Things to do in Ruins of Pompeii
UNESCO heritage listed since 1997, the ancient Roman city of Pompeii needs no introduction. Famously buried under a layer of volcanic ash and pumice, its detailed archaeological excavations offer an intimate look at Roman life - while also making for one hell of a cautionary tale about living next to a volcano.
Before almighty Vesuvius blew its top in 79 A.D, Pompeii was a rich commercial hub home to more than 10,000 inhabitants, with a dense network of residential buildings, shops and entertainment facilities that included an amphitheatre, multiple thermal spas and a brothel. While some of it still remains interred, most has been uncovered fantastically preserved.
Domenico Fontana accidentally discovered the lost city in 1594 while digging a tunnel, but it was only in 1748 that serious excavation began. Liquid plaster was used to take the place of organic material (including human bodies) creating emotionally fraught scenes. From the Forum, the center of political and social life in the city, to muted frescoes or scrawled graffiti on the walls, you’ll find evidence of a complex modern culture along with poignant details that tell its story.
The ruins of Pompeii are open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, with the last admission at 5:30 pm. There is a bookshop inside the archaeological site to help remember your visit.
Reaching the ruins is very easy by car, all you need to do is take freeway A3 to the Pompei Ovest exit. You will find many parking lots nearby. With the public transport service, the excavations can be reached with the Circumvesuviana, stop Pompei Scavi Villa dei Misteri.
Our recommendations in Ruins of Pompeii
Entrance tickets to the Ruins of Pompeii
Buy your tickets to visit the perfectly preserved ruins of Pompeii and to discover the history of a city stopped in time since 79AD!
Ruins of Pompeii small group tour with a local guide
Explore the UNESCO-listed ruins of Pompeii on this small group tour with an expert guide. Delve into ancient life from 79 AD visiting private and public spaces.
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Private and personalised tour of Pompeii with a local guide
Step into daily Roman life at the UNESCO site of Pompeii on this private tour. With a local guide, visit public and private spaces frozen in time since 79 AD.
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Tour of Pompeii with an archaeologist
Experience a two-hour guided tour of Pompeii with an archaeologist!
en, it, fr, es, de, +1 pt
Entrance tickets to the Ruins of Pompeii
Buy your tickets to visit the perfectly preserved ruins of Pompeii and to discover the history of a city stopped in time since 79AD!
Ruins of Pompeii small group tour with a local guide
Explore the UNESCO-listed ruins of Pompeii on this small group tour with an expert guide. Delve into ancient life from 79 AD visiting private and public spaces.
en, it
Private and personalised tour of Pompeii with a local guide
Step into daily Roman life at the UNESCO site of Pompeii on this private tour. With a local guide, visit public and private spaces frozen in time since 79 AD.
en, it, fr, es, de
Tour of Pompeii with an archaeologist
Experience a two-hour guided tour of Pompeii with an archaeologist!
en, it, fr, es, de, +1 pt
Pompeii Skip-The-Line Tickets with Audioguide
Learn Pompeii's history and its last moments, and access the site to explore the city's remains.
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Pompeii Augmented Reality Tour with Entrance Ticket
Go back in time to explore Pompeii before the terrible eruption and experience augmented reality with special glasses.
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Pompeii self-guided audio tour
Enjoy having your personal on-demand guide provided by this digital solution, explore the streets, houses and ruins that have been incredibly preserved for centuries and discover Pompeii's ruins at your own pace.
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Daily tour to Pompeii with transportation
Book your daily tour to Pompeii with transportation with Musement. Choose your departure time and get your skip-the-line entrance ticket and round trip transportation from Naples to Pompeii.
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Learn Pompeii's history in a fun and interactive way, while exploring the city ruins and listening to wonderful legends and stories from your guide!
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Pompeii guided tour with a local archeologist
Discover Pompeii's ruins with a Vesuvian archaeologist! Visit the ancient houses, the stunning Bath House and the famous Lupanare.
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Pompeii, Sorrento And Positano Private Tour
Discover Pompeii, Sorrento and Positano during this private tour from Naples and immerse yourself in the magical southern Italian atmospheres.
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Discovering Pompei guided tour
Book your guided tour to discover Pompeii today and visit the ancient Roman city with an expert guide!
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Ruins of Pompeii
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Reviews Ruins of Pompeii
“I doubt the guide was an archeologist. The tour time of 2 hrs included sorting the guests into groups, no-one was late, we lost 15 mins. The guide took 2 phone calls. He seemed slow to start, not bothering to walk us to the bits he was describing but saying you can look later, then rushed us through the interesting bits, saying omg constantly as there were other tours in his way. Information he did give us he repeated.”
“Insufficient toilet stops on the long drive to Positano. There was a stop at one and a half hours, but then no further stop until arrival and transfer to minibuses. No toilet at changeover point which was a layby on a narrrow winding road. This changeover point is positively dangerous and would not be allowed in UK. Entry into Pompeii was a disorganised shambles with arguments between guides and site staff about who had been scanned in and who hadn't.”
“Pompei, obviously amazing. Directions/meeting location on the ticket was incorrect and we had to pay for audio guides again, because TUI didn't make the reservation.”
“It was a really good deal to buy the Pompeii tickets online, as it saved us probably half an hour of waiting in the sun.”