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.

Types of queues at 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

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

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

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

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Book skip-the-line tickets to Pompeii

Pompeii Entry Tickets

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Mobile ticket

Flexible duration

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Pompeii Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

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2 hr.

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Pompeii Skip-the-Line Tickets with Official Audio Guide

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Flexible duration

Audio guide

Guided tour

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From Naples: Pompeii Guided Tour with Optional Herculaneum or Vesuvius Visit

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3 hr. - 8 hr.

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Combo (Save 5%): Pompeii + Herculaneum Tickets

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What are customers saying?

Loved by 35 million+

Eric

Jul 2025

Absolutely incredible experience! The 2-hour guided tour of Pompeii was the perfect way to explore this vast archaeological site without feeling overwhelmed. Our English-speaking guide was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also passionate about Roman history, which made the ruins come to life in an unforgettable way. The tour covered the highlights of the ancient city, including the Forum, the baths, the brothel (Lupanar), and several well-preserved homes with frescoes still intact. The guide provided fascinating context about daily life in Pompeii before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, weaving in stories that made it feel personal and engaging. It was the right balance of walking and listening—never rushed, and plenty of time to take photos and ask questions. Headsets were provided so we could hear everything clearly, even in busier sections of the site. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Pompeii for the first time. It saves you hours of wandering aimlessly and gives you a much deeper understanding of what you’re seeing. Two hours flew by, and I left with a sense of awe at the complexity and tragedy of this once-thriving Roman city.

Nicolas

Jul 2025

The guide was fantastic. We had a very interactive tour with great insights about the site and feel that we understand a bit better the complexity of Pompei. The group was small and we had a lot of fun together. Overall great experience.

Heng

Jul 2025

+2 more

Headout app was easy and comprehensive to navigate. I managed to squeeze in to purchase last minute tickets to Pompei with archaeologist the night before. Once bought, the agency (Askos) was in touch via email and WhatsApp to confirm the booking, and give reminders to be on time. Straight forward instructions to reach, and saved quite a bit of $$ using public transport to the location. Really made my Naples trip a memorable one, so much so that I used to buy tickets to the catacombs too. They even gave discounts for future Headout purchases. I highly recommend this platform.

Lisa

Jul 2025

We ended up arriving late in the day (around 4) and there was no line at all. We went in immediately, looked around the first floor of the palazzo but tried to get into the garden as soon as possible. They close at 7:30, but we had plenty of time and were able to pretty much see everything. Even the Grotto of Diana that reopened after a major renovation (and being closed for 40 years!) it's quite amazing. I hope they will continue to renovate and be able to maybe even bring some fountains back. You can see a lot of work is happening. We also got to hear the organ fountain. It plays every 2 hours on the 1/2 hr. (10:30, 12:30, etc) so amazing

Ian

Jul 2025

Really lived up to its name as we skipped pretty much all the clues. Paulo (our guide) took us where the queues weren't; and was on good terms with every crowd controller (most were ladies - just saying) and knew absolutely everything we needed to know. It was very interesting to see the ongoing excavations under the high tech structure and appreciate how much material is moved to access this town frozen in time. It is still possible to imagine the owners of these villas and understand some of how their world operated before that fateful day, and a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide like Paulo is key to that.

Laura

Jul 2025

We had a great time on this tour and it was just the right amount of history and humour for a family of different ages and interests. Our guide Frankie was excellent at keeping us away from crowds and in the shade as much as possible and made the experience "fantastico". Would recommend.

Gerardo

Jun 2025

Ma Laura was a kind and experienced guide that game us a lot of information on facts abou Pompei. This tour was great thanks to Ma Laura! Thank you very much!!!

Lisa

Jun 2025

+2 more

Our time spent at Pompeii was unforgettable. I will treasure the memories forever. What a remarkable place to visit and our tour guide was very so good 😊 explaining everything and showing us all the fascinating sites , steeped in history.