Pompeii skip-the-line tickets

4.4(64,109)

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Ancient ruins of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background, Naples to Pompeii tour.

TL;DR – How to skip the lines at Pompeii

Pompeii is hugely popular; in peak season, ticket-office lines at Porta Marina and Piazza Esedra often reach 60-120 minutes. Since 15 Nov 2024, tickets are nominative and the site caps daily visitors at 20,000, divided into timeslots. Here’s how to save time:

  • Reserve entry (From €24) : Purchase your ticket in advance and use entrances like Porta Marina or Piazza Esedra to skip the purchase line. Security still applies. Morning slots fill first.
  • Pompeii Plus (From €25) : Upgrades that include access to lesser-visited villas (Villa of the Mysteries, etc.) or Antiquarium, plus flexible/reserved entrance so you avoid the busiest zones.
  • Audio guide tour (From €32) : Many tickets include or allow adding a guide-free audio or digital map format. These let you explore at your own pace without waiting for guided-tour groups.
  • Guided tours (From €31) : Small-group tours or archaeologist-led tours often get you quicker access via dedicated entrances. Choose early time slots for fewer crowds and cooler temperatures.
  • Avoid free-entry & peak times: Free admission days (first Sunday of the month) and around midday see major crowd surges. Early morning or late afternoon entries are much smoother.

See all your options to skip the queues at Pompeii ↓

What are customers saying?

Loved by 45 million+
NOWACKI Cécile

Nowacki

Dec 2025
4/5
Our guide Alfredo was a great listener, knew his subject perfectly and spoke very good French. It was a real pleasure to discover Pompeii with him. He's a very good guide and we were delighted. I put 4 stars and not 5 because the tour was supposed to be yesterday and was cancelled the day before. Staying in Naples and taking the plane at 19.00, we had to hurry at the end and we could not visit the Antiquarium and spend more free time after the visit because we had to return to Naples to leave for the airport ... I will return!
MARIA ELENA RUIZ APILICUETA

Maria

Dec 2025
5/5
We had a unique experience visiting Pompeii with a specialized guide who made the visit even more interesting and enjoyable. The booking of the visit was very easy and the communications were fluid. We went in directly with the guide. After the 2 hours of guided tour we ended up touring Pompeii with her recommendations. We recommend 100% this guided tour to know all the history and excavations of Pompeii.
Gabriele De Nicola

Gabriele

Dec 2025
5/5
The visit to the excavations of Pompeii with this guide was truly outstanding. Knowledgeable, clear and passionate, she managed to bring every corner of the ancient city to life with detailed explanations and engaging stories. The organization was impeccable and the itinerary well thought out. An experience that I recommend to anyone who wants to discover Pompeii in an authentic and in-depth way.
Ida Dudot

Ida

Dec 2025
5/5
Superb visit with our perfectly bilingual archaeologist guide who, in addition to the knowledge he was able to pass on to us, was kind and patient enough to answer all our questions. There were only six of us in the group, which made things run very smoothly. We recommend taking the option with the House of Delights.
Pablo Hernández Caunedo

Pablo

Dec 2025
5/5
100% recommendable experience. Our guide Giovanni made it very enjoyable and interesting, making the most of the 2 hours we had to see the most important buildings and then left us more recommendations. It is worth going very early because then the queues of people are impressive.
Raphael Costa verderosi

Raphael

Dec 2025
5/5
There was no guide in Portuguese but I managed to understand very well in Spanish and our guide was simply sensational. Without him I have no doubt that the tour would not be the same. Thank you
Ana Helena pons

Ana

Dec 2025
5/5
A guided tour of Pompeii makes all the difference in understanding how people lived at the time! Our guide Giovani was exceptional!!! I totally recommend it!!!
Pedro Bienes Bonet

Pedro

Dec 2025
5/5
Reception very correct. A 10 for the guide in Spanish Maria Laura, she explained everything very well, polite and with a lot of sympathy.

Book skip-the-line tickets to Pompeii

Skip the long ticket lines and enter Pompeii after a quick security check. These timed-entry tickets save hours at busy times—so you can wander ancient streets, the Forum and Villa of the Mysteries, not wait in line.

























































What does "skip‑the‑line" really mean for Pompeii?

With these tickets, you’ll still need to redeem your voucher on-site at a separate entrance before entering. While this redemption process may involve a short queue, it’s often faster than waiting in the main ticket lines, which can stretch up to 1–2 hours during peak times. Think of it this way: there are two queues—one for buying tickets, and one for redeeming online vouchers. With our tickets, you skip the long ticket purchase line and head straight to the redemption queue, then through security (which is mandatory for all visitors), and you're in.

The ticket with the official audio guide offers a skip-the-line–like experience, as you can collect both your entry ticket and audio guide directly at the quieter Porta Marina Superiore kiosk, avoiding the main ticket counter.

How long are the queues at Pompeii entrances?

  • During peak season from April to October, general admission lines at Pompeii can last anywhere from 60 to 120 minutes, especially between opening hours at 9 am and midday, when tour groups and day-trippers arrive in large numbers.
  • In the off-season months from November to March, wait times drop to around 20 to 60 minutes, though early mornings can still see a rush as visitors aim to beat the crowds and heat.
  • Lines tend to form well before the gates open and often extend along the main entrances at Porta Marina and Piazza Anfiteatro—unreserved visitors, even in quieter months, may still wait 30 to 90 minutes.

Types of queues at Pompeii

View of the small group tour in Pompeii

Ticketing queue

  • Location: Outside entrance gates
  • Who it’s for: Walk-up ticket buyers
  • Average wait: 60–120 mins (peak); 20–60 mins (off‑peak)
  • Skip‑the‑line? ✔️ Yes, with advance online purchase
Tourists exploring ancient ruins in Pompeii under a clear blue sky on a full-day tour from Naples.

Security/entry queue

  • Location: Immediately inside ticket checkpoints
  • Who it’s for: All visitors
  • Average wait: 10–20 mins (typical); can reach 30+ mins busy days
  • Skip‑the‑line? ❌ No, mandatory for everyone
Visitors exploring Pompeii ruins with a tour guide, Naples, Italy.

Guided/group entry

  • Location: Piazza Esedra (group gate)
  • Who it’s for: Tour groups
  • Average wait: 5–15 mins
  • Skip‑the‑line? ✔️ Yes, bypasses ticket queue—but security still applies
Ancient ruins and cobblestone streets of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background.

Priority access at Porta Marina gate

  • Location: Porta Marina Superiore entrance
  • Who it’s for: Visitors with official guided tours, licensed group entries, or select combo tickets
  • Average wait: 5–10 mins; fastest entry point when available
  • Skip-the-line? ✔️ Yes, includes direct group access, bypassing the main ticket queue—but security still required
Here’s the fastest way to skip the lines at Pompeii

All your options to skip the queues at Pompeii

Long lines at Pompeii are common—but some planning helps you avoid them. Here’s how to get in quicker:

Tourist using a smartphone for online booking of Paris Eiffel Tower tickets.

Book tickets online in advance

Reserve your entry slot online and breeze past the long queues at the entrance. Timed tickets not only guarantee your spot but also let you walk straight in without waiting at the ticket counter.

Ancient ruins of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background on a guided tour.

Choose a guided skip‑the‑line tour

Guided tours offer a stress-free way to visit, often with dedicated fast-track entry. You’ll skip the public line and enjoy expert commentary, helping you understand what you’re seeing instead of just wandering.

Ancient ruins of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background, showcasing historical architecture.

Use group‑entry via Piazza Esedra

If you're visiting as part of a group or tour, the Piazza Esedra entrance is your best bet. It’s less busy than Porta Marina, with faster access and fewer crowds gathering around the gates.

Tourists reading the information about the ruins of Pompeii, Naples

Avoid free‑entry days

The first Sunday of every month offers free admission, but that also means packed entry gates and overflowing crowds inside. Unless you enjoy long waits and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, steer clear of this day.

Pompeii Forum view from via del Foro with ancient ruins and Mount Vesuvius in the background.

Arrive during non‑peak hours

Midday and early afternoon (after 1 pm) often see shorter lines and more pleasant weather. Mornings, especially right at opening, tend to draw large crowds hoping to beat the heat—ironically making it the busiest time.

Visitors exploring ancient ruins in Pompeii on a day trip from Rome.

Enter through Porta Marina with priority access

Some premium tickets and combo experiences offer fast-lane access at Porta Marina, the main entrance. This dedicated lane is the quickest way in if you're not with a group and want to make the most of your visit without the wait.

Compare your Pompeii ticket options

Ticket typeWait timeQueues skippedInclusionsPrice fromBook

Standard entry ticket

30–60 mins

❌ None

Entry to Pompeii Archaeological Park

€25

Pompeii Entry Tickets

Skip-the-line entry + Audio guide

10–20 mins

✅ Ticket queue

Entry + Audio guide

€32

Skip-the-Line & Audio Guide

Skip-the-line guided tour

5–10 mins

✅ Ticket queue

Entry + Expert guide

€32

Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Skip-the-line tour with archaeologist

5–10 mins

✅ Ticket queue

Entry + Archaeologist-led tour

€32

Guided Tour with Archaeologist

Pompeii + Herculaneum + Vesuvius tour

5–10 mins

✅ Ticket queue at Pompeii

Entry to all sites + Round-trip transfers from Naples

€75

Combo Day Trip

Pompeii + Herculaneum tickets

30–60 mins

✅ Ticket queue at Herculaneum

Entry to both sites

€42

Combo Tickets

Pompeii + Villa of Mysteries tour

20–30 mins

✅ Ticket queue

Entry to both sites + Guided tour of Pompeii

€75

Pompeii + Villa of Mysteries

Day trip from Naples

5–10 mins

✅ Ticket queue

Guided tour of Pompeii + Round-trip transfers

€66

Day Trip from Naples

Day trip from Rome

5–10 mins

✅ Ticket queue

Entry to Pompeii + Free time in Positano + Round-trip transfers

€80

Day Trip from Rome

Frequently Asked Questions about skip‑the‑line tickets at Pompeii

Do I still go through security?

Yes—all tickets, including skip‑the‑line, must pass through security.

How much time do I save?

You bypass 60–120 mins at ticket counters; total entrance time is 10–20 mins.

Are timed entry slots fixed?

Yes—tickets are valid for your chosen slot. Arrive early to ensure security clearance.

Can I just buy online without skip‑the‑line?

Yes—online purchase lets you scan a PDF at turnstiles, avoiding the ticket queue.

Do skip‑the‑line tickets include audio guides or tours?
  1. Tickets may include audio guides. Guided tours include live commentary and deeper insights.
Can I re-enter?

No—tickets are single-entry only.

More Reads

Pompeii Opening Hours

Opening Hours

getting to Pompeii

Getting There

Visitors in Pompeii on a Guided Tour from Rome

Pompeii Ruins