Pompeii Travel Guide

Ash from the eruption of AD 79 sealed Pompeii's streets, houses and bakeries under metres of volcanic debris, and the excavated city now covers 44 hectares with Vesuvius still looming above it. This guide compares the tours, tickets and day trips that make sense of it all.

One Day Sights Book Ahead By Mood Where To Stay Map

Visiting Pompeii In One Day

A single day is enough for the core of Pompeii if you plan the stops in advance. These four places trace the route most visitors follow, from the entrance gate to the buried city's main square, its snack counters and its cemetery street.

One Day In Pompeii
1Morning
A shaded path under pines leading to an ancient gateway at Pompeii

Porta Marina

Porta Marina is one of the ancient city's entrance gates and the main way most visitors arrive.

2Midday
The paved forum of Pompeii with Vesuvius behind

The Forum

The Forum was Pompeii's main public square, surrounded by civic and religious buildings.

3Afternoon
A Roman street-food counter with round openings on a Pompeii corner

Thermopolium Of Vetutius Placidus

A thermopolium was a Roman counter where hot food and drinks were served to passers-by.

4Late Afternoon
Stone tombs lining the road outside a gate at Pompeii in late light

Street Of The Tombs

The Street of the Tombs is the road lined with Roman family tombs that ran outside the city wall.

The entrance passage of a small Roman house at Pompeii, with a small group of visitors
Ticket Included Small Group, 2 Hours 4.8 from 7,656 reviews · from $33.58
Check availability

What To Know Before Visiting Pompeii This Season

Vesuvius Right Now: Recent Seismic Activity

At the last check, INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano had recorded 8 small earthquakes under Vesuvius in the previous 30 days, the largest Md 1.8.

Earthquakes, 30 days
8
near the Vesuvius crater
Largest, 30 days
Md 1.8
duration magnitude, Md
Latest event
4 Oct
Md 1.1 at 20:15 UTC

Data: INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano earthquake catalogue (via the INGV data service). Cache pulled 2026-10-05 05:34 UTC.

The Pompeii Sights Not To Miss

Beyond the Forum, Pompeii rewards wandering: grand houses, two theatres, an amphitheatre and a vast palaestra sit within one excavated area. Add Vesuvius and Herculaneum and the trip doubles in scope.

All Pompeii Attractions
The wide entrance and columned court of a large Roman house at Pompeii UNESCO House Of The FaunThe grandest house in Pompeii, spread across an entire city block and home to the famous Alexander Mosaic, now known from its copy on site. A columned garden court inside a Pompeii house House Of The VettiiOne of Pompeii's grandest houses, belonging to two freedmen whose wealth shows in its decoration. The oval stone and grass bowl of the Pompeii amphitheatre Pompeii AmphitheatreThe oldest surviving Roman amphitheatre, an oval arena that once seated the whole town and still rings with echo from its standing arcades. The tiered stone seating of the ancient theatre at Pompeii Large Theatre And OdeonTwo performance spaces side by side: the large theatre for plays and the smaller roofed Odeon for music and mime. A vaulted ancient bathhouse hall at Pompeii Forum BathsThe municipal baths near the Forum, with stepped pools, hypocaust heating and stuccoed ceilings that survived the eruption. A raised temple platform in a colonnaded court at Pompeii Temple Of ApolloOne of the oldest sanctuaries in the city, its bronze Apollo stands beside a portico of columns opposite the Forum. The cinder rim of the Vesuvius crater with a path along the edge Ticket €11.68 Mount VesuviusThe volcano that destroyed Pompeii in AD 79, now a national park whose Gran Cono trail climbs to the crater rim in a two to three hour excursion. A preserved Roman shop counter in Herculaneum Ticket €16 HerculaneumThe smaller, wealthier town buried deeper by the eruption, where wooden fittings and upper storeys survived; full entry costs EUR 16.
171,348 traveller reviewsacross 48 checked tours
From $18cheapest paid tour today
Prices checkedagainst the booking page, refreshed monthly

Which Pompeii Tour Fits You?

Forty-eight tours and tickets cover guided Pompeii visits, Herculaneum, Vesuvius, day trips from Naples, Sorrento and Rome, food and wine, and free Naples walks. Three quick questions sort them into a shortlist.

1. What kind of day are you after?
2. Who are you going with?
3. What would you spend per person?

Before you answer anything, here are three of the best-reviewed tours as a starting shortlist. Tap an answer to rebuild it around your day.

  1. Entry Ticket Plus Archaeologist Guide from $55.73 ★ 4.8 24,399 Check availability
  2. Archaeologist Small Group Tour from $37.16 ★ 4.8 14,303 Check availability
  3. Two-Site Day Tour, No Meal from $75.67 ★ 4.3 14,115 Check availability
  4. Entry Ticket with Audio Guide from $38.85 ★ 4.1 13,560 Check availability
  5. From Rome, Three-Stop Coast Day from $105.39 ★ 4.6 10,885 Check availability
  6. Vesuvius Day with Lunch, Budget Fare from $59.96 ★ 4.8 9,671 Check availability
  7. Ticket Included Small Group, 2 Hours 2 hours from $33.58 ★ 4.8 7,656 Check availability
  8. Amalfi and Positano, 13-Hour Day 13 hours from $135.45 ★ 4.5 7,177 Check availability
  9. From Rome, Optional Vesuvius and Pizza 12 hours from $78.54 ★ 4.6 6,506 Check availability
  10. Street Food Walking Tour, Local Guide from $47.29 ★ 4.9 5,945 Check availability
  11. From Rome, Optional Vesuvius Full Day from $77.69 ★ 4.6 5,927 Check availability
  12. Vesuvius Ticket and Digital Guide from $18.02 ★ 4.2 3,745 Check availability
  13. Small Group with Lunch Included from $105.28 ★ 4.7 3,691 Check availability
  14. Pizza and Tiramisu Class, 3 Hours 3 hours from $44.39 ★ 4.9 3,680 Check availability
  15. Elite Tour, Lunch or Wine Tasting 8 hours from $147.97 ★ 4.7 3,462 Check availability
  16. Vesuvius with Pizza Lunch, 7 Hours 7 hours from $147.66 ★ 4.2 2,923 Check availability
  17. Skip-the-Line Express by Train from $60.24 ★ 4.8 2,837 Check availability
  18. Street Food and Wine Walk 2 hours 30 minutes from $47.81 ★ 4.8 2,819 Check availability
  19. Deluxe Group Combo, 8 Hours 8 hours from $113.82 ★ 4.7 2,641 Check availability
  20. Sorrento and Amalfi, 12-Hour Day 12 hours from $89.92 ★ 4.7 2,147 Check availability
  21. Private Tour, Boat Ride Included 11 hours from $317.56 ★ 4.4 1,888 Check availability
  22. Two-Site Small Group with Archaeologist from $72.56 ★ 4.8 1,808 Check availability
  23. Half Day From Naples, Skip-the-Line from $86.14 ★ 4.2 1,801 Check availability
  24. Pizza Dough Class, Budget Fare from $28.15 ★ 4.9 1,731 Check availability
  25. Priority Access Full Day, From Sorrento 8 hours from $130.90 ★ 4.7 1,574 Check availability
  26. 3-Hour Villa of Mysteries Tour from $84.54 ★ 4.8 1,298 Check availability
  27. Small Group with Archaeologist, 2 Hours 2 hours from $39.84 ★ 4.8 1,265 Check availability
  28. Round-Trip Shuttle Bus, Budget Fare from $24.21 ★ 4.4 1,265 Check availability
  29. Express Tour by Train, 2 Hours 2 hours from $62.60 ★ 4.7 947 Check availability
  30. Entry Ticket, Optional Audio Guide from $20.49 ★ 4.2 913 Check availability
  31. Private Tour, Official Guide, Per Group from $101.30 ★ 5 883 Check availability
  32. 2-Hour Private Archaeologist Tour from $309.65 ★ 4.9 847 Check availability
  33. Skip-the-Line Small Group, 2 Hours 2 hours from $89.92 ★ 4.9 735 Check availability
  34. Lunch with Wine Tasting, 5 Hours 5 hours from $119.51 ★ 4.9 619 Check availability
  35. Three-Site Day Trip, 8 Hours 8 hours from $136.59 ★ 4.6 588 Check availability
  36. Wine Tasting with Lunch, From Naples from $129.49 ★ 4.7 518 Check availability
  37. Capri Island Combo, 8 Hours 8 hours from $199.19 ★ 4.5 507 Check availability
  38. Signature Tour, Light Lunch and Wine 8 hours from $170.73 ★ 4.9 457 Check availability
  39. Horse Riding on Vesuvius, Lunch Included 7 hours from $187.81 ★ 4.9 456 Check availability
  40. Herculaneum with Tickets Included from $47.85 ★ 4.5 348 Check availability
  41. Organic Lunch and Wine Tasting 2 hours 30 minutes from $66.02 ★ 5 241 Check availability
  42. Shore Excursion, Ticket Included from $94.75 ★ 4.5 182 Check availability
  43. Cruiser Shore Excursion, 5 Hours 5 hours from $95.78 ★ 4.5 164 Check availability
  44. Horse Riding, Wine Tasting and Dinner from $161.02 ★ 4.9 85 Check availability
  45. Oplontis Ticket and Digital Guide from $24.21 ★ 4.1 28 Check availability
  46. Free Old Town Walk Free to join, tip as you like ★ 4.92 1,317 See this free tour on GuruWalk
  47. Free Walk From Piazza Municipio Free to join, tip as you like ★ 4.68 475 See this free tour on GuruWalk
  48. Free Walk From Piazza Dante Free to join, tip as you like ★ 4.78 319 See this free tour on GuruWalk

Plan Your Pompeii Visit By Mood

A long narrow street between tall old buildings in central Naples The Naples seafront with a castle on a rock and Vesuvius across the bay

Free Ways To Visit Pompeii

The park admits everyone free on the first Sunday of the month, and under 18s enter free year-round. There is no free English walking tour of Pompeii itself; GuruWalk, by contrast, runs free pay-what-you-want walks in Naples that pair well with a day at the ruins.

Pompeii Free Entry Days Herculaneum Tickets Pompeii Tickets Naples Day Trip
The old-town skyline of Naples with Vesuvius beyond the bay, with a small group of visitors
Free Old Town Walk 4.92 from 1,317 reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour on GuruWalk

Where To Eat When Visiting Pompeii

Eating options inside the excavations are limited, so most visitors eat in modern Pompei town or head back to Naples, where pizza is a civic obsession. Pack water before entering, since the site is large and largely unshaded.

Where To Eat In Pompeii
A blistered margherita pizza on a simple table in Naples Pizza And Cooking Classes Hands-on classes teach pizza dough and pasta from scratch, a satisfying way to spend a morning before the ruins or an evening after them. A glass counter of golden pastries in a Naples bakery Pastries And Quick Bites Coffee, cornetti and slices of pizza are the standard quick picks, and bars near the station sell them all morning. A glass of white wine on a vineyard wall below Vesuvius Vesuvius Wine Lacryma Christi grows on Vesuvius slopes in volcanic soil, and many wineries pour it beside a long lunch.

Pompeii Travel Guide Map

Loading the map. Every place is also listed below.

Click the map to zoom with the scroll wheel. Numbers match the list.

  1. Pompeii Archaeological Parkthe middle of the excavated city
  2. Regio V New ExcavationsThe Park · 220 m from the Archaeological Park
  3. Pompeii Regions ExplainedThe Park · 180 m from the Archaeological Park
  4. House of the FaunHouse or Villa · 210 m from the Archaeological Park
  5. House of the VettiiHouse or Villa · 240 m from the Archaeological Park
  6. House of the Tragic PoetHouse or Villa · 260 m from the Archaeological Park
  7. House of MenanderHouse or Villa · 290 m from the Archaeological Park
  8. House of the Chaste LoversHouse or Villa · 260 m from the Archaeological Park
  9. House of the SurgeonHouse or Villa · 430 m from the Archaeological Park
  10. Villa of the MysteriesHouse or Villa · 850 m from the Archaeological Park
  11. Forum of PompeiiPublic Building · 250 m from the Archaeological Park
  12. Basilica of PompeiiPublic Building · 320 m from the Archaeological Park
  13. Temple of ApolloPublic Building · 280 m from the Archaeological Park
  14. Forum BathsPublic Building · 240 m from the Archaeological Park
  15. Stabian BathsPublic Building · 120 m from the Archaeological Park
  16. Large Theatre and OdeonPublic Building · 270 m from the Archaeological Park
  17. Large PalaestraPublic Building · 590 m from the Archaeological Park
  18. Gladiator BarracksPublic Building · 330 m from the Archaeological Park
  19. Pompeii AmphitheatrePublic Building · 700 m from the Archaeological Park
  20. Pompeii AntiquariumPublic Building · 420 m from the Archaeological Park
  21. LupanarStreets and Daily Life · 70 m from the Archaeological Park
  22. Garden of the FugitivesStreets and Daily Life · 500 m from the Archaeological Park
  23. Thermopolium of Vetutius PlacidusStreets and Daily Life · 290 m from the Archaeological Park
  24. Bakery of ModestusStreets and Daily Life · 30 m from the Archaeological Park
  25. Via dell'AbbondanzaStreets and Daily Life · 250 m from the Archaeological Park
  26. Porta MarinaStreets and Daily Life · 420 m from the Archaeological Park
  27. Pompeii NecropolisStreets and Daily Life · 600 m from the Archaeological Park
  28. Modern Pompei TownPompei Town · 1.2 km from the Archaeological Park
  29. Sanctuary of PompeiPompei Town · 1.2 km from the Archaeological Park

Day Trips From Pompeii

Circumvesuviana trains stop at Pompei Scavi, making the ancient city a workable base for days out along the bay and inland. Naples, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Paestum and Caserta are all reachable on a day trip.

The old-town skyline of Naples with Vesuvius beyond the bayNaples

Naples

The Circumvesuviana runs from Pompei Scavi to Napoli Garibaldi in about 29 to 35 minutes, dropping you by the museum and the pizza lanes.

4.9 from 5,945 reviews · from $47.29Check availability
A lane in Sorrento with lemons for sale outside the shopsSorrento

Sorrento

Sorrento sits about 34 to 40 minutes from Pompei Scavi by Circumvesuviana, with lemon groves and clifftop lanes above the sea.

Train from Pompei Scavi: 34 to 40 minutesSorrento Day Trip
Amalfi harbour below lemon terraces and limestone cliffsAmalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast

The famous cliffside coast starts at Sorrento, about 34 to 40 minutes from Pompei Scavi on the Circumvesuviana train.

8-hour tour · 4.7 from 2,641 reviews · from $113.82Check availability
The small harbour of Marina Grande on Capri with pastel houses on the hillIsland

Capri

Ferries to Capri sail from Sorrento and Naples, so allow a Circumvesuviana leg before boarding.

8-hour tour · 4.5 from 507 reviews · from $199.19Check availability
A Greek temple of heavy columns standing in a field at PaestumGreek Temples

Paestum

Paestum's Greek temples sit south of Salerno, reached by regional train and a short onward leg from Pompei.

Day trip south of SalernoPaestum Day Trip
The long garden axis at Caserta leading to a distant cascadeRoyal Palace

Caserta

The Royal Palace of Caserta lies north of Naples, usually reached via the Naples rail hub from Pompei Scavi.

Royal palace and gardensCaserta Day Trip

All Day Trips

Visiting Pompeii Month By Month

Tap a month for average daily highs, lows and rainfall, drawn from 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Pompei grid point, an approximate reanalysis grid rather than a weather station.

For Pompei the 1991-2020 averages (Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis) put the wettest month at November (about 180 mm over about 14 rainy days) and the lowest rainfall in July (about 16 mm over about 3 rainy days); January is the coolest month, with an average daily high of about 12 C and low of about 7 C.

Jan: 9.4℃Feb: 9.6℃Mar: 11.5℃Apr: 14.1℃May: 17.9℃Jun: 22℃Jul: 24.9℃Aug: 25.6℃Sep: 22℃Oct: 18.2℃Nov: 14.2℃Dec: 10.6℃ 095190 5°18°30° JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec Rain mm Temp ℃
  • Monthly rainfall (mm)
  • Mean temperature (°C)
About, from 1991-2020 averages for Pompei (a reanalysis grid point, not a weather station): August is warmest at 25.6°C on average between day and night, January coldest at 9.4°C, November wettest at about 180 mm and July driest at about 16 mm, roughly 1086 mm across the year.
MonthAbout high / lowAbout rainfallDays with 1 mm or more of rain (1991-2020)
January12.2 / 6.6°C119 mm12
February12.6 / 6.5°C103 mm11
March14.9 / 8.1°C104 mm11
April17.7 / 10.4°C87 mm11
May21.6 / 14.1°C59 mm8
June25.8 / 18.2°C30 mm5
July28.7 / 21.1°C16 mm3
August29.4 / 21.8°C22 mm4
September25.3 / 18.6°C90 mm9
October21.3 / 15.1°C129 mm11
November16.9 / 11.5°C180 mm14
December13.2 / 8°C147 mm13

Data: Open-Meteo / ERA5, CC BY 4.0, Open-Meteo / ERA5, CC BY 4.0, Open-Meteo / ERA5, CC BY 4.0.

Where To Stay When Visiting Pompeii

Choose the base before the hotel. Pompei town suits early access to the park, Sorrento suits a coast-first trip, and Naples suits museum days and onward trains.

Where To Stay In Pompeii
A street of pale buildings leading to a church tower in modern Pompei

Pompei Town

Best For Quiet Nights and Early Gates

Pompei Town puts you within walking distance of the ruins entrance, with hotels roughly 1.3 to 1.6 km from Pompei Scavi station. From there the Circumvesuviana also runs to Sorrento and towards Naples, home of the National Archaeological Museum.

Pompei Town Guide
A cliff-top view over Sorrento with Vesuvius across the bay

Sorrento

Best For Combining Pompeii and the Coast

Sorrento lies about 34 to 40 minutes from Pompei Scavi on the Circumvesuviana, so the ruins fit easily around a beach and boat-base stay. The town also anchors Amalfi Coast and Capri days out.

Sorrento Guide
The Naples seafront with a castle on a rock and Vesuvius across the bay

Naples

Best For Arriving by Train

Naples is 29 to 35 minutes from Napoli Garibaldi to Pompei Scavi, with the National Archaeological Museum holding Pompeii's finest mosaics. The city also carries the main rail links north.

Naples Guide

What Is Pompeii Famous For?

1

The AD 79 Eruption

Vesuvius erupted in AD 79 and buried the town. The oldest Pliny manuscripts give 24 August, though the park itself treats the date as an open scholarly question.

2

Preserved Streets And Houses

Ash and pumice sealed streets, houses and shops exactly as they stood, preserving an entire Roman town across an excavated area of 44 hectares.

3

Frescoes And Mosaics

Wall paintings and floor mosaics survived in extraordinary colour, from mythological scenes to everyday advertisements, many now in the Naples museum.

4

The Body Casts

Cavities left in the hardened ash by victims were filled with plaster, producing the moving body casts that define the site for many visitors.

5

Graffiti

Walls across the city carry handwritten election notices, greetings and jokes, the everyday voice of Roman street life written in paint and charcoal.

6

Gladiators

The amphitheatre hosted gladiatorial games, and barracks near the theatre preserve armour and equipment connected with the fighters.

Should I Buy Tickets To Pompeii In Advance?

The ancient city of Pompeii sits in Campania, southern Italy, beside the modern town of Pompei and about 24 km from Naples, and its ticket system has a daily cap and named tickets that change the advance-buying question entirely.

Read the full answer

Can You Just Show Up At Pompeii?

The ancient city of Pompeii, beside the modern town of Pompei about 24 km from Naples in southern Italy, admits walk-up visitors, but a 20,000-person daily cap and time-slot ticketing make booking ahead the safer plan.

Read the full answer

Is It Worth Getting A Guided Tour Of Pompeii?

Pompeii is a vast, silent ruin with almost no labelling on site, and that single fact drives the guided tour question more than anything else.

Read the full answer

What Is The Best Pompeii Ticket To Get?

The best Pompeii ticket for 2026 depends on how long you have and which villas you want: Express covers the ancient city, Pompeii+ adds the suburban villas, and from 1 January 2027 a single EUR 25 ticket replaces all three.

Read the full answer

Can I Do Herculaneum And Pompeii In One Day?

Yes, and it is one of the best single days in Campania: here is the timing, tickets and the order that makes a Pompeii and Herculaneum double header work.

Read the full answer

How Much Does It Cost To Go Up Mount Vesuvius?

The Vesuvius Gran Cono crater ticket costs EUR 11.68 full and EUR 9.55 reduced as sold online, and that online timed ticket is the only way up. Here is what that buys, what else a Vesuvius day costs, and how combined tours from Naples change the maths.

Read the full answer

Is There Parking At Pompeii?

Yes, drivers can park at Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by Vesuvius in AD 79 and now an archaeological park beside the modern town of Pompei, about 24 km from Naples in southern Italy. Private car parks and street parking sit near each of the named entrances. Here is what the park's own rules say, and when leaving the car behind is the better plan.

Read the full answer

Pompeii Trip Planning Guides

All Guides And Answers
When Did Vesuvius Erupt? How Long To Spend In Pompeii Pompeii Frescoes And Mosaics Guided Tour Or Self-Guided Pompeii Opening Hours Pompeii Tickets

What Visitors Say

“Our visit to Pompeii exceeded our expectations, it was a beautiful tour in a big ancient city with beautiful buildings, paintings and other preserved artifacts, and our guide Marilyn was both competent and entertaining, thank you!”

Sofi, Sweden, operator-listing review of Entry Ticket Plus Archaeologist Guide

“This tour was one of the highlights of our trip. I truly enjoyed and learned a lot from our tour guide.”

Issa, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of Entry Ticket Plus Archaeologist Guide

“Well organised tour and very informative. Enzo the guide was very knowledgeable and we got to see the top things to see at Pompeii. Lovely lunch stop and great views from Vesuvius”

Tilly, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of Vesuvius Day with Lunch, Budget Fare

“Excellent trip, very knowledgable guide (with a sense of humour). Highly recommend this trip to outstanding locations. Only negative was that the Limoncello factory was closed so effectively a tour of the gift shop.”

Andrew, Jersey, operator-listing review of From Rome, Three-Stop Coast Day

“Tour guide had great knowledge about the area and history of the ruins. Tour was run at a good pace, pausing in the shade whenever possible”

Anthony T, operator-listing review of Ticket Included Small Group, 2 Hours

“We had a great time! Comfortable bus ride, great tour of Pompeii, delicious spaghetti lunch, and nice hike up to the top of Mt Vesuvius! Our guides were fun and everything was so well organized.”

Michele G, operator-listing review of Elite Tour, Lunch or Wine Tasting

“Our bus driver Roman was fantastic with informative talk along the way. Our guide Elena kept the pace comfortable with great knowledge and ample time for photos. Highly recommend.”

Mark W, operator-listing review of From Rome, Optional Vesuvius and Pizza

“Excellent experience. Learned a lot on how to make pizzas and tiramisu. The chef was very informative and answered all the questions I had about pizza making. He made me feel ready to open a pizzeria now. 😂”

Cindy T, operator-listing review of Pizza and Tiramisu Class, 3 Hours

Reviews shown are real, verbatim guest reviews from the operators' own listings, reproduced exactly including any reviewer wording.

48 tours compared by price and rating · from $1848 tours · from $18 Compare Tours →