Pompeii has three entrance gates (Porta Marina, Piazza Anfiteatro, Piazza Esedra), free cloakroom at each entrance (max 30×30×15 cm bags inside), toilets at entrances and select interior points, two on-site cafés (CHORA café near the Forum, Autogrill at Porta Marina), an official bookshop, free audio guide device hire desk at Porta Marina Superiore, a free Artebus shuttle connecting the main site to the suburban villas and other Vesuvian sites, and a dedicated accessibility route (Pompeii for All).
Pompeii covers 66 hectares. Knowing where the toilets are, what you can and cannot bring in, how to get between the main city and the suburban villas, and what food is available inside means you can focus entirely on the site rather than logistics. This page covers all of it.
Top Tickets
# Entry Ticket with Audio Guide
# Guided Tour with an Archaeologist
# 2-Hour Small Group Tour
Table of Contents
Entrances
How many entrances does Pompeii have? Pompeii has three main entrances open to visitors: Porta Marina Superiore (Via Villa dei Misteri 2 — closest to the Circumvesuviana station, used by most visitors), Piazza Anfiteatro (south-east entrance, near the Amphitheatre — useful for visitors wanting to start in Region I), and Piazza Esedra (also called Porta Nola entrance — used by many guided tours and for Artebus shuttle access). Historic gates such as Porta Vesuvio and Porta Nocera are not in regular visitor use.
Porta Marina Superiore
- Location: Via Villa dei Misteri 2 — 5-minute walk from Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri train station
- Best for: Most visitors arriving by train; guided tours meeting at Askos Tours sign; audio guide desk collection
- Facilities here: Cloakroom, toilets, bookshop, audio guide desk, ticket office
Piazza Anfiteatro
- Location: South-east corner of the site
- Best for: Visitors starting with the Amphitheatre and Region I; night tour Route A
- Facilities here: Cloakroom, toilets, ticket office
Piazza Esedra (Porta Nola)
- Location: North-east entrance
- Best for: Guided tours that meet here; Artebus shuttle departures to Villa of Mysteries and Boscoreale
- Facilities here: Cloakroom, toilets, bookshop
See our full entrances guide for which entrance to use depending on how you arrive and where you want to start.
Cloakroom & Bag Storage
Free cloakroom service is available at all three main entrances. Bags, backpacks, and luggage exceeding 30×30×15 cm are not permitted inside the site and must be deposited at the cloakroom. This limit is strictly enforced at peak times — large backpacks and suitcases will be turned away at the turnstile.
- Cost: Free
- Maximum bag size inside: 30×30×15 cm
- Items not permitted inside: Large bags, suitcases, selfie sticks, tripods, professional recording equipment, animals over 10 kg
Toilets
Toilets are available at all three main entrance gates and at select points within the site. Most are free; a small charge (€0.50) applies at some interior facilities. The on-site CHORA café has toilets accessible to customers. Plan toilet stops at the entrances rather than hoping to find facilities mid-route — interior provision is limited.
Familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations for visitors, and enjoy convenient dining and refreshment spots within Pompeii. For a complete experience, you’ll also find nearby hotels for a comfortable stay after a day of exploration.
On-Site Food & Drink
Is there food inside Pompeii? Yes — there are two cafés inside the site. CHORA café (behind the Temple of Jupiter, near the Forum) is the main on-site café and is consistently well-reviewed. It serves seasonal Campanian food — charcuterie, cheese, pizzas, sandwiches, wine, coffee, and ice cream. Autogrill Pompeii Café at Porta Marina offers standard café fare. Both are crowded at peak times (12:00–2:00 pm).
CHORA Café
- Location: Behind the Temple of Jupiter, near the Forum — roughly central on the main circuit
- Menu: Coffees from €2, sandwiches and pizza from €4–€9.50, wine and cocktails from €4.50, ice cream from €3.50
- Style: Seasonal, local products — charcuterie, wines, cheeses, authentic Campanian dishes. Table service available
- Best time to visit: Before 11:30 am or after 2:00 pm — the lunchtime queue is significant in peak season
Autogrill Pompeii Café
- Location: At Porta Marina entrance
- Style: Standard motorway-café fare — coffee, sandwiches, bottled drinks
- Note: Lower-rated than CHORA; use for a quick coffee before or after entry rather than lunch
Water Fountains
Drinking water fountains are located at the main entrances and at several points within the site. Bring a reusable bottle — Pompeii is very exposed to sun in summer and dehydration is a genuine risk on full-day visits.
For food options outside Pompeii — before or after your visit — see our dining and refreshment guide.
Audio Guide Desk
If you have booked a ticket that includes a hired audio guide device (rather than the GYG digital app), collect and return the device at the official audio guide desk, Via Villa dei Misteri n.2, Porta Marina Superiore — next to the ticket office. A valid ID is required as a deposit. Bluetooth headphones do not work with the official device. The device must be returned to the same desk before you exit.
Wondering how to reach Pompeii from different locations? Whether you’re coming from Rome, Naples, Amalfi, Sorrento, or Positano, we’ve gathered the best travel options to make your journey easy and hassle-free.
Pompeii Artebus Shuttle
What is the Pompeii Artebus? The Pompeii Artebus is a free shuttle service connecting the main Pompeii archaeological site to the suburban villas (Villa of the Mysteries, Villa Regina at Boscoreale) and to the wider Vesuvian circuit sites. It departs from Piazza Esedra. Timetables are posted at the departure point and on pompeiisites.org. The shuttle is free with a valid Pompeii Plus or circuit ticket; no wheelchair access is currently available on the shuttle.
- Departure point: Piazza Esedra (Porta Nola entrance)
- Stops: Villa of the Mysteries, Villa Regina (Boscoreale), and other Vesuvian circuit sites
- Cost: Free with valid Pompeii Plus ticket or 3-day circuit ticket
- Schedule: Posted at Piazza Esedra and on pompeiisites.org — check before visiting as times vary by season
- Note: Not equipped for wheelchair access
Accessibility: Pompeii for All
The ‘Pompeii for All’ route is a dedicated accessibility path running approximately 3.5 km from Piazza Anfiteatro to the Sanctuary of Venus. The route provides access to the most significant structures for visitors with mobility impairments, using ramps and improved surfaces where possible. Note that ancient paving, uneven surfaces, ramps exceeding 8% gradient, and narrow spaces are present throughout the site — full wheelchair accessibility is not possible in all areas.
- Route length: Approximately 3.5 km
- Start/end: Piazza Anfiteatro entrance
- For assistance: Contact the Tourist Information Office at Via Villa dei Misteri 2 (tel: +39 081 8575 347)
- Deaf visitors: Pompeii collaborates with the National Agency for the Deaf to provide LIS (Italian Sign Language) specialist support — contact the Park in advance
Train & Bus Connections
By Train (Most Common)
- Circumvesuviana — Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri station: 5-minute walk to Porta Marina entrance. Naples to Pompeii: 35–40 min; Sorrento to Pompeii: 30–35 min. Trains every 30 min, 5:30 am–9:30 pm
- Campania Express: Premium tourist train on the same Circumvesuviana line — air-conditioned, reserved seating, luggage space. Seasonal; faster (approx. 30 min from Naples)
By Bus
- SITA bus from Naples: 6:00 am–8:00 pm. Two stops: Villa dei Misteri (near Porta Marina) and Piazza Anfiteatro
- BUSITALIA from Salerno: Regular service; Piazza Esedra stop
By Car
See our full parking at Pompeii guide for the best lots near each entrance, pricing, and tips for arriving by car.
Bookshop
The official bookshop is at the Piazza Esedra entrance and Antiquarium. It stocks scientific and popular publications on Pompeii and the Vesuvian sites, site maps, and replica artefacts. A useful purchase before your visit is the official Pompeii site guide (available in multiple languages) which provides a house-by-house plan of the entire excavation.
