Once a bustling maritime city, Pompeii is now destined to remain frozen in time for all eternity. Located at the foot of menacing Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii was once one of the most advanced cities in the Roman Empire. That was until that fateful day in 79.A.D when it’s neighboring mount erupted, causing six meters of ash and pumice-stone to sprout from its crater and descend upon a helpless Pompeii. Now one of the world’s most fascinating archaeological sites, Pompeii is a much-loved attraction for travelers who wish to visit Italy but end up traveling back in time to explore the daily life of an ancient Roman society as they voyage back to 79 A.D. if Pompeii is on your bucket list – and let’s be honest it totally should be, then make sure to make the most of your trip this guide for everything you need to know before you go.
Getting to Pompeii
The Bay of Naples with Vesuvius in the background
As one of Italy’s most popular tourist attractions, it’s super useful to note that Pompeii is easily accessible from all the major cities surrounding it. Travelers can visit these ancient ruins by train, car and even bus, time schedule permitting. Naples is the closest hub to Pompeii, with travel times by road taking little over than 30 minutes. It’s a 45-minute drive from Sorrento to Pompeii. Even Rome isn’t too far a journey from this world wonder, with travel time between the Eternal City and Pompeii taking close to 3 hours.
If you’re not planning on renting a car on your Italian vacation, and let’s be real - driving on the winding roads of Italy can be stressful, you can organize a hassle-free Pompeii day trip from Rome with us. With comfortable round-trip transportation, commentary from your expert, English-speaking guide and a UNESCO protected pizza for lunch, this day tour of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius is the perfect way to explore this historic city and the volcano that destroyed it.
If you’re looking for a less mountainous and more Mediterranean day out, you could upgrade your Pompeii experience to include a visit to Sorrento’s stunning coastline. Discover the past and present of life on Italy’s Mediterranean coast, in the only tour that includes both Pompeii and Sorrento. You’ll be whisked away from Rome’s city center and travel by high-speed rail and private bus to tour the haunting ruins of Pompeii, preserved for hundreds of years under volcanic ash, then return to the land of the living to explore Sorrento, the gateway to the picturesque Amalfi Coast on this VIP Pompeii and Sorrento tour.
Your trip to Pompeii doesn’t have to take you day. If you’re pressed for time on your vacation in Rome, you can opt for our express tour of Pompeii, to experience the wonder of this archeological sits in a 6.5-hour round-trip from Rome.
What to Pack for Pompeii
Tour group walking along Pompeii's cobblestoned streets
Traveling nearly 2,000 years back in time is no easy task. Make sure you pack accordingly to have a truly remarkable day in Pompeii. First and foremost, pack (and apply) sunblock. We cannot stress that enough! Located at the foot of mainland Europe’s most dangerous volcano means that there is not much surrounding the ruined city to provide shade and shelter. If your visiting in summer months you can guarantee that the sun will be beaming down. If your skin is extra sensitive to the sun, we’d even recommend packing an umbrella for a hiatus of shade on a hot summer’s day. Sure, everyone needs a bit of Vitamin D, but nothing ruins your vacation quicker than the sizzling ache of a sun burn. Are we right?
Traipsing back in time to 79 A.D. is thirsty work. Luckily, the people of Pompeii developed advanced aqueducts and fountains throughout. Save the planet and your pocket and be sure to take your reusable water bottle with you on your day trip to Pompeii. With a constant flow of clean, potable water, be sure to quench your thirst at these authentic Roman watering holes as you explore the city that crumbled around them.
Make sure not to overpack. Only small backpacks and handbags are allowed into the heritage site. Larger bags (15x15x7 inches) and bulkier items, including tripods, aren’t permitted in the park. You’ll be asked to check your heavier items into the cloakroom for a fee and waiting in line for the cloakroom is a bit of an ordeal in itself.
Pompeii is big. Really, really big. Forty-four hectares of it have been excavated and although not all this space is accessible to tourists you will be doing a lot of walking. The roads, pathways and alleys of Pompeii are covered in cobblestone. Rustic and charming to look at of course, but they can be challenging to keep your balance on. It doesn’t matter how much you want to wear sandals to keep cool under the summer sun, you need to wear good walking shoes! Visiting Pompeii is a once in a lifetime experience for many tourists. Don’t ruin this fascinating trip through time by tripping up and falling on the ruin’s cobblestones!
When to Visit Pompeii
Tour group exploring the ruined city of Pompeii
If you want to appreciate the magic of Pompeii without being swept up in the crowds, we recommend visiting off-season. Escape the heat of the Roman sun and enjoy a much more relaxing visit to Pompeii when you visit between November and March. May and August are the busiest months at the site so if crowds aren’t your thing, best to avoid Pompeii during these times. Friday and Saturdays tend to be pretty hectic. Visiting on any other day of the week offers a calmer experience, no matter the season.
There are so many incredible sights to see in the ruined City of Pompeii. Experience them all with help from your expert Pompeii certified guide on our range of top-rated Pompeii tours from Rome.
