Pompeii Travel Guide: Visiting the Buried Roman City

Pompeii is the most significant archaeological site in Italy and one of the most important in the world. In 79 AD, a two-day eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the thriving Roman city of around 20,000 people under several metres of volcanic material, preserving it largely intact beneath. Excavations since the 18th century have exposed about two-thirds of the city; the rest remains unexcavated. Our dedicated Pompeii history and site guide goes deeper into the story of the eruption, how the city was preserved, and what the finds tell us about Roman daily life — worth reading before or after your visit.

What the Site Is

Pompeii is an entire Roman city — streets, houses, temples, theatres, brothels, bakeries, taverns — frozen at the moment of the eruption. The preservation of everyday objects and structures gives an understanding of Roman urban life unavailable anywhere else. The plaster casts of victims caught in the eruption’s pyroclastic surge are among the most affecting objects in any archaeological context.

What to See

The Forum is the civic and religious heart of the city — start here for orientation. The Villa of the Mysteries (northwest edge of the site) contains the most famous surviving Roman fresco cycle, depicting initiation into a mystery cult. The Lupanare is the best-preserved Roman brothel in existence, with explicit paintings above each room. The House of the Faun is the largest private house, with a famous floor mosaic copy (the original is in Naples).

The Amphitheatre (80 AD, the oldest surviving stone amphitheatre in the Roman world) is in the eastern part of the site, often missed by visitors who don’t walk far enough. The House of the Tragic Poet has the famous Cave Canem (Beware of the Dog) mosaic.

The Archaeological Museum in Naples

The best Pompeian material is not at the site — it’s at the Museo Nazionale Archeologico in Naples, which holds the most important mosaics, sculptures, and the Secret Room (erotic material from the site). A visit to Naples and the museum makes Pompeii significantly more comprehensible.

Getting There

By train: Circumvesuviana from Naples Centrale or Sorrento to Pompei Scavi station. From Naples: 40 minutes. From Sorrento: 30 minutes. By car: parking is available near the main entrance, though traffic around the site is heavy in peak season.

Herculaneum

The smaller and better-preserved site of Herculaneum (Ercolano, reachable on the same Circumvesuviana line) is often a better experience for first-time visitors — smaller in scale, easier to navigate, and with more intact upper storeys and organic materials preserved by the different way the pyroclastic flow hit it. Consider combining both or choosing Herculaneum if time is limited.

Tickets and entry fees

Pompeii Parco Archeologico: Entry approximately €18 as of 2026. Combined ticket with Herculaneum, Oplontis, Stabia, and Boscoreale approximately €30. Book online at ticketing.parcopompeii.it — queues at the box office can exceed an hour in summer. Open daily 9am–7pm (April–October), 9am–5pm (November–March). Last entry 2 hours before closing.

Herculaneum: Entry approximately €13 (or covered by the combined ticket). Open same hours as Pompeii.

Where to eat near the site

The area immediately around the main entrance (Porta Marina) has tourist restaurants of mixed quality. Better options are in the modern town of Pompei (note: the town is spelled without a double ‘i’) a short walk from the site:

Ristorante Principe (Piazza Bartolo Longo 8 — Neapolitan cuisine, mains approximately €14–18) is a reliable mid-range choice. Il Principe has a strong regional wine list and serves pizza alongside proper Campanian pasta dishes. For lighter eating, the bars along Via Roma sell pizza al taglio and pastries at standard Italian prices.

Where to stay

Most visitors day-trip from Naples or the Amalfi Coast, but staying in Pompeii itself allows an early start before the crowds. Budget options in the modern town from approximately €50–80/night. Hotel Amleto (Via Bartolo Longo 10 — doubles from approximately €70/night) is close to the archaeological site entrance. Hotel Forum (Via Roma 99 — doubles from approximately €85/night) is another central option with reasonable reviews.

For a higher-end base: Sorrento (30 minutes by Circumvesuviana, from approximately €100–200/night) and Naples (40 minutes, from approximately €60/night) offer more accommodation choice and access to the Amalfi Coast as well as Pompeii.

Getting to Herculaneum on the same day

The Circumvesuviana stops at Ercolano Scavi between Naples and Pompeii. If combining both sites in a day, start early at Herculaneum (allow 2–3 hours), take the train to Pompeii (approximately 20 minutes, approximately €2.50), and spend the afternoon there. Herculaneum is far smaller and easier to cover quickly. The combined ticket saves money if visiting both.

For guided tours with skip-the-line access and expert commentary, our Pompeii tours guide covers the main options from Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Book a guided Pompeii tour with a licensed archaeologist to cover the Forum, Villa of the Mysteries, and the plaster cast victims in a single efficient visit. For full Naples logistics, accommodation, and the Museo Nazionale (which holds the finest Pompeii finds), see our Naples travel guide. For the deeper history of the eruption and what Pompeii tells us about Roman daily life, our Pompeii history guide is worth reading before you visit.