Pompeii Tickets & Tours (2024)

Thousands of years ago, Pompeii was a summer holiday destination for the rich and famous of the Roman Empire.

However, a deadly volcanic eruption in 79 AD made Pompeii a heart-breaking historical showpiece.

In less than 24 hours, Mount Vesuvius volcano reduced Pompeii to ashes but preserved it for eternity.

Pompeii is renowned for its exquisitely preserved sculptures, mosaics, and frescoes, which reveal details about the era’s aesthetic and creative preferences.

The city’s architecture, including the amphitheater, houses, temples, and forums, reflects the layout and style of a Roman town.

And like all Shakespearean tragedies, the Pompeii ruins are sad yet beautiful.

This article covers everything you must know before booking Pompeii tickets.

Things to know before booking tickets

You can get your Pompeii entry tickets at the venue or buy them online much in advance.

If you plan to get them at the attraction, you must wait in line at the ticketing window at Porta Marina Gate, the main entrance to Pompeii ruins.

Depending on the time of day (and month), you may have to wait in line at the ticket counter for an hour or more to buy your ticket.

The second and better option is to book tickets to Pompeii ruins online.

When you buy Pompeii tickets in advance, you can skip the ticket counter queue and save a lot of waiting time.

These tickets are also known as Pompeii ‘Skip the Line’ tickets.

When you buy Pompeii entry tickets online, they are emailed to you within minutes of purchase.

On the day of your visit, show the email you received at the IBT Information Point near the Porta Marina Inferiore entrance. You can show it on your smartphone – no need to take printouts.

Visitors can pick up their audio guides and ‘illustrated book about Pompeii’ at the IBT Information Point.

Then, you walk into the Pompeii ruins through the skip-the-line lane.

Free tickets to Pompeii

On the first Sunday of every month, visitors can enter Pompeii for free.

If you are a backpacker or a group of friends, the free tickets to Pompeii are worth it.

It gets very crowded, and we don’t recommend visiting on the first Sunday of the month if you are traveling with kids, elders, or large groups.

In such a case, we suggest you either book thePompeii Fast Track ticket(most popular!) or theguided tour of Pompeii.

Disabled visitors from the European Union and their companions qualify for free entry to Pompeii all through the year.

If you are differently abled, we suggest you go from the entrance at Piazza Anfiteatro, which has facilitated visitors’ access.

Pompeii tickets

Your experience at Pompeii ruins depends on the type of Pompeii ticket you buy and when you buy it.

Thecheapest and most popular Pompeii ticketcosts €24 for every visitor.

Theguided tour of Pompeii ruins, where a local guide takes you around for two hours, costs €44.

Pompeii tours with transportfrom Rome and back are priced at €157.

Follow the link to see the differenttypes of Pompeii tickets.

Cheapest Pompeii tickets

These tickets are the cheapest and most popular amongst tourists visiting Pompeii ruins.

On the day of your visit, you must show this Pompeii ticket on your mobile at the “Porta Marina Inferiore (Piazza Esedra)” entrance.

While booking your ticket, you must choose from the morning timeslot starting at 9 am and the afternoon slot beginning at 1 pm.

The morning slot ticket gives you access to Pompeii anytime until 1 pm, and the afternoon slot ticket gives you access from 1 pm until closure.

Pompeii ticket discounts

ThePompeii Fast Track ticket, the cheapest and most popular ticket, costs €24 for all adults 18 years and older.

Kids 17 years and below get an 85% discount on their Pompeii tickets, and they must pay only €3 for entry.

EU citizens aged 18 to 24 get almost a 75% discount – they only pay €6.50 for their entry.

While availing of these Pompeii ticket discounts, please have a valid photo ID card ready.

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €24
EU Citizen (18 to 24 years): €5.50
Child (up to 17 years): €3

Confused about so many Pompeii tickets? Follow the link to find out which tickets to buy for Pompeii.

Pompeii guided tour

Pompeii ruins are spread over a large area, and there isn’t much information you can see or read when standing in front of the attractions.

If you want to understand the magnitude of what you are witnessing, booking a guided tour of Pompeii is a good idea.

Hiring an expert who knows about the ruins helps in multiple ways:

– You don’t waste your time trying to find the exhibits
– You don’t miss out on any of the highlights of Pompeii ruins
– Guides share more in-depth knowledge, exciting stories, etc. about the ruins

The Pompeii guided tour we have recommended below starts at 10.30 am and 12.30 pm and lasts two hours.

You will meet your guide next to the Pompeii Ticket Office on Piazza Porta Marina Inferiore (in front of the Hotel Vittoria)

The guided tour of Pompeii is available in English, Italian, French, Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish, and German.

You can choose your preferred language on the tour booking page.

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €44
Youth (6 to 17 years): €25.50
Child (up to 5 years): €3.50

If you have children, check out this guided Pompeii tour customized for kids.

Prefer an archeology expert to take you around the Pompeii ruins? Check out this small group guided tour with an archeologist.

If you don’t mind spending extra for an exclusive archaeologist guide, you can book your own ‘Skip the Line’ 2-hour private tour of Pompeii.

Even though it costs more than the regular entry ticket, a guided tour of Pompeii is worth it for the expert insights, help in navigating the ruins, ensuring you don’t miss critical exhibits, and the enhanced level of engagement.Find out more about Pompeii guided tours.

Frequently asked questions about tickets

Here are some questions tourists ask before purchasing their tickets for Pompeii in Rome.

Most tourists combine their visit to Pompeii with Pompeii and Amalfi coast tour, as it can relax your mind with stunning Amalfi coastal view after a Pompeii visit. 

Rome to Pompeii day trips

Pompeii is 150 miles (241 km) south of Rome, well within a long day trip from the city.

Tourists who don’t want to handle the hassles of transport prefer to book day tours to Pompeii.

These roundtrips to Pompeii start from the city around 8 am and last around 11 hours.

As part of the package, visitors get free WiFi on the bus, skip-the-line access to Pompeii ruins, an audio guide, and assistance from Touristation staff at all points.

Themost popular tour from Rome to Pompeii includes a half-mile (8 km) hike to see Mt. Vesuvius’ crater.

When the hike isn’t possible during winter, you get a quick tour of nearby Naples city.

If you want to keep it simple and only see Pompeii ruins, check out thisroundtrip from Rome.

If you want to visit Italy’s two most exciting tourist attractions in a single day, check out thePompeii + Amalfi Coast tour.

Visual Story: 13 must-know tips before visiting Pompeii

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How to go from Rome to Pompeii

Pompeii ruins are in Campania, Italy, 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Naples.

Pompeii’s location is at the southeastern base of Mount Vesuvius, which didn’t go in its favor when the volcano erupted.

The ancient Roman city had been strategically built at the mouth of the Sarnus (modern Sarno) River. Get Directions.

There are three ways to get to Pompeii: take a train or a bus or book a tour that includes transportation.

Distance between Rome and Pompeii

Pompeii is 250 km (155 miles) from Rome by road.

If you travel by road, you can cover this distance in about two and a half hours.

Although the railway distance is only 212 km (132 Miles), because you have to change trains in Naples, the journey takes two and a half hours.

You can go on a day trip from Rome to Pompeii to explore the ruins.

Pompeii by bus

A bus is a recommended option only if you are already in Naples.

SITA local buses leave Nuova Marina port in Naples to Pompeii every half hour.

The bus ticket, which costs a little less than €3 one way, can be bought from the SITA office at Nuova Marina port.

The journey time is approximately 35 minutes.

Train from Rome to Pompeii

Pompeii day trip by train is the best option if you are holidaying in the Italian capital.

This trip to Pompeii has two legs:

Rome to Naples by train

Every day, 16 trains leave Roma Termini station in Rome for Naples Central station.

Buy a Rome to Naples ticket on a high-speed train (Frecciarossa or Frecciabianca) to save travel time.

Your train from Rome will arrive at theNaples Centrale station, which is meant for inter-city trains.

Important: Book Rome to Naples high-speed train tickets at least a week to ten days in advance for cheap rates. If you book a day or two before your Pompeii visit, the return tickets can cost you 60+ Euros per person. In such a case, it is much wiser to book a Rome to Pompeii day trip, which includes transportation.

Naples to Pompeii by train

Once you reach Naples, you must get onto a Circumvesuviana train towards Pompeii.

From the Naples station for inter-city trains, you must get to the adjacent station from where Circumvesuviana trains depart.

The frequency of Circumvesuviana trains is one every half hour.

Need help with the transfer at Naples station? Watch this video:

You must get off the Circumvesuviana train at Pompei Scavi station, located 50 meters (164 ft) from the entrance to Pompeii.

The journey from Naples central to Pompei Scavi (also known as Pompeii train station) is approximately 45 minutes.

Know more about the Naples to Pompeii train and make the best use of your time!

Important: Some tourists don’t want the hassle of finding Rome to Pompeii train times, booking tickets, etc. So, they opt for either Pompeii day trips from Rome or Pompeii coach tours from Naples.

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Pompeii opening hours

The Pompeii ruins open at 9 am every day. It closes at 7 pm during the peak months of April to October and at 5 pm from November to March.

From November to March, the last entry to Pompeii is at 3.30 pm, and from April to October, it is at 5.30 pm.

The Pompeii archaeological area stays closed on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December.

The best day of the week to go to Pompeii is on weekdays, especially from Monday to Thursday. From Friday to Sunday, you can expect a crowd.

Note:The Herculaneum, Oplontis, Boscoreale, and Stabia have similar opening and closing hours to Pompeii’s, facilitating more tourist footfall in the region.

Insider tip! Pompeii has three entrances. Porta Marina is the most popular and is closest to the train station Pompei Scavi—Villa dei Misteri. Piazza Anfiteatro is just opposite the Porta Marina and is not as crowded. Piazza Esedra is the best option if you are coming from Naples or Salerno by car, as there are parking slots close by.

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How long does the tour take

Pompeii is massive, and if you want to see only the highlights, you need at least three to four hours.

You need at least two days to explore everything on display at Pompeii, which is 44 square hectares.

Walking around for long in Pompeii ruins can be challenging for kids and seniors. We suggest you wear sturdy shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a carry bottle of water.

Since the ruins have no shade, no harm in carrying an umbrella as well.

Note:Many tourists want to know if combining the Pompeii visit with the Herculaneum ruins is possible. Yes, it is possible.

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Best time to visit Pompeii

The best time to visit Pompeii is before 10 am.

Coaches start bringing in large tour groups by 10.30 am and crowd the ticketing counters, the lines to enter the ruins, and its famous attractions.

The next best time to visit Pompeii ruins is 3 pm because, after lunchtime, the massive crowd has started to leave or has already left.

During the peak season, the ruins are open till 7 pm, so even if you start at 3 pm, you get four hours to explore.

During the non-peak months, the ruins close at 5 pm.

Booking your tickets online in advance, reaching the site as soon as it opens or late in the afternoon, deciding on the exhibits you will see, and opting for guided tours are some of the best ways to plan your visit to Pompeii.

Note: If you stay in Rome or Naples, reaching Pompeii by 10 am is almost impossible. This is all the more reason to book your Pompeii tickets in advance so you can enter the ruins hassle-free when you arrive.

How to avoid the crowd

There are two places where you may want to avoid the crowd:

At the ticketing lines

According to the management at Pompeii ruins, during the peak months, one may wait in the ticket counter lines for a minimum of 30 minutes to an hour (picture above).

The only way to avoid the long lines at the ticketing counters of Pompeii is by buying Pompeii tickets online, in advance.

Inside the ruins

Pompeii is crowded from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm, and it is best to avoid the star attractions of Pompeii ruins during this period.

Use the Pompeii map, and avoid the crowd-pullers.

Tourists visiting as part of group tours get back to their coaches by 12.30 pm to 1 pm.

Once they all leave, you can get back to exploring the must-sees in Pompeii.

Low season: November to March
High season: April to October
Busiest months: May and August

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Pompeii tours from Naples

Many tourists decide to visit Pompeii while they are staying in Naples.

Pompeii tours are pretty popular since there are many convenient ways to get to Pompeii from Naples.

Naples to Pompeii is a half-hour journey – around 24 Kms (15 Miles).

From Naples: Half-day visit to Pompeii

This tour from Naples to Pompeii starts at 10 am and lasts four hours.

The package includes:

• Transport from Naples to Pompeii and back
• An archeologist guide
• ‘Skip The Line’ entry to Pompeii

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €64
Youth (4 to 17 years): €48
Infant (up to 3 years): Free

If you want to take a half-mile trek to see the Volcano that killed everyone in Pompeii, opt for thePompeii entry + Mt Vesuvius tour.

If you want a day-long tour, look no further than thePompeii and Amalfi Coast day-long tour from Naples.

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Sorrento to Pompeii tours

If you are in Sorrento and want to visit Pompeii, you have two options – take the train or the bus.

Sorrento to Pompeii by train

The cheapest way to do this is to book yourPompeii ticket in advance and take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii on the day of the visit.

The Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri station is the closest station to access Pompeii ruins.

Porta Marina is located opposite this train station.

Circumvesuviana trains run between Sorrento and Naples and, in 20 minutes, can drop you at Pompeii’s station.Train schedule

The train times between Sorrento to Pompeii are very convenient – one every 30 minutes all day long.

If you don’t want the hassle of buying the train tickets, you can book thisguided tour of Pompeii, which includes Circumvesuviana tickets.

Some tourists prefer to go from Sorrento to Pompeii by train. Follow the link and learn why!

Sorrento to Pompeii by bus

You can opt for the coach tour if you don’t want to take the train from Sorrento.

Since Sorrento is a small town, you will be picked up from your hotel at 10 am.

The distance from Sorrento to Pompeii is 26 km (16 Miles), and travel by road takes approximately 45 minutes.

Your guide will be waiting for you at Pompeii.

After a two-hour guided tour of the ruins of Pompeii, you will get back to your vehicle and get back to your hotel.

Ticket Prices

Regular (4+ years): €74
Infant (up to 3 years): Free

If you are starting from Sorrento and prefer an 8-hour day tour, check out thisPompeii ruins + Mt Vesuvius trek.

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From Positano to Pompeii

The distance from Positano to Pompeii is about 35 Km (22 Miles).

You have three options to get to Pompeii ruins: public transport, your car, or a coach tour.

Public transport

You can take alocal busfrom Positano to Sorrento and theCircumvesuviana trainto Pompeii Scavi station.

After the 40-minute bus journey and 20 minutes on the train, you will be right at the entrance of the Pompeii ruins.

Private transport

For approximately €200, you can get a private driver to pick you up from your hotel in Positano and drop you at Pompeii.

They then wait for you while you enjoy the ruins and drive you back.

Whatever your mode of transport from Positano to Pompeii, you will still need a ticket to enter the ruins.

Book a coach tour

The best and most convenient way is to book a coach tour from Positano to Pompeii.

This tour, which starts at 8 am, includes:

• Transportation both ways
• Entry tickets to Pompeii
• Entrance fee to Mt Vesuvius
• English speaking guide

Ticket Price: €179

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Pompeii ruins map

You don’t need a map if you have booked a guided tour of Pompeii.

However, if you don’t have a guide to take you around the vast archaeological area of Pompeii, you must get a map.

A Pompeii map will help you save time and ensure you don’t miss the important exhibits.

A map will also help you find tourist facilities such as washrooms, cafes, smoking areas, souvenir shops, etc.

Download the PDF version of the best Pompeii map.

We also recommend this Pompeii Guide (booklet).

Essential Information
# Walk carefully, as the ruins date back thousands of years.
# Only service dogs are allowed inside.

Trekking up Mt. Vesuvius is totally worth it for several reasons. Experiencing the area’s natural history and seeing the crater up close is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The jaw-dropping vistas over the Bay of Naples and the surrounding regions add to the incredible value of this trek. It is best to explore Pompeii’s ancient ruins early in the morning and then spend the afternoon hiking Vesuvius for fascinating views.

What happened at Pompeii

Watch this animated video to understand how Mount Vesuvius volcano destroyed the whole of Pompeii within 24 hours.

Graffiti in Pompeii included jokes, comments on girlfriends, announcements about the writer’s sex life, etc.Check out some of the funniest Pompeii graffiti.

Must read
Heard of the masturbating man of Pompeii?
Interesting trivia about Pompeii ruins

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