Trying to choose between Pompeii Express and Pompeii Plus tickets? The difference comes down to how much time you have and how far beyond the main ruins you want to explore.

Both tickets include skip-the-line entry to Pompeii. Only Pompeii Plus includes access to the suburban villas and a shuttle bus connecting them. Most visitors choose the Pompeii Plus experience for the comprehensive coverage it offers.

See all your Pompeii Plus ticket options ⬇️

Pompeii Express vs Pompeii Plus: At-a-glance comparison

FeaturePompeii Express ticketsPompeii Plus tickets

Skip-the-line entry

Pompeii main archeological site

Forum, baths, amphitheater

Suburban villas

Villa of the Mysteries

Villa of Diomede

Villa Regina + Antiquarium of Boscoreale

Artebus shuttle between sites

Live guide included

Depends*

Recommended duration

2-4 hours

4.5-6 hours

*If a guided tour is chosen, the area covered is only the main archeological park, not the extended suburban villas.

Which ticket fits your plan?

✅Pompeii Express is right if you:

⌛Have limited time (2-4 hours)
📝Want to see Pompeii’s essential highlights
📍Prefer a shorter, simpler route
⛏️Don’t plan to leave the main site
🗺️Prefer to enter through the main gate → Explore the central ruins at your own pace or with a guide → Exit directly from the archaeological park
🚶Don't mind a walking-only route

✅Pompeii Plus is right if you:

🌞Have at least half a day (4-6 hours)
🧱Want access beyond the city walls
🏘️Are interested in villas, frescoes, and rural life
🚌Prefer shuttle-supported exploration
🗺️ Wish to enter and explore the main ruins → Use the Artebus shuttle to reach suburban villas → Visit multiple villa sites and the Antiquarium → Return via shuttle or exit from outer areas

Go beyond the city walls

Unlock Pompeii’s most iconic villas and travel between sites by shuttle—no long walks, no backtracking, just a fuller picture of Roman life beyond the streets.

Frescoes in the Villa of the Mysteries, Pompeii, depicting ancient Roman figures.

Pompeii Express vs Plus: Visual guide

Here's a breakdown of the route and areas covered by the Pompeii Express vs. Plus tickets:

Map showing Pompeii Express and Plus routes with stops at Villa of the Mysteries and Pompeii Forum.

Which Pompeii Plus ticket is best for you?

Ticket typeEntrance usedLines skippedSecurityIncludesWhy chooseCancelation policyBook now

Pompeii Plus

Porta Marina Superiore / Porta Anfiteatro

Ticket line

Mandatory

Ruins + villas + shuttle

• More access • Villas included

Free cancel 72h

From €29

Pompeii Plus + guidebook

Porta Marina Superiore / Porta Anfiteatro

Ticket line

Mandatory

Plus access + printed guide

• Offline reference • Multilingual options

Free cancel 24h

From €31

Pompeii Plus + audio guide

Porta Marina Superiore / Porta Anfiteatro

Ticket line

Mandatory

Plus access + in-ear commentary

• Flexible narration • Deeper context

Free cancel 24h

From €35

Pompeii Plus + Naples transfers

Porta Marina Superiore / Porta Anfiteatro

Ticket line

Mandatory

Plus access + transport

• No logistics • Saves time

Free cancel 24h

From €47

Highlights covered in the Pompeii Plus ticket

Villa of the Mysteries

  • Distance from Pompeii's main archeological site: ~1km
  • What is it: Grand suburban villa famed for its Dionysian fresco cycle
  • Highlights: Vivid life-size murals and a colonnaded courtyard
  • Timings: Daily, same hours as Pompeii

Villa of Diomede

  • Distance from Pompeii's main archeological site: ~800m
  • What is it: Expansive elite residence overlooking the Bay of Naples
  • Highlights: Panoramic terraces and original underground chambers
  • Timings: Daily, same hours as Pompeii

Villa Regina

  • Distance from Pompeii's main archeological site: ~2km
  • What is it: Working Roman farmhouse and wine-production estate
  • Highlights: Preserved dolia jars and rural living spaces
  • Timings: Typically 9am to 5pm

Antiquarium

  • Distance from Pompeii's main archeological site: ~2km
  • What is it: Archaeological museum dedicated to Vesuvian rural life
  • Highlights: Excavation finds, models, and daily-life artifacts
  • Timings: Typically 9am to 5pm
Common points of confusion — clarified
  • Pompeii Plus is not a guided tour.
  • Express still covers Pompeii’s most famous areas, and a guided upgrade is always available.
  • The Artebus shuttle is exclusive to Plus ticket holders.

Frequently asked questions about Pompeii Express vs Pompeii Plus tickets

Pompeii Express covers the main archaeological city only, including streets, houses, forums, baths, and temples within the ancient city walls.

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Plan your visit

Directions

Timings