Planning a day tour of Pompeii, but not sure where to start? You’ve come to the right place!
In this article I have outlined everything you need to know about planning the perfect Pompeii day trip. Including the best way to get there, the best time to visit, the best tours, what to see once there, and more.
Pompeii is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Italy, if not all of Europe. Destroyed by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, this Ancient Roman city is perfectly preserved.
With many of the original buildings and roads still standing, walking through the streets of Pompeii feels like stepping back in time.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in, and plan the perfect day trip to Pompeii!
Contents
Tourist mode on while exploring Pompeii in Italy
How to get to Pompeii
Let’s start with the basics for your Pompeii day trip; how do you actually get there? Most people visit Pompeii on a day trip from nearby cities like Rome, Naples, Amalfi or Sorrento.
In this section I go over exactly how long it takes to get to Pompeii from all the main hubs in the area. Which city you choose to travel from will ultimately depend on your Italy itinerary.
How to get to Pompeii from Naples
Getting to Pompeii from Naples train station for a day trip is simple!
First of all, get yourself to Naples Central Train Station. Catch the train on the Pompei-Sorrento Line, which stops at Pompei Scavi-Villa Misteri.
Trains leave for Pompeii around three times every hour, and the trip takes around 40 minutes to travel the 28 kilometres in total. Train tickets cost around 5 EUR.
To drive the route for your day trip from Naples to Pompeii, it takes around half an hour by car (around 25 kilometres).
The Foro di Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background
View over the ruins of Pompeii, Italy
How to get to Pompeii from Sorrento
The car journey from Sorrento to Pompeii (around 27 kilometres) takes around 35 minutes to travel.
It’s quicker by train though. The local train from Sorrento leaves every half an hour, and travel time is only 30 minutes. It’s also cheap, costing around 3 – 4 EUR.
How to get to Pompeii from Rome
If you’re planning on a day trip to Pompeii from Rome, you’ll be catching the high-speed train. First of all, you need to get the high-speed train from Rome Termini to Naples Central Train Station.
That costs around 20 EUR and takes 70 minutes. Then from Naples, you’ll follow the same journey as before riding the Pompei-Sorrento Line until Pompei Scavi-Villa Misteri.
It’s possible to drive, but it does take a while (around 2.5 hours) to travel the approximately 225 kilometres between Rome and Pompeii.
Doable, but I’d say maybe a little long for a day trip – don’t forget you’ve got to drive back!
View of the Centauro di Igor Mitoraj, the Foro di Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius in the background
How to get to Pompeii from Amalfi
To drive from Amalfi to Pompeii isn’t too bad of a journey. It takes around an hour to drive the 40 kilometres between the two.
The train to Pompeii from Amalfi begins at Vietri Sul Mare Amalfi Station. The journey takes around half an hour, with a distance of 21 kilometres, and costs around 3 – 4 EUR.
How to get to Pompeii from Positano
Driving from Positano to Pompeii (37 kilometres away) takes approximately one hour. Alternatively, there’s an air-conditioned shuttle bus run by SITA that travels to Sorrento.
After that, you catch the train from Sorrento to Pompeii as above.
The Garden of the Fugitives in Pompeii, Italy
Best Pompeii day tours
If you don’t want the hassle of driving, or having to figure out the schedules and station locations involved with taking public transportation, you might want to take a guided tour of Pompeii instead.
A good idea, I think, as it takes the stress out of the day completely! Here are some of the best organised Pompeii day trips:
Day trip to Pompeii from Rome
If you’re travelling from Rome to Pompeii, this Pompeii day tour from Rome is ideal. You’ll be taken from the Italian capital in an air-conditioned tour bus along with a knowledgeable archaeologist guide.
When you arrive in Pompeii, you’ll have skip-the-line entry to the archaeological site, and your tour guide will tour you around the top sights of the ancient city.
Once you’ve seen the incredible ruins of Pompeii, it’s onwards (and upwards) to Mt. Vesuvius itself.
There’s even the chance to go on a short walk up to the edge of a smouldering caldera, and take in views of the coast from an epic vantage point.
Your Pompeii day trip from Rome ends with being whisked back to the eternal city.
Click here to book your Rome to Pompeii day trip, or check out prices & availability in the calendar below!
Admiring the beautiful murals at the House of Venus in the Shell in Pompeii, Italy
Unique views of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius in Italy
Day trip to Pompeii from Naples
This Naples day trip to Pompeii is not only good if you’re staying in the City of Naples, but also if you want to pick up the tour from Naples travelling from elsewhere.
The tour will pick you up from the centre of Naples in a private tour bus, in which you’ll be taken to Pompeii. Again, you’ll be able to make the most of your time there with skip-the-line tickets.
The guide will take you around all the impressive attractions of Pompeii, spotting the Temple of Apollo, the Forum and the remains of the people of the city. Lunch is also included in this tour, which is a bonus.
Following the break, it’s time to head up Mount Vesuvius (around 1,000 metres up). From here you can see all of the Bay of Naples! Lastly, on this Naples to Pompeii day trip you’ll head back to Naples.
Check out prices & availability for your Naples to Pompeii day tour here, or directly in the calendar below!
Exploring the Teatro Grande of Pompeii
Exploring the Gladiator Barracks at the Quadriportico dei Teatri in Pompeii
Day trip to Pompeii from Sorrento
On this particular day trip, you can opt for a private or a shared tour (private costing more, obviously). Hop aboard an air-conditioned bus and be taken to the archaeological site of Pompeii.
An expert local guide will lead around the ruins of the ancient city, after getting in with your skip-the-line entrance ticket.
You’ll learn all about the history of the Ancient City of Pompeii, with lots of insightful information about everyday life and the fateful volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius that destroyed the city.
Click here to book your Sorrento to Pompeii day tour! Or check out prices & availability in the calendar below:
The Centauro di Igor Mitoraj in the Foro di Pompeii, Italy
Day trip to Pompeii from Positano
On this Positano to Pompeii day tour, your local guide will collect you directly from your accommodation in Positano – the start of what will be an amazing day!
Again, you’ll have an air-conditioned bus, skip-the-line tickets, and a knowledgeable guide to lead you around this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You’ll get to learn all about what life was like for those who once lived in the city, the significance of the different buildings and the catastrophic event that caused the demise of Pompeii.
Then you’ll be taken back to your accommodation. All in all, a fantastic experience without having to look at a single train schedule!
Click here to see prices & availability for your Positano to Pompeii day tour, or check them out directly in the calendar below!
Walking down the cobbled streets of Pompeii, Italy
Day trip to Pompeii from Amalfi
See Pompeii in a day on this day trip from Amalfi to the ancient UNESCO-recognised city. You’ll have the extra convenience of hotel pick-up before heading to Pompeii itself.
At the ticket gate, there’s the bonus of skip-the-line tickets so you can avoid the long lines, and make the most of your time there.
The expert guide will tour you around the fascinating ancient mansions, shops and temples of the city, keeping a balance of informative and fun (always a good way to look at ancient history).
This tour also includes a wine tasting and lunch, the perfect combination after a long day exploring ancient Roman ruins!
Click here to book your Amalfi to Pompeii day tour, or check out prices & availability in the calendar below!
The Santuario di Apollo in Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background
What to see in Pompeii in one day
There’s a lot to see on a Pompeii day tour. The city was home to around 20,000 people at the time of the eruption in 79 AD, so that gives you an idea of the size of the place.
The city was buried in volcanic ash and pumice, which both erased the city from the map, but also ironically preserved much of it.
Discovered in the 16th century and excavated in the following centuries, today Pompeii is one of Italy’s most visited archaeological sites.
Exploring the city offers the chance to see what life was like for those who lived in the Roman Empire.
Exploring the Santuario di Apollo in Pompeii, Italy
Walking down the ancient streets of Pompeii in Italy
From seeing the houses of wealthy elites (such as the House of Meander or House of Ceii) to the simple businesses (such as bakeries and brothels), exploring the site is an unforgettable experience.
Highlights of the city include seeing the incredible frescoes at the House of Venus in the Shell, stepping into the city’s sprawling bath house (dating back to 125 BC) and admiring the grandeur of the Teatro Grande.
You can also visit the Foro di Pompeii, the main square where daily life happened, with Mount Vesuvius as a backdrop.
Elsewhere, you can see the tragedy of the eruption in the Garden of the Fugitives, where you can see plaster-cast remains of 13 Pompeii citizens, frozen in time.
The beautiful affresco from which House of Venus in the Shell takes its name, in Pompeii, Italy
The beautiful courtyard of House of Menander in Pompeii, Italy
If you want to make your own way there, but also want to be able to learn about the site, you can join a guided tour at the entrance of Pompeii itself.
This small group tour is led by a professional archaeologist who’ll lead you around the site for around 2 hours, and help you explore the various excavated wonders dotted around.
It’s super well-reviewed, with many people raving about the guides and how helpful they are in explaining the sights and facts about the city.
We visited Pompeii without a guide, and I wish we’d had one. While it’s a unique and interesting place to visit, it’s also pretty huge, so if you don’t have a local guide you might miss some important spots.
Plus, if you don’t have a guide telling you the history of the sights, you won’t really know what you’re looking at, and it will all just look like ruins to you. Having a passionate archaeologist explain Pompeii’s history is so much better than just wandering around by yourself.
Click here to book your small group tour in Pompeii with an archaeologist! Or check out prices & availability in the calendar below:
The Foro di Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background
How much does it cost to visit Pompeii on a day trip
The basic Pompeii entrance fee is around 18 EUR, but that won’t get you access to the suburban villas. For that, it’s 22 EUR.
Of course, the cost of admission is included if you join a tour, for example, an organised Naples day trip to Pompeii.
The guided tour that you can get from the entrance of the site costs 55 EUR, but includes also the guide and the admission fee.
Driving requires hiring a car if you don’t have one already, fuel if you need it, and the costs of parking.
Columns of the Foro di Pompeii framing Mount Vesuvius in the background
Entering the archaeological site of Pompeii from Porta Marina
With train travel being relatively cheap in Italy, it makes better sense for budget travellers to simply catch the direct trains and pay a few Euros versus all the hassle of hiring a car, driving, and finding a place to park.
Plus, the official parking areas around Pompeii are super expensive! We paid 4 EUR per hour of parking, if you spend the whole day in the Pompeii archeological ruins that adds up.
Organised day trips from cities like Rome, or other far-away cities, makes sense. Costing around 125 EUR per person, they might seem pricey, but that includes everything. Some tours also include lunch.
So in short, if you’ve got the money, it’s easier to spend it on a tour than car hire, as you won’t have to think about logistics at all, which is always a plus!
Exploring the Teatro Grande of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background
Exploring the Gladiator Barracks at the Quadriportico dei Teatri in Pompeii, with Mount Vesuvius in the background
Is Pompeii worth visiting?
Yes, absolutely! For starters, it’s one of the main archeological sites in Italy.
Even though you won’t get to see everything in total detail with one day in Pompeii, visiting gives you a real insight into what an ancient Roman city would actually look like.
It may even help you appreciate other ancient ruins in Italy. It’s just an incredible place.
The vineyard of House of Menander in Pompeii, Italy
The beautiful paintings and affrescos of Casa dei Ceii in Pompeii, Italy
What to pack for a Pompeii day trip
Refillable water bottle – There are water fountains where you can refill in Pompeii, so bring a refillable bottle. It’s super hot in the summer months and you should definitely keep hydrated.
Hat – Again, summer in Italy, and especially Pompeii is very hot and there’s virtually no shade. A hat is a must!
Sunglasses – Protects your eyes from the sun’s UV rays.
Sunblock / sunscreen – With pretty much no shade, getting sunburnt is a possibility if you don’t cover up or wear sunscreen. And it’s not fun being sunburnt!
Sturdy, comfortable shoes – There’s a lot of walking around to do on a day trip to Pompeii, and with uneven cobbled roads everywhere, you’ll want some comfortable, sturdy shoes. Hiking sandals would work if that’s what you prefer.
Guidebook – In case you are doing a DIY tour of Pompeii, I really recommend bringing along a relevant guidebook. Otherwise, you’ll find it difficult to appreciate (or even work out) what it is you’re looking at.
Walking down the ancient streets of Pompeii in Italy
Do you need travel insurance for a Pompeii day trip?
After my personal experience spending two nights in a private hospital in Tenerife, and having to pay for it out of pocket (it wasn’t cheap), I always recommend getting travel insurance.
You might not end up needing it, but for a small fee you can travel without worries. Personally, I suggest getting your Italy travel insurance with Heymondo.
Heymondo offers tailor made travel insurance, providing the best value for money for your specific trip. You can also buy it once you’re already abroad and have forgotten about it before flying (which, if you’re anything like me, is quite likely).
Besides the usual cancellation, medical expenses, luggage coverage and general travel insurance services, Heymondo also has a 24/7 doctor chat and instant assistance through their app.
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Click here to get your 5% off Heymondo travel insurance!
The Amphitheatre of Pompeii from the outside
The interior of the Amphitheatre of Pompeii in Italy
Where to stay for a day trip to Pompeii
Even though at the start of this article I gave you lots of options of starting points for your Pompeii day trip, I would personally suggest staying in the Amalfi Coast, so that you can combine your visit to the Pompeii ruins with a wider Amalfi Coast itinerary.
I would avoid Rome hotels, as it’s realistically quite far for a day trip to Pompeii. Here are some of the best places to stay in the Amalfi Coast for every budget.
Budget: Holidays Baia D’Amalfi – While the words “budget” and “Amalfi Coast” don’t often go together, this hotel is pretty affordable and is located right by the harbour.
Click here to book your stay at Holidays Baia D’Amalfi!
Mid-range: Albergo S. Andrea – This hotel has beautiful views over the Duomo of Amalfi. For an affordable mid-range choice, it doesn’t get much better than this!
Check out prices & availability at Albergo S. Andrea in Amalfi here!
Luxury: Le Sirenuse – This is the luxury hotel in Positano by definition. With its gorgeous design, impeccable service, stunning views and central position, it’s the perfect place to treat yourself.
Click here to book your stay at Le Sirenuse in Positano!
Magical Positano at sunset
Final thoughts on doing a day tour to Pompeii
There you have it, the ultimate guide on doing a Pompeii day tour! Have you been to Pompeii before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!
Located in Southern Italy, Pompeii is an incredible archeological site, and a must-see in Southern Italy. Doing a full-day tour of Pompeii is a must-see on any Italy bucket list.
Alongside Capri (especially doing a boat tour in Capri), hiking the Path of the Gods, and doing a sunset boat tour in Positano, visiting Pompeii was one of the highlights of my recent Amalfi Coast itinerary.
I usually favour nature getaways, like Lake Como or Cinque Terre, but there’s truly something unique about Pompeii.
It’s not every day that you can see the ruins of an Ancient Roman city after all! And such a big and well maintained one too. Regardless of how long your Italy itinerary is, Pompeii is a destination that will enrich it.
I hope you found my Pompeii day trip guide useful! If you have any questions or need help planning your perfect Pompeii day tour, just let me know in the comments below!
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