The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Pompeii

Pompeii is one of my all time favorite places to visit in Italy. Filled with history, ancient ruins, insanely well-preserved frescoes and mosaics, you’ll feel as though you stepped back in time and wandered into the Roman era. I’ve had the opportunity to visit now over 6 times, and each time have become more and more fascinated by the ruins I encountered there. To help you have an unforgettable visit, I’m sharing some of my best tips-from getting there and purchasing tickets to the site’s can’t miss highlights-enjoy!

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What Is Pompeii?

Just in case you need a little refresher, Pompeii is a now famous archaeological site, and is home to some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world. The excellent state of preservation is due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, when the entire city was covered in ash. The eruption was devastating at the time, but today, visitors, archeologists, and historians can get a feel for how life was like in the Roman era. The ruins of Pompeii are truly incredible to behold, a historical wonder that will transport you in time to the Roman era-be sure to add a trip here to your Italy bucket list.

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Getting There

It is possible to spend a long day here from Rome, connecting trains in Naples. However, the ruins are much closer to Naples. Pompeii is also easily reachable from cities in the Amalfi Coast, such as Sorrento.

By train, visitors can take the Circumvesuviana from the direction of Sorrento or Naples. Be warned: this train is nothing like Italy’s high-speed trains. It’s old, rickety, and can be crowded and hot during the summer time. The up side? Tickets are inexpensive.

For the Naples-Sorrento timetable, click here.

Visitors to Pompeii can get off at the “Pompeii” stop. It’s also worth noting that luggage storage is available at the station, in case you are planning on heading elsewhere with luggage.

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Tickets

Pompeii is actually not the only archeological site in the area, but rather is one of 5. For those super into history, Herculaneum, Oplontis, Stabiae, and Boscoreale can also be explored. I’ve heard that Herculaneum is even more impressive/less touristy, but have yet to go myself! If you are looking to visit Herculaneum, get off the train at the “Ercolano” stop.

Tickets to Pompeii cost 11 Euro, and a combined ticket to the sites can be purchased for 20.

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Guided Tours

When visiting Pompeii, you have two options- going with or without a guide. Which one is for you?

Hire a guide if…

• You are only staying a few hours
• You know nothing about Pompeii
• You plan on exploring the site more independently

Skip a guided tour if…

• You’ve done some research on Pompeii
• You don’t listen to guides anyways
• You’d like to save some money
• You are spending an entire day in Pompeii

Personally, I recommend skipping a guided tour in favor of spending a full day (around 5-7 hours) wandering around. I studied Art History, and therefore could have stayed all day. Just be sure to grab a free booklet about Pompeii so you have a map and don’t get lost-it was a city after all! If ruins aren’t really your thing, a guided tour will help you see some of the highlights without overwhelming you.

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Visiting Tips 

• Pompeii can be very crowded, be prepared to encounter many tourists, or wait in a long ticketing line
• Bring a water bottle-or two-especially in summer. Wandering the ruins can get very hot, and you don’t want to cut your visit short because of low water supplies.
• If you can, pack snacks. The restaurants nearby are pretty touristy and not the greatest. There is a café inside the ruins, but depending on where you are it can be far away
• Wear good walking shoes. The ground in Pompeii can be very uneven, and you will probably do a lot of walking.
• Remember, Pompeii was a city. The site is HUGE, and there is so much to see. Take a few minutes at the beginning of the day to plan your route, and prioritize sights, before you get overwhelmed by the labyrinth!

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Highlights of Pompeii

 The Forum

Forums served as the center of Roman life-therefore a stop here is not to be missed! Wander the area, and admire the view of Mt. Vesuvius in the distance. This area tends to be very crowded, as it is located near major entrances and exits and is a stop on every tour.

The Brothel

Pompeii is famous for its brothel. Seriously, vendors near the site sell a variety of phallus-themes souvenirs. The still intact frescoes leave little confusion over the building’s former use. An amusing stop to say the least! Be prepared for a little line upon entering, it’s a popular spot to visit as well.

Garden of the Fugitives

Many visitors to Pompeii recall the lasting impression of the plaster casts of people in the positions in which they died. As excavators were exploring the area, they discovered that the ash from the eruption froze these tragic moments in time. In addition to a few casts in the forum, several casts of bodies can be found in the Garden of the Fugitives.

The Theater

The Theater, built into a hill, is located close to the main entrance and is easy to reach from the forum. It is also close to the area in which Gladiators lived and practiced.  Also worth seeing is Pompeii’s amphitheater, which  once hosted the city’s Gladiator battles, and is the oldest surviving amphitheater in all of Italy. The impressive structure holds 20,000 people! Its quite a walk from the main entrances but worth the hike.

The Stabian Baths

There are several baths to see in Pompeii. Of the Forum baths, Central baths, and Stabian Baths, the Stabian are my favorite due to their incredible decoration. Seriously, the ceilings here took my breath away.

House of Venus in the Shell

If stunning frescoes are your thing, don’t miss the House of Venus in The Shell. Located near several other former Villas, this fantastically preserved fresco is worth seeing.

Other Prominent Houses

Near the House of The Venus in the Shell lies near several amazing homes that are worth exploring. This area was actually my favorite place in Pompeii to explore, thanks to the variety of frescoes to be found. Additionally, many of these homes have themes, and the layout and fresco subjects reflect this.

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Mount Vesuvius

Haven’t had enough of Pompeii? A short drive or shuttle will take you to Mount Vesuvius, the volcano which started it all. A quick hike from the summit offers visitors a great view of Naples, and the chance to look into the ashy mouth of the volcano-no lava to be seen here!

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I hope that these tips help make your visit unforgettable! If you’ve been, be sure to tell me your favorite things to see in Pompeii in the comments!

Looking for more tips for visiting Italy? Try these posts:

• 50 Travel Tips For Visiting Italy
• Two Incredible Weeks In Italy: The Complete Itinerary
• Bucket List Italy: 20 Unforgettable Adventures To Add To Your List