How To Visit Pompeii in 2023: Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More

Planning a trip to Italy? Consider adding Pompeii to your itinerary. It’s one of the largest and best-preserved archeological sites on Earth where you’ll get to walk around an ancient Roman city with an incredible story. But where is it and how do you visit it? In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about how to visit Pompeii.

---

Pro Tip: Planning to visit Pompeii? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re traveling. See our guide to Pompeii and Amalfi Coast for more planning resources and our top-rated Pompeii day trip from Rome and other Pompeii tours for a memorable and easy trip.

Visiting Pompeii: What We’ll Cover

Pompeii was a booming port city in the ancient Roman Empire. But all that changed on August 24th, A.D. 79 when the Mt. Vesuvius volcano erupted. Those who were not killed by the missiles of pumice raining down or the lava were wiped out by the toxic gases.

This disastrous day for the Romans has given us an intimate look into what life was like in an ancient Roman city. The volcanic ash and mud from the eruption encased and preserved the city’s artefacts and some of the people’s bodies, clothes, and even places of business.

Over 2.5 million people visit the archeological site of Pompeii annually, taking a journey back in time. In this guide on how to visit Pompeii, we’ll cover:

• Opening hours and tickets
• How to get to Pompeii
• What to see at Pompeii
• Guided tour options
• Where to eat nearby

Pompeii Opening Hours and Tickets

Pompeii is open to visitors every day of the week (with seasonal visiting hours) except on December 25, May 1, and January 1 when it is closed—unless otherwise communicated on the website.

Visiting Hours: 

• From April 1 to October 31: Open 9 am to 7 pm, last entrance at 5:30 pm.
• From November 1 to March 31: Open 9 am to 5 pm, last entrance at 3:30 pm.

Tickets:

You can buy your tickets for the Pompeii Archaeological Park directly at the entrance. There are three entrances: Porta Marina, Piazza Anfiteatro, and Piazza Esedra.

You’ll most likely be entering through the Porta Marina, which is the entrance next to the train station and main parking area. It’s also the main ticket desk, so you can buy your ticket here and begin your adventure.

• €17.50 from 9 am – 4:30 pm
• €11.50 from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
• Free under 18 years old

While seeing Pompeii is quite possible on your own, it’s worth considering booking a guided Pompeii tour. The guides at Pompeii are experts in archeological history and will help you understand what you’re seeing in a way that you can’t achieve on your own.

What may seem like a pile of rubble will come to life as a former home, kitchen, or shop from the past. It’s the best way to discover the ancient Roman way of life in the ruins of Pompeii. Book a guided morning tour with us for a more immersive experience!

Tours of Pompeii & Amalfi Coast

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Pompeii day trip from Rome is worth it.

How To Get To Pompeii 

Most people who visit Pompeii come by train from Naples. The good thing is that the train station where you need to get off is right in front of the entrance to the archeological park. It’s a quick walk to the entrance and you can’t miss it.

See the details below to get to Pompeii by train from Rome and the Amalfi Coast and directions for those who have rented a car.

From Rome

By Train:

The high-speed train from Rome to Naples runs every 20 minutes. You can take the train from Roma Termini station to Napoli Centrale in just over an hour. Book on Trenitalia or through Italo. They are two competing train companies. I prefer Italo.

From Napoli Centrale, you can switch to the local train to Pompeii. The local train, called the Circumvesuviana, is located down the corridor in what is technically Napoli Garibaldi Station.

Take the train towards Sorrento and you’ll arrive at the Pompei Scavi – Villa Dei Misteri station after about 20 minutes. The station is a matter of feet from the entrance to the archaeological area.

If you choose to take the train to Pompeii on your own but are still looking for a guided tour, check out our Skip the Line Pompeii Ruins Tour with Villa of Mysteries.

By Car:

If you’ve rented a car, it’s quite easy. Get on the Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA) and head onto the A1 highway to Naples. Once you get close to Naples you change to the Motorway A3 Napoli-Salerno (exit Pompeii ovest). Or just add the destination to your GPS.

From the Amalfi Coast

By Train:

Sorrento is the only town close to Pompeii with a train station. If you’re not in Sorrento, you’ll need to make your way there, jump on the train headed in the direction of Napoli Centrale, and get off at Pompei Scavi – Villa Dei Misteri.

By Car:

For the adventurous souls who rent a car, get to the Motorway A3 Napoli-Salerno (exit Pompeii ovest). Or use your GPS navigation.

What To See at Pompeii

If you’re taking a guided tour of Pompeii, you don’t need to worry about missing out on any of the important things to see at Pompeii—your guide will take care of that.

Here is a quick list of must-see sites at Pompeii. For a more comprehensive list and descriptions, see our guide on the top things to see at Pompeii.

• The amphitheater
• The forum of Pompeii and its baths
• The brothel
• The large theater
• The gladiator barracks
• The preserved plaster casts
• The Villa Dei Misteri or Villa of Mysteries
• The Temple of Apollo
• The house of Vettii
• Mt. Vesuvius

Pompeii Tour Options

We always recommend taking tours because we believe it is the best way to see a historical site. You can certainly DIY Pompeii, but you’ll definitely get much more out of your time with an expert local guide who will bring these piles of rocks to life with stories and explanations you can’t discover on your own.

Here are some best-selling guided tour options, some of which include roundtrip transportation from Rome, a stop in Sorrento, or a guided trek up Mt. Vesuvius. All offer skip-the-line access and a knowledgeable local guide.

Skip-the-Line Pompeii Ruins Tour with Villa of Mysteries (2 hours)

This is a 2-hour small-group tour for people who are already in Pompeii or have decided to sort out their own transportation. Let our expert local guide show you the main sites and learn all the crazy anecdotes and stories from the ancient world.

See tour itinerary, price, and description

Day Trip From Rome to Pompeii and Sorrento (12 hours)

This is a small group tour with roundtrip transportation from Rome. It includes a tour leader who will be with you for the day. After visiting the ruins (including Villa dei Misteri) with our expert guide, you’ll then travel on to beautiful Sorrento where you’ll have some free time for shopping and a meal. A private tour is also available.

See tour itinerary, price, and description

Private Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius Day Trip From Amalfi Coast (8 hours)

This is a private tour for those who are staying in the Amalfi Coast area and don’t want to worry about transportation. We also set up expert local guides for you in Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius—trek all the way to the top and peer into the crater!

See tour itinerary, price, and description

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Pompeii day trip from Rome is worth it.

How to see Pompeii in a day from Rome

Places To Eat Nearby

Options are fairly limited nearby as far as eating and refreshments go. However, if you’re famished or in need of a cup of coffee, here’s where to go:

Autogrill Pompeii: € | Refreshments—Calling it a cafeteria is a stretch, but it is the only place inside the archeological park to get some refreshments. It’s located behind the Temple of Jupiter.

Bar Sgambati: €€ | Quick Snack—This is the Bar/ Restaurant/ Pizzeria right next to the train station where you get off to visit Pompeii. The food and prices are average, but this is your best bet to get something to eat in the area before or after your trip to the archeological site.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Pompeii Guide for more info.