BOOK POMPEII TICKETS
Pompeii Skip The Line Entry Tickets
- Visit Pompeii, a well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site deeply ingrained in myth and history.
- Known for its infamously-long ticketing queues, enjoy skip-the-line access into this attraction, that saves you anywhere between 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Embark on a self-guided tour and learn all about the town’s heartbreaking history as you see this little town that remains almost perfectly preserved by volcanic ash - from its frescos to buildings, artworks and even human plaster casts.
- Your tickets are valid for the entire day, giving you the freedom to plan your itinerary according to your convenience.
- Please note, you are required to enter from Porta Marina Superiore or Porta Marina Inferiore to avoid queues and enjoy priority access. Entering via the other 2 gates at Pompeii may not necessarily allow you priority access.
- These tickets cannot be canceled. Reschedules are possible subject to availability.
Explore Pompeii
Once upon a time, Pompeii was a vibrant blue collar town until the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 covered it under a thick carpet of volcanic ash and reduced it to ruins and debris. Today, what is left of the ancient city of Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage site and pulls millions of visitors yearly. This archeological site set on the coast of the Bay of Naples is 240 km from Rome and and just about 25 km from Naples, making for an easy and quick day trip. Moreover, coming so close to Pompeii and not visiting the Pompeii Ruins and Mount Vesuvius is an absolute crime! Exploring Pompeii requires a lot of planning and we are here to give you just that. The sights you must see, tour options, a little history lesson and some insider tips from our end. So, without further ado, let’s head to the ruins of Pompeii and see how to make the best of your visit!
A Walk Down Pompeii History
Life In Pompeii
The regions of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples was a flourishing vacation spot ever since 8th century B.C. The rich and distinguished used to make their way here to soak in the sun and scenic beauty of the region , hence leading to elegant and exotic vacation villas. In not time, a city started sprawling around these confines of luxury - small factories, artisan huts, taverns, bath houses and even brothels sprung up.
Otherwise, life in Pompeii was extravagant to say the least. The lavish amphitheatre could seat about 20,000 people, the opulent baths, the fast food restaurants and lively bars and brothels. Many historians say that their lifestyle was seemingly similar to how we live today. Their pots and pans strike a major similarity to the modern ones, portable room heaters, a great drinking water system in place and even an elaborate courthouse. The ladies in Pompeii were said to be quite the fashionistas who paid careful attention to their hair, make-up and dressing rituals.
Mount Vesuvius Eruption
It is said that Mount Vesuvius erupted early in the afternoon on August 24, 79 AD and is said to have lasted for over 24 hours. However, there is some confusion regarding this and historians are still trying to pin the exact date and time it happened. Copious amounts of molten rock and pumice were expelled at a rate of 1.5 million tons per second and about six inches of ash fell every hour.
However, contrary to popular belief, Pompeii is not a city “frozen in time”. Mount Vesuvius was a volatile volcano and had erupted many times in the past and those living in Pompeii knew that an eruption was due. Vesuvius was rumbling for weeks before the devastating eruption, so the clever ones ( around 17,000 of out of a population of 20,000 or so) are said to have moved towns with their belongings. Historians say this might be a reason that Pompeii seem deserted.The eruption led to loss of 2000 lives and for the next seventeen centuries, Pompeii remained hidden from the world, forgotten and preserved, sealed in a time capsule.
Pompeii Excavation
In 1748, a group of explorers who arrived in Campania in search of ancient artifacts found remains of a city under the dust and debris. When they dug deeper, they realised that the debris had acted like a marvelous preservative which kept the City of Pompeii almost intact. The city had frozen exactly like how it was 2000 years ago, the buildings, artifacts and skeletons were all in pristine condition. A few years later, loaves of bread and uncovered jars of preserved fruit was discovered!
The excavation of Pompeii ruins has played a crucial role in understanding the Neoclassical phase of the 18th century. Historians have been able to make better sense of the art, architecture and traditions followed during those times. The excavation of Pompeii ruins have been ongoing for the past 3 centuries and every now and then new discoveries help patch the puzzle. "Pompeii as an archaeological site is the longest continually excavated site in the world," says Steven Ellis, co-director of the Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia.
Best Ways to Explore Pompeii
There are several ways to explore Pompeii and in this guide we have list down the best 3 ways to explore the ruins of Pompeii along with the pros and cons of each. This will help you decide which way suits you best to visit Pompeii.
Villa dei Misteri which translates to Villa of the Mysteries is a well preserved villa in the Pompeii ruins, fabled for its wall frescos which is believed to illustrate the initiation of a young woman into a Greco-Roman mystery cult. It was discovered in 1910 and is said to have belonged to the family of Istacidii, a wealthy family that resided in Pompeii during the Augustan era.
Also known as the The Homeric House or The Iliadic House , this is a 2nd century villa in Pompeii famous for its mosaic floors and fresco walls that depict detailed stories of Greek mythology. Archaeologist Antonio Bonucci excavated the house in 1824 and though the size of The House of Tragic Poet is not the least bit impressive, it is deemed to have the best interiors amongst all the houses in Pompeii. Due to the mismatch between the size of the house and the quality of its decoration, much has been wondered about the lives of the homeowners.
Located behind Teatro Grande, the Temple of Isis is a Roman temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis. This compact temple was one of the first things that surfaced during when the Pompeii excavations started. Principal devotees of the Temple of Isis are believed to be women, freedmen, and slaves. The cult of Isis is said to have spread in the Hellenistic age due o the religious contacts of the Greeks with the East and Egypt.
One of Pompeii’s most important religious buildings, the Temple of Apollo dedicated to the Greek and Roman god Apollo is a definite visit while in Pompeii. The temple has 48 Ionic columns and stands on a high podium. In this compound you will find a bronze statue of Apollo archer and in front you will find the bust of Diana in the original location that they were before it was buried under debris. Some other idols from here have been transported to National Archaeological Museum of Naples for safe keeping.
Pompeii Spectacula , the amphitheatre of Pompeii was built around 70 BC and is the oldest known surviving Roman amphitheatre built of stone. Earlier, they are said to have been built wood. The Colosseum in Rome postdates the Pompeii Spectacula by over a century! This amphitheatre has given historians a great deal of information about the gladiatorial culture of Rome.
The Stabian Baths stand close to the Forum and are the oldest baths of the city. It is evidently divided into 2 sections along the same axis - male and female with a courtyard gym. Much like other Roman Baths, there are different rooms with thermal pools of different temperatures and depths. The dressing rooms here are an interesting detail with figurative panels of mythological figures and athletes.
Lupanare , Roman for “wolf den”, was the most famous and largest brothel in Pompeii. The prostitutes here were called lupa (roman for she wolf) and they were said to be frequented daily by patrons and traders from across Italy. Those days, brothels were typically small with a few rooms and over the years, 35 Lupanares have been found around Pompeii. These are identified by the erotic paintings on its walls. There are clear signage with phalluses engraved on paving or stones on facades of the houses around the Lupanar, allowing explicit access to the pleasure home.
Spanning an entire block, the House of Vettii is one of the largest house in Pompeii, preserved in almost pristine condition. This luxurious domus through its fresco and pictorial depictions tells a great deal about the rich merchants of Pompeii. It is said that the brothers Aulo Vettio Restituto and Aulo Vettio Conviva who owned the house, had the walls decorated by one of the best painters in Pompeii in order to flaunt their status symbol. There are 2 safes in the masonry base which again denotes the opulence of the family.
The House of the Faun known as Casa del Fauno was built during the 2nd century BC and is found to be one of the largest and most impressive private residences in Pompeii. This Samnite luxurious aristocratic household many famed pieces of art and speaks a great deal about the life of the rich in Rome, more than any historical evidence ever found in Rome itself! The house has 2 atriums, one intended for residence and the other for work. During the initial phases of excavation, the skeleton of the owner was found opposite the entrance of the house who had jewels and coins with her .
Best Ways To Explore Pompeii
There are several ways to explore Pompeii and in this guide we have list down the best 3 ways to explore the ruins of Pompeii along with the pros and cons of each. This will help you decide which way suits you best to visit Pompeii.
Guided Tour (Online Booked)
We believe this is the best way to get the most out of your Pompeii visit. There are no signboards and not too many descriptors in Pompeii, hence making sense of what you're seeing will be hard. Having a guide along with you in enriching as the local guides are so knowledgable that they have lores and facts that surface nowhere on the internet. If you're one to truly understand the depths of Pompeii, go for a guided tour. It is not too expensive on the pocket and buying from trusted sources like Headout will guarantee you a great deal.
Hire A Guide On The Spot
If you're making a spontaneous trip and have'nt had time to book a guided tour, you can always hire a guide on the spot. However, be warned, they may charge a premium and getting a guide who speaks your native language maybe hard. Moreover, if you're not fluent in Italian, bargaining with them and understanding what their saying during the tour maybe hard.
Self Audio Guided Tour
Near the Porta Marina entrance you will find hawkers selling a small white remote and a map of Pompeii called the Little Red Book. If you're one to like exploring the place at your own pace, these audio guides are a good option. They work cheaper than the guided tour too. However, due to certain reviews on the internet, we don't personally recommend them.
App Tour
This is the most cost effective way to visit Pompeii. All you have to do in download the free Pompeii App on your phone and use the map they give at the entrance to tour the ruins. If you're technologically adept and can read maps well, this is proven a great way.