How long does it take to tour the ruins at Pompeii?
The ruins of Pompeii cover 44 square hectares, and it would take at least two full days to tour the entire park. Realistically, you can see most of the highlights in 4 hours and longer visits can be very tiring, especially on a hot day. You can also spend a full day exploring the park with a lunch break at one of the picnic areas in the park.
Should I book a guided tour?
We strongly recommend visiting the ruins with a guide, as the park is very large and it can be tricky to find the important sites. In addition, guides can explain interesting details and show you little-known corners of the park that make the experience more engaging and help you understand what daily life was like in the Roman city before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. A guide will also make sure you make the best use of your time in the park, and don't waste time and energy getting lost!
How can I book a guide?
There are authorized guides at the park entrance who offer two-hour guided tours for about EUR 11/person. Authorized guides can be recognized by the wooden badges from the region of Campania worn around the neck that has a white shied with a red bar. You can join a group tour, or book a private guide in advance if you are a small group of family or friends, of if you are particularly interested in an in-depth look at the history of Pompeii.
Can tickets be purchased online? Do I need to book them in advance?
Especially during summer and at the weekends you are likely to face with long queues to enter the site. For this reason we recommend buying in advance online tickets to avoid the line. Skip-the-line tickets for Pompeii.
Where can I leave by bags?
Large bags and backpacks are not allowed inside the park for security reasons (maximum size is 30x30x15). There are free baggage checks at the entrance to the ruins, and at the Porta Marina Superiore entrance there is an automated system that prints a receipt with a code to claim your bags when you leave.
Can I visit Pompeii with a small child?
It is hard to get around Pompeii with a stroller or pushchair, so opt for a baby carrier or backpack and leave your stroller at the free bag check. There are Baby Points in Pompeii where you can stop to change or feed your infant in privacy.
Are there special routes for the disabled?
From the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance at Pompeii, you can take the three-kilometer trail specifically for wheelchairs or strollers that includes the amphitheater, gym, and a few houses.
Can I bring my pet inside the park?
Large dogs are not allowed inside the archaeological park, but small dogs on a leash and picked up while inside the homes can be brought inside the park.
Can I have a picnic?
Yes, there are a number of picnic areas inside the park where you can eat a packed lunch or food purchased from the cafeteria near the forum area.
Where can I see what has been unearthed inside the homes excavated in Pompeii and Herculaneum?
Most of the artifacts found at the archaeological sites are now displayed at the Naples Archaeological Museum, where there is also the "gabinetto segreto" holding the erotic artifacts found in Pompeii, which is closed to minors.
Guide to visiting the ruins of Pompeii
Getting to Pompeii Ruins
Day trips and tours at Pompeii