Plan Your Pompeii Visit 2026
Everything you need before you go — opening hours, entrances, essential tips, how to get there from Naples, Rome, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast, where to stay, where to eat, and how to make the most of your time at the ruins.
Open daily 9:00 am. Last entry varies by season — 7:30 pm in summer, 5:00 pm in winter.
2–3 hrs for highlights, 4–5 hrs for a full visit, 5+ hrs if including the Villa of the Mysteries.
35 min from Naples, 30 min from Sorrento by Circumvesuviana train. Alight at Pompei Scavi — not Pompei town.
Timed entry required mid-March to mid-October. Daily cap is 20,000 visitors — book ahead in summer.
Before You Go: The Essentials
The six things every visitor should read before arriving at Pompeii.
Pompeii Opening Hours 2026
Daily opening times by season, last entry times for Express and Plus tickets, holiday closures, and how the timed entry slot system works from mid-March to mid-October.
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Best Entrance to Pompeii
Three entrances — Porta Marina, Piazza Anfiteatro, and Piazza Esedra. Which one to use based on how you arrive, where you want to start, and which tours meet where.
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How Long to Spend at Pompeii
2–3 hours for a highlights tour, 4–5 hours for a thorough visit, 5+ hours for Plus ticket holders including the Villa of the Mysteries. Honest advice by visit type.
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Best Time to Visit Pompeii
Month-by-month guide — crowd levels, temperature, ticket availability, and the case for shoulder season (April–May, September–October) vs peak summer.
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Pompeii Itinerary: Half Day, Full Day & 2-Day
Timed walking routes for every visit length — which sights to prioritise, when to visit the Lupanar to avoid the queue, and how to sequence the site from any entrance.
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Essential Tips for Visiting Pompeii
15 practical tips from real visitors — when to arrive, what to wear, what not to bring, bag size limits, sun protection, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Read the Guide →At the Site
Toilets, cloakroom, food, rules, accessibility, and visiting with children.
Pompeii Facilities
Toilets, free cloakroom (max 30×30×15 cm bags inside), audio guide desk, Artebus shuttle, on-site cafés, bookshop, and the ‘Pompeii for All’ accessibility route.
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Dining at Pompeii
CHORA café (seasonal Campanian food, near the Forum), Autogrill at Porta Marina, water fountains, and the best restaurants in Pompeii town just outside the gates.
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Visiting Pompeii with Kids
Age-specific advice, the best child-friendly highlights (Plaster Casts, bakery, Lupanar), recommended family tours, and how to keep children engaged for a full visit.
Read the Guide →Rules & Regulations
Pompeii has a clear set of visitor rules enforced to protect both the ancient structures and the visitor experience. The most important to know before you arrive:
- Bags over 30×30×15 cm must be left at the free cloakroom
- All tickets are nominative — bring the ID you used when booking
- No selfie sticks, tripods, or professional recording equipment inside
- No flash photography near frescoes, mosaics, or Plaster Casts
- Dress code enforced — no shirtless entry, no inappropriate clothing
- Do not touch frescoes, mosaics, or plaster casts — oils damage ancient surfaces
- Dogs permitted if under 10 kg and on a leash; carried inside buildings
Accessibility at Pompeii
The ‘Pompeii for All’ route is a 3.5 km dedicated accessibility path from Piazza Anfiteatro to the Sanctuary of Venus, providing access to the most significant structures for visitors with mobility impairments. Note that ancient paving, uneven surfaces, and narrow spaces are present throughout — full wheelchair access is not possible in all areas.
- Assistance available — contact Tourist Info at Via Villa dei Misteri 2
- Tel: +39 081 8575 347 | pompei.info@cultura.gov.it
- LIS (Italian Sign Language) support available on advance request
- Artebus shuttle to suburban villas is not currently wheelchair equipped
Where to Stay & Parking
The best bases for a Pompeii visit and practical parking advice for visitors arriving by car.
Where to Stay Near Pompeii
Three best bases compared — Pompeii town (5 min walk to the gate), Naples (35 min by train, great food and culture), and Sorrento (30 min by train, ideal for the Amalfi Coast combo).
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Parking at Pompeii
Best car parks near each entrance, typical prices (€5–10/day), disabled parking bays, summer congestion advice, and an honest comparison of driving vs taking the train.
Read the Guide →Getting to Pompeii
Detailed transport guides from every major departure point — with train times, bus routes, driving directions, and honest journey time advice.
Getting to Pompeii from Naples
Circumvesuviana from Naples Porta Nolana to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri: 35–40 minutes, every 30 minutes, €2.80. Campania Express upgrade also covered.
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Getting to Pompeii from Sorrento
The shortest journey from any major base — Circumvesuviana direct to Pompei Scavi, 30–35 minutes. The critical station name warning: never get off at ‘Pompei’ town stop.
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Getting to Pompeii from Rome
High-speed train Rome Termini → Naples Centrale (70 min), then Circumvesuviana to Pompei Scavi (35 min). Step-by-step guide with booking tips for the high-speed leg.
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Getting to Pompeii from Amalfi
No direct train — the best route is SITA bus or ferry to Sorrento, then Circumvesuviana (~90–120 min total). Why you should avoid driving the SS163 in July–August.
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Getting to Pompeii from Positano
SITA bus from Positano to Sorrento (~50 min), then Circumvesuviana to Pompei Scavi (~30 min). Total ~90 minutes. No direct train — guided tour with pick-up is often the easiest option.
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Getting to Pompeii from Salerno
Train from Salerno to Naples (~35 min) then Circumvesuviana, or direct BUSITALIA bus (~50–60 min). Salerno is an excellent underrated base for both Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.
Read the Guide →Pompeii to Mount Vesuvius
The volcano that destroyed Pompeii is 10 km away and easily combined in the same day.
Pompeii to Mount Vesuvius
Bus transfer from Pompeii to Vesuvius car park at 1,000 metres takes 30–40 minutes. Crater hike: 30–45 min up, 20–30 min down. Last entry 5:00 pm in summer. What to bring and what to expect.
Read the Guide →Recommended Schedule: Pompeii + Vesuvius
The most popular single-day combination in the region. Start early — Vesuvius last entry is 5:00 pm in summer.
- 9:00 am — Enter Pompeii at opening, Porta Marina
- 9:00 am – 1:00 pm — 4 hours at Pompeii
- 1:00 – 1:30 pm — Lunch at CHORA café or Pompeii town
- 2:00 pm — Bus from Pompeii to Vesuvius car park (~35 min)
- 2:30 – 4:30 pm — Crater hike + time at the rim
- 5:00 pm — Return bus to base
What to Know Before the Crater Hike
- Sturdy shoes essential — loose gravel crater path, no sandals
- Bring water — no facilities above the car park at 1,000 m
- Bring a light layer — 5–8°C cooler at the rim even in summer
- Check crater closure status on the morning of your visit — closes in strong wind/rain
- Your Pompeii guide cannot enter the National Park — the ascent is self-guided
- National Park entry: €15 adult (included in combo tour packages)
Top Tips for a Great Pompeii Visit
The most important practical advice, distilled from real visitor experience.
Frequently Asked Questions: Planning Your Pompeii Visit
Common questions from visitors planning their first trip to Pompeii.
Explore More of Pompeii
Everything else you need for a great visit.
Tickets & Tours
Skip-the-line entry tickets, guided tours with an archaeologist, private experiences, Pompeii + Vesuvius combos, and day trips from Naples, Rome, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast.
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What to See
The Forum, Villa of the Mysteries, House of the Faun, Amphitheatre, Lupanar, Plaster Casts, and every major Pompeii attraction — with dedicated guides and honest visitor advice.
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