The Parco Archeologico di Pompei in Pompeii, Campania, is one of the most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world — the buried Roman city that has been under excavation since 1748 and continues to yield extraordinary discoveries today.
This guide was updated in June 2026. Four things most guides have not yet updated. From 12 January 2026, tickets are priced at €20 (city only) or €25 (with suburban villas) — many guides still show €16 or €18. Since 15 November 2024, all tickets are nominative (your name on the ticket) with a daily cap of 20,000 visitors. From 2 March 2026, the only official online ticket seller is vivaticket.it — CoopCulture no longer applies. And from 14 June 2026, the Amphitheatre is only viewable from its southern entrance due to concert staging. You can book tickets with an audio guide through GetYourGuide in advance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Via Villa dei Misteri 2, 80045 Pompeii (NA) |
| Summer hours (16 Mar – 14 Oct) | 09:00–19:00 (last admission 17:30) |
| Winter hours (15 Oct – 15 Mar) | 09:00–17:00 (last admission 15:30) |
| Closed | 25 December; 1 January |
| Daily visitor cap | 20,000 (nominative tickets — name required) |
| Pompeii Express (city only) | €20 full / €2 reduced (EU 18–25) |
| Pompeii+ (city + suburban villas + Boscoreale) | €25 full / €2 reduced |
| Pompeii Plus (all sites, 3 days) | €30 full / €2 reduced |
| Individual site ticket (Boscoreale/Oplontis/Stabiae museum) | €8 full / €2 reduced |
| MyPompeii annual card | €45 / €10 (under 25) |
| Free | First Sunday of month; under 18; disability categories |
| Bag size limit | 30 × 30 × 15 cm maximum |
| Nearest train station | Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri (Circumvesuviana) |
| Nearest car park | Piazza Esedra (paid) |
| Typical visit | 2.5–4 hours (city); full day (all sites) |
Pompeii opening hours
The site opens at 09:00 every day of the year except 25 December and 1 January. In the summer season (16 March to 14 October), it closes at 19:00 with last admission at 17:30. In the winter season (15 October to 15 March), it closes at 17:00 with last admission at 15:30.
From 16 March to 14 October, timed-entry slots apply: the morning slot (09:00–13:00) admits a maximum of 15,000 visitors; the afternoon slot (13:00–17:30) admits a maximum of 5,000. Booking in advance is essential for the morning slot in peak season — capacity is reached on busy summer days.
Pompeii admission prices
Prices changed on 12 January 2026. Many guides and aggregators still show the old €16 full price. All tickets are nominative — your full name will appear on the ticket and you must show valid ID at the turnstile.
| Ticket | Full price | Reduced (EU 18–25) |
|---|---|---|
| Pompeii Express (city of Pompeii only) | €20 | €2 |
| Pompeii+ (Pompeii + suburban villas + Boscoreale, shuttle included) | €25 | €2 |
| Pompeii Plus (all sites, 3 days, shuttle included) | €30 | €2 |
| Individual site (Boscoreale, Oplontis, Stabiae museum) | €8 | €2 |
| Thematic itinerary add-on (Civic or Daily Pompeii, ~1.5 hours) | +€8 | Free for under-10s |
| MyPompeii annual card | €45 | €10 (under 25) |
The Pompeii Express (€20) does not include the suburban villas. Adding suburban villa access costs an extra €8, purchased on-site with card payment only at the Herculaneum Gate. Holders of a valid Pompeii ticket from the past 30 days can visit the Castle of Lettere, Longola Nature Park, Terzigno Museum, and Buccino Museum for free. Book through GetYourGuide for a confirmed time slot.
Why visit Pompeii?
- 🏛️ An entire Roman city frozen at AD 79: Streets, bakeries, thermopolia (fast-food bars), brothels, temples, theatres, and domestic houses preserved under 4–6 metres of volcanic ash — no reconstruction, no replica. The city itself is the experience.
- 🎟️ New permanent exhibition on the Plaster Casts (from 16 March 2026): For the first time, a complete permanent exhibition recounts the origin, history, and technique of the plaster casts of Pompeii — the hollow cavities left by decomposed bodies, filled with plaster by Giuseppe Fiorelli from 1863. Included in the standard ticket.
- 🌿 Active excavations still yielding discoveries: In June 2026, archaeologists unearthed a skeleton of an equid in the House of the Chaste Lovers. New finds are announced several times a year from ongoing excavations across the site.
- 📜 Nominative tickets and a 20,000 daily cap: Since 15 November 2024, entry is limited and your name appears on the ticket. This system rewards advance planning and guarantees a less crowded site than the pre-2024 experience.
- 💰 Your ticket is valid at four additional archaeological sites for free (within 30 days): The Castle of Lettere, Longola, Terzigno, and Buccino museums are all included with a valid Pompeii ticket — completely unmentioned in most guides.
How to get to Pompeii
By train (recommended), take the Circumvesuviana railway from Naples Garibaldi station or Sorrento to the stop Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri. This stop delivers visitors directly at the Porta Marina entrance. Journey time from Naples is approximately 35–40 minutes; from Sorrento approximately 30 minutes. Trains run frequently (every 20–30 minutes).
From Naples airport (Capodichino), take the Alibus to Naples Garibaldi (Piazza Garibaldi) then the Circumvesuviana to Pompei Scavi.
By car, exit the A3 Napoli–Salerno motorway at the Pompei Ovest or Pompei Est exits and follow signs for the Scavi. Parking is available at Piazza Esedra and at several private car parks on Via Villa dei Misteri near the Porta Marina entrance. Rates apply; distances to entrances are short.
By Pompeii Artebus shuttle, a paid shuttle connects Pompeii with Oplontis, Stabiae, and Boscoreale — included in the Pompeii+ and Pompeii Plus ticket prices. The shuttle does not have disabled-access fittings.
Parking at Pompeii
Several paid car parks operate near the main entrances. Piazza Esedra is the central option, close to both the Esedra entrance and the Antiquarium. Via Villa dei Misteri has further paid parking adjacent to the Porta Marina entrance. Rates vary by operator — approximately €3–5 for the first hour. The site is large enough that visitors who park at one entrance and plan to exit from another will need to walk back or use the internal shuttle.
How long to spend at Pompeii
Allow a minimum of 2.5 hours for a focused highlights visit covering the Forum, the Lupanar, the Thermopolium, and the Plaster Casts exhibition. Most visitors who want to see the major houses (House of the Faun, House of the Tragic Poet, House of the Vettii), the Large Theatre, and the Amphitheatre need 4 hours. A comprehensive visit across the full 66-hectare excavation requires a full day. Combining with Boscoreale, Oplontis, or Stabiae extends the experience into a two-day programme using the Pompeii Plus ticket.
Accessibility at Pompeii
A dedicated “Pompeii for All” route enters from the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance and follows the most accessible path through the site, with the possibility of exiting from Piazza Anfiteatro or Piazza Esedra via the Antiquarium lift. The route is designed for wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility.
Not all areas of the excavation are accessible — ancient Roman surfaces (basalt setts, uneven thresholds, stepping stones) cover much of the site. The Pompeii Artebus shuttle does not have disabled access; confirm alternative arrangements with staff at the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance. Sensory exploration supports have been installed across the site from November 2025, including tactile reproductions of key finds and multilingual audio content.
What to see at Pompeii
The Forum (Foro) is the civic, commercial, and religious heart of Pompeii. Colonnaded and rectangular, its axis aligns directly with Mount Vesuvius to the north. The Capitolium, Temple of Apollo, Basilica (lawcourt), and market hall (macellum) all face onto it — the best-preserved Roman forum anywhere.
The Thermopolium of Regio V is one of the most vivid recent excavations (2019–2021). A Roman fast-food counter with painted menu panels and amphorae still embedded in the stone, it remains close to its original condition. Duck bones and fish were found in the food vessels.
The Plaster Casts permanent exhibition opened 16 March 2026 in the Antiquarium. Fiorelli’s 1863 technique — plaster injected into hollow cavities left by decomposed bodies — creates exact casts of victims at the moment of death. A dog still on its chain. A family huddled in a corner. The emotional impact is sustained.
The House of the Faun (Casa del Fauno) is the largest private house in Pompeii, occupying an entire city block. The original Battle of Alexander mosaic (now in Naples’ Archaeological Museum) came from here; a copy is visible in situ.
The Lupanar is the only purpose-built brothel identified in any Roman city. Stone bed platforms and erotic frescoes indicating services make it one of the most visited spots in the site.
The Amphitheatre (Anfiteatro), built c.70 BC, is the oldest permanent Roman amphitheatre in existence. From 14 June 2026, summer concert staging means it is only visible from the southern entrance.
Practical tips for visiting Pompeii
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book in advance — tickets are nominative | Since 15 November 2024, every ticket has your name on it and requires ID at the turnstile. The daily cap of 20,000 can be reached in peak season. Book through GetYourGuide. |
| Bag size is strictly limited | Only bags of 30 × 30 × 15 cm maximum are permitted inside the site. Larger bags must be left in paid storage at the entrance — plan your visit bag accordingly. |
| Morning slot fills fast (max 15,000 visitors) | The afternoon slot has a maximum of just 5,000 entries. If flexibility allows, morning entry gives more time before last admission. |
| The Large Theatre and Amphitheatre have active alerts | Large Theatre: closed from 11 April 2026. Amphitheatre: from 14 June 2026, only visible from the southern entrance. House of the Ship Europa: closed from 1 June 2026 for maintenance. Check pompeiisites.org before visiting. |
| Download the official map before you go | A PDF map of the site is downloadable from the official site. Mobile data inside the site can be unreliable. The map is essential — Pompeii covers 66 hectares. |
Pompeii FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the full ticket price? | €20 for Pompeii city only (Pompeii Express); €25 including suburban villas and Boscoreale (Pompeii+). The old price of €16 or €18 no longer applies — tickets were repriced on 12 January 2026. |
| Why is my name on the ticket? | Since 15 November 2024, all Pompeii tickets are nominative (personalised). You must show valid ID at entry. Tickets cannot be resold or transferred. |
| Is the Amphitheatre open? | From 14 June 2026, the arena is staged for summer concerts and only viewable from the southern entrance. Check the service announcements on pompeiisites.org for current status. |
| Are there free days? | Yes — the first Sunday of every month (direct access, no pre-booking required for that day). Under-18s are always free. |
Things to do near Pompeii
Herculaneum (Ercolano) is around 10 minutes north by Circumvesuviana and was also buried by Vesuvius in AD 79. It is smaller than Pompeii but better preserved — wooden furniture, carbonised foodstuffs, and organic materials survived the pyroclastic surge. The site is significantly less crowded than Pompeii.
Mount Vesuvius (Cratere del Vesuvio) is accessible by road from Ercolano. A shuttle bus from Ercolano train station runs to the crater car park; the 20-minute hike to the rim gives a view into the active caldera and across the Bay of Naples. Admission charged; open daily weather permitting.
Oplontis (Villa di Poppea) is the most opulent villa in the Pompeii archaeological park, reached by Circumvesuviana to Torre Annunziata. The frescoes in the main saloon are among the finest surviving Second Style Roman wall paintings outside Rome. Included in the Pompeii Plus ticket; individual ticket €8.
The Stabiae (Archaeological Museum and Villas) occupies the hilltop above Castellammare di Stabia and includes Villa Arianna and Villa San Marco — two Roman villas on the escarpment with panoramic views across the Bay of Naples. Both villas are free to enter with any Pompeii ticket.
Sorrento is around 35 minutes south by Circumvesuviana and is the main resort base for day trips to Pompeii. The historic centre, the clifftop gardens, and the ferry connections to Capri and Positano make it the most practical overnight base in the area.
Similar archaeological sites to visit near Pompeii
Herculaneum (Parco Archeologico di Ercolano) is described above and is the most essential companion visit — smaller, better preserved, and far less crowded. Around 10 minutes by Circumvesuviana from Pompeii Scavi.
The Paestum Greek Temples and Archaeological Museum are around 80 km south by car or train. It holds three of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world (5th century BC) and the Tomb of the Diver — the only complete ancient Greek figurative painted tomb in existence.
The Naples Archaeological Museum (MANN) holds almost all of the finest portable finds from Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the Vesuvian villas — the Mosaic of Alexander, the Secret Cabinet, the plaster cast originals, and the Farnese collection. Essential for understanding Pompeii in depth.
Valle dei Templi, Agrigento is around 4 hours south-west by car (via Sicily ferry or by road). The most extensive and best-preserved ancient Greek site outside Greece, and the only meaningful comparison with Pompeii as a large-scale ancient urban landscape.
Ostia Antica is the best-preserved Roman city in the vicinity of Rome — less dramatically frozen than Pompeii but covering comparable themes of Roman urban life. Around 3.5 hours north by car or 4 hours by fast train to Rome then local transit. Free with MIC card.
More Italy travel
Other Italy travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to the Ancient Theatre of Taormina in Sicily.
- Practical guide to visiting Castel del Monte near Bari.
- Florence attraction guides: Palazzo Vecchio, Medici Chapels, Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens.
- Planning a visit to Modena Cathedral in Emilia-Romagna.
- Guides to ancient sites in Rome: The Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Baths of Caracalla, Castel Sant’Angelo and Circus Maximus.
