A 12-hour guided tour with skip-the-line access to the city of Pompeii
The ruins of Pompeii have long held the fascination of archaeologists, explorers, scientists and historians. Once a bustling town like any other, Pompeii was brimming with art, architecture, and civilian life. Tragedy struck when in 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted, almost instantly flattening the entire city under a blanket of pumice, stone and other volcanic ash and debris.
When excavations began between the 18th and 19th Centuries, explorers were captivated with what they found: beneath all the ash and stone, lay a town perfectly preserved in its ruins. Today, these Pompeii ruins have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, attracting millions of visitors each year. If you’re looking for a unique opportunity to discover well-kept secrets, take a day trip from Rome to Pompeii and prepare for an experience unlike any other.
Owing to its popularity, the waiting lines at Pompeii’s entrances are almost always crowded. The best way to bypass the long lines is to opt for Rome to Pompeii tours that include skip-the-line access. These allow you to get priority access to the ruins of Pompeii without wasting much time.
There’s no better way to explore the history and significance of a cultural landmark such as Pompeii, than by enlisting the help of a professional tour guide. Your Rome to Pompeii guided tours include a multi-lingual tour guide who will accompany you while enlightening you on interesting trivia and facts about the town.
Visiting Mount Vesuvius should definitely be a part of your Pompeii itinerary. However, not all Rome to Pompeii day trips include a tour of Veusivus; you’ll have to specifically book those that do include a tour of Mount Vesuvius. On this tour, you’ll get the chance to actually step into the crater of Vesuvius!
Rome to Pompeii tours also include combo tours that allow you to visit prominent Italian regions like the Amalfi Coast or the city of Naples. A tour guide will accompany you around and inform you about their history and significance, while you take in popular sights and try authentic Italian cuisine.
13 hours
12 hours
Cancel up to 72 hours in advance for a full refund
Cancel up tp 48 hours in advance for a full refund
While on a Rome to Pompeii tour, here’s what to expect.
The average duration of your tour will be around 12 hours, but you can expect timings to vary by a but. Depending on your ticket, you’ll be picked up from either your hotel or a common meeting point, between 06:30 AM - 07:30 AM. An air-conditioned coach will pick and drop you back once the tour has been completed.
Throughout your day trip, a local tour guide, fluent in several languages like English, Italian, Spanish and French, will accompany you along the way and enlighten you with their knowledge about the different Italian regions you’ll cover.
Depending on your tour, you’ll travel along the Italian countryside to either Naples or the Amalfi Coast. Here, you’ll get to soak in the picturesque countryside and learn about their history. However, these are mere stopping points before the highlight of your tour: the ruins of Pompeii. Once you enter the town, you’ll skip the lines and get priority access to the entrance. Accompanied by your informative tour guide, you’ll get to visit all the famous points of excavation in the town; the amphitheatre, the Forum, Stabian Baths and Villa dei Misteri among others.
If your tour includes a visit to Mount Vesuvius, this is definitely going to be the highlight of your trip. You’ll get the unique opportunity to trek up to the actual crater of Vesuvius -- the view from here is simply unparalleled.
After your tour is complete, you’ll be dropped back in Rome.
Pompeii opening hours are 09:00 AM to 07:00 PM between Tuesday to Sunday.
The average duration of a tour is about 12 hours. You can expect slight variation here and there.
Depending on your booking, a Rome to Pompeii day trip would begin between 06:30 AM - 07:30 AM. Exact details will be clearly mentioned on your confirmed ticket.
Yes. Your Rome to Pompeii tours include return transfers. You’ll be picked up from and dropped back in Rome.
You’ll travel in an air-conditioned coach during your Rome to Pompeii tour.
It depends on the tour you book. While some pick you up directly from your hotel, others may pick you up from a common meeting point in Rome. You’ll also be dropped back accordingly.
Since the tour includes a fair amount of walking, it is recommended that you wear casual clothing like pants and t-shirts, along with a pair of comfortable walking shoes. If you’ve opted for a tour of Mount Vesuvius, please carry a light sweater as it might get chilly on top.
Yes. Photography is permitted inside Pompeii.
It depends on the tour you book. While some include audio guides with headsets, others may make it optional and you would have to pay a small additional amount for it.
It is not recommended that large pieces of luggage be carried while on the day trip since the coach has limited space. Small backpacks and bags are the best options.
There’s plenty to see and explore while on a tour of Pompeii. Here are the top attractions that are not to be missed out on.
Villa Dei Misteri -- also known as the Villa of the Mysteries -- is a well-preserved landmark in Pompeii. Visitors can still see the remains of its garden and terrace. This site is well-known for its wall frescos, which are believed to narrate the mysterious tale of a young woman’s initiation into a Greco-Roman cult. It was found in 1910 and is said to belong to the wealthy Istacidii family that once resided in Pompeii during the Augustan Era.
A massive, well-preserved structure, the amphitheater of Pompeii was built around 70 BC. It is the oldest known Roman amphitheater built of stone that is still standing; earlier, amphitheater’s were apparently constructed with wood. The Roman Colosseum is younger than the Pompeii Spectacula by more than a century! This amphitheater has lent significant insight to historians about Rome’s gladiatorial culture, as it was the primary sporting ground for major events back then.
The Pompeii Forum was the center of all political and cultural activities at one point. Excavations have revealed a large, rectangular open space, also assumed to once host a bustling marketplace along with communal bathhouses. Apparently, the courthouse’s cross-shaped designs later inspired several churches across Europe. While most buildings lie in ruins, one can easily observe the elaborate architecture and designs in town, indicating a population of splendor influenced by nobility.
The Temple of Apollo is considered to be one of Pompeii’s most visited -- and most important -- religious buildings. Dedicated to the Roman and Greek god, Apollo, it is said to have been constructed back in 120 BC. Once can still identify the temple’s 48 Ionic columns and its standing on an elevated podium. You’ll also find a statue of Apollo archer and the bust of Diana in their original location before they was buried under volcanic debris.
Q. Are Rome to Pompeii tours available right now?
A. Yes. Rome to Pompeii tours are now available to the public. Tickets must be pre-booked online.
Q. What is included in my Rome to Pompeii day trip?
A. You’ll travel on an air-conditioned coach and avail benefits like a professional tour guide and priority access to Pompeii. Depending on your ticket, you’ll also visit Naples, the Amalfi Coast or Mount Vesuvius.
Q. What is the duration of a Rome to Pompeii day trip?
A. The average duration of a Rome to Pompeii day trip is about 12 hours.
Q. What is the cancelation policy for Rome to Pompeii day trips?
A. It depends on the tour you book. Some offer a full refund on cancelation within 48 hours, others offer a window of 72 hours. Please check before you book your tour.
Q. What is the maximum group size for a Rome to Pompeii tour?
A. It depends on the Rome to Pompeii tour you book. Some tours permit up to 18, while others up to 25.
Q. Does a Rome to Pompeii day trip include a guided tour?
A. Yes, depending on your ticket, you’ll avail the services of a tour guide. Please ensure to check whether the tour is multi-lingual, or available in a specific language.
Q. Do Rome to Pompeii day trips include skip-the-line access?
A. Yes. Your tour includes priority access at Pompeii entrances, allowing you to skip the long waiting lines.
Q. Is a tour of Mount Vesuvius included in my Rome to Pompeii day trip?
A. No. You would have to specifically book a Rome to Pompeii day trip that includes a tour of Mount Vesuvius.
Q. Are return transfers included in a Rome to Pompeii tour?
A. Yes, return transfers are included in a Rome to Pompeii day trip. However, depending on the tour you book, you’ll be picked up from either your hotel or a common meeting point.