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Paris Toolkit Visiting Pompeii, Italy
What to expect, tickets, tours and advice on getting to Pompeii
Where is Pompeii?
The world famous Pompeii is 150 miles south of Rome, fairly close to Naples. It is a long day from Rome or an easy excursion from Naples or the very popular holiday area around Sorrento. Many people combine their trip to Pompeii in one full day with Mount Vesuvius, the famous volcano.
As Pompeii re-opens after the enforced Coronavirus closure, visitors will see that all the recommended measures are in place to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit. They have also opened up new houses and gardens that have never been seen by the public before, to help encourage and reward visitors to the site.
Pompeii, the archaeological site, is part of Pompeii, a sizable town to the south of Naples, midway between Naples and Sorrento. The regular Circumvesuviana trains run about twice an hour between the Naples and Sorrento stopping at Pompeii. Trains are cheap and crowded, in many ways the journey experience is more like a Metro train than a “proper” train.
Getting to Pompeii independently
For independently minded travellers using public transport the trip is going to involve a trip on Circumvesuviana train from Naples or Sorrento to Pompeii Scavia train station, crudely half way long the route about 30 minutes from either.
If you are travelling from Rome, the Circumvesuviana trains depart from a station adjacent to the main Naples Centrale station where the inter-city trains arrive.
Visiting Pompeii - opening times, facilities, entrance gates and luggage
How long do you need at Pompeii?
The Pompeii site is vast.
If you have a deep interest in the subject matter you will need all day, most leisure tourists may spend 2 hours, 3 hours at most.
Pompeii opening times 2024
1st April to 31st October
9.00 am - 7.00 pm
Last entrance 5.30 pm
1st November to 31st March
9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Last entrance 3.30 pm
Open every day except 25th December, 1st May, 1st January (Unless otherwise communicated).
Luggage and bags
Luggage or bags larger than 30x30x15cm are not allowed into Pompeii.
There is a cloakroom at the entrance gates where you can leave bags and there is a commercial left luggage facility by the Circumvesuviana train station.
Three Pompeii entrance gates
There are three main entrance gates. Two gates are close together at the south western corner of the Pompeii site, one by the Circumvesuviana train station, the other by where all the coaches deposit their passengers-quite close by.
The other entrance main gate (Piazza Anfitheatro) is about 15 minutes walk to the east in the town of Pompeii itself. The public bus to Mount Vesuvius terminates here.
Facilities within Pompeii and at entrance gates
It is worth emphasising that once inside Pompeii, facilities are minimal and totally non-commercial. There is just one small restaurant/cafe and rest room facility in the middle of the site, plus rest rooms at the entrances.
This is not Disneyland, don't expect ice-cream stands and other commercial distractions scattered around the ruins.
The whole site is also very exposed with minimal shade, so it is imperative you bring lots of sunscreen, a hat and water. If you forget, make sure you get supplies from the tourist village outside before you enter.
The cobbled and rough nature of the surface means that wheelchairs and prams are impractical. Most small children will get bored very quickly.
Do I need a tour guide or an audio guide at Pompeii?
There is very little in the way of information within Pompeii describing what you are viewing.
If you want to make sense of what you are viewing you really do need a tour guide, an audio guide or a very good guide book. No audio guide is provided with admission.
When you buy your ticket there should be available a map of the site. Normally it's more a matter of you asking for a map than them giving you one, but make sure you don't leave the entrance area without one.
There is also a small complementary booklet called “A brief guide to Pompeii”. Again you may have to go looking for it. Inside the booklet are notes against all the locations on the audio tour. It is worth the effort seeking this out.
Once you are inside the site there is little in the way of information available to make sense of what you are viewing.
You can hire guides that hang around the ticket desks. Quality is variable (as are visitors requirements) so do spend some time talking to the guide before you commit, at least be comfortable you can understand what they are saying.
For most independent visitors who want information about what they are seeing (recommended) the audio tours seem to be the most popular guide. You hire them at a separate kiosk by the admissions desk.
Like most such devices worldwide, they are a bit dry and do tend to drone on a bit but there are enough nuggets of great information to make them worthwhile and are not expensive.
Pompeii tickets
You can order Pompeii tickets and tours to suit your needs in advance. No queueing and waiting, no foreign exchange issues.
Enter Pompeii for free on the first Sunday of every month
You can visit Pompeii for free on the first Sunday of each month. It is best to secure your ticket online or you can get a from the ticket office in Pompeii.
Due to the free entry, Pompeii gets very busy on the first Sunday of the month. Opening hours remain as normal.
Skip-the-line Pompeii ruins ticket
• Skip-the-line entry ticket to Pompeii • Instant confirmation • Free cancellation • Option to present ticket on smartphone
Pompeii skip-the-line small group tour
• Max 15 per group • 3-hour tour in am or pm • Expert guide • Peek into ancient lives: a bakery, the old port, public baths • Stroll along the city walls for panoramic views of Naples and Capri
Unico Artecard - 3-day tourist pass for Naples, Pompeii etc, including public transport
Aimed squarely at the visitor to Naples this pass combines public transport in Naples for 3 days, (including the Naples airport bus) plus entry to two attractions from a long list that includes the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Pompeii and Herculaneum.
From the third attraction onwards you enjoy up to a 50% discount on standard tickets.
Campania ArteCard
• Includes Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum • Free entry to the first 2 visited museum and/or archeological sites of your choice (Pompei ed Herculaneum Scavi) • Discount of 50% from the 3rd museum or archaeological site visited
Tours to Pompeii from Naples, Rome & Sorrento
We have dedicated pages for a wide choice of guided day tours visiting Pompeii that originate from Naples, Rome and Sorrento.
Pompeii day tours from Naples - full details
Private tours to Pompeii & Ercolano (Herculaneum) from Naples
Using a local private car and driver is a very attractive option and for small groups can be very affordable too. For those coming from Rome you can be met at Centrale Station.
Your English speaking driver will meet n greet you at Naples Centrale Station and will ensure your trip encompasses exactly what you want to see at a pace set by you.
All vehicles are non smoking and fully air conditioned.
We offer three sizes of vehicle, for 1-3 people, 4 or 5 people and 6 to 8 people. Price is per vehicle not passenger.
After booking you pay a small deposit and receive a voucher through email. The remainder will be paid directly to the driver.
Private visit to Pompeii from Naples
• Free hotel pickup and drop-off included • Led by a local guide • 3-course lunch included • Option to add on Herculaneum and/or Mount Vesuvius
Private Pompeii & Amalfi Coast tour
• Private round-trip transportation between Naples and Pompeii plus the Amalfi Coast • See Sorrento and Positano • Option to add on guide for Pompeii excavations
MOST POPULAR ROME TOURS 2024
