other Pompeii”
- Which is better, Pompeii or Herculaneum?
- How to climb Mount Vesuvius
- Great day trips from Sorrento
- Things to do in Ischia, an alternative to Capri
- Amazing Roman ruins to visit
- Things to do in Naples, Italy – from pizza to Pompeii
I hope you’ve found this guide to visiting Pompeii useful. If you have any tips for visiting Pompeii, please let me know in the comments.
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About Helen
Hi! I’m Helen, and Italy is one of my favourite destinations. I’ve been fascinated by ancient Roman and Greek history since I was a kid and I love nothing more than combining a visit to a Roman site with experiencing Italy’s beautiful landscapes and cities.
I live near Manchester, UK and work full time, so I’m all about making the most of my annual leave with day trips, weekend getaways and short breaks.
Thanks Helen for your great article! Your advice was spot on and we had a fabulous visit. Thought we would only stay for half a day (my wife is not as keen on ruins as me) but we stayed a full day as it is just incredible. We used an audio guide but your advice on a person is definitely the way to go. Also people really need to wear appropriate clothes as you suggest!! Even in late spring it was hot and the sun relentless.
Thanks for your comment Peter, I’m so glad you had a good day and my advice was helpful!
Hi, Helen. LOVE all this info! So helpful! My husband, my niece and I will be in Pompeii area in March 2026. Planning to spend a day or more in Pompeii, a day in Herculaneum and a day or more at Mt. Vesuvius. We saw the 3- day Pompeii ticket and wonder that if we buy this, how do we find tours that don’t include entry tickets? We are looking for more in-depth tours at each place. We also can spend up to 5 or 6 days there if that would be better, since the winter days are shorter. I’m also thinking that Sorrento would be a better base than Naples since it’s closer but maybe we should actually stay in Pompeii. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you in advance!
Joyce W. From Michigan, USA
Hi Joyce, I’m glad it was helpful! I have a few other posts that you might also find useful:
You can pick up a guided tour at the Piazza Esedra or Porta Marina entrance between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm – that’s what I did the last time I visited. As they’re inside the ruins, you’ll already have entered by either buying a ticket or showing your pass.
As for passes, if you’re planning to visit Herculaneum too, then the Artecard 365 Lite or 365 Gold might be a better option as those tickets include not just the Pompeii sites but Herculaneum too, plus the National Archaeological Museum of Naples where you can see artefacts from Pompeii and find out more about life in the city.
I hope this helps and you have a wonderful trip with your husband and niece!
Helen, we are visiting in early October 2025, and are confused after reading some reviews of different tours. Is there a different ticket to see the museum with more casts of people? This is a review:
“I was expecting to see more casts of the people of perished in the eruption. We say 3..more can be seen at the museum, a different tour.”
Thank you in advance.
Hi Ann, there are a few casts around the site, in particular at the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance and in the Garden of the Fugitives. The person who commented that they only saw three might have only seen the casts near the Forum if they took a standard 2 hour tour starting from Porta Marina as Piazza Anfiteatro and the Garden of the Fugitives are both at the other end of the site.
There are some in the Antiquarium too (I suspect this is the museum mentioned in the review) but the Antiquarium seems to either be temporarily closed or operating very erratic opening hours at the moment. There’s also at least one at the Villa of the Mysteries, outside the main Pompeii site.
I hope this helps! Helen
Very Useful – thank you!
Do you have any advice for traveling from Pompei directly to Vesuvius? We have booked and ealry morning tour in Pompei, and then have a 2pm tour for Vesuvius. What is the most efficient way to go – is there parking at Vesuvius – what is the travel time to Vesuvius from Pompei by car?
Hi Marty, does the tour include the timed tickets for going up to the cone? From the Porta Marina entrance at Pompeii to the upper car park by car is about 35-40 minutes, but the parking for visitors is further down the mountain. If you plan to drive, you’ll need to book a parking place online at https://www.parkingsuvio.it. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for all of these tips, Helen! Thanks to you, it was easy to organize our trip to Pompeii and we had an amazing visit.
Hi Catherine, thanks so much for your comment, I’m so glad you had a great trip!
Thank you, very useful!
Thanks Sarah!
Hello Helen,
Excellent articles, great tips and a lot of very helpful information!
We are going to visit there mid-November. We will for sure go with a tour as you suggested. You mentioned that there are official tour guides *inside” the gate at Porta Marina and Piazza Esedra, between 9am and 2pm.
Are there always such tour guides available? We have 9 people. I want to make sure that we can join a tour.
Or would you rather recommend us to book a tour in advance at “GetYourGuide”, which is more expensive(55euro) than the official tour guides (15euro).
Thank you so much!
Hi Weihua, thanks for your message and I’m so glad you’ve found my site useful!
We were able to get on a tour fairly soon after buying our tickets, we had to wait for a couple more people to join but that didn’t take long. With 9 people though, I’d be tempted to be cautious and book a tour in advance.
Hello Helen!
Thanks for all your practical tips. I just wanted to clarify your advice regarding the Vesuvius express bus and crater entry ticket. Did you mean that the combo ticket can only be purchased in person and doesn’t require an online reservation? Also, is there a discount if I get the Campania Artecard?
One more question regarding the Campania Artecard, do you still need a reservation for Pompeii before arrival? Thanks!
Hi Helen! It used to be that you couldn’t buy the Vesuvius Express combination ticket including the entry ticket to the crater online, but they’ve recently updated their website and you can buy them together now. I’m afraid there’s no discount on Vesuvius Express tickets with the Campania Artecard.
You don’t need a reservation for Pompeii if you have the Campania Artecard, but you will need to show your Artecard at the ticket desk.
Hi Helen, Your blog is amazing and very informative. Thank you.
One question: the Ercolano Scavvi trains seem to be only one every three hours. We would like to use Versuvio express for the transfer and park entry combo you recommend, but I can’t seem to find any more frequent trains. Any ideas where I’m going wrong? Thank you.
Maria, Norfolk
Hi Maria, thank you!
It sounds like you might be looking at Campania Express train times – the normal Circumvesuviana trains are much more frequent and while they’ll be much busier than the Campania Express trains, they’re absolutely fine. Just keep an eye on your stuff as pickpockets operate on the train. Hope you have a wonderful trip!
Thank you Helen,
Great information about Pompeii and how to make it happen. I’ll be visiting on May 28th and will write afterwards.
All the best,
Drake
Thanks Drake, hope you have a brilliant trip to Pompeii!
Really useul blog, thanks – we are heading to the Sorrento region in mid-May and your advice has been very helpful.
Thank you Jane, hope you have a wonderful trip to Sorrento!
Thank you for such helpful advice on such an overwhelming amount of possibilities! We’ll be in Sorrento and the surrounding environs in May, and your updated info, as well as links, have answered a lot of my questions / concerns. I look forward to following you for future and past suggestions!
Thanks Liz, hope you have a wonderful trip!
What fantastic tips and information. Wonderful to read and have taken screenshot of the train information. I’m in naples in September and going to do pompeii, herculeum and vesuvius on different days to get the best experience of them all. I really appreciate the work you have put in to help us would be travellers.
Thank you Josie, and that sounds like a great plan to get the most from your time at each site, especially if it’s still hot in September. Hope you have a wonderful trip!
Thanks so much for a wonderfully comprehensive guide! We are visiting Pompeii and all of the other archaeological sites in April and can’t wait!
Thanks Joanne, I hope you have a wonderful trip 🙂
This is a spectacular guide. Extremely informative and helpful, thanks for taking the time to put it together.
Hi Helen
Thanks so much for your really helpful guide!
One question, do you have any advice for disabled access to Pompeii?
Many thanks
Dave
Hi Dave, thanks for your comment. The Pompeii authorities have set up a route which is accessible for people with motor impairments, so it’s relatively flat. There’s more information on that and a map here. There are audio guides which might be helpful for people with visual impairments. The site was trialling guided tours in Italian Sign Language but I couldn’t find any more information on this I’m afraid, and it seems like it was in Italian Sign Language only. I hope this helps.
Thank you Aurore, your comment really made my day!
This is so useful – thank you!
Is there anywhere you’d recommend to stay close to Pompei or Vesuvius? If visiting both sites is a two day event, I’m thinking it’d make more sense to stay nearer and avoid the two hour round trip from Sorrento or Naples.
I’ve just found your page on where to stay and it answers all my questions! Thank you!
You’re welcome, hope you have a fantastic trip 🙂
Very useful thank you.
Hello Helen, your blog is very useful. We visited Pompeii on 6th September so wanted to update you. They are no longer insisting that you follow one of the two routes. The arrows are still there, but within the designated areas you can wander about freely. I don’t think any more of the site is open though, for example the brothel is still closed. We made a mistake and bought online tickets from Tiqets rather than the official site, and they said we couldn’t enter until after 11.30,but on changing the QR code to an official ticket at Porte Marina we got in immediately. It also looked as though people were buying tickets at the office rather than online, although the website had not been updated to reflect that. We found it all pretty confusing to start with! The cafe at the Forum is doing takeaway only (which means everyone sits outside closer than they would be at tables in order to be in the shade..) and the toilets there are open.
Thank you for all the info! We stayed in Pompeii and followed your advise, we took our time to visit the Pompeii ruins in one day (… and even though a few places/sites were closed, it was definitely a great experience – we took our time to walk around, it was not crowded and we were able to see a lot in one full day), day 2 we spent in Vesuvius and Herculaneum! Fantastic
Thank you for the helpful tips! Great Blog
Thanks so much for updating this for covid info. My friend and I are travelling for one week to Sorento in October and we were uncertain how/when/what etc to visit Pompeii etc. You’ve just told us perfectly how to do it 😂.
Hugs all round x
Thanks for your detailed information. We were supposed to travel last Month but due to Covid-19 this has been moved to next August. A little warmer than we had planned !! So the tips on water and light luggage will be useful. We were so disappointed to cancel but now have a whole year to find interesting info like yours to help us make the most of our trip. Thanks!
Hi Helen – Thanks for this post. We are planning a trip for Easter and your travel tips have been very helpful.
Thanks Jan, I hope you have a fantastic trip.
Hi, thank you for this information. We booked to go to Naples today, we arrive on Friday. I’m very much looking forward to visiting both sites & of course Mount Vesuvius. I’ve noted down your advice, thanks again 😁
I hope you had a great trip, if you have any tips from your visit please do share 🙂
Hi Helen, I agree your article is superb, very clear and informative. I’ve been busy writing little notes down. I’m looking forward to my visit in July with family.
Thank you Nesta! I hope you have a fantastic trip.
Great article, thank you. We did Pompeii and Herculaneum in one day, and loved the contrast between the two sites. And, just to let anyone else reading this know, there are now toilets in the upper car park at Vesuvius!
Excellent intel, hurrah for toilets at Vesuvius! Thanks for your comment 🙂
Hi Helen, superb article, very useful thank you. I and my three grown-up kids (teens and 20’s) are looking forward to a 3 day break in Septmeber. From your description I should have gone for a long week instead of a long weekend. Is there a way that you could set up an “if you enjoyed this article, click here to donate a £1”. I for one would make a contribution. Having purchased Eyewitness & Rough Guide books on the area, your precise info has been the best source so far. Very well done Helen. And thank you. Wishing you continued good travelling. Mark
Thank you for your very kind comment Mark, I hope you have a wonderful time in Italy 🙂
I am going to Pompeii tomorrow morning and am glad that I read your blog first. Very helpful! Thanks.
Thank you, I hope you had a great time!
Thank you so much for such great information . I particularly liked your advice on footwear, and how long to expect to spend at each of the sites. We’re going to Sorrento next week for 4 nights, so we’re gonna be pretty busy!
Thanks Diane, I hope you had a great time in Sorrento!
Currently Vesuvius does not look as scary as we imagine it, but it is worth seeing it up close, because who knows when it will explode again 🙂
True! Hopefully with technology we’d get some warning though!
Thank you Helen for taking the time to do this. Really helpful – precise and comprehensive. Pictures helped too and resources to learn about Pompeii before visiting. Great to know that Pompeii really does take a day to visit properly. Would you advise booking entry tickets ahead? We are going for the first time in mid June this year.
Hi Tamaris, thanks for your comment. The queue to get in wasn’t too bad when I visited in April a couple of years ago, but I don’t think it’d do any harm to book tickets online in advance, especially if you’re planning to visit at a slightly busier time of year. Hope you have an amazing time!
It is a great article!
we are planning to visit in June first week and it will be most helpful.
I do have a query though, we will be coming from Sorrento and will most probably hire a private car as we need to go to Naples later. Would you recommend getting the tickets beforehand or should we buy at the spot? We have two sons aged 12 and 10 and they are usually short of patience while standing in queues.
Thanks Harshita. If your sons are short on patience it’s probably a good idea to book the tickets online beforehand. Hope you and your sons have an amazing visit to Pompeii!
Thank you very much for this tips! Last time we visited Pompei there wasn’t a cafeteria inside and we had to carry around everything for a picknick. There was no water inside, too… pretty hard on a hot summer’s day!
We’ll visit Pompei this april and if there is any news I’ll let you know!
Oh goodness that must’ve been a tough one, we were constantly filling up our water bottles! Please do let me know if anything has changed when you visit in April, I hope you have a wonderful time.
Hi Helen
I read your post letter by letter, your writing is precise and captivating.
Me and my daughter (9) plan to visit Pompeii this May. My question is regarding food: can you bring a packed sandwich and eat during the visit? I mean like sit down on a rock, have a sandwich, a drink and keep going…Or fruits? Traveling with my daughter has taught me to always have something to nibble….
Thank you.
Hi, yes there are lots of places where you can sit down and eat a packed lunch – one of the amphitheatres would be a great spot! I always take snacks with me too 🙂 Hope you enjoy your visit!
This looks like such an amazing and unique experience! I’ve only ever heard of Pompeii from old roman and greek stories. I absolutely love visiting historic sites like this one. Thanks for the new travel destination inspiration!
Sending my love xx
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the post!
Hello, is it best to see Pompeii first and the Mount Vesuvius or does it not matter on the order? We will be coming from Sorrento. Is there a train back from Mount Vesuvius if we do that second? Thank you!
Hi, if at all possible then I’d recommend doing them on separate days as Pompeii is enormous and it worked better for us to team Vesuvius with a visit to Herculaneum. Herculaneum is amazing – if you’ve got the time I really recommend it. If you have to do Vesuvius and Pompeii on one day then I’d do Vesuvius in the morning and Pompeii in the afternoon. Go from Sorrento on the train to (modern) Herculaneum and take the bus trip to Vesuvius which leaves from just outside the station.
When you get back to the station at Herculaneum, get the train from there to Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri station which is just outside the Pompeii ruins. Then a train back to Sorrento.
Sorrento, Pompei Scavi and Herculaneum are all on the same train line so it’s an easy trip – we also stayed in Sorrento. Hope you have an amazing time!
Hi Helen, very helpulf your info, I have a question, Im going next september, do you think that I can do Pompeii and Herculaneum on the same day?
Thank you
I think it really depends on your stamina levels, what kind of traveller you are and honestly how interested you are in the places themselves. If you get to Pompeii at opening time, do a tour and then hit the major sights that aren’t covered on the tour and go straight on to Herculaneum, it’s definitely do-able. I glad we had a bit more time at both places as I really enjoyed just wandering through the streets, taking it in, imagining what it was like to live there.
Don’t underestimate how big Pompeii is though, the amphitheatre and the place where you’ll see most of the body casts are both at the far side of the site – visiting Pompeii is honestly like going on a mini city break. Hope this helps and you have an amazing trip!
I stayed in Pompei June 2017, visiting Pompeii, Herculaneum, climbing Mount Vesuvius and visited Sorrento, Capri, Ravello, and more. I just loved this area and I plan to go back in future during the spring. Although I loved Pompeii I enjoyed Herculaneum much more, there were less crowds and easier to get around. I also loved the fact they left what appears to be the original remains ( I may be wrong)of the citizens of Herculaneum in their final resting place in shops located in Bay Area. Also at Herculaneum there was a beautiful cat that really took a shine to me, and I named him Titus . I was told by the staff that this was the first time they had seen him be friendly with anyone including them. Titus even followed me around during my tour. Ahh memories. #memories #missingpompeii #missingherculaneum #titusthecat 🙂
Thanks for commenting! I think they are the original remains, I understood they removed some for testing but the others are original. So tragic, it really brings it home to you doesn’t it. Titus sounds awesome, I love to make friends with a cat on holiday 🙂
My daughter and I are traveling to Pompeii in August! I can’t wait. We were planning 2 Days here and then maybe catching a ferry to Capri.
Oh wow, you’ll have an amazing time. Definitely make sure you take a water bottle to refill though! Hope you and your daughter enjoy your trip.
Thanks a most helpful article.
Thanks Rachel, glad it was useful!