Guided tours of Pompeii

Is it worth doing a guided tour of Pompeii?

It depends on what you are looking for. A guide gives you a route and a narrative; on your own you have freedom of time and only spend on the ticket.

Tours with an archaeologist cover the Forum, temples, baths and some frescoed houses in two or three hours, then leave you in the excavations. As long as you don't leave, you can stay until closing time, because the ticket is valid for one entry only. Some tours include free time in the programme, such as the tour with secret excavations option.

On your own you decide the order and the breaks. Audio guides are the middle ground: we talk more about them below.

What guided tours are there in the excavations of Pompeii?

Five options with an archaeologist, from 2 to 3 hours, all with the ticket included. The group, the ticket and the meeting point vary.

The listing for the tour with archaeologist and ticket mentions an archaeologist who is also a licensed guide; the small-group one mentions an official Pompeii guide with archaeology training. The tour with the secret excavations option is in English.

Two hours with an archaeologist among the Forum, temples, houses and baths, up to the casts of the victims, with access to the new excavations and the ticket included.

★ 4.9 · 2 - 3.5 hours · from $48

Discover the tour with the new excavations → Tour details

Is there a guided tour with the Villa of the Mysteries?

Yes: among the options we highlight it is the only one with the Pompei+ ticket, the one that includes the suburban villas.

It is three hours with an archaeologist, in six languages: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. The programme in the listing, which may change, covers the House of the Vettii, the Large Theatre, the House of the Faun, the Lupanar, the House of Menander and the Forum, then reaches the Villa of the Mysteries, where the guide explains the frescoes. The meeting point is at the Porta Marina Superiore entrance, with an «ASKOS TOURS» sign.

The listing asks for closed and comfortable shoes, no flip-flops and a document.

How to visit Pompeii from Naples, Sorrento or Rome?

With an organised day trip: bus from Naples, train from Sorrento, coach from Rome. All three include the Pompeii ticket and a guide.

• From Naples:air-conditioned bus from Starhotels Terminus in Piazza Garibaldi, guide and Pompeii ticket. With the full-day option, the crater of Vesuvius is added, with the ticket for the National Park, and lunch with pizza and drinks. From $59, 3.5 - 8 hours.
• From Sorrento:local train return ticket, valid all day, station assistant, two-hour guided tour and ticket. After the tour, you can stay in the excavations. From $57.
• From Rome:coach from Piazza del Popolo, Pompeii with an archaeologist, a scenic stretch along the Amalfi Coast and free time in Sorrento with limoncello tasting; lunch excluded. From $94, 12 - 13 hours.

Bring a document: the day trip from Naples requires it on the day of travel, the one from Sorrento also for the children’s age.

Does the Park organise guided tours?

Yes, two themed routes: «Pompei civica» and «Pompei quotidiana», each about one and a half hours long.

They cost €8 plus the entry ticket and are free for children under 10. Details are on the Park's page for individual visitors.

Is it possible to visit Pompeii without a guide?

Yes. With the ticket you enter and explore on your own; if you want commentary, use an audio guide.

Beware of the regulations: Article 6 prohibits entry with audio guide devices other than those of the Park’s official concessionaires or authorised parties. Official audio guides can be rented at Porta Marina, Piazza Esedra and Porta Anfiteatro: €9, €14 for two, €5 for children, with a document.

On GetYourGuide, the ticket with audio guide involves collection at the audio guide desk near the ticket office. The ticket with audio guide and map uses a device which, according to the listing, is the only one officially authorised by the Park for tour operators. The ticket with app includes an audio guide to use on your phone, with a digital map: bring headphones.

The ticket, an audio guide device in five languages and a map, to be collected at the office on the first floor of the Circumvesuviana station. Standard jack headphones are required.

★ 4.0 · Valid 1 day · from $41

Discover the ticket with audio guide and map → Tour details

What do you need for a guided tour of Pompeii?

First name and last name of each participant and a valid document, even for children. The ticket is named and the names must match.

• Names in advance:some tours ask for them at booking, others the day before.
• An ID for adults and children; for the tour with archaeologist, a photo is also acceptable.
• Comfortable shoes and water: the Park talks of considerable physical effort.
• Mobility:most of the tours we highlight are not suitable for wheelchair users, and some do not accept strollers.

How long does a guided tour of Pompeii last?

From 2 to 3 hours in the excavations; a day trip from Rome lasts 12-13 hours.

The Park recommends at least 2-3 hours, so a guided tour covers the minimum and leaves the rest to you. In the tour with the secret excavations option, the programme includes half an hour of free time at the amphitheatre and half an hour at the House of the Faun. Keep an eye on closing time: last entry at 17:30 until 14 October, at 15:30 from 15 October to 15 March.

Frequently asked questions