Tickets & Tours

Pompeii Tickets & Tours 2026

Everything you need to visit Pompeii — from skip-the-line entry and audio guides to archaeologist-led group tours, private experiences, night visits, and day trips from Naples, Rome, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast.

Explore Ticket Options → Read FAQs

Best for first-time visitors

Guided tour with an archaeologist — expert commentary, skip-the-line entry, group max 20.

Best self-guided option

Entry ticket with audio guide — reserved entry + GPS-triggered digital guide on your phone.

Best day trip combo

Pompeii & Vesuvius — the most popular combination in the region, bookable from Naples, Sorrento, and Rome.

Best budget tip

Free entry on the first Sunday of every month — no booking, first-come first-served.

Pompeii Entry Tickets

Choose the right ticket before you book — the options are simpler than they look.

Entry Ticket with Audio Guide

Reserved skip-the-line entry plus a digital audio guide on your own smartphone — GPS-triggered commentary at every major stop, no device to collect or return. Available in 9 languages. Choose Express (main city, from €34) or Plus (+ Villa of the Mysteries, from €39). Free cancellation up to 24 hours.

Check Availability → Find Out More

Skip the Line Timed Entry

Skip-the-Line Pompeii Tickets

In peak season the ticket purchase queue at Porta Marina can run 30–90 minutes. Any pre-booked ticket bypasses this queue entirely — go straight to the turnstile and scan your QR code. This guide explains exactly what ‘skip-the-line’ means at Pompeii, which entrance to use, and when it matters most.

Book Skip-the-Line → Find Out More

Guided Tours at Pompeii

A 2-hour guided tour covers more meaningful ground than 3 hours alone — here are all your options.

Best Overall Archaeologist Guide Group Max 20

Guided Tour with an Archaeologist

The most popular guided option at Pompeii. A 2-hour walking tour through all major highlights — Forum, Basilica, Thermal Baths, Lupanar, bakery, House of the Faun, Thermopolium, Plaster Casts, theatres, and Temple of Apollo — led by a professional archaeologist. Skip-the-line entry included. Tour ends inside the ruins so you can continue independently. Group maximum 20. Multiple daily departure times from Porta Marina Superiore.

Book This Tour → See All Guided Tour Options

Private Your Group Only Flexible

Private Tour with an Archaeologist

A dedicated archaeologist guide for your group only — no sharing with strangers, your pace throughout, commentary tailored entirely to your interests. The guide meets you at Porta Marina Superiore holding a sign with your name. Route covers the western city: Marina Gate, Forum, Basilica, Stabian Baths, House of Menander, Lupanar, theatres, and Plaster Casts. 2 hours. Operates in any weather.

Book Private Tour → Private Tour Guide

Pompeii Ticket Comparison

All main options side by side — price, what’s included, and who each is for.

Ticket	What’s Included	Price (adult)	Best For	Book
Entry Ticket with Audio Guide (Express)Self-guided, digital guide on your phone	Skip-the-line entry (main city) + digital audio guide	From €34	Independent visitors, any visit length	Book
Entry Ticket with Audio Guide (Plus)Includes Villa of the Mysteries	Skip-the-line entry (main city + villas) + digital audio guide	From €39	Visitors with 5+ hours, Villa of Mysteries priority	Book
Guided Tour with ArchaeologistGroup max 20, 2 hours	Skip-the-line entry + 2-hr archaeologist tour + earpieces	From €55	First-time visitors who want expert context	Book
Small Group Tour with ArchaeologistGYG Originals quality guarantee	Skip-the-line entry + 2-hr tour + satisfaction guarantee	From €45	Visitors wanting guided + quality assurance	Book
Private Tour with ArchaeologistYour group only, 2 hours	Entry + dedicated guide for your group + flexible route	From €89	Families, couples, groups wanting privacy	Book

Pompeii Combination Tours

The two most popular site combinations — both easily done in a single well-paced day.

Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius

The most popular day combination in the region. Pompeii in the morning (3–4 hours), bus transfer to Vesuvius, crater hike to the rim at 1,000 metres — looking back down at the ruins from the volcano that destroyed them. Guided combo tours from Naples, Sorrento, and Rome include lunch. Independent visitors can take the bus transfer directly from Pompeii. Vesuvius last entry: 5:00 pm in summer.

Book Pompeii & Vesuvius → Full Guide

Two UNESCO Sites 15 Min Apart

Pompeii & Herculaneum

Two cities buried by the same eruption but preserved completely differently — Pompeii for the scale of an ancient city, Herculaneum for extraordinary organic preservation (wooden furniture, intact upper storeys, carbonised food). Only 15 minutes apart by Circumvesuviana. Guided combo tours include archaeologist at both sites and train transfer between them. Recommended itinerary: Pompeii 9 am–1 pm, lunch, Herculaneum 2–4 pm.

Book Pompeii & Herculaneum → Full Guide

Mount Vesuvius Tickets

Entry to Vesuvius National Park (€15 adult) plus the bus transfer from Pompeii or Naples. The Skip-the-Line Ticket with Smart Digital Guide adds GPS-triggered commentary for the crater hike.

Herculaneum Tickets & Tours

Herculaneum is 15 minutes from Pompeii by train. Entry ticket €15. A guided tour with an archaeologist transforms the site — wooden partitions, boat sheds, and carbonised food make far more sense with expert context.

Pompeii Ticket Guides

In-depth guides covering every aspect of Pompeii tickets — prices, comparisons, booking, and special access.

Comparison

Pompeii Express vs Plus

Express (€18) covers the entire ancient city. Plus (€25) adds the Villa of the Mysteries and suburban villas. Most visitors should choose Express — here’s how to decide.

Best for: anyone unsure which ticket to book

Pricing

Pompeii Ticket Prices 2026

Official prices: Express €18, Plus €25. EU under-18s free. Full breakdown of all discount categories, free entry days, and official vs GetYourGuide pricing compared.

Best for: checking discounts before you book

Booking

Official Pompeii Website

From March 2026, tickets are sold via Vivaticket (replacing TicketOne). Step-by-step booking guide, what to do when sold out, and how to spot unofficial resellers.

Best for: booking at the lowest official price

Free Entry

Free Entry to Pompeii

First Sunday of every month — free entry, no booking, first-come first-served. EU under-18s free year-round, EU 18–24 discounted. Every free and reduced category explained.

Best for: budget visitors and EU citizens

Self-Guided

Pompeii Audio Guide

Digital app (GYG), official hire device, izi.TRAVEL free app, or Rick Steves podcast — all options compared honestly. Which is worth paying for and which is completely free.

Best for: independent visitors who prefer self-guided

SeasonalSept–Oct

Pompeii Night Tour

Pompeii after dark — September to October, two illuminated routes (Domus Walk + Villa of the Mysteries), theatre performances, €7 per route. A dramatically different atmosphere.

Best for: second visits and summer heat avoiders

Day Trips to Pompeii

Guided tours from every major departure city — with transport, skip-the-line entry, and expert guides included.

From Naples35 Min

Naples to Pompeii Day Tours

The closest city base — 35 minutes by Circumvesuviana. Hotel pick-up options, Pompeii + Vesuvius combos with lunch, and small-group tours with archaeologist guides.

Best combo: Pompeii & Vesuvius with lunch (7–8 hrs)

From Rome2 Hrs

Rome to Pompeii Day Tours

A full 10–11 hour day from Rome — coach from Piazza del Popolo, skip-the-line entry, archaeologist guide. Optional Vesuvius, Herculaneum, or winery lunch add-ons.

Leave Rome by 8:00 am for the best experience

From Sorrento30 Min

Sorrento to Pompeii Tours

30 minutes by Circumvesuviana — the train tour includes round-trip tickets, station assistant, guide on the train, and 2-hour guided site visit. Or add Vesuvius for a full day.

Best value: Skip-the-Line Express Tour by Train

From Amalfi

Amalfi Coast to Pompeii

Multiple Amalfi Coast pickup points (Amalfi, Maiori, Minori, Praiano). Departs ~7:30–8:25 am — the guided tour handles all coastal road logistics. DIY route via Sorrento also explained.

Avoid July–August driving — tour is faster

From Positano

Positano to Pompeii Tours

Pick-up directly from your Positano accommodation — small group (max 10), archaeologist guide, skip-the-line entry. Available 7:55 am or 10:55 am. No direct train from Positano.

Max 10 people — books out fast in summer

All Cities

All Pompeii Day Trips

Complete guide to day trips from every departure city — Naples, Rome, Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, and Salerno — with full tour details, DIY transport routes, and journey times.

Hub guide for all departure cities

Essential Booking Tips

What every visitor should know before buying a Pompeii ticket.

📅

Book in advance. Pompeii has a 20,000-visitor daily cap with timed entry slots from mid-March to mid-October. July and August regularly sell out. Book at least 3–7 days ahead in summer; further for weekends and bank holidays.

🪪

All tickets are nominative. Since November 2024, every Pompeii ticket is issued in the visitor’s name. ID is checked at the entrance — bring the same document you used when booking. Name must match exactly.

⏰

Arrive within your time slot. You must arrive within 15 minutes before or after your booked entry time. Late arrivals may be refused. For guided tours, build buffer time from your transport to the meeting point.

💳

Official vs GetYourGuide. Official site (pompeiisites.org → Vivaticket) gives the lowest price (€18/€25) but releases only 45 days ahead and sells no guided tours. GetYourGuide books up to 6 months ahead, includes guided tours, and offers free cancellation.

📱

Screenshot your QR code. Mobile signal at the Pompeii entrances can be weak. Screenshot the QR code before arriving — or save it to your phone’s wallet. No printing required.

🎟️

When sold out, try GetYourGuide or Tiqets. Both authorised resellers operate from separate allocations and often have availability when the official site shows nothing. Cancellations are also released back into Vivaticket throughout the day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pompeii Tickets

Common questions about entry, tours, booking, and choosing the right ticket.

The Guided Tour with an Archaeologist is the best choice for most first-time visitors. A 2-hour expert-led tour covers all major highlights — Forum, Thermal Baths, Lupanar, Houses of the Faun and Vettii, Plaster Casts, and the theatres — with context that transforms ruins into a living story. The tour ends inside the ruins so you can continue independently afterwards. If you prefer self-guided, the Entry Ticket with Audio Guide (GPS-triggered digital guide on your smartphone) is the best independent option.

Pompeii Express (official €18) covers the entire main archaeological city — all 66 hectares across 9 districts. Pompeii Plus (official €25) adds three suburban villas accessible via the free Artebus shuttle: Villa of the Mysteries, Villa of Diomedes, and Villa Regina at Boscoreale. Express is right for most visitors. Plus is only worth booking if you have 5+ hours and can arrive before the last entry cutoff (5:30 pm in summer, 3:30 pm in winter).

Use the official site (pompeiisites.org → Vivaticket from March 2026) if you want the lowest price (€18/€25) and are booking within 45 days of your visit. Use GetYourGuide if you want a guided tour (the official site does not sell them), are booking more than 45 days ahead, the official site is sold out, or you need free cancellation flexibility. GetYourGuide prices are higher (from €34 for entry + audio guide) because they include the service fee and digital audio guide.

Yes — but specifically the ticket purchase queue, not the security check. In peak season the purchase queue at Porta Marina can be 30–90 minutes long. Any pre-booked ticket lets you go straight to the turnstile and scan your QR code. Everyone still passes through a bag security check (5–10 minutes) regardless of ticket type. Individual popular buildings inside — the Lupanar, House of the Vettii — also have their own queues that no ticket bypasses.

Yes — it is the most popular day combination in the region. Standard schedule: arrive at Pompeii at 9:00 am, explore for 3–4 hours, lunch, then bus transfer to Vesuvius (30–40 minutes) for the afternoon crater hike. Guided combo tours from Naples, Sorrento, and Rome manage all logistics and include lunch. Note: Vesuvius last entry is 5:00 pm in summer — arrive by 3:00 pm at the latest.

Official Vivaticket tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. GetYourGuide tickets for most Pompeii products offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the visit date. If you need flexibility, always book through GetYourGuide rather than the official site.

If the official site (Vivaticket) shows no availability, check GetYourGuide and Tiqets — both authorised resellers operate from separate ticket allocations and often have availability when the official site does not. Cancellations are also released back into Vivaticket throughout the day. For walk-up entry, ticket offices at Porta Marina and Piazza Anfiteatro open at 8:30 am — arrive by 8:00 am in peak season.

Yes, for first-time visitors. Pompeii covers 66 hectares with minimal on-site signage — without a guide, most visitors spend their time looking at ancient walls without understanding what they are seeing. A 2-hour guided tour with an archaeologist consistently covers more meaningful ground than 3 hours alone, because the guide provides context, knows the optimal route, and knows exactly when to visit each building to avoid internal queues. The tour ends inside the ruins so you can continue independently for another 1–3 hours.

Book at least 3–7 days in advance in peak season (April–October), and at least 2 weeks ahead for July and August weekends. The official site (Vivaticket) only releases tickets 45 days ahead, so for trips planned further in advance, book through GetYourGuide which accepts reservations up to 6 months out. The first Sunday of every month is free entry — no advance booking is possible for free Sundays, and the site is significantly more crowded than usual.

View All Pompeii Ticket Guides →

Explore More of Pompeii

Everything you need to plan the perfect visit.

Plan Your Visit

Opening hours, best entrance, essential tips, where to stay, transport from Naples, Rome, Sorrento, Amalfi, and Positano — everything for a well-planned day.

Plan Your Visit →

What to See

The Forum, Villa of the Mysteries, House of the Faun, Amphitheatre, Lupanar, Plaster Casts — every major Pompeii attraction with dedicated guides and visitor advice.

Explore Attractions →