Do you want to spend a memorable day exploring the ancient archaeological site of Pompeii?
We have visited the ancient Roman city of Pompeii twice and share our best tips on how to visit Pompeii, how to get there, ticket options, Pompeii’s top sights, and other helpful advice for exploring the nearby city of Pompei.
Visiting Pompeii At A Glance
The ancient city of Pompeii is enormous. If you want to see everything, you need to plan for a full day.
The site is very crowded. To avoid long lines, we recommend purchasing your entry ticket online in advance, as we did.
You can see the highlights of Pompeii in half a day, especially if you opt for a guided tour.
⭐️ How we did it: We explored the archaeological site independently with an audio guide. We booked this ticket with an audio guide online beforehand.
TOP-PICK
Pompeii Ticket
Skip-the-line ticket
Skip the queues with this Pompeii ticket including an audio guide.
BOOK HERE
How To Get To Pompeii From Naples
From Naples By train:
During our last trip to Naples, we visited both Herculaneum and Pompeii. The cheapest way to get there is by train.
We have explained exactly how to take the train to Pompeii in our article about Pompeii and Herculaneum.
To summarize:
– Depart from Napoli Porta Nolana train station and take the train to Pompei Santuario. This train line also stops at Herculaneum (station: Ercolano).
– If you only visit Pompeii, you can take the L1 line from Napoli Porta Nolana. This train will take you to Pompei Scavi Villa Dei Misteri in 36 minutes, next to the Porta Marina (Villa Dei Misteri) entrance.
⭐️ Tip: Google Maps has the most up-to-date schedules for this route.
While Napoli Porta Nolana’s official website provides a schedule (last updated in 2023 🙈), the easiest way to find the next train departure is by using Google Maps.
Enter your route and click the train icon for details.
By Car:
During my first visit to Pompeii, we drove there as part of our road trip through Southern Italy.
Coming from Naples, follow the signs to Pompeii.
Several parking lots are available, with daily parking rates ranging from €12 to €20. Parking is just a short walk from one of the three entrances to the site.
How To Get To Pompeii From Rome
You can take a day trip from Rome via high-speed train to Naples and then continue to Pompeii.
The train ride from Roma Termini station to Napoli Centrale takes 1½ hours. However, you will need to transfer in Naples.
It takes about 40 minutes to reach the Pompeii ruins from Napoli Porta Nolana station (located next to the main station).
In this case, we recommend a guided day tour from Rome to Naples, which is optimized to give you more time to explore the archaeological site.
Tickets And Admission To Pompeii
Since late 2024, visitor numbers have been capped at 20,000 per day, and tickets must be registered with your name.
While 20,000 visitors may seem like a lot, Pompeii is one of Italy’s most popular attractions, so it’s always busy. For this reason, we booked skip-the-line tickets in advance.
Pompeii Tickets:
There are various options for visiting the Pompeii excavations:
| TICKET | SKIP-THE-LINE | BUY TICKETS |
| 1. Pompeii Entry Ticket | ✅ | Buy Ticket |
| 2. Pompeii Ticket with Audio Guide (our choice) | ✅ | Buy Ticket |
| 3. Guided Tour with an Archeologist | ✅ | Book Tour |
| 4. Combined Tour with Mount Vesuvius | ✅ | Book Tour |
| 5. Combined Tour with Herculaneum | ✅ | Book Tour |
Entrances To Pompeii
⭐️ Good to know: Pompeii has three entrances.
– Arriving by car: choose Piazza Esedra and Porta Marina (Villa Dei Misteri) entrances.
– Traveling by train to Pompei Santuario station, the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance is closest.
– Taking the train line L1 to Pompei Scavi, you will be nearest to the Porta Marina (Villa Dei Misteri) and Piazza Esedra entrances.
Opening Hours Of Pompeii
Pompeii is open daily starting at 9 AM. The hours vary depending on the season:
- November to March: Last entry at 3:30 PM, with the site closing at 5 PM.
- April to October: Open from 9 AM to 7 PM, with the last entry at 5:30 PM.
The Most Important Attractions In Pompeii
The key highlights of the archaeological park include:
- The Frescoes in the Villa dei Misteri (Villa of the Mysteries)
- The Forum (Main Square)
- Via dell’Abbondanza (Main Street)
- The Plaster Casts of Victims of the Volcanic Eruption
- The Stabian Bath
- The Amphitheater
- Bonus: The view from the city walls and the ancient tombs
Pompeii was destroyed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD when it was buried under a layer of ash.
Today, you can visit Pompeii and the smaller site of Herculaneum, which is located even closer to Naples.
Not sure which one to pick? We wrote an article about Pompeii vs Herculaneum to help you choose!
For a complete experience and deeper understanding of the history surrounding these ancient cities, a visit to Mount Vesuvius is essential.
You can climb to the crater’s edge for stunning views.
Check out our tips and experiences for how to visit Mount Vesuvius, which includes combined guided tours of Pompeii and Vesuvius.
There are also combined, guided tours including Pompeii and Vesuvius.
How we did it by starting from Naples:
Herculaneum and Pompeii in a day
Half-day tour to Mount Vesuvius
Alternatively, you can do a combination tour of Vesuvius and Herculaneum in a day and spend another day at Pompeii.
Tips For Visiting Pompeii On Your Own
🎧 You can obtain audio guides at the Porta Marina and Piazza Anfiteatro entrances. You must leave your passport or ID as a deposit for the duration of the rental.
🎒 Larger bags, like backpacks, must be stored in lockers. Smaller bags are permitted. Be sure to bring a water bottle—there are fountains inside to refill or kiosks to buy drinks.
🚰 Shaded areas are scarce in Pompeii, so sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable shoes are essential. The cobbled streets and ancient pathways are uneven in many areas.
🚻 Toilets are available inside the site, although there aren’t many. You can find their locations on the map provided with your ticket.
🍽 There is one restaurant and a kiosk inside the site. You are also allowed to bring snacks. Outside the site near the entrances, there are numerous restaurants and snack options.
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Touring Pompeii
Most visitors start their visit at the Porta Marina entrance.
This entrance offers quick access to the Villa dei Misteri, which features stunning frescoes.
It also provides relatively fast access to the Forum, the expansive main square of Pompeii.
The route continues to two theaters located in what was once the entertainment district.
Along Via dell’Abbondanza, the main street, you’ll find houses you can step into for a glimpse of ancient life.
The audio guide also provides insights into Pompeii’s professions and daily life.
If the Amphitheater interests you most, the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance is closest.
I started my first visit from Porta Marina and my second visit from Piazza Anfiteatro.
Honestly, it doesn’t matter which entrance you choose, especially if you dedicate a whole day to exploring.
During both visits, I spent about 3–4 hours in Pompeii and saw the main attractions quickly from either starting point.
More time would have been overwhelming—the heat and walking on ancient streets can be exhausting.
There are also more accessible paths at the edges of the streets for visitors who require barrier-free routes (these only lead to major highlights).
However, due to the crowds, it’s often unavoidable to walk on uneven cobblestones.
Honest Tip: Audio Guide and Map
Without an audio guide and the map provided at the entrance (or downloaded online beforehand), you will feel genuinely lost in Pompeii.
There are dead-end streets and misleading pathways on the map that don’t exist, as some are closed for restoration work.
For the best experience, follow one of the suggested routes on the map based on the time you have.
We found it frustrating that some streets and houses did not match the map, particularly away from the main street. It was sometimes a challenge.
Access to some houses marked on the map was also restricted at times.
A bit of humor and flexibility are definitely needed for a visit without a guide.
Otherwise, it’s better to participate in a guided tour with an archaeologist.
Hidden Gem In The City Of Pompei
The modern city of Pompei, which surrounds the archaeological site, is often overlooked. However, we discovered a hidden gem!
If you head toward Pompei Santuario station, you will come across the Sanctuary of the Holy Virgin of the Rosary.
This enormous church is stunningly ornate inside. Having visited iconic Italian churches like St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Milan Cathedral, and Naples Cathedral, I can confidently say this lesser-known church is equally impressive.
Final Thoughts On Visiting Pompeii
Visiting Pompeii is absolutely worthwhile. The length of your visit depends on your interest in history:
– Plan for at least a full day to see everything.
– If you are content with seeing the highlights and getting a feel for life in Pompeii without exploring every corner, a 2–3 hour guided tour with an archeologist should suffice.
Be sure to purchase your tickets online in advance.
We also highly recommend visiting Herculaneum (which we found more impressive than Pompeii) and Mount Vesuvius.
For more tips about Naples and the Campania region, click here:
Naples travel guide
Naples one-day itinerary
Visiting Mount Vesuvius travel guide
How to visit Herculaneum and Pompeii in one day
The best cities in Southern Italy
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