Location

1. Planning Your Visit

• Purchase Tickets in Advance: Avoid long lines by buying tickets online in advance.
• Arrive Early: Especially during peak season or weekends, arriving early ensures shorter wait times and a more relaxed experience.
• Wear comfortable shoes: You’ll be doing a lot of walking on uneven surfaces, so choose sturdy and supportive shoes.
• Bring sunscreen, a hat, and water: The sun can be strong in Pompeii, especially during the summer months. Staying hydrated is crucial, so bring a reusable water bottle to refill throughout your visit.
• Local currency: Consider exchanging some cash for smaller purchases.

2. Enhancing Your Experience

• Take advantage of a guided tour: These tours are led by experienced guides, offering valuable insights and information to enrich your experience, ensuring a more comprehensive and enhanced visit. To book such a tour, check out our ticket & tour recommendations.
• Take advantage of an audio guide: If you wish to explore the archaeological site on your own, an audio guide is your perfect companion. To book a tour including an audio guide, check out our ticket & tour recommendations.

3. Do’s and Don’ts

4. Accessibility

In specific areas of the site, individuals with limited mobility or those using wheelchairs may encounter challenges in navigating independently due to the unique characteristics of the archaeological site.

Important considerations:

• Some ramps and slopes may have inclines exceeding 8%.
• Small and sudden changes in height, typically less than 5cm, may be present.
• The paving consists of ancient and uneven surfaces.
• Wheel stoppers are absent along pavements and crossings.
• In certain sections, the width may only allow the passage of one wheelchair at a time.

5. Amenities

• Tourist Information: For tourist information related to Pompeii Excavations, the office is situated at Via Villa dei Misteri, 2. Contact: Tel. +39 081 8575 347, Email: pompei.info@cultura.gov.it.
• Cloakroom Service: A complimentary cloakroom service is provided at all entrance points for visitors, schools, tour operators, and guides. Items exceeding dimensions of 30x30x15cm, such as bags, backpacks, luggage, or cases, are not allowed.
• Audio Guides: Authorized audio guides are available at the Porta Marina and Porta Anfiteatro entrances. To book a tour including an audio guide, check out our tickets & tours section.
• Bookshop_ At the entrance to Piazza Esedra and Antiquarium, visitors can explore the bookshop, offering a range of scientific and non-specialist publications, as well as catalogues, to enhance their understanding of the ancient city’s history.
• Restrooms: Toilet facilities within the Archaeological Park are located near Piazza Anfiteatro, Piazza Esedra, Porta Marina, Casina dell’Aquila, Antiquarium, Quadriportico, The Chora Cafe, Villa of the Mysteries, and before the entrance to the Antiquarium below the Temple of Venus.
• Baby Changing Facilities: Three Baby Changing Facilities are available at Via dell’Abbondanza, Via di Nola, and at the corner of Via Stabiana and Via della Fortuna, aiming to enhance visitors’ comfort, including those with buggies and mobility-impaired individuals under the ‘Pompeii for All’ project.
• First Aid: First aid services are accessible near the Chora Cafe – Vicolo degli Augustali. Tel: +39 0818575404.
• Food & Drinks: The Chora Café, where you can have something to eat or drink, is located behind the Temple of Jupiter. There are restaurants in the surrounding area where you can stop-off for lunch or dinner. For detailed information, check out our restaurant recommendations.
• Smoking Area: Smoking is strictly prohibited on the excavation sites. Designated smoking areas can be found near the Casina dell’Aquila and the toilet facilities.
• Find everything on the map: >> Map of Pompeii

6. Kid’s Fun

The good news up front: Entrance to the sites of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii is free for all children and teenagers under 18 years of age!

While not all Pompeii attractions will appeal to children, there are some that will certainly capture their interest.

• For example, there is the amphitheater where gladiators once fought. This topic will definitely make their ears prick up. Tell them about the “pop stars of the past” and their deadly lives in the arena.
• Then there is the story of the city’s unexpected and tragic end. This drama has a lot of exciting story material. Explain what volcanoes are, why some erupt from time to time, and what lava is.

Here are some suggestions to engage your kid’s curiosity and make their experience more enjoyable:

• Pique their interest: Show them pictures and videos of Pompeii. Read books to them so they can learn more about the history of the city.
• Set expectations: Explain that they will not be able to play or frolic, and remind them to treat the excavation site with respect.

Engage them with interactive activities

• Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of things they can find in the large area, such as specific buildings, and statues or details such as mosaics or frescoes. You can get inspiration online or create your own list based on Pompeii’s characteristics.
• Drawing challenge: Provide them with pencils and paper and encourage them to draw what they see, whether it’s the amphitheater, houses or interesting details.

Storytelling: Take turns creating a story together based on what you see in Pompeii. Let them use their imagination and come up with their own interpretations.