Pompeii

A full Roman town buried in a single afternoon, walked today much as its own residents once walked it.

Price: From €18
Hours: 8:30am–7:30pm summer, shorter in winter
Avg. visit: 4–6 hours
Book ahead: Recommended, especially in summer

Pompeii was a working town of around 11,000 people when Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, burying it under several metres of ash and pumice over roughly 18 hours — enough warning for many residents to flee, but not all. Systematic excavation began in the 18th century under the Bourbon kings and has continued, with major new areas still being uncovered, into the present day.

The town was rediscovered largely intact under its volcanic blanket: streets with cart ruts worn into the paving stones, bakeries with their millstones still standing, bathhouses, brothels, two theatres and a full amphitheatre. The plaster casts of victims — made by pouring plaster into the voids their decomposed bodies left in the hardened ash — remain the site's most confronting exhibit.

Inside

What to see

The Forum, the town's civic and religious centre, with Vesuvius visible directly behind it
The Villa of the Mysteries, with a nearly complete cycle of Dionysiac frescoes
The amphitheatre, one of the oldest surviving Roman examples, older than the Colosseum
The plaster casts of victims, displayed at several points around the site

Practical

Good to know

The site is enormous and largely unshaded — bring water, a hat and sturdy shoes regardless of season.
Allow at least four hours, ideally longer; trying to see everything in under three hours means rushing past most of it.
The Circumvesuviana line from Napoli Garibaldi stops directly at Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri, right by the main entrance.

Timing

When it's busiest

8:30–10am: Quiet
11am–2pm: Packed
2–4pm: Busy
Last two hours: Quiet

Nearby

Combine your visit

See first, if you can

Museo Archeologico Nazionale

The finest objects excavated from Pompeii live in Naples, not at the site.

Visit →

Same rail line

Herculaneum

A smaller, better-preserved sister site, reachable on the same train line.

Visit →

Same rail line, plus shuttle

Mount Vesuvius

Look down into the crater that buried the town you've just walked through.

Visit →

FAQ

Common questions

How much time should I allow?

At least four hours for a proper visit; a full day if you want to see the site thoroughly and rest along the way.

Do I need to book ahead?

Recommended, especially for peak summer months, when entry numbers can be capped.

Is it accessible with limited mobility?

Parts of the site are, via designated accessible routes, but the ancient streets are uneven paving stones throughout much of it.

Can I combine it with Herculaneum in one day?

It's possible but rushed — both sites reward unhurried time, so most visitors do them on separate days if the schedule allows.