The standard Pompeii Express adult ticket costs €20. The Pompeii Plus ticket (which includes suburban villas) costs €36 for adults. EU citizens aged 18–24 pay €16 (Plus) or a reduced rate. Children under 18 pay €8, and EU citizens under 18 enter free. Entry is free for all on the first Sunday of every month.
Pompeii’s ticketing system is straightforward once you understand the structure — but there are enough variables (ticket types, age discounts, free days, guided tour add-ons) to cause confusion if you are not prepared. This guide gives you a complete, up-to-date breakdown of every Pompeii ticket price for 2026, what each ticket includes, who qualifies for discounts, and which option gives you the best value for your visit.
Top Tickets
# Entry Ticket with Audio Guide
# Guided Tour with an Archaeologist
# 2-Hour Small Group Tour
Table of Contents
Pompeii Ticket Prices at a Glance (2026)
What is the cheapest way to visit Pompeii? The cheapest paid option is the Pompeii Express standard adult ticket at €20. Free entry is available on the first Sunday of every month for all visitors, and year-round for EU citizens under 18 and certain disability categories.
Pompeii Express (Main Site Only)
- Adult (18+ years): €20
- EU citizen (18–24 years): Reduced rate — check official site for current price
- Child (under 18): €8
- EU citizen (under 18): With audio guide add-on: Approximately €5 extra at the gate, or included in the Entry Ticket with Audio Guide booked in advance
Pompeii Plus (Main Site + Suburban Villas)
- Adult (18+ years): €36
- EU citizen (18–24 years): €16
- Child (under 18): €8
- EU citizen (under 18): Free
The Plus ticket adds access to the Villa of the Mysteries, Villa of Diomedes, and Villa Regina in Boscoreale (with Antiquarium). If you are planning a full-day visit of 5+ hours, the Plus ticket gives significant extra value.
Guided Tours
- Entry Ticket with Audio Guide: From €34 adult — includes entry + self-guided audio. Buy This Ticket
- Guided Tour with Archaeologist (small group): From €55 adult — includes entry + 2-hour expert guide. Book This Tour
- 2-Hour Small Group Tour: From €45 adult — capped at 20 people for a more personal experience. Book This Tour
What Is Included in the Pompeii Entry Ticket?
What does a standard Pompeii ticket include? The standard Pompeii Express ticket gives access to the full main archaeological site — all streets, houses, temples, baths, the Forum, Amphitheatre, and current exhibitions including the Antiquarium and the plaster casts. It does not include the suburban villas (Villa of the Mysteries etc.), which require the Pompeii Plus ticket.
Both Express and Plus tickets include:
- Full access to the main archaeological site of Pompeii (all 9 regio areas)
- Entry to the Antiquarium and the 2025 Plaster Casts permanent exhibition
- Access to current temporary exhibitions within the site
- Free map at the entrance
- Free luggage storage and cloakroom at all three entrances
- Free wheelchair loan (subject to availability)
The Plus ticket additionally includes: Villa of the Mysteries, Villa of Diomedes, Villa Regina in Boscoreale + Antiquarium (via the free Pompeii Artebus shuttle). See the full Pompeii Express vs Plus comparison for a detailed breakdown.
Free Entry to Pompeii: Who Qualifies?
When is Pompeii free to enter? Pompeii is free for all visitors on the first Sunday of every month (Domenica al Museo initiative). Year-round free entry applies to EU citizens under 18, EU citizens with disabilities and a carer, and EU tour guides with a valid licence. Non-EU children under 12 also enter free.
- First Sunday of every month: Free for all visitors — but this is the busiest day of the month. See our full free entry guide.
- EU citizens under 18: Free year-round on presentation of EU ID
- EU citizens with disabilities + carer: Free year-round
- Non-EU children under 12: Free
- EU tour guides on duty: Free with valid licence
Do Pompeii Tickets Sell Out?
Yes — especially from April to October. Pompeii has a daily cap of 20,000 visitors and timed entry slots in peak season. Tickets regularly sell out for popular dates, particularly weekends and holidays. Booking in advance via GetYourGuide or the official site is strongly recommended.
Pompeii operates a daily visitor cap of 20,000 people and timed entry slots from mid-March to mid-October. Two time bands apply in peak season: 9:00 am–1:00 pm (up to 15,000 admissions) and 1:00 pm–5:30 pm (up to 5,000 admissions). The afternoon band fills first among walk-up visitors. Booking in advance through GetYourGuide or the official Pompeii website guarantees your slot and skips the ticket purchase queue entirely.
Are Pompeii Tickets Cheaper at the Gate?
No — tickets cost the same whether purchased at the gate or online. The advantage of online booking is not saving money but saving time: with a pre-booked ticket you go directly to the turnstile. At the gate in peak season, the ticket purchase queue alone can take 30–45 minutes. There is no financial incentive to buy on the day.
Combined Tickets: Pompeii + Other Sites
A 3-day combined ticket covers Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis, Boscoreale, and Stabiae at a discounted price — excellent value for multi-day visits. Individual site tickets can also be combined:
- Pompeii & Herculaneum Combo Tours — includes both sites in one guided day
- Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Tours — the most popular day combination
- Mount Vesuvius Tickets — standalone Vesuvius entry if visiting separately
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I can’t use my Pompeii ticket?
GetYourGuide tickets typically allow cancellation up to 24 hours before the visit for a full refund. The official Pompeii ticketing platform (Vivaticket) has stricter policies — check at the time of purchase. See the official Pompeii website guide for details.
Are tickets nominative (in my name)?
Yes — since 2023 all Pompeii tickets are nominative. You must enter the visitor’s name when purchasing and bring ID on the day. This applies to tickets booked through any platform including GetYourGuide and the official site.
Is the audio guide included in the ticket price?
Not in the standard Express or Plus ticket — the audio guide is an add-on at the gate (approximately €5) or included in the Entry Ticket with Audio Guide booked through GetYourGuide. See our audio guide comparison for whether it is worth it.
