How to visit Pompeii: best tips, schedules, ticket prices

Maybe you don't know that archaeological remains of Pompeii what you can visit near Nápoles, in the south of Italy, extend over a large area, with 45 hectares of excavated land.

Therefore, planning your Pompeii visit will be conditioned to how are you going to get there to the archaeological remains (car, train, bus...) as you have the possibility of accessing them several doors that are found in very different places.

If you want, you can sign up for one of the tours with guide in Spanish that depart from Naples in which they will pick you up at your hotel, where they will drop you off again after the visit of the excavations.

These tours have an advantage and that is that when going accompanied by a guide in Spanish, they will tell you in your language the history of all the places you are visiting, since the ancient roman city de Pompeii It is an enclave full of stories to discover.

How to visit the archaeological remains of Pompeii

But if you want to make one visit on your own, whether arriving by train or bus or in your own car, here we leave you the information you need to know before you go.

What is the duration of the Pompeii visit?

When considering the Pompeii visit, it is not the same that you do it, for example, in the context of a car trip on your own, than, for example, in a visit organized during a cruise that has stopped in the port of Naples.

I will tell you that to have a broad vision of Pompeii and see all essential corners, you should dedicate between five and six hours!!

Yes, when they told me about it when preparing my trip, I didn't pay much attention, but in practice, that was the time I finally dedicated to visit Pompeii.

Therefore, if you are only going to have, for example, a couple of hours, you must first be very clear what to see in Pompeii.

Through which door to enter Pompeii

The main access of entrance to the Pompeii excavations It is done by the so-called Marine Gate.

Although you may find it hard to believe it now, as a curiosity I will tell you that in the 1st century this place was located on the shores of the sea, and currently it delimits the west side of the great archaeological site.

Along with the aforementioned Marine Gate You have the train station of the local commuter line known as Circumvesuviana, which unites Pompeii with Nápoles, and also goes through Herculaneum.

But you may also use other doors to enter or exit the rooms. archaeological remains of the ancient Roman city.

Gate to the Amphitheater square in Pompeii

The main alternative is door to the Amphitheater square.

Located southeast of the archaeological site, this door is accessed from the urban center of the current Pompeii town, whose station is served by regional and national line trains.

Marine Gate in Pompeii

If you prefer, from the center of Pompeii you can connect with Marine Gate taking local bus lines 3 or 4.

And in the rest of the doors, as in the aforementioned, you have car parking.

Buy the Pompeii and Herculaneum combined ticket

If you plan to also visit the archaeological remains of Herculaneum, you are interested buy the combined ticket, which also allows you to see other ancient Roman enclaves in the area.

Plan a tour of the Pompeii excavations

Visit Pompeii is to walk through a roman city, walk streets, see ancient monuments and enter houses.

Therefore, it is advisable that, depending on the time available, you plan your own tour of the excavations.

Where to get the Map of Pompeii to visit the excavations

At the entrance they will give you a brochure with map which will allow you to see how to get to the most prominent places of the excavations.

Pompeii excavation visit schedules

The Pompeii visiting hours They are, from the end of April to October 31, every day of the week, from 9 a.m. to 19 p.m., with last entry at 17,30:XNUMX p.m.

In the period from November to March, the excavations can be visited until 17 p.m., with last admission at 15,30:XNUMX p.m.

The excavations are closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25.

How much does the entrance to Pompeii cost?

The Pompeii ticket prices They are 19 euros and 3 euros for the reduced rate, from which the citizens of the city benefit. European Union between 18 and 25 years old, and 10 euros for evening access from 15,30:XNUMX p.m.

In addition, next to Pompeii you can also visit the nearby excavations of Oplontis, Boscoreale, Castle of Letters and Bear-Free Stabia Archaeological Museum, with supplementary rates of between 3 and 7 euros, with an additional cost for online purchases.

How to visit Pompeii for free

La Entry is free in Pompeii for EU citizens under 18 years of age, as well as for disabled citizens and their family members.

Furthermore, all visitors have free pass all first sunday of every month.

Here you have more detailed information about the different groups that can visit Pompeii for free.

To make good use of the Pompeii visit, it is essential to carry a guide that informs you about the different corners of the excavations.

Therefore, when purchasing tickets, do not forget to ask for the excavation map and the small guide to them, which you have for free in Spanish. They are an essential tool to make your visit.

Likewise, only if you enter and leave through the marine gate, you can rent the service audio guide in spanish.

Of course, keep in mind that the small free Pompeii guide that you can ask for at the entrance, it is actually the audio guide tour guide, which incorporates the exact texts, so if you don't mind reading them, you save on renting the audio guides.