Pompeii Ruins Photos
Recommended Reviews - Pompeii Ruins
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Great site to visit (been to many other ruins that were underwhelming). Our tour guide was pretty good. He was funny but a bit hard to understand sometimes. This admission was part of a combo tour including a trip up the volcano plus lunch. The condition was rather impressive. Some buildings were in great shape. As your outside it is hard to imagine you would have been 20 some feet under ground (ash) a hundred years or more ago before they excavated. Plus they have unearthed only about 30% of the city. Many amazing relics & sad displays of humanity to see here. Worth the time to visit this ancient site.
POMPEII. Sprawling at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, this ancient city's almost instantaneous downfall has for centuries become engrained in historical texts on western civilization. Archaeological excavations, groundbreaking discoveries, romantic idealizations, movie storylines have all lent to a heightened air of mystique surrounding this locale. Some logistical tips: I) Arriving from Naples: -- A) via public transit fastest is the local EAV commuter train Circumvesuviana from Porto Nolana, the 1st stop, or Napoli Centrale, the 2nd stop. Buy tickets the day of at the train station at ticket machines, for one way €3, round trip €6. A regular Trenitalia train is possible though these stop in the city center of modern Pompeii, east of the archaeological park, walkable in about 10 minutes to the eastern entrance though much less convenient. Check the schedule online; times don't always follow GMaps. I tried to get on the wrong train and the train platform staff directed me to the correct platform for a later departure. Trains get extremely crowded so don't expect seats for the 35 minute duration unless you get on at the first stop. --B) by bus, via a couple types of buses; both bus stops aren't the easiest to locate if taking it one-way. ----1) local EAV buses (#5000 and 5020) run from Napoli Centrale and other stops in Naples' vicinity to bus stop a block south of the Piazza Esedra/Piazza Porta Marina entrance on local route SS18 to the Pompeii Archeological Park. Tickets need to be purchased in advance on the app, at a bus/train station, or on the bus using exact change. They will not stop if full. ----2) by private bus: ie. Flixbus etc. I booked Flixbus online back to Naples since I heard about an EAV train workers strike the afternoon I visited, €15.95 one-way and departed directly on the side of the road (Via Villa dei Misteri) opposite the Scavi di Pompeii train station. What wasn't clear is that when you exit the park, it's via the Piazza Esedra exit so you have to walk back toward the other entrance. Also Flixbus uses affiliates so read your ticket carefully for alternative bus company names, bc you won't see a Flixbus logo. Trip took about 1.5 hours as they stopped multiple places but it was more comfortable than the train. --C) driving: probably the easiest though depends on where you're parking as the lot is very large and it can be up to a 10-12 minute walk to the Scavi di Pompeii entrance. 2) Tickets start at €20, booked in person or online by time slot. Definitely book in advance unless you have a museum pass of some sort (like a Naples Pass), then you can't book online and must queue at the ticket office which opens at 9am*. I arrived at 9:15-20am and waited for about 20min, with about 30ish people in front of me. There are bathrooms at the ticket office, one of a few locations on site. Headed straight into the park once procuring my ticket.** Tickets to the "suburban" Villa di Diomede and Villa dei Misteri are a separate fee of €8 payable in cash or card at the gate to that section of the park, if it's not already included in your combo ticket. It's not included in the regular Naples Pass access. Storage lockers are available for a fee. There's a bag size limit per their website but I did not see this being enforced. FINALLY...getting to the site itself. WOW. There is a lot to see. Barely doable in 4 hours at a brisk pace if you know where you're headed, though 5-6 hours be ideal and certainly you could spend a full day. An audio guide or tour guide is recommended though I bookmarked about two dozen individual sites on Gmaps in advance and used this the day of to guide my itinerary. Cell service can be spotty so download the map on your phone if you can. There are minimal bathroom and food/drink facilities on site, and you cannot leave and come back, so recommend bringing enough water and snacks. Reading various threads online, there's a lot of hyping up the size, I think a) bc there's a huge variety of visitors w/a range of travel experience and fitness, b) the streets are all large stone hewn blocks so it's harder than walking on a paved road. For sense of comparison, the site is about 1/5 the area of Central Park. With so many buildings to check out, I can see how exploring inside with crowds adds to the time it takes to get around. What's terrific is there are a lot of placards w/ info on individual dwellings or structures. Many have QR codes if you have decent reception. There are a couple formal museums, at the Palastre Grand and the Antiquarium. The two suburban villas north of the main site were a further walk though worth it imho, being restored relatively recently, the Villa dei Misteri with brilliantly colored frescos related to an esoteric cult of Dionysus. *Sneakily they don't mention this on the Naples Pass website or app...had to do some Reddit searches to figure this out. **20K visitor limit per day, 15K in 1st half, 5K 2nd half, but they never max out.
Walking through Pompeii is kind of surreal. I loved just wandering with no real plan. You can walk right into homes and see the mosaics and little courtyards. Even random things like graffiti on the walls or old kitchen setups are still there. The amphitheater is a definite highlight. The plaster casts are... a lot. Definitely a moment where everything hits a bit harder. It's pretty heavy, but also important to see. Overall, Pompeii actually pulls you in. You end up thinking about the people more than the ruins. It is worth taking your time with and coming out of your way for.
This was my husband's request on our trip. I'll be honest, I did not know much about this area or the story that goes with it. That being said, I was super impressed!! Not only by how intricate, beautiful and large the ruins were, but how well it has been preserved. We did not have a guide, but my husband had knowledge buried in his brain, I wasn't aware of. This is a definite check out if you are in the region. Give yourself a few hours to explore.
I took a tour from Rome that went from Sorrento to here. It was a cute little town. We didn't even get through most of the park and we had a guide, which allowed us to hit some of the highlights and hear fun facts. I was surprised at how well preserved everything is and it was one of the places I was fascinated with growing up (in which some of the myths I had previously had were debunked here). Since it's a UNESCO site, it's also free on the first Sunday of the month (like the Colosseum). They have a little museum on-site too. 2025 #61
The ancient Roman city of Pompeii is one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world. Located near modern-day Naples, Italy, it was destroyed and buried under ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., preserving its buildings and artifacts for future generations to explore. Of course you need to do this tour, and wear good comfy shoes, you have no idea how beautiful and large this place is. But breathtakingly beautiful. We'd highly recommend a tour guide when visiting, there is so much to learn and you'll have so many questions. We took it as a day trip from Rome which is considered a 13-14 hour day. You stop for breathtaking photos in Sorento Italy and stop at the Amalfi Coast to put your feet in the water, shop, get something to eat then off to Pompeii Ruins for a spectacular tour group. You won't be disappointed.
Wow Pompeii was amazing, a whole city buried under 10 feet of volcanic ash and people frozen in time or the plaster made of themselves. I enjoyed my time here although it was short because I was on tour, but you could spend days here exploring everything and still can't see everything! Seeing the plaster people frozen in time as they slept was amazing. I didn't have time to check out Musuem. So if you do come, come without a group tour, as you will miss out on a lot of things. But I enjoyed my time here! I still look back at my photos. Such memories. A trip of a lifetime for sure!
One of the best experiences I've ever had. We had an archaeologist-led private tour and couldn't have asked for more. Amazing history, absolutely huge - I didn't understand the scale of Pompeii until we were there. Worth the trip to Napoli to visit Pompeii alone! Spectacular 10/10 highly recommend!!
Pompeii is near Naples in the Campania region of Italy. We were so glad that we had an opportunity to go on a special tour there. 2.5+ million people visit it yearly! The history is that it was buried under 13-20 feet of volcanic ash & pumice the moment when Mt Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Most of the city was destroyed but remnants still exist like the frescos on walls in some of the villas & buildings (see my video), an amphitheater, a forum, bakeries, and baths that are located within 9 districts. It is a world UNESCO site that is the only archeological site that provides the true picture of an ancient Roman city. It's a fascinating place to visit!
Pictures don't do it justice, these ruins are amazing and I was blown away by how large the area really is. I can't imagine how they even created these structures so long ago and probably with limited tools. In the stone laid streets themselves you can see the markings of where chariot wheels wore divots. They actually had a place to get food (kind of like a fast food setup) and of course bath houses.Really enjoyed our excursion here but definitely needed at least three hours.
Pompeii is an absolute must if you're in the Naples or Amalfi areas. The famous ancient city that was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. Came from Sorrento which was about an hour ride on the Circumvesuviana train. You could honestly spend an entire day here. Much bigger than I expected. Personally, the best way to explore in my opinion is to go without a map and just chart your own course of self discovery. Pompeii is really cool because you get to see the remnants of what life was like then. The society was also quite sophisticated which is cool. You'll see irrigations systems, homes, theatres, signs, community buildings and more. There's also some signage around to help you understand what it is you're exploring. Even though the city is a huge tourist attraction, because it's so big, it never felt like it was too crowded. Still, I recommend going first thing in the AM if you can. There is an area for food, drinks, and bathroom on site if needed. There's also a number of tourist catering restaurants right around the area too if you need something before or after.
I grew up learning about Pompeii in school. We all know the story. The massive volcano that erupted which caused mass devastation in the city of Pompeii. The residents at the time did not believe they would be harmed by Mount Vesuvius. Boy were they wrong! The scene of this natural disaster is an example of history frozen in time. And for a history nut like me, an incredible experience. Pro tip: reserve your ticket online at least two weeks in advance. This will allow you to skip the line and also potentially having to pay significantly more if tickets sell out by buying them through a third party. Preparation is key! There are several entrances to the ruins and make sure to stay away from randos at the entrance trying to trick you into buying things. I showed up right when they opened and spent the entire day there until they closed. And by doing that, I only saw roughly 75% of the ruins. That puts into perspective the scale of what you can see. I paid a little extra for an audio guide which I recommend. You'll learn a lot more this way. You can also get a map to plan your day. You'll see a lot of ruins. You'll see the remains of people preserved at the time of their death. Which is a jarring experience. There's so much to explore. If you get hungry, they have several spots where you can grab a bite to eat or drink. They also have some free water but it's not widespread so make sure to bring plenty on your own. I had a water pack in my backpack. It's likely going to be very hot while you're there and there isn't a lot of shade. So make sure to stay hydrated and bring sunscreen. Pompeii is a short trip from Rome and an essential visit while you're in Italy. There isn't a ton to see in the city outside of the ruins but like I mentioned earlier, given the scale, you can easily spend anywhere from one to three days exploring.
Pompeii is so vast and an incredible historical site to walk through. I think they could really improve the tourist experience though. There are very few signs throughout the ruins, so you can only really learn with a tour guide or with an audioguide. It was very difficult to navigate by myself and figure out which sites to see and in which order to go about this huge complex. When I went to buy my ticket, they said the card machine was broken, and you could only pay with cash or go on their website to buy a ticket, except service was very poor there, and they didn't have wifi. I've never been to a major tourist site and been told all the card machines were broken. This was very disappointing, especially with how famous and popular Pompeii is. read more
2 years ago
Pompeii ruins Napoli Italy exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend this trip to any other person who loves history, beauty, food, wine and love! read more
One of the coolest tours I've ever experienced. We booked the tour that took you to both Pompeii and Vesuvius. It was well worth it! We parked in a town near by and the tour bus picked us up and took us around all day. It was a wonderful experience! I learned a lot about how civilized people were in AD. They had water pipes (although they were lead because they didn't know lead poisoning was a thing). They had beautiful bath houses. Mosaics were perfectly preserved. They seemed to have a sense of humor and put little "naughty" carvings in the cobblestone directing you to the "adult" houses.... if you know what I mean. On the walls were a preserved photo "menu" of services women would provide. There was still bread in the ovens in the bakeries when they uncovered Pompeii. They have some of the "bodies" from when they poured plaster into the pockets where people were essentially frozen in the position they died. I highly recommend experiencing this. They are still excavating areas of Pompeii today. read more
We had an incredible time exploring Pompeii and taking a peek into the life of the Romans prior to Mount Vesuvius' eruption in 79 AD. We had a two hour guided tour of this city frozen in time, and honestly I could have spent plenty more hours wandering the streets of Pompeii! Our tour guide is born and raised in a small town just outside of Pompeii, and she was brimming with knowledge. She really helped paint the picture of life in Pompeii and what life was like so long ago. I was surprised to learn how civilized the folks of Pompeii were! Irrigation systems, street signs, grab & go food spots (essentially fast food), and entertainment. I loved seeing the theatres where Romans spent so much of their time, the homes with gorgeous tiles and artwork, and of course, the bathhouses! When you think of Pompeii, you often think of the casts of bodies from the individuals who suffered the awful tragedy. To my surprise, many of these have been transferred to the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, but we were still able to see one here, which was truly so devastating despite it being so long ago. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes (lots of walking and so much to see!) and sunscreen because there aren't many shady areas. If you're able to organize a guided tour, I really think this is the best way to get the most out of your visit. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
My wife and I toured the ruins of Pompeii while on a trip thru Italy. There is a modern part of the city where residents live and work. The ancient city was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius volcano in 79AD. Pompeii was buried in many feet of ash until uncovered in the 1800's. The ruins are massive and more areas are still being uncovered. It is not an easy walk due to Uneven pavement, large cobblestone streets, hills, large stairs as well as it's huge area. We spent 2 hours with a very knowledgeable tour guide, which I highly recommend doing. We had seen a lot and got a good idea of what life was like for the ancient Romans. But we could have easily stayed all day, but I don't think my back and legs could have. One of the most popular exhibits are the plaster casts of the poor residents showing their dying minutes. They were suffocated by the deadly gases, then covered in hot ash. The bodies disintegrated as the hot ash cooled. It left moulds which were later discovered in the 1800's. The archeologists poured plaster into the molds and had a three dimensional "statue" of the dying residents. This archeological site is one of the most rarest in all the world. It is a must see when in Italy. read more
I've wanted to visit Pompeii from the time I first learned of them as a teenager. What a fascinating site. It was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Italy. This is an expansive site that offers an interesting look at what life was like in 79 AD, when Vesuvius froze Pompeii and Herculaneum in time. Some parts of the site seem incredibly well preserved while other areas not as much. But I don't think of that as a bad thing; it is more authentic and honors the history of this ancient site and those who died there. Having said that, there were some areas that were under restoration. There are some beautiful frescoes throughout Pompeii. I think it's very interesting the way the bathhouse has been preserved. Though we couldn't figure out where the ruins of the house of the faun were, it was a great visit. I found the ruins of the thermopolia especially interesting, and there were several of them found in this archeological park. They're the ancestor of the modern restaurant, and it's fascinating to see how they worked as grab-and-go places in this city. For some reason they especially helped the place come alive to me. I was there in the month of September, and it was not overrun with people, which made it all the more enjoyable. As a practical tip, there were several water fountains throughout the ruins, so I was glad I had my water bottle with me, and you will too. If you have even a passing interest in history, archeology, ancient cultures... you want to be certain to give Pompeii several hours (maybe a full day) while in this part of Italy. It's absolutely a must-visit. read more
Things we build today collapse easily tomorrow. This is the most amazing feature when traveling you see so much of how the past even before Christ is still standing. Whether it's habitable or not it has survived 1000's of years and many wars. Additionally it's reminds me just how young the United States is. As far as the grounds they are massive and very impressive. You can imagine how people lived, loved and died. This is a place for history lovers. For adventurous people you can take two trains from Rome with a short walk to the ruins. If you pay for a tour guide it can be expensive. There are audio tours for rent near the ticket booth, you can create your own waking tour. You choose based on your comfortability level. Just choose to visit! read more
The Pompeii ruins were an absolute must for me while in Italy. I was so intrigued after watching the last week of the Pompeiians and the reenactment of life the week before the volcanic eruption swept this entire community and wiped it out. It was so interesting to see the remains, the body casts of the bodies found encapsulated under the molten volcanic lava. Faces and bodies locked in time. Pompeiian life, was like any Roman city and town. Brothels, homes of the rich aristocrats to the poor. The ruins here were so sad to see, devastating to see the life snuffed out in an instant. The people here had no time to prepare and had no idea when the lava descended upon them. Do read up some on Pompeii, it's really astounding to think about what happened here. I would definitely go back if I am back in Italy again. It was a must visit for me. read more
We were lucky to come on the day we came because admission was free, normally 17 Euro. We paid for a guided tour of 12 Euro each. Our guide was Roberto. He said his tour is the best because it was the "no stress" tour!!! He was goofy and tried to make our tour fun and funny! We enjoyed our our and made sure to give him a nice tip. read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
My friends and I took the train from Escolano to Pompei Scavi. Do NOT confuse Pompei with Pompei Scavi! Pompei is the modern town while Pompei Scavi is the excavated ancient city that was buried by Mt. Vesuvius. The entry fee is 15 euro per person, which is about $18. If you are from the US, there is no student discount. Definitely bring plenty of water if you start in the afternoon. It was brutally hot and there was very little shade. Pompeii is split into 9 different areas. Although they say it takes about 7 hours to tour the entire thing, we were there for about 3 hours and saw pretty much all the major architectural exhibits. I mean if you are there for more than 2 hours, everything will start to look the same anyway haha. Besides the heat, it was an amazing tour. You could see Mt. Vesuvius closely on the horizon just to realize how doomed the people were from the past. As you walk, becareful of the road. The road is quite ancient and isn't paved so nicely. I almost twisted my ankle several times along the tour. read more
Bring sunglasses and water!! We booked a tour for the ruins in Naples. This way we can understand the history and have more knowledge of the archaeology. This was definitely on my bucket list and it was unforgettable. In the morning it was pretty chilly, but later during the day it got really hot and sunny. So glad I brought my sunglasses or else I wouldn't be able to see with the bright glaring sun. It was not a quick walk through. We probably spent 4 hours there. There were many inappropriate symbols and nudity. Not sure if parents would want their kids to see. After we were done with the tour we split ways. After an hour of walking I was already thirsty, can't believe I forgot to bring water. When you leave there were drink and food stand by the door and exit. Lemonade is straight lemon! It's not like lemonade in the U.S. We could not finish it. read more
7 years ago
Pompeii is an ancient city-museum located near Naples, Italy. It lies in the valley of the river Sarno which was already a busy port in the 7th century BC. Artifacts relating to the Etruscans, early Greeks and indigenous peoples have been found. Emperors Augustus (27 BC-14 AD) and Tiberius (14 AD-37 AD are responsible for the city development in Pompeii which can be seen today. But it is the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius on August 24, 79 AD that still defines Pompeii. There are three ticket options: Pompeii 15 Euros, Oplontis & Boscoreale 7 Euros or Pompeii, Oplontis and Borcoreale 18 Euros. You receive a map of Pompeii's 44 acre archaeological site. If you go to their official website you can down load a map showing the divisions, the houses #'s, an explanation of what was found in each, and pictures. It is very comprehensive and loaded with information.Online tickets can be purchased from (Ticket One). Tickets can also be purchase on the site at Porto Marina and Piazza Esedra from 9-2 pm. Don't buy tickets from vendors outside the site. Getting to Pompeii is easy. In you have a car use Motorway A3 Napoli-Salerno (Exit Pompeii), Bus Slta from Napoli-Salerno or Train FS Napoli-Salerno (Stop Pompeii). Expect to visit for 2-3 hours. Pompeii has multiple itineraries to choose from depending on how much time you want to spend on the site.The summer sun is very hot with limited shade. You will be walking on uneven surfaces so avoid strollers. There are places on site that are designated eating areas. read more
Pompeii was definitely one of my bucket list items and I'm glad We did a guided tour, we learned way more history and were told neat local stories because of the guide that led us through the ruins. Having a guide also meant we got to see a few things that we would not have known to look for had we gone off on our own. The brothel was pretty neat, especially the fact that the original frescos were preserved and still visible even today! They were other small alcoves with beautiful and still vibrant paintings on walls, carved penises on the street to direct where brothels were, and explanations of how the rugs in the streets were made and why there were stepping stones for crossing the streets. It was definitely worth the visit! There is a whole street of vendors outside the ruins walls in case you're looking for souvenirs, though I'd recommend the cappuccino from the tiny market for £1.5, drink it at the bar and you won't be charged extra. :) read more
My boyfriend was dying to come here and I'm really glad we found a way to come from Amalfi! The trip here took quite a bit of navigating between local buses and alitalia train scheduling but it was well worth it. We decided not to go with a guide and to just walk around on our own with a map - warning it can get a bit confusing but we learned a good amount from listening in on other tours we bumped into and from reading the tidbits of information that the maps had. It was surreal to actually be in the grounds where so much tragedy had happened and to actually see real life artifacts from this. Would definitely come again to bring family and friends!! read more
This seems to be one of those must visits when you happen to be in Naples. We ended up coming here on a tour, which pretty much rushed us through, though they did take us to see the important places. In fact the complex is so large that unless you know what you are looking for you can easily miss half of it, particularly the signs on the ground pointing to the houses of ill repute (which our archaeologist guide pointed out to us). Like many of these places, there is a huge market place out the front selling souveniers and food, however we didn't get an opportunity to browse. What we did find out was that there happens to be a train station nearby. read more
7 years ago
WOW. Pompeii was amazing! I spent half a day here walking around the ruins on a walking tour. If you go, I do not recommend the walking tour. I wish I went on my own pace or did the audio guide. The ruins were amazing.. just amazing. I can't believe all we are able to see ruins from 79 AD! There's so much history here and so much to see. It was really hot when I went, so if you go in the summer make sure to bring water ahead of time because it's all overpriced once you enter. Also bring a hat and a fan!! My fan broke on the tour because I was using it so much! A good excuse to get one here in Naples. I also went to Hercvlanevm, and I HIGHLY suggest going there, I liked it slightly better than Pompeii. read more
Very interesting experience, be sure to get a good tour guide. Our tour guide Nikolae (sorry if I misspelled the name) was very good. He said he grew up in the area of Pompei and he was also very knowledgeable. It was funny when a tour guide mentioned something about ancient toilets and our tour guide shook his head and said it was pots where oil was stored. It was cool to learn the history of what each part of the ruins as well as the culture of the time. read more
I had always wanted to visit Pompeii since learning about it in school. It seemed like such a far-off, mystical place frozen in time by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption that it was almost hard to believe it really existed. A lifelong dream finally came true when I set foot through the entrance to the Pompeii ruins site and began 4hrs of curiosity-fueled self-guided exploration! I forgot to ask for a map at the entrance because I was so excited about actually being here, so I had to kind of navigate based on where the flocks of tourists were leaving and following the trail of inquisitive crumbs. It turned out to be a pretty solid plan as I discovered some amazing murals, mosaic floors, and painted walls. There were moments where I even had whole sections to myself, where I could just sit and take it all in! As the sight is still under active excavation as well as a major restoration, there were a lot of parts that were closed off. But, I did manage to find the place where they had several pots and statuary stored and some of the "frozen in ash" casts of a dog, man, and baby. The enormity of the site was absolutely overwhelming and there was a point of just "wow" overload. But, if you take it in stride and give yourself breaks, it is definitely doable. I spent close to 4hrs exploring and barely scratched the surface. I was told to go in the afternoon before closing to avoid the crowds en masse and I am glad I heeded those warnings as there weren't that many people when I went, but enough to know that any earlier and exploring on my own would have ceased to be enjoyable. The bodies that used to be on display throughout the site are no longer there, but in glass structures on the non-train entrance at the far opposite end of the site. I exited that way by accident because I had just walked around the amphitheater and did not want to walk the full length of the site all the way back to the train station. I'm glad I did because the bodies they have on display (and that are currently being x-rayed and casted for study) are jaw-dropping in their various frozen poses. You definitely get a true sense of just how horrific that day must have been! All in all, a fantastic visit and definitely doable on your own. There were a couple of guides who tried to get me to hire them near the entrance, but I am glad I did my own tour, at my own pace, and saw what I felt was important to see. TIP: It is totally doable as a daytrip from Rome! I was told by several people that it was not, but the trains, if you do your research beforehand, are not hard to navigate and stick pretty well to their schedules (within 15-20mins). The changeover in Napoli is the only potentially confusing part, but again, if you do your research and know where to head, very simple and very affordable and fantastic views of the coastline on the train rides! read more
I guess this is the official Yelp page for the city of Pompeii? I didn't create it, it was listed already. But no other reviews? Well then, add another FTR for me! We took a shore excursion her while aboard the Celebrity Eclipse. The bus ride from the harbor in Naples took about about 45 minutes. On the way here, our guide briefed us on the history of the city, all while the menacing Mt. Vesuvius loomed in the background. Once here, you're on your own. Luckily our local guide showed us around. The area is eerily well preserved in most areas. Some are just foundations and ruins, but a lot were actual standing structures, walls, columns, arches, pillars, roads, sidewalks, and an impressive amphitheater. The local brothel was the highlight for me, as you could actually still see menu drawings of what was offered! Super cool. An area houses plaster casts of fallen victims. Put yourself in their shoes, take in the views, and imagine how scary it was. Amazing. read more
One of the first civilizations what a experience to visit! Suggestions-If you are in Rome skip a tour and just pay your way via train. We wasted so much time going with a tour traveling that it really ruined a great experience visiting Pompeii. Moose Out read more
7 years ago
I've been waiting to see this place for almost 15 years after watching a documentary on Pompeii and becoming utterly fascinated with the story. It lived up to my bucket list dreams and then some. Just walking along the old streets, seeing homes and plaster casts of people and animals, felt peaceful and yet eerie. Especially while seeing the looming Vesuvius on the horizon-- life changing. We spent almost two hours exploring and it was the best day ever. Also, save your money, you don't need to pay extra for a tour, it's fun adventuring on your own! read more
7 years ago
I suggest to give yourself all day!! I took the train from Naples and it took me right to Pompeii ruins just a short walk to From station. I didn't think it would be as big as it is and how much exploring I can do. The furthers back is where you can exhibit the bodies and how they lived as it's stuck in time. Great place and the employees were so nice to us Americans. To rent a audio headset you had to give up a government ID or passport just FYI read more
8 years ago
With Mt Vesuvius lurking in the background, you can see what remained from this horrible destruction. Naples was one of our cruise stops and we were excited to do the Pompeii excursion. Walking around you can see for yourself the history and culture that once was here. We had a tour guide and she was a little hard to understand but I mainly got the gist. What is most incredible are some of the buildings and architecture that still stand in tact. The saying 'They don't make things like they used to' rings true since its been here since 79 A.D. It was found in the 1700's. Pretty intriguing history! They also have many artifacts behind a fenced area that have been uncovered over time. The area that has been uncovered is expansive. The tour guide hit all of the highlights. It's not everyday you'll walk around Pompeii. It's a great site to check out when in Naples. read more
8 years ago
Great historical place, touristy, all day walk. It was nice to learn about history and feel the real rock that build this place. Must prepare water and kids should be close to the parents because kids can be lost in such a huge wave of tourists. read more
8 years ago
4 years ago
5 years ago
We visited Pompeii with a tour guide, which I would highly recommend! There are so many little details which have really interesting back stories (and without the tour guide, I never would have known about them). If possible, I recommend visiting at a time of year when it is colder outside (or even scheduling your visit for a cooler time of day). We were there from about 10 AM to 12 PM at the beginning of July, and it was extremely hot outside. The heat made it impossible to explore the site for any longer, and was definitely the only downside to our visit. While there are some shaded spots, you will be in the sun a lot of the time. Therefore, I recommend wearing sunscreen and bringing a hat and sunglasses! read more
9 years ago
if you travel to Naples then then going to Pompeii is an absolute must. We took a skip the line guided tour and it was great. Our guide Geno provided us with an amazing tour throughout the city. He took us to all the important sites and gave us an explanation of what it was and what happened when the Volcano erupted. When you walk the streets and visit the different places where people lived it is an eerie feeling trying to imagine what they went through. I recommend you use a skip the line tour. They are very reasonable and well with the price. read more
Visiting the Pompeii Ruins is like going back in time. It is so interesting to see what the architecture, artwork, and culture was like back then... I came here as part of a tour package with my friend SZ and we spent about 2.5 hours here. It was fascinating (apart from the times spent dealing with all the other tourists hahaha). We happened to come here on the first Sunday of the month, which meant that entrance was free... but also that it would be really crowded. It was quite moving to go through the exhibit "Stolen from Death" which exhibited casts of the victims as well as photography and more information about the tragedy. The vineyards looked beautiful, but while the wine sounded tempting it was also too expensive for our budget. It was a wonderful experience to walk through the streets of Pompeii and see/imagine what life was like back then for the residents. I would definitely recommend coming here when visiting Naples. I also recommend getting a tour guide--ours was a fount of information which made the experience so much richer. Also wear comfortable walking shoes as you will be walking around a lot! read more
3 years ago
9 years ago
Pretty good. First of all, if you're wondering what "ruins" means in Italian, it's exactly what you thought it was. Rocks lying around everywhere, and the roads literally haven't been paved since Roman times. Argh. But, they've apparently had some rough times, so you have to cut them a break. Locals just sort of wander around and point out things that used to be other things, very sad. On the plus side, it's very continental. Boobs and butts on the walls everywhere and no one seems to care. Europe is just very free that way. There are actual brothels (closed when we were there, sad emoji, jk lol) all over the place, and no one bats an eye. Like Van Nuys, but made of rock. Parking is ample. No wifi, no Jumbotron. read more
Walk through ancient Roman ruins and get a feel and view of Roman civilization 2000 years ago. You will see archaeological remains of Roman streets, houses, shops, public bath houses, and a brothel (keep your eyes open for the penis' carved in the cobble stone pointing the way). The original cobblestone roads are uneven so wear good walking shoes and take your time walking so you don't stumble. It's cool to see the ruts in the roads made by the carts...you will see that there was a traffic system in place for one way roads from the worn out ruts in the stone roads. There's a lot to see so dress for the weather and wear a hat/visor and sunglasses. Cool things I learned and saw during my visit, the ancient amphitheater is still in use; Elton John held a small concert there. My tour guide referred to the little shops/cafes (over 80 of them) as the first fast food cafes; the vats in the counters were tested and were found to hold, beer, wine, water and of course there were olive oil vats and there was honey too. You can tell the shops from the homes by the grooves in the stone for the shop's sliding doors, so while you're looking up and around remember to look down at the roads and stoops. Make sure your camera/phone is well charged and there is room for pics because there are so many photo opportunities with Mt. Vesuvius nicely framed in the background. There is so much to see and so much to learn so set aside at least 3 hours to walk about. Bring a bottle of water and a snack in your bag for your walk about. There is food and snacks available at the entrance as well. There are souvenirs tables set up at the entrance...I found most of the stuff to be overly pricey and the sellers to be high pressure sales so it's difficult to just look...but, that's pretty much the same everywhere. read more
My wife and I came here as part of an excursion from our cruise ship. It was definitely an eye opening experience. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and informative...almost a little too informative. He made us stick close to him the whole time we were there. He was walking so slow! If I had to do it again my wife and I would have done a quick tour by ourselves and finished a lot quicker. At the entrance they have shops, push cart eateries and people dressed up as roman soldiers. It's incredibly busy, so I'd suggest you get there as soon as they open up. Pompeii is still being excavated today. Only about 60% has been unearthed since the volcanic explosion first happened. It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be, but you can pass over most it. Just see the brothel, the gladiator training area, the bath, amphitheater and the the artifacts in a caged building at the end of the tour. That's where you'll find the dog, baby and man covered in volcanic ash. read more
7 years ago
Our cruise-arranged guided tour (which stopped at Sorrento first) allotted an hour or so to walk through ruins in a huge well-preserved space focusing only on Zones VII and VIII on southern western side near the town square not including the large amphitheater way on the end. We did see a mummy. The walk on lots of uneven pavement on this hot day provided vivid ideas of the rich, charmed life of an advanced, ingenious people before tragedy struck. Good thing we were sufficiently sun-screened, brought water, hat and and towel as well as wore sturdy shoes. Our tour guide was passionate and knowledgeable; sometimes it's hard to keep pace in listening and following physically, especially with many other guided groups marching along side us. A good eye opening experience. read more
