Pompeii

Italy Updated Oct 2026

On Pompeii’s basalt streets, cart grooves catch the light; beyond the excavation walls, bells ring from the modern town of Pompei. In Pompeii, Italy, a Roman city buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD and a modern pilgrimage center share the same small patch of Campania.

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Pompeii, Italy Photo: Cristian Salinas Cisternas / Pexels
Attractions
12
Audio
8 h 6 min
Trip length
1–2 days
Best season
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October)

Why Pompeii

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The ancient city’s civic heart still points toward Vesuvius: the Forum stretches 157 meters by 38, framed by colonnades, temples, and the old law courts. At the southeastern edge, an amphitheatre built around 70 BC held up to 20,000 spectators.

Private rooms bring the city closer than its grand monuments do. The House of the Vettii preserves vivid mythological frescoes, while a newly excavated snack bar has painted ducks and a rooster above the counter where food was served.

Modern Pompei gathers around the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, established by Bartolo Longo in the late 19th century. Its bells and evening foot traffic make clear that Pompeii is not only a Roman city stopped in time, but a living town shaped by what came after.

  • A Roman city at street level

    Pompeii’s Forum, Basilica, shops and homes sit inside a walkable street grid, where basalt paving and raised stepping stones still shape how you move. Look north from the Forum: Vesuvius holds the view, less backdrop than the reason this city stopped in 79 AD.

  • Rooms made for looking

    The House of the Vettii pairs mythological frescoes with a garden once ringed by columns; outside Porta Ercolano, the Villa of the Mysteries sets life-sized figures against deep Pompeian red. The paintings bring private rooms startlingly close, even as the people who commissioned them remain out of reach.

  • Theatre, then and now

    Pompeii’s stone amphitheatre, built around 70 BC, predates Rome’s Colosseum and could hold about 20,000 spectators. The nearby Large Theatre still hosts performances, so the old entertainment quarter sometimes fills with live voices again.

  • A second Pompei

    Modern Pompei grew around the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Rosario, founded in the late 19th century by Bartolo Longo. Its 80-metre bell tower looks over the excavations toward Vesuvius, joining a living pilgrimage town to the ancient one beside it.

Places to Visit

Not every monument, just the ones we'd walk you past ourselves.

All 161 places in Pompeii

Neighborhoods

Where to wander, by quarter — each with its own rhythm.

  • Archaeological Park and Porta Marina

    Enter the ancient city through Porta Marina and follow basalt paving past the Forum, public baths, and houses arranged around shaded courtyards. The stones carry the marks of wheels and footsteps; Mount Vesuvius closes the view from the civic center.

  • Piazza Bartolo Longo and the Sanctuary Quarter

    The modern town’s devotional and social center is the square before the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary. Cafés and gelaterias fill the edges, while the evening passeggiata gives the piazza a local rhythm beyond the daytime flow of ruin-bound visitors.

  • Via Sacra and Via Roma

    These central streets form Pompei’s main corridor for coffee, meals, and an evening drink. Look for pastry shops, wine bars, and trattorias among the steady stream of people moving between the sanctuary and the town’s quieter streets.

  • Via Plinio and Piazza Anfiteatro

    Along Via Plinio, modern shops and pizzerias meet the edge of the excavations. Piazza Anfiteatro offers a direct entrance to the ancient arena, making this a useful stretch for seeing how everyday town life presses close to the ruins.

Plan your trip

Before you go

Getting There
As of 2026, the nearest major airport is Naples International Airport (NAP); Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport (QSR) is another regional option, with fewer services. Trains serve Pompei FS in the modern town and Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri beside the ruins; Napoli Centrale is the main interchange, while the A3 Napoli–Salerno motorway has Pompei Ovest and Pompei Est–Scafati exits.
Getting Around
Pompei has no metro or subway; the main rail link is EAV’s Circumvesuviana Naples–Sorrento line, with trains stopping at Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri, and the seasonal Campania Express offering a more comfortable ride. EAV buses connect the area, including route 808 toward Vesuvius; cycling infrastructure is limited and bikes are barred inside the ruins. In 2026, the Campania 3 Days Artecard is listed at €41, while a Circumvesuviana ride to Pompeii is roughly €3; check current fares and pass exclusions before travel.
Climate & Best Time
Spring highs range roughly from 16–24°C and lows from 8–15°C; summer brings highs of 28–33°C and lows of 19–22°C, with little shade among the ruins. Autumn runs about 17–27°C by day and 9–19°C at night, while winter is around 13–17°C by day and 5–9°C at night; rain is more common from autumn through winter, with November often the wettest month. April, May, September and October balance walking weather with fewer crowds than the April–October peak, while November–February is quieter but cooler and wetter.
Language & Currency
Italian is the everyday language, alongside Neapolitan; English is common at the archaeological park but less dependable in small bars and local services. Italy uses the euro (€), cards are widely accepted, and a little cash helps with small purchases.

03 Top tickets in Pompeii.

Book ahead

Curated from places in this city. Same price as official sites.

PompeiI Exclusive Tour with your Archaeologist in a Small Group
Basilica Of Pompeii
PompeiI Exclusive Tour with your Archaeologist in a Small Group
★4.7 from €25
Guided Tours of Pompeii Excavations Historical and Cultural Itineraries
Basilica Of Pompeii
Guided Tours of Pompeii Excavations Historical and Cultural Itineraries
★5.0 from €50
Pompeii 360° - 4-hour tour with an expert Guide in archaeology
Basilica Of Pompeii
Pompeii 360° - 4-hour tour with an expert Guide in archaeology
★5.0 from €170
Pompeii: Entry Ticket + 3D Ancient City Tour with AR Glasses
House With A Bakery (Vi.6.17)
Pompeii: Entry Ticket + 3D Ancient City Tour with AR Glasses
★4.5 from €52
Private Awesome Pompeii Family Tour + Guide, Transport & Tickets
Basilica Of Pompeii
Private Awesome Pompeii Family Tour + Guide, Transport & Tickets
★5.0 from €380.77
Pompeii Tour & Admission included in a Small Group
Basilica Of Pompeii
Pompeii Tour & Admission included in a Small Group
★4.8 from €55

Prices shown are indicative — final pricing and availability are confirmed at checkout. Audiala may receive a commission from bookings made via these links.

Pompeii: A City Interrupted, Then Rediscovered

From an Oscan settlement to the streets preserved beneath Vesuvius

  1. c. 7th century BCE

    Oscan Pompeii Takes Root

    An Oscan settlement grew on a volcanic plateau above the Sarno River, where routes inland met the traffic of the Bay of Naples. Its first houses belonged to a living town, not a city waiting to become a ruin.

  2. c. 6th century BCE

    Temples and Walls Rise

    Greek influence reached Pompeii through trade and architecture; early sanctuaries included a Doric temple in the area later called the Triangular Forum. Builders also began enclosing the settlement with defenses of soft volcanic stone.

  3. 474 BCE

    Etruscan Power Recedes

    At the Battle of Cumae, Greek forces defeated an Etruscan fleet, weakening Etruscan influence across Campania. Pompeii’s position between Greek, Etruscan, and Italic communities made political change part of ordinary life.

  4. c. 5th century BCE

    Samnite Rule Begins

    Samnite groups from the Apennines took control of Pompeii and other Campanian towns. The city retained its Oscan language and local institutions while expanding its streets and building in tuff and limestone.

  5. 290 BCE

    Pompeii Joins Rome’s Alliance

    After Rome’s wars with the Samnites, Pompeii entered the Roman confederation as an allied community. It kept a measure of self-government, but owed Rome military support—and Rome’s reach was now part of local politics.

  6. c. 2nd century BCE

    Public Monuments Take Shape

    Pompeii’s growing wealth paid for civic buildings and grand public life: the Basilica, Large Theatre, and Stabian Baths took shape across this period. In the baths, heated floors warmed rooms where the day’s business continued amid steam and conversation.

Show the full timeline (30 moments)
  1. 89 BCE

    Sulla Besieges Pompeii

    During the Social War, Pompeii joined the Italian revolt against Rome’s rule and demand for citizenship. The Roman general Lucius Cornelius Sulla besieged the city; scars from artillery fire remain visible on sections of its walls.

  2. 80 BCE

    A Roman Colony Replaces Autonomy

    Sulla established a colony of Roman veterans at Pompeii, naming it Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompeianorum. Latin government and new settlers reshaped civic life, though older Oscan traditions did not vanish overnight.

  3. c. 70 BCE

    The Amphitheatre Opens

    Local magistrates Caius Quinctius Valgus and Marcus Porcius funded a stone amphitheatre that could hold as many as 20,000 spectators. Its steep seating made the crowd part of the show, and the building remains among the earliest surviving Roman amphitheatres.

  4. 27 BCE

    Augustan Pompeii Expands

    Under Augustus, Pompeii gained new infrastructure, including a connection to the Aqua Augusta water network. At the Castellum Aquae, water could be divided among fountains, baths, and private houses—a practical monument to the city’s imperial ties.

  5. c. 2 CE

    Eumachia’s Civic Gift

    The priestess and public benefactor Eumachia commissioned a monumental building beside the Forum, dedicated in her name and her son’s. A statue erected by the fullers honored her there; the building made a woman’s civic ambition visible in the city’s busiest public quarter.

  6. 59 CE

    A Gladiatorial Match Turns Violent

    A contest in Pompeii’s amphitheatre erupted into a deadly brawl between Pompeians and visitors from Nuceria. Tacitus reports that Nero’s government banned gladiatorial games at Pompeii for ten years, a rare imperial punishment recorded in the city’s own images and inscriptions.

  7. c. 61 CE

    Pliny Records the Eruption

    Pliny the Younger was a teenager when Vesuvius erupted, watching from Misenum across the bay. Years later, his letters described the towering, pine-shaped cloud and his uncle’s rescue attempt, giving readers the clearest surviving account of the catastrophe.

  8. 5 February 62 CE

    A Major Earthquake Strikes

    A powerful earthquake damaged Pompeii’s temples, houses, streets, and water system. Repairs continued for years; in some rooms, builders had barely finished when Vesuvius buried their work.

  9. 79 CE

    Vesuvius Buries the City

    Pumice and ash piled onto roofs, while earthquakes and later volcanic surges overwhelmed Pompeii. The eruption is traditionally dated to 24 August, though a charcoal inscription dated 17 October points to an autumn date; either way, the buried streets preserved an abrupt cross-section of Roman life.

  10. c. 80 CE

    Salvagers Search the Ruins

    After the eruption, people tunneled through the deposits to recover stone, metal, and valuables from buried buildings. Pompeii was not simply forgotten: for a time, its remains were a source of salvage before ash and memory closed over the city.

  11. c. 1592–1600

    Fontana Cuts Through Pompeii

    While directing a canal from the Sarno River, architect Domenico Fontana’s works crossed the buried city. Painted walls and inscriptions came into view, but the discovery was not recognized as Pompeii and the route was covered again.

  12. 1748

    Bourbon Excavations Begin

    King Charles III of Bourbon backed new excavations near the site known as Civita, with military engineer Roque Joaquín de Alcubierre leading the work. Digging proceeded through volcanic debris with picks and tunnels, often treating ancient walls as obstacles before their value became clear.

  13. 1763

    An Inscription Names Pompeii

    A Latin inscription referring to the Res Publica Pompeianorum identified the buried city as Pompeii. The name turned a confusing excavation into a place historians could locate, study, and argue over.

  14. 1806–1815

    French Rule Clears More Streets

    Under Joseph Bonaparte and Joachim Murat, excavation funding increased and more of the Forum, city walls, and Via dei Sepolcri came to light. Visitors could now walk farther through the ancient street plan, though excavation methods still put speed ahead of careful recording.

  15. 1863

    Fiorelli Gives Ash a Face

    Archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli developed the plaster-casting method, pouring plaster into cavities left in hardened ash by decomposed bodies. The resulting forms preserve the final poses of people and animals, making the eruption’s human cost impossible to keep abstract.

  16. 1872

    Bartolo Longo Builds a New Town

    Lawyer and philanthropist Bartolo Longo arrived in the poor valley near the ruins and began organizing religious and social projects. His work helped create modern Pompei, a settlement with a future distinct from the ancient city under excavation.

  17. 1891

    The Rosary Shrine Is Consecrated

    The Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei was consecrated after years of construction. Its bells and pilgrim crowds gave the modern town a new center, only a short distance from the silent Roman streets.

  18. 1924

    Maiuri Takes the Director’s Post

    Archaeologist Amedeo Maiuri began a long directorship at Pompeii, overseeing major excavations and conservation work. His era widened attention beyond grand houses to the city’s earlier layers and the ordinary buildings that made Roman life legible.

  19. 1943–1944

    War and Vesuvius Damage the Site

    Allied bombing during 1943 struck buildings including the Forum Antiquarium and Large Theatre, leaving scars amid the ancient ruins. In March 1944, Vesuvius erupted again, dropping ash across a region already battered by war.

  20. 1971

    Pink Floyd Plays to the Stones

    Pink Floyd filmed an audience-free performance in Pompeii’s amphitheatre, where the band’s music met the venue’s long Roman echo. The film brought the ruins into modern popular culture without a single spectator in the seats.

  21. 23 November 1980

    The Irpinia Earthquake Shakes Pompeii

    A major earthquake in Campania destabilized hundreds of walls and columns at the site. The damage exposed an uncomfortable truth: ruins can outlast their owners, but they cannot look after themselves.

  22. 1997

    UNESCO Recognizes the Ancient Cities

    UNESCO inscribed Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata together as a World Heritage Site. The shared listing recognized that these neighboring towns preserve different, complementary records of life and destruction around Vesuvius.

  23. 2012–2020

    The Great Pompeii Project Begins

    The Grande Progetto Pompei launched a major campaign of drainage, structural repair, and archaeological work, backed by European and Italian funding. Its practical aim was to stop water and collapsing excavation edges from taking more of the city away.

  24. 2018–present

    New Excavations Reveal Daily Life

    Work in Regio V uncovered houses, shops, and a thermopolium with painted food displays, while a charcoal inscription strengthened the case for an autumn eruption in 79 CE. Each new room unsettles the idea that Pompeii was a finished story sealed in ash.

Who lived here

  • Priestess and civic benefactor · c. 1st century BC–1st century AD

    Eumachia

    Lived and patronized Pompeii

    Eumachia financed a monumental complex on the Forum and dedicated it in her name and her son’s; the city’s guild of fullers honored her with a statue. Her building still bears her name, a rare public reminder of a woman who shaped the city’s civic life.

  • Politician and civic patron · Late 1st century BC–early 1st century AD

    Marcus Holconius Rufus

    Held public office and funded work on Pompeii’s Large Theatre

    Holconius Rufus held Pompeii’s highest municipal office repeatedly and helped rebuild and enlarge the Large Theatre. Visitors still sit among the tiers he helped shape; he might find the theatre’s continued life as a performance venue familiar.

  • Roman general and dictator · 138–78 BC

    Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix

    Besieged Pompeii in 89 BC and refounded it as a Roman colony in 80 BC

    Sulla’s siege and later settlement changed Pompeii’s political identity, bringing Roman veterans into a city with older local roots. Walking its streets today, he would see the Roman colony he established preserved beside traces of what came before it.

  • Archaeologist · 1823–1896

    Giuseppe Fiorelli

    Directed excavations at Pompeii from 1860 to 1875

    In 1863, Fiorelli developed the plaster-cast method, filling cavities left in the ash by bodies that had decomposed. The casts make the eruption’s human cost tangible; his system of regions and numbered doorways still helps visitors find their way through the site.

  • Archaeologist · 1886–1963

    Amedeo Maiuri

    Directed excavations at Pompeii from 1924 to 1961

    Maiuri spent nearly four decades directing work at Pompeii, uncovering sites that include the Villa of the Mysteries and the House of the Menander. Visitors now move through rooms his excavations brought back into view, where painted walls still hold the eye.

  • Lawyer and philanthropist · 1841–1926

    Bartolo Longo

    Founded the modern town’s shrine and helped build modern Pompei

    Longo arrived in the area in 1872 and went on to found the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, along with schools and welfare institutions. The modern town grew around a different kind of pilgrimage than the one visitors make through the ancient streets.

  • Author and Roman official · c. 61/62–c. 113

    Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus (Pliny the Younger)

    Witnessed the eruption from Misenum and described it in letters

    From Misenum, Pliny watched Vesuvius erupt and later wrote two letters to Tacitus describing what he had seen. His account gives the buried city a human witness across the centuries; visitors walk among its evidence while reading his words from afar.

Where to Eat

Where locals actually book dinner — not the tourist menus.

Insider tips

Small things that change how the city treats you.

  • Wear Firm Shoes

    Pompeii’s basalt paving is uneven, and raised stepping stones interrupt the streets. Choose shoes with a firm sole rather than sandals with little support.

  • Carry A Bottle

    Bring a refillable water bottle; public fountains across the archaeological site are listed as potable. You’ll be walking for hours, so refill when you pass one.

  • Choose The Right Stop

    For the Porta Marina entrance, take the Circumvesuviana to Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri. Don’t confuse it with the station serving the modern town.

  • Compare Tickets

    The listed guide prices are €20 for Pompeii Express, €25 for Pompeii Plus and €30 for Grande Pompeii. If you plan to see Oplontis or the Stabiae villas, compare the broader ticket and check current prices on the official site.

  • Allow Half A Day

    Set aside at least 3–5 hours for an initial look around the ruins; a full day gives you more time for suburban villas. Starting early leaves room for a slower route through the houses and baths.

  • Pick Mild Months

    Spring, especially April and May, and autumn, especially September and October, are sensible choices for hours of outdoor walking. Check the forecast before you go, and bring water whatever the season.

Frequently asked

Is Pompeii worth visiting?

Yes, if you want to see a Roman city street by street rather than through a museum case. The Forum, public baths, houses and plaster casts give the ruins very different scales of human life.

How many days in Pompeii is enough?

One full day is a good plan for the main archaeological site, though 3–5 hours covers an initial visit. Allow a second day if you want to add Villa Poppaea at Oplontis, the Stabiae villas or the modern town.

Is 2 hours long enough at Pompeii?

Two hours is enough for a small sample, not a full visit. Focus on a compact route through the Forum, one or two houses and the nearby Antiquarium rather than trying to cross the whole site.

How do I get from Naples to Pompeii?

Take the Circumvesuviana from the Naples area to Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri, then use the Porta Marina entrance. Check the train operator’s current timetable before setting out.

What is the best month to visit Pompeii?

April or October are good choices for walking around the exposed ruins; May and September are useful alternatives. Pompeii’s streets are paved with uneven stone, so comfortable walking conditions matter more than a packed itinerary.

Is Pompeii safe to visit?

Generally, yes, if you take care on the site’s uneven paving and raised street crossings. Wear supportive shoes, carry water and follow any access restrictions posted at buildings.

How much do Pompeii tickets cost?

The listed guide prices are €20 for Pompeii Express, €25 for Pompeii Plus and €30 for Grande Pompeii. The broader tickets include additional sites, and prices or access arrangements can change, so confirm them with the archaeological park before your visit.

All Places to Visit.

161 places to discover

Place

Pompeii

Amphitheatre of Pompeii
Place

Amphitheatre of Pompeii

Temple of Isis
Place

Temple of Isis

Temple of Apollo
Place

Temple of Apollo

Temple of Jupiter
Place

Temple of Jupiter

Great Theatre of Pompeii
Place

Great Theatre of Pompeii

Little Theatre of Pompeii
Place

Little Theatre of Pompeii

Casa Di Marco Lucrezio Fronto
Place

Casa Di Marco Lucrezio Fronto

Place

Forum Baths, Pompeii

Place

Region Ix of the Archaeological Excavations of Pompeii

Triangular Forum
Place

Triangular Forum

Place

Region v of the Archaeological Excavations of Pompeii

Region Vi of the Archaeological Excavations of Pompeii
Place

Region Vi of the Archaeological Excavations of Pompeii

Region Vii of the Archaeological Excavations of Pompeii
Place

Region Vii of the Archaeological Excavations of Pompeii

Place

Region I of the Archaeological Excavations of Pompeii

Place

Region Viii of the Archaeological Excavations of Pompeii

Place

Region Iii of the Archaeological Excavations of Pompeii

Place

Region Iv of the Archaeological Excavations of Pompeii

The Garden of the Fugitives
Place

The Garden of the Fugitives

Basilica of Pompeii
Place

Basilica of Pompeii

Villa of the Mysteries
Place

Villa of the Mysteries

Lupanar
Place

Lupanar

House of the Vettii
Place

House of the Vettii

Place

House of the Faun

Casa Del Menandro
Place

Casa Del Menandro

Macellum of Pompeii
Place

Macellum of Pompeii

Stabian Baths
Place

Stabian Baths

Suburban Baths
Place

Suburban Baths

House of Sallust
Place

House of Sallust

House of the Silver Wedding
Place

House of the Silver Wedding

House of Octavius Quartio
Place

House of Octavius Quartio

House of the Surgeon
Place

House of the Surgeon

House of Julia Felix
Place

House of Julia Felix

Place

House of the Centenary

House of the Prince of Naples
Place

House of the Prince of Naples

Eumachia Building
Place

Eumachia Building

Pompeii Necropolis
Place

Pompeii Necropolis

Place

House of the Dioscuri (Vi.9.6)

Villa of Diomedes
Place

Villa of Diomedes

Place

Villa Di Cicerone

Castellum Aquae
Place

Castellum Aquae

Palaestra
Place

Palaestra

Aedicula Tomb of Publius Vesonius Phileros
Place

Aedicula Tomb of Publius Vesonius Phileros

Bakery (Ix.1.3)
Place

Bakery (Ix.1.3)

Place

Boar House

Casa Del Forno
Place

Casa Del Forno

Place

Casa Del Triclinio All'Aperto

Casa Della Nave Europa
Place

Casa Della Nave Europa

Showing 1–48 of 161 places

Photo credits (9)
  1. Cristian Salinas Cisternas — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/7535541/
  2. Margo Evardson — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/35715180/
  3. James Frid — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/14754633/
  4. Russ Stoneback — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/5142345/
  5. Balázs Gábor — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/35750761/
  6. Bogdan Giurca — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/36366052/
  7. Alex Revilla — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/35626665/
  8. Balázs Gábor — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/35750762/
  9. Balázs Gábor — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/35750805/

Photos may have been resized or cropped.