Pompeii has a dynamic similar to that of other common cities today: it has its alleys, its residences, its temples and buildings for common use, but the difference, of course, is that it is a city with more than 2 thousand years of history, which It persists to the present day with well-preserved ruins. The tour of the archaeological site is dedicated to exploring the ancient city, admiring its constructions, visiting some buildings internally, observing works of art and objects used in the Roman period.
The tour is on foot and as it is a very extensive archaeological site, it takes a long time to get to know it, especially for those who are more curious about understanding local history. I recommend a full day for the tour because there are many peculiarities of the place and the tour deserves to be taken slowly.
The archaeological site is divided into 9 areas, has 3 entrance gates and 4 exit gates. In each area there are different attractions that can be visited and as the amount of things to see is quite large, each person can take a different route.
At the entrance to the site you will find information and pamphlets about different suggested routes for visiting — there are suggested itineraries through the park with 2h, 3h, 4h and 7h tours. The time it takes each person to visit the place depends largely on personal interest. In my case, it was around 6 hours of walking.
Inside the archaeological site there is a cafeteria and restaurants, so it is possible to spend the whole day there and stop to eat when you see fit.
As this is a place with an important historical bias, it is a tour that many people take with a guide and it is really an excellent option to get to know the place more thoroughly, understand the context and how history happened. When hiring a guide, you can explain how long you want to take the guided tour, so that he or she can create an itinerary that includes some interesting points, and then get to know a little more about Pompeii on your own.
Many tourists visit Pompeii on a guided tour and for those traveling independently, it is possible to take a guided tour by hiring an accredited guide at the park entrance. This guided tour can be shared with other visitors, or privately and is offered in different languages.
For a tour in Portuguese, I recommend that a guide be hired in advance, before visiting the archaeological site – Check out some good options here. If you prefer to take the guided tour in English, you can hire a guide at the entrance to Pompeii.
What to see in Pompeii
Some places arouse more curiosity within Pompeii, including:
-
Casa dei Vettii – one of the most beautiful houses with rich internal paintings
-
House of the Faun – one of the largest houses in Pompeii, with a mosaic reading “Have” or “welcome” in Latin
-
House of the Tragic Poet – this house is famous for a mosaic at the entrance, which in Latin says “beware of the dog”
-
Civil Forum: it is the heart of the city, where the city's public administration and justice buildings of the time are located. In this region are, for example, the temple of Giove and the Sanctuary of Apollo.
-
Amphitheater – built in 70 BC, the place could house up to 20 thousand spectators at its shows
-
Casa dei mosaici geometrici (house of geometric mosaics) – huge house in Pompeii, with more than 60 rooms
-
Villa dei Misteri – this village has well-preserved frescoes, beautiful decorations on the walls and even an area where wines were produced
How to get to Pompeii
The A3 Naples-Salerno motorway is the route used for those traveling by car. For those who want to use buses, it is possible to use the SITA service (leaving from Naples or Salerno, for example) and Busitalia. The most practical and used way, however, is usually the train, and you can read more information about it below.
How to get from Rome to Pompeii by train
- For those who intend to visit Pompeii from Rome, the tip is to start the day very early, taking a train from Trenitalia to Napoli Centrale, Naples' main train station. The journey takes around 1h10 on the fastest trains.
- In Naples, you need to buy a second ticket for the local train line, the Circumvesuviana Napoli-Sorrento.
- Access is at Napoli Garibaldi station (next to Napoli Centrale) and disembarkation to visit Pompeii should be at Pompei Villa dei Misteri station.
The really negative side of traveling by train is that as it is a form of transport used by residents, it tends to be full, especially in the morning, on the route from Naples to Sorrento, and in the late afternoon on the route from Sorrento to Naples. Many people travel the entire train journey standing because there is no space to sit.
Pompeii Tips
– Opening hours of the archaeological site of Pompeii:
Spring-Summer: From April 1st to October 31st: Monday to Friday, from 9am to 7:30pm (entrance until 6pm) and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am to 7:30pm (6pm last entry on site)
Autumn-Winter: From November 1st to March 31st: Monday to Friday. From 9am to 5pm (last entry at 3:30pm) and Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am to 5pm (last entry at 3:30pm). These reduced hours are due to the fact that during the European winter there are fewer hours of sunlight.
– Entrance to Pompeii: €16.
Entrance to 3 archaeological sites: Pompeii, Oplontis and Boscoreale, €18 (ticket valid for 3 consecutive days).
– Pompeii is a large archaeological site, which is known through hiking. Therefore, on the day of your visit, wear appropriate clothing for outdoor trips, avoid carrying heavy backpacks and wear comfortable shoes! The streets of the archaeological site are made of stone and dirt, so it is best to wear closed-toe shoes, such as sneakers, which will provide more comfort.
– There is a restaurant and café inside the Pompeii archaeological site, so you can spend the whole day there calmly, make leisurely stops to eat and then continue your tour. The food area is closed, there is a cafeteria for quicker foods such as panini, sandwiches, juices, coffee and also a restaurant with pizza and lasagna, for example. At lunch time the place gets busy, so it might be a good idea to plan to eat a little earlier or a little later than your usual lunch time.
– The archaeological site is entirely open and outdoors, if possible, choose to go to the site on a day with little chance of rain.
– If your visit will be made during high season or even on a weekend, try to arrive at the place as soon as the archaeological site opens to find it emptier.
– The Circumvesuviana line train takes around 35 minutes to go from Naples to Pompei Scavi Vila dei Misteri, a station located at one of the entrances to the archaeological site of Pompeii. The train is usually quite crowded, so if this is your way of traveling to visit Pompeii, be patient and be prepared to stand on the train.
And you, have you been to Pompeii or do you want to visit it? Share your experience with us.
