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The best way to visit Pompeii – Learn all our budget traveller secrets
Pompeii, an iconic Ancient Roman city, is widely associated with both historical significance and a tragic fate. Following its burial beneath the volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the town and many of its residents were both obliterated and conserved. It lay undisturbed for centuries until archaeologists unearthed it in the 18th century, launching in-depth explorations into its rich history.
If you’re planning a trip to Italy and have a passion for history, I strongly urge you to consider Pompeii as an essential destination. Follow along as I give you all the tips and inside knowledge on how to visit this iconic destination on a backpackers budget.
Things to know
Arrive when it opens
We made sure to get there right when Pompeii opened, and this tip is great for two reasons. First, you can avoid the crowds that build up during the day as people come in from Naples or Sorrento for day trips. And second, you can get slightly ahead of the summer heat. We just bought our tickets at the entrance, so don’t stress about pre-purchasing them if you get there early. You can find all the info about opening hours and prices on their website.
Bring Sunscreen
Our time in Pompeii was one of the only times that we felt extremely exhausted from the heat. There is limited to no shade throughout so you are in the peak summer heat for the majority of the day.
Bring Food
I find myself repeating this advice in many of my guides because it’s such a crucial way to save money while traveling on a budget, but I can’t stress it enough: bring your own food whenever possible. In Pompeii, there’s only one restaurant/cafe. Make sure that when you’re eating, you do so only in the designated picnic areas, as they are quite strict about this. You’ll easily spot these areas because they are signposted, making it hassle-free to locate them. There is a supermarket across the road from the main entrance of Pompeii where you can pick up something for lunch if you didn’t come prepared.
Expect lines
One unexpected aspect was encountering lines to enter some of the houses. Be ready to wait in these queues. They limit the number of people allowed in each house to prevent overcrowding, which we actually appreciated since it allowed us to fully appreciate each place without feeling overwhelmed by the crowd.
Keep in mind that not all houses are open throughout the day, so check the website if you have a specific one in mind. Also, it’s important to note that because it’s still an active archaeological site, they have areas that are constantly opening and closing for restoration work. Be prepared for the possibility that some areas might be temporarily closed for this reason.
You don’t need a tour guide
We opted for a self-guided tour of Pompeii rather than a guided one, and despite what many blogs and articles suggest about needing only 3-4 hours, we ended up spending approximately 6 hours there. At the end of the day there were still sections of the site we didn’t explore. Pompeii covers a vast area, and there are numerous places to discover.
Google was our trusty companion during our Pompeii adventure. We used it to research anything that piqued our interest along the way, and since all areas are clearly labeled, it was quite straightforward. We often ventured off the beaten path compared to guided tours, as they seemed to focus mainly on the main attractions. We feel that we got to see a lot more this way. However, if you’re short on time, considering an audio guide or a tour might be a good idea for you. We, on the other hand, prefer the freedom of exploring on our own. Some great tours can be found here on Get your Guide.
Getting there
We stayed within the small town of Pompeii because we also planned to visit Mount Vesuvius on a different day. I absolute loved our stay in Pompeii. After experiencing the chaos of Naples a few nights earlier, it was the perfect place for us to relax. We stayed at B&B PompeiLog which we couldn’t recommend enough they were the most helpful hosts and went above and beyond to make our stay the best it could be.
If you’re coming from Naples or Sorrento, you can easily catch the train, which takes you almost directly to the entrance of Pompeii. There are multiple trains a day running to and from Pompeii.
Relevant as of April 2024.