Duration of the tours and visits of Pompeii

You're travelling in Italy and you've had Pompeii on your agenda for a long time, but you're probably wondering whether you'll have enough time to visit it, whether it's worth going for just one day, how long your visit will take...

Whatever the case and wherever you come from, I'll give you some tips to help you organise your trip. Of course, the first thing you have to do is book your tickets to Pompeii because they sell out quickly. Read on!

Once you have booked your ticket to Pompeii, you are free to explore as much as you like. Take your time to visit the city that has remained intact since the 1st century, wander through its streets and delve into its stories and anecdotes. The recommended time for a free visit is between four and five hours.

During this time, you will be able to contemplate at leisure its most important archaeological remains such as the Forum of Pompeii, the Temple of Jupiter, the Basilica or the Temple of Apollo and get an idea of what life was like in the times of Ancient Rome from the remains of this city that was buried by Vesuvius in the year 79. You will discover many details of the daily life of the Romans and learn about their shops, statues, houses and signs.

Enjoy a visit full of history, ideal for history and culture lovers.

When you book your guided tour of Pompeii, bear in mind that you will spend a total of two hours with a professional guide who will show you the history and facts of this place, as well as its most emblematic sites such as the Temple of Jupiter, the Villa of the Mysteries, the Temple of Apollo, the House of the Faun, the Amphitheatre and the Lupanar.

You will get to know Pompeii perfectly thanks to the guide's stories and anecdotes as you explore its archaeological ruins. An essential way to delve into the historical past of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The vast majority of visitors spend a full day at Pompeii. If you are in Rome, you have over 200 kilometres to get here, so ideally you should take an organised tour to Pompeii from Rome that allows you to travel in comfort by private bus, with no stops in between and all inclusive.

Tours usually leave early in the morning to make the most of your time in Pompeii. Departure time is usually around 7.30am or 8am for departures from the centre of Rome.

Normally, you will be back in Rome about 12-14 hours later, when you will have enjoyed a full, intense and fascinating day among the ruins of Pompeii. Take the opportunity to rest on the bus, enjoy the scenery and recharge your batteries for a guided tour that will not leave you indifferent.

Excursions to Pompeii from Naples are considerably shorter, as the distance is shorter (the two cities are just over 20 kilometres apart). For this reason, you can even choose between excursions that last only half a day or excursions that last the whole day, but make a stop in between so that you can visit (and climb) the crater of Vesuvius.

Guided tours usually last at least two hours: the guide will explain the details of what you are seeing and tell you how the citizens of Pompeii lived before the volcano surprised them one morning with an eruption of such virulence that it buried them under lava. Afterwards, you will have time to walk around at your leisure, finish visiting the parts that have caught your attention, take photos, have lunch.... You decide how to spend the rest of your day!

By the way, towards the end of the afternoon you will see how Pompeii empties, the large groups leave and the atmosphere in its cobbled streets is much more intimate. Take the opportunity to walk around the ruins of this exciting city for the last time and leave with the best possible taste in your mouth.

This is probably the key question on your mind and the answer is very clear: yes, definitely. In fact, the size of the city is perfect to spend a day there and get an idea of what life was like in this Ancient Roman city, how the eruption of Vesuvius took place and how it shocked its citizens, etc.

The guided tours (I highly recommend you take one) usually last at least two hours and include a general tour of the key points of the city: you will see the amphitheatre, its temples, baths, houses, taverns... even the fossilised bodies of some of its citizens.

In fact, if you get to Pompeii relatively early in the morning, in the afternoon you will have enough time to go up to Vesuvius (in a half-hour walk you can get from Pompeii up to 1,000 metres above the volcano and then walk up) and it is well worth it. So, I insist: if you only have one day to dedicate to the city of Pompeii, go ahead, you won't need more.

The reality is that you don't need two days to visit Pompeii, so if you have extra time and want to explore the area further, you're in luck, because there are plenty of things to see around Pompeii.

If you liked Pompeii and you wanted to see more, you'll be thrilled to visit Herculaneum, the neighbouring city that was also buried under the lava of Vesuvius during the same eruption. I dare say that its remains are much better preserved than those of Pompeii, so the visit will be more than interesting.

If the weather is good and you feel like relaxing by the sea, the Amalfi Coast or the Isle of Capri are two great options that do not disappoint: a dip in crystal clear waters, cliffs with dreamy coloured houses or a boat ride in the Bay of Naples will be a pleasure for all the senses. And last but not least, we cannot forget Naples, the most authentic city in the whole country, the birthplace of pizza and al fresco terraces with chequered tablecloths. Whatever you choose, you can't go wrong.

Seeing the best of Pompeii in half a day is possible. You won't have much time for long breaks or to sit down to eat in one of the surrounding restaurants, but you will still enjoy this unique area and get to know the essence of the city, its main monuments, the history of Vesuvius...

The best thing to do in these cases is to join a guided tour in which an expert guide will show you the most beautiful parts of the city, take you to the key points and explain the most important things you need to know.

If you visit Pompeii in the late afternoon, you'll see that the crowds of tourists and large groups will be noticeably reduced and you'll be able to enjoy the city in the most authentic way possible under the last rays of the afternoon sun. A great plan!

If you are staying in Rome and want to calculate how long it will take you to get there, take note (although you can find more info in my article on how to get from Rome to Pompeii):

• By train: it depends on whether you take a regular or high-speed line. The fastest trains (which are also the most expensive) cover the journey in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Be careful because "slow" trains can take several hours.
• By public bus: By intercity bus it will take you about three hours, depending on the stops along the way.
• By car: By car you could make the journey in two and a half hours.

• By train: For about 3 euros you can buy a ticket that will take you from Naples to the door of the archaeological site of Pompeii in 40 minutes.
• By bus: By bus it will also take you about 40 minutes from Naples to Pompeii.
• By car: It will take you just over half an hour to cover the route from Naples to Pompeii by road.