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 was another bucket list item I checked off during my trip to Italy. Seeing this storied locale in person is a bit overwhelming, knowing the city's history and the shocking tragedy that awaited its citizens. We were fortunate to have a really immersive experience. Guides Federica and Gabriella took us on an amazing private tour that included virtual reality goggles so we could see recreations of what life was like in the very ruins where we stood. It was a great finish to an unforgettable trek through Italy and a definite must-see for anyone visiting the region. read more
8 years ago
I had no idea you need at least 5 days just to tour all of Pompeii, if I had know I would ha e stayed in this part of Italy for more then a day. Pompeii has to be my favorite part of Italy trip. The ancient homes and paintings are well preserved and gives you real insight about how the local romans lived. read more
7 years ago
We went on a Princess cruise from Greece to Spain and this was our favorite destination, and the best thing we did! Historical, fascinating, overwhelming, and also beautiful! Our port was Salerno, and we took a bus from there. Our guide was Paulo, who was amazing! This is a MUST see! read more
7 years ago
This was one of the best things we did with the kids on our trip to Italy. It was truly like being dropped into the past. You can see and feel what it was like living in the city "Commonwealth" of Pompeii. The kids (8 &11) loved looking through all of the different buildings, the mosaics, seeing the streets and envisioning what life was like for them. What amazing views as well. We didn't even do it all as it is much bigger than one expects. If taking the kids I suggest buying a kids book about Pompeii to give them some history and reference vs being stuck on a tour. We did it ourselves and it was fantastic. read more
Pompeii. This is the xi'an of Italy. My all time favorite museum now. I tend to prefer the outdoors and this lets me breathe fresh air while taking a good look at the surroundings around me. I love Pompeii because it is an actual city and you feel like you are transported many many years back while walking the grounds. You should take a guided tour while coming here, unless you have a Ph.D. In Italian history. It is so, so worth it. Most of the time when I visit attractions, I don't bother with an audio or tour guide, but here, a good tour guide can make the ruins really come alive ( bonus points for good storytelling skills). Another amazing thing about this place are the awesome views you get up top of Mt Vesuvius and the rest of the Naples area- you'll get lots of panoramic pictures here. read more
8 years ago
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Awesome! Must pack water and sunblock. Very hot. Always stick together can get lost or have a meeting place available... read more
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For starters: whatever you do, absolutely do not take the audio tour. They are awful and the information does not match up. You can pretty much pay 13 euro to carry around a phone and learn nothing. Try to return it and the lady was so rude. Told her to keep the money and work on the app, so maybe it can actually work one day. She told us no one had complained in the 11 years she worked there, but then the couple from NY behind us was like yeah these things are trash. After a google search I can see other people have definitely complained. Put that 13 euro into a real tour guide. The ruins were beautiful though. So vast and big. Truly something you have to do when you visit Italy. I would plan out about 4-5 hours to see everything. If you want to see the casted people from the volcanic eruption, you have to go out of the entrance near the cemetery. We went in November and it seemed like a majority of it was being renovated. Maybe the summer months would look like a better time if you are trying to explore everything. read more
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