Pompeii is the Roman city buried by the Vesuvius eruption of AD 79 and rediscovered in 1748. Two thousand years of preservation under volcanic ash created the most complete picture of daily Roman life that exists anywhere — fully furnished houses, intact frescoes, the Lupanar (the city brothel with painted menus), the bakery, the laundry, and the famous body casts of victims preserved in their final positions. The site covers 66 hectares; plan a half-day minimum. Pair with the Naples Archaeological Museum, which holds the most important removed frescoes and bronzes.
Ticket
€18
Visit time
4–6 hours
Type
archaeological
UNESCO
World Heritage Site
When to visit
Morning April–October; arrive at 9am opening
Skip-the-line tip
Pompeii's ticket window can run 60+ minutes mid-day in summer. Pre-book via pompeiisites.org (official). Most Naples-based tours include skip-the-line as standard. The Villa of the Mysteries (a separately-fenced building 800 m beyond the main city gates) often closes for restoration; check the official opening calendar before travelling.
Tours including Pompeii
Frequently asked questions
How much does Pompeii cost?
Standard ticket is €18. A combined ticket including Herculaneum, Boscoreale, Oplontis, and Stabia is €22 and is valid for 3 days — strongly worth it for travellers interested in the broader Vesuvius archaeological zone.
How long do you need at Pompeii?
Plan 4–6 hours minimum. The site is 66 hectares with no shade in the main streets; bring 2 litres of water in summer. A guided 3-hour tour covers the highlights but skips much of the residential zone.
Should I visit Pompeii or Herculaneum?
Both if possible. Pompeii is larger and more famous; Herculaneum is smaller but better-preserved (the carbonised wooden beams and original second-storey balconies survive). Combined-ticket access makes both viable in a single day.
How do I get to Pompeii from Rome?
High-speed train to Naples (70 minutes), then Circumvesuviana commuter rail to Pompeii Scavi-Villa dei Misteri (35 minutes). Most Rome-based Pompeii day tours handle the multi-step transfer.