Pompei

The Scavi di Pompei is the English name for the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, which is an ancient city once buried by ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It's one of the most remarkable sites in Italy for visiting, and I would suggest at least make it a half day trip or a minimum three hours visit here.

This was a highlight of our trip to Italy. Assuming you are not staying in Pompeii, you'll need to take a train to get here (or potentially drive your own car?). In our case, we were staying in Rome and had made reservations on a ~ 9 a.m. high speed train to Naples, which took about 90 minutes. From there, we had to book a second trail from Naples to Pompeii. That ride is about 25 minutes. Your options are the the Circumvesuviana (a commuter type train where you can be packed in tightly standing up - potential for pickpockets) vs. the Campania Express (which is likely a bit more expensive but uncrowded and you can sit down / spread out). We took the Campania Express. The only drawback was that we had to wait ~ 90 minutes from arriving in Naples to departing (we used this time to eat lunch in the station). You disembark at the Pompeii station. It is only about 100 meters from there following the adjacent street to the ticket office for the ruins. We had pre-purchased tickets, but there did not seem to be a separate line to redeem those vs. just buying tickets on site. The queue was only about 10 people deep when we arrived. Make sure you get a paper map (we didn't see where but others found them somewhere in this area). Restrooms are located here and at the small restaurant located within the ruins. You then proceed up a hill, though a gate, and into the ruins of the city. The street grid is intact so you use that to wander around to various points of interest - reasonably preserved houses, baths, brothels, businesses, etc. We used a list of sites from a travel book as our informal itinerary. I think my two favorite spots were the House of the Faun (with a unique Pan type statue and the original location of the famous mosaic of Alexander the Great) and a 3 - 4 story tower at the north end of the town (from which you got a good view of a majority of the ruins). There were of course many other sites (the Villa of the Mysteries had some nicely preserved wall paintings; at least one of the major baths gave a good idea of the engineering behind the heating; some areas featuring the plaster casts of the voids where bodies had been entombed were sobering; etc.). I would recommend finding some map / overview ahead of time and using that as your walking guide for the area (unless you have hired a guide). You can get good photos from the forum / basilica area (near the entry gate) with Vesuvius in the background. Also, I think it helps to do 10 - 15 minutes worth of reading about Roman life in Pompeii before you visit. You don't need to read 5 books, but it helps to at least be familiar with the idea of a Roman bath complex (for instance). We passed a group where one visitor seemed to have no idea what the baths were... Read something or watch a travel video, and you'll at least recognize a restaurant's food counter or what an aqueduct looks like. It will definitely add a lot to your experience here. For the return trip, we walked back to the train station. For trains to Naples, you have to take a short tunnel to go to the track on the side furthest from the ticket office. We were among the very few who had tickets for the Campania Express. We arrived back in Naples and then booked a ticket back to Rome (as we hadn't been sure when we'd get back from Pompeii). We left Naples at around 6:10 p.m. and arrived back in Rome (Termini Station) at 7:20 p.m., so it was a long day.

This is the historical site of Pompeii. While I greatly appreciate all the historical things to see I can only give it 4 stars. There were so many people and the site is not well protected. People can touch far more than they should which is going to wear away this site. While there are a few people telling the tourists to stay off the walls they were few and far between. So, should you go and see this amazing site and it's history? Yes but please don't touch so generations to come can enjoy as well. Tip: pack lots of water before entering the site. The places to fill bottles are few and far between.

Pompeii up close and personal. I had preconceived notions of what to expect... human bodies frozen where they stood when Mt. Vasubias erupted in 79 A.D. Instead I learned about an advance society, a city buried by the eruption. I learned about history and how it was excavated a section at a time and the excavation of more sites. Visiting Pompeii you are emersed into what life looked in 79 A.D. I learned about how the city looked like with the roadways, the shops, the houses (common folk and affluent folk). I saw a wood burning stove similar to that of a wood fire pizza stoves we see at Italian pizzarias. The museum houses some artifacts discovered from building materials to molds of human bodies caught in the eruption. The history was fascinating and I urge you to visit.

Great historical place, touristy, all-day walks. It was nice to learn about history and feel the real rock that build this place. The Pompeii vast archaeological site is in southern Italy's Campania region. Must prepare water and kids should be close to the parents because kids can be lost in such a huge wave of tourists.

For some reason this place has two Yelp listings, so I'll write a review for both! You ever heard of Pompeii? The town that melted thanks to the volcano burst? Will it's right here! There isn't a lot of shade and this place is huge! You're going to sweat like a pig that ate too much pepperoni. I don't think I've ever sweated as much as I did here in my entire life. I was drenched from top to bottom. I could barely move as my clothes were attached to my skin because of all the sweat. Still, it was worth it. You'll see the molten casts of the people who passed away as well as the remains of a lot. Almost got into a fist fight with one of the tour guides because he decided he was priority and decided to cut in front of my even though I had been waiting to take a picture for awhile. Still, in the end after a yelling match he backed down. Overall, a crazy experience and one that is worth the hassle and pain you will have to endure.

My visit here was in mid-September 2022. It turns out I like history, but maybe not ruins. I'm glad I saw it, but I never need to again. It's big, of course. Hilly. Hot, even in September. They no longer give out maps--you must find them online. Those I found were not overly helpful. The place needs more signage and info posted regarding what is what. We didn't pay for a tour and instead opted for the Rick Steves audio tour, which we discovered a somewhat outdated--stuff wasn't where it was said to be, and it was also hard to find certain things due to this and the maps issue. Staff very nicely let us back inside to use the restroom when we explained we'd left for lunch earlier and our restaurant's bathroom was closed. However, the bathroom in the front was closed, so we had to walk way up the hill to the museum. I would pay for a guided tour or try Herculaneum instead... though I haven't tried Herculaneum, so I can't say that's more enjoyable. Yeah, we both felt kind of "meh" about Pompeii. I guess we aren't ruins women.

One of the coolest tours I've ever experienced. We booked the tour that took you to both Pompeii and Vesuvius. It was well worth it! We parked in a town near by and the tour bus picked us up and took us around all day. It was a wonderful experience! I learned a lot about how civilized people were in AD. They had water pipes (although they were lead because they didn't know lead poisoning was a thing). They had beautiful bath houses. Mosaics were perfectly preserved. They seemed to have a sense of humor and put little "naughty" carvings in the cobblestone directing you to the "adult" houses.... if you know what I mean. On the walls were a preserved photo "menu" of services women would provide. There was still bread in the ovens in the bakeries when they uncovered Pompeii. They have some of the "bodies" from when they poured plaster into the pockets where people were essentially frozen in the position they died. I highly recommend experiencing this. They are still excavating areas of Pompeii today.

If you ever make it to Italy. I feel this is an absolute must see site during your visit. The preservation of this archeological site is absolutely astounding. Unimaginable to think what it must have been like to have lived the last few my moments of life before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The storage area where the figures of some of the resident's final moments were captured for all eternity. The sense of helplessness and the futile attempts to protect their faces or body parts were no match for the hot lava that came out like an avalanche and turned bodies to mere ash in seconds. This site left an indelible mark on what a surprise attack life can have on us. Today we have technology in place to give some warning and heads up. How devastating and absolutely hopeless survival as being attainable during such impossible avoidable life event back then. Watching the sky turn to dark dust and feeling as if the world was going to end, all along knowing your gut was most likely right. You can see how the residents lived day to day passing through life. The brothels and night life. How the rich, middle and poor class lived. The thousands of years of wheel marks in the cobbled roads. The x-rated depictions on the walls at the brothels. The deep seated hand imprints at the water fountains. This site is well laid out and is a great place to spend an entire day. I saw a riveting account of the last week reenactment of the lives of the residents and from the more wealthy onlookers that saw it happen from a safe distance as they were able to escape.

WOW! After having learned about Pompeii in Middle School and High School Science classes, I recently had the chance to visit the place in person, and OMG - it was amazing to see what I was seeing in person here. The architecture and remains took my breath away. I did an audio tour with a big group while here, and while I don't remember the names of the tour guides we had, they were very friendly, professional and funny at times. Again, since I came here as part of a group and not on my own, I don't know what admission prices are like so I will not cover that part of this review. You of course have to go through a security checkpoint (similar to what you'd expect at an airport but not quite the exact same), but this is nothing too bad. Make sure to bring your own water to the place though, especially if visiting over the summer. It can get really hot and you don't want the heat taking away your excitement of being at such a historical place! And your phone/camera, of course, you'll definitely want to take some while here. Also, while washrooms are available, they aren't the cleanest and most pleasant, so take care of that business prior to arriving here. However, this is a very minor inconvenience when you consider you're at Pompeii! Don't forget to bring your walking shoes too, you're going to be doing A LOT of walking here obviously. I wish I had more time here to really explore the ancient city of Pompeii and "get lost" here. While I would recommend the audio tour guide so you can truly see all of Pompeii without missing anything accidentally, there's something special about being on your own (or with a small group of your own friends, family, etc). At most, I'd recommend spending an entire morning, afternoon or evening here to truly experience the place. I do hope to be back soon and if I am back in the Amalfi Coast/Naples area, I'll definitely stop by Pompeii again. It's a must do.

Imaginative and creative thinking caps are required. If you have read of and watched documentaries about Pompei, that may help realize what it was like to live in this city of ancient natural disaster. Tours are available with different types of hosts. There are guides who are anthropologists, historians, geologists or archaeologists - perhaps a mixture. Get a tour with a knowledgeable host. It should last at least two hours if not more. September is still very hot and humid, so be prepared with sun screen and hydration. Please wear flat comfortable walking shoes - no stilettos. Don't forget your camera on the bus silly seagull! Entrance fee is €15. The walk around will fulfill your daily fit bit steps. You're given a pamphlet map. Mind you, this is a huge small city of ruins. Grab an audio guide if you aren't joining a tour. Lastly, for more interest and information read up and watch those documentaries. Enjoy my photos!!!

The Pompei ruins are absolutely amazing! I am still shaking and in awe of how a civilization of brilliant individuals had the foresight to build roads, aggregation system, a judiciary system, cemetery for their dead, wine (yes you read that right, wine!) and much much more. My 3 stars is not for the site, but rather for the audio tour and the employees on the site at the ruins. I am sure the employees get bothered by questions and get annoyed with tourists, but during my visit here, I faced rudeness and attitude not by one or two but a handful of employees when I asked for directions to a specific area or general information. On top of that, two of the employees had their bottles dripping inside the entrance of houses open for viewing by visitors. Unbelievable...it angered me that they had no respect for the site. It's a love hate relationship with the audio tour guide. In part I was grateful for it bc without it, I would have been lost and wouldn't know the history/ importance of certain things. But, several plaques, when entered, also showed "no description available". So why are there plaques there again? For the money paid for the audio tour (in addition to the entrance fee), I did not feel it was absolutely worth it. Next time I go back to Pompei, I will get a tour guide to walk me through the ancient city to eliminate my interaction with both aspects that took away from my experience.

Imagine arriving to a place where the waters are a clear turquoise blue; and the air is fragrant with the scent of lemon flowers. As you walk the streets; the chatter of people conversing in a language not your own not only intrigues but also adds to the experience as you trek up the mountain and arrive to what once was a thriving city. Granted; all that remains now is a fragment of what once was but regardless, it's rich history coupled with the breath taking views of the volcanic valley make Pompeii one of the world's most sought after vacation destinations. I can finally say that I understand the allure. Be prepared for a lot of walking but with the views you'll have; you'll want to walk, trust me. There are so many things to see that it's hard to list them all but what I can relay is what I personally found most interesting, and that's the original pizza ovens they used. For the most part a lot of them are still intact, even the mortars where they'd grind the flour to make the dough. You find out that the Romans of the era used a special type of marble along the paths of the street so that at night, the light from the moon would illuminate the streets... Think about that for a second, doesn't it make you sigh dreamily? I know.. I know.. but I still think its pretty damn cool. There's a section that's a bit more on the grim side however, and that's where they keep the stone remains of those who lost their lives during the volcanic eruption. Right next to that they have a storage area of artifacts they've collected as well as pottery and other tools found on the site. The only other tip I can offer is this: Savor the moments that you're there. Breathe in that rich mountain air, and imagine what it would've been like all those years ago. It's a wonderful experience; enjoy!

Beautifully preserved historical site. This is an amazing site to see in person. There is constant excavation being done here and you will see more and more every time you go back. If you're going on your own look at a map beforehand and choose your parking. We parked on the opposite end of where we wanted to be and it was about a two mile walk. Buying tickets is very easy and they have people speaking many different languages there. As you're waiting in line people will offer guided tours. I definitely suggest a guide. We did the tour on our own but many of the buildings are not labeled so you really don't know what you're looking at. The casts of the people are all inside a building. Wear comfortable shoes and watch your steps. The roads are not perfectly paved and there are a lot of uneven walkways.

What a great experience to see these ruins, we took the train , which isn't a bad experience if the timing is right just make sure to secure your belongings. Anyway the day started with a massive thunder storm but it passed and we were able to explore the ruins with no problem. We did a self tour because we didn't want to get locked in to a 6 hour walk around the park. You can do guided tours, voice recorder tours or just general admission and explore yourself. Honestly to me it was great just seeing it and exploring it, I didn't need to know what every little thing was to enjoy it. If you really want to know something you can stand by a tour group and listen. It's huge 170 acres so bring water and good shoes, there is a restaurant in the middle so food is available.

The historical place filled with so many secrets and stories is just amazing. You can walk for hours here down the cobble stone streets and never finish seeing everything. From plazas to brothels Pompeii had it all. I highly recommend a guided tour, water, hat, sunblock and comfy clothes and shoes. It is not wheelchair accessible sadly or for strollers. Not much shade either. I saw women walking in heels and was in shock! Why would you do that to yourself??? So come prepared to walk and be hot (in the summer) and enjoy the mysteries this once great city has to offer.

We were staying at the nearby Amalfi Coast in lovely Cetara. Pompei is less than an hour away, so it was perfect for a daytrip. We parked the car near the entrace close to the Anfiteatro in front of the Ristorante Il Posticino, where they took good care of our car. It was a weekday and still early enough, but was busy already (and the tourist busses didn't even arrive yet). So we waited in line for about 30mins, which was ok. We had our dog with and entering with her was no problem (we checked before - just big dogs aren't allowed - an English Bulldog still fits). Once inside it is hard to choose which way to go, all looks interesting and worth exploring. We checked out the Anfiteatro first and the Palestra. Not too many visitors - which was surprising. I guess they all ran straight to the Forum. Between the "Orto Dei Fuggiaschi" and the "Giardino Casa della Nave Europa" there are some really nice lanes to explore with very nice views and almost no visitors. Worth to check. After this we went to the bigger streets: The "Via Di Castricio" first and then on the "Via dell' Abbondanza" which was leading to the famous "Forum di Pompeii". All along the way there are countless buildings and houses worth exploring. From baths to villas with lovely kitchens. It's really too much to list and too much to explore. You can't do it in one day. Navigating is easy - thanks to a free map and lots of street signs. But it's also fun to get lost in the countless streets and lanes once in a while. A highlight of course was the Forum, with nice views of the Vesuvio in the back. But it's also the busiest place in Pompeii. The nearby Basilica and the Tempio di Venere are also worth a closer look. Be aware that some of the buried vicitims were moved at the time we visited (moved outside of the entrance we came in - in a small building behind glass, you can see them without even needing a ticket). Most of the area is even wheelchair accessible, which was great, because due to extreme heat in summer we had our dog stroller with. So no problem with that (except for some smaller lanes). It's a really interesting, for some part even moving place. Hard to describe in simple words. It's one of the things you gotta see with your own eyes. I'm no history buff and usually not really into museums and stuff. But this place is really not to be missed.

It's a must do if you're doing the whole southern Italy tour. It's just so much to see of the ancient city, that you should probably do some pre-planning to figure out what you want to see out of the ancient city. You really can't do everything in one shot. I would also recommend doing the audio guide. But my favorites include the Villa Mystery, Cupid's house and the bath houses. Lot's of walking on uneven roads and rocks so bring some sturdy walking shoes.

There are many historical and ancient ruins in Italy to amaze you and Pompei would be one of the ones you do not miss. Within an easy drive from Naples, you can immerse yourself into a world that stopped in time over 2000 years ago. It is amazing to see such advancement when you have to realize there wasn't any electricity, metal tools like today, or machinery. Pompei is a tourist zone... no doubt about that. We arrived late summer on an afternoon and it was nuts. The entire area felt like a herding zone of thousands of people from the many cruise ships, bus tours, and locals. Just a quick note... the bathroom situation for any woman is NOT good... at all. Just.. avoid. Before going into the archaeological site, make sure you have a bottle of cold water. The sun is hot and strong ... with very little shade, you'll find yourself wishing to stick yourself in a freezer to cool down. I would recommend a guide... there site is huge and immense. Without a guide, everything starts looking the same and you may not fully appreciate how some items have survived through the years and still gives you hints of what life was like back then. We learned the nuances of why some buildings are more interesting than others, how they built the city the way they did, what was a house for a rich family, how they dragged these massive marbles from the sea (and left a bloody trail of bodies trampled along the way), or why temples had the original statues positioned the way they did. One thing that is well known is the 'casted' bodies... it was explained how there are real skeletons inside but the ashes of Vesuvius created the perfect cast. Modern day archaeologist then poured plaster to create the last position of these citizens. Some are peaceful and others are eerily posed in what could only be a moment of pain. The crowds around the enclosed bodies are huge... expect to wait and push through the crowds to get a glimpse. We spent nearly 2 hours here including some wait time at the end and I would say that that would be the minimum you take to admire and be amazed. Its rare to see such colour paintings or vivid mosaics survive a complete catastrophe and shine a bit of history in our day and age. I believe Pompei to be one of those 'must do' sites that is worthy of everyone's time.

Our last port of call was Naples, one of the oldest cities in the world, and Italy's third largest city. Our first stop was a morning tour at Pompeii. Since we had booked a private tour with Umberto, he arranged for a separate tour guide at Pompeii. We actually arrived before it opened, so our tour was one of the first ones in. Our tour guide, Teresa, was amazing - she was informative, funny, and super nice. It was so surreal being in Pompeii, especially as Teresa gave us so much more context and information about the place. We visited the main areas and the tour lasted about two hours. There's definitely a lot more to see and you can definitely spend more than one day there if you wanted to. If you're on a time constraint, I would definitely suggest a tour - and not one of those big ones either. You'll see less and there's definitely a more intimate feel to a smaller tour. Arrive super early because by the time we left at about 12pm, it was getting really crowded and also really hot. Also, buy your tickets online and print them out to skip the lines!

Amazing place. So much history and so much to see. You could spend all day here for sure. Make sure to bring water and be ready for crowds. Super interesting and fascinating.

It is amazing to see how well preserved some of the ruins are. Thank goodness there are those around that continue to help preserve the past and save it for the future. What a wonderful experience it is to walk through the ruins and try to experience what it was like when the Volcano erupted.

I love history. I love ancient history, and I'm absolutely fascinated with the Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD. There's only one reason why I'm giving Pompeii a 4 and not a 5. Herculaneum .... and if you're reading this, and considering Pompeii. Do it! But .... you MUST visit Herculaneum as well. But I digress ...... Standing on the streets of Pompeii is both surreal and mesmerizing. There's enough remaining to give you a solid sense of what life might have been like back in the 1st century AD. There's enough destroyed, however, that you also get a sense of what must have been like that dreadful August day. Starting on the morning of the 24th and lasting for several days after .... Pompeii, Herculaneum, and many other towns in the shadow of Vesuvius were handed a one two punch of destructive mayhem. I'll never forget standing in the middle of Pompeii's Forum on a beautiful, sunny, September morning .... imagining the grandeur and modern sophistication which Pompeii was know for. Rich and poor alike, living side by side, interacting personally and professionally. Politics, commerce, debate, friends, enemies, lovers .... all completely unaware that their entire world was about to end violently ..... engulfed by a suffocating death blanket of smoke, ash, rock, mud, and fire. How sure the Pompeiians were that they were masters of their environment. How wrong they were. There was a significant lesson for me in that moment. I hope you get the same. Anyway .... Pompeii gets pretty crowded starting around 10am. We actually started at the South Gate and made our way to the main entrance on a self guided tour. There are pros and cons to this approach. The Pro is we basically passed the bulk of the crowds in the middle, while both our beginning and end were virtually crowd-less. Mid week, mid month September was a great time to go. The weather was awesome and the crowds not insane. PREPARE yourself to walk .... a lot .... and TAKE WATER. There are really cool fountains in Pompeii with supposedly really good water .... but when we were there the wasps had the high ground. Pompeii is one of those places that you almost get what you give. Put in some time. Do some research, and you'll be rewarded with one of our planets most famous frozen in time rewards. Like I said before though. If you do hit Pompeii .... take the train to Herculaneum, because for as awe inspiring as Pompeii is, Herculaneum takes it to a whole new level.

No words (nor expressions) can describe the incredible experience of travelling back through time and seeing how people lived in Pompeii. They had everything we have now. Visiting here will open your eyes at how people have not changed. Expect to spend a tremendous amount of time exploring, but here are a few tips to keep in mind: 1. Try to avoid visiting in the summer. Aside from the crowd, the streets in Pompeii are not shaded and the scorching sun will cook you. 2. Try to visit as early as possible to avoid the crowd (and get out just in time for lunch). There are a bunch of restaurants by the exit area of Pompeii... my fave is Ristorante Suisse. They have great coffee... and don't pass on the pizza napoletana. Everything that grows on Mount Vesuvius is sweet (and organic). 3. Bring lots of water. They do have restrooms around Pompeii. 4. For first time visitors, a tour guide is a must. The locals know so much info about Pompeii and the area that you'll learn a ton of stuff you won't normally get from an app. 5. I wouldn't advise bringing young kids here (especially those who are attached to their strollers). There are no flat grounds in Pompeii. 6. Right around the corner from a hotel in front of Pompeii is a campground. Definitely will do when I return - http://www.campingspartacus.it/en/

An incredible exploration that makes you feel like you stepped back in time. Visited here in May, so we had comfortable weather with occasional rain (it rained for a little bit on us, but not very hard. It was cloudy most of the day, but the sun did come out). We were staying in Naples and drove over (about 15 miles S of Naples). We ate a good lunch in town before heading to the site, knowing we were going to spend the rest of the day here. First, I have NEVER visited a historic site with so little security. Once we were in, there was NO staff around. The ruins had little buzzers that would go off if you got too close to something (which we discovered), but no one ever arrived to scold us. Further, we saw lots of stray dogs wandering the ruins. My worry is that the site will not remain well preserved. Second, everyone says its amazing, but when you see how well the Volcanic Ash preserved the city, from A.D.79, it will still "blow" your mind. haha! We didn't take a tour, but we had a guide book and meticulously explored every section. From the preserved political slogans on the street, to the brothels with sexual imagery on the walls, everything was intact. Plan to walk and wear comfortable shoes. Also, dressing in layers is key in the spring time.

OH MY GOSH! Words cant describe seeing the Ruins of Pompeii, perfectly preserved since 79 A.D. I was really super happy to come and _finally_ see the ruins in person - my interest in Pompeii came about after seeing an amazing exhibition at the British Museum about a few years back, maybe in 2014? and ever since, its been a dream to come and see the actual place for myself. Being there in person, it was haunting seeing Mount Vesuvius in the distance, its ever threatening presence really overshadowing the ruins. I had taken a guided tour from Rome to Pompeii, and so once our bus arrived, we had a 3 hour guided walking tour of the ruins, and honestly that just wasn't enough time. You could easily spend a whole day here, and so this tour served as a great entry point to whet my appetite to return. We think we are different, but wandering these ruins, I felt such a feeling of deja vu and kinship and what struck me is how we as human beings, even in our current society, we havent really changed a lot. We saw the theater, the shops, the houses of the rich, the red light district, the bath, the temples, the community area aka forum and you know what? all those things still exist in modern society. Seeing the rich vibrancy of the friezes, the graffiti, the naughty erotica, the pots and pans, the detritus of life, the tragedy of this city is really bought home. All I can say is that its totally worth here to come visit! Yelp 278/ 2018

10/25/2013 At the end of our Amalfi Coast whirl-wind tour, my husband and I stopped here in Pompeii for a visit. Our driver dropped us off, and we proceeded to purchase tickets (it was already 3 pm or so, we had to hurry to see the ruins before closing!). Out of the 2 weeks we were in Italy, this Pompeii visit was one of my husband's favorite destinations.. He and I were both amazed by how these ruins are one of the best kept (best preserved) sites in the world. No wonder it is a UNESCO World Heritage site! During our visit, we listened to the free Rick Steve's audio-tour that took us throughout the ancient city, we learned so much about how life was like back then...and got to see/hear what each of the rooms, plaza, figurines, etc. meant. We event did some jumps in the air right in the middle of the amphitheater. At the hour & season we went, there weren't that many tourists, so we were able to stroll at a leisurely pace to view the ruins. We even saw the sunset from Pompeii too, and got a good view of Mt. Vesuvius (which was the volcano that exploded and left Pompeii in the ashes). This is a remarkable site and we are so happy we had the opportunity to see this place during our trip to Italy! If you are already in the Naples + Amalfi Coast area, then we highly recommend this as a stop for your vacation or trip.

TL;DR - Totally unlike anywhere else you'll ever see. The good stuff - Pompeii is HUGE... the size of the site is much bigger than you would imagine. We spent the best part of 6 hours exploring and still didn't see everything. A lot of what you see is quite "samey" (street after street of houses) but that's part of the charm - you get a true sense for what a Roman settlement was like. And then on top of this, there are some absolute gems - murals, graffiti, mosaics... preserved far better than you would imagine is possible. So you must see Pompeii, it's just fabulous. The bad stuff - Pompeii is HUGE... on a hot day, it's tiring. There's a cafe in the centre, but no other catering facilities on site so it gets busy. There's also very little shade from the sun. It can be a bit tough on your feet too because the ground is often uneven. But none of that is a reason not to attend. The important stuff - when you get off the train there will be lots of people trying to get you to sign up for tours. There's even an official looking information point. THESE ARE NOT OFFICIAL. Ignore the hawkers and carry on to the main entrance. There will probably be a long queue for tickets but don't be put off - it moves fairly quickly and it's absolutely worth the wait.

Pompeii is an ancient Roman city that was destroyed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Much of the city and its people were buried under the ashes that spewed from the sudden & deadly eruption. The city was preserved very well under the ashes for thousands of years due to lack of moisture and air, before it was initially rediscovered in 1599. This lays out what you might expect to see here, and since this is not a history lesson, I'll ask that you go read up on the rest before visiting the ancient city of Pompeii. There are many great spots for photo ops. Near the entrance, there's an open area w/ Mt. Vesuvius in the background. There are some larger ancient structures that are still intact for people to go inside. A camera w/ low light capabilities may come in handy here. Pompeii covers about 160 acres, and knowing the history of it will make the visit so much more interesting. Since I can't use words to fully describe what you'll experience during your visit (if you choose to go), I will offer a few pointers. 1. Wear comfortable shoes. Sneakers are best. Flip flops are not ideal. The roads are uneven and can be easy to trip & fall. Expect a lot of walking 2. During the summer, bring sunscreen, a hat or even an umbrella. Pompeii offers almost no shade. 3. Get a map. After an hour, the streets start to look the same and you'll need it to find your way 4. Bring water & snacks. Not cool to smoke though as there are families walking around. 5. Speaking of families, this place may not be ideal for strollers or older folks due to the uneven roads. 6. Unless the map you pick up at the entrance has been updated, the section where they show the ash covered bodies was not clearly labeled on the map. You may have to ask around once you're near. Overall, this was a very good experience, seeing a city completely buried under ashes and eventually excavated, with many people frozen in the exact position they were in when the hot ashes fell upon them. And of course.... bring a fully charged camera. Enjoy!

Pompeii is huge and you can't see it all in one day. We were there for 2-3 hours (took a train to and from the port area) and felt we just scratched the surface. Here's some practical info & tips: -We came in the middle of summer, 90+ degrees. There is little to no shade here. Certain parts/outskirts of the site there's some tree growth but not along the main sites, unless you enter and stand inside some of the leftover structures. Try coming early morning or latest part of day. I was also surprised how many people brought pets, that is CRUEL in this kind of heat. -Buy tickets in advance-we waited 40 minutes in line around 10 am and we would have rather used that time to explore. Kids 18 and under are free! -There are several drinking fountains inside along various walkways, so nice to be able to refill water bottles! -I wish I would have purchased a tour/guide option, whether through Pompeii's ticket office directly or a 3rd party. It's overwhelming scavenging on your own with no direction or understanding of what you're looking at and the history behind every monument and building. This place is too valuable to walk around ignorant! -On the train ride up some Italian gal's were going to Herculaneum, it's slightly lower elevation wise than Pompeii but I was told it's better preserved because it was discovered more recently than Pompeii. Something worth looking into!

A group of us went on July 2nd, and it was HOT. Not much shade, the roads were a bit difficult to walk on, and the site markings were small and hard to see, so it was a bit difficult to find our way using our audioguide. In retrospect, we should have paid more to get a guided tour. But it was still nice to see such a historical site, and thank goodness for the ice cream shop in the middle of the site for us to refuel with some water and to cool off.

Came here on the 1st Sunday of January which means FREE! ( but for real WTF were we thinking?)We left Rome by train early in the a.m. so we could get there shortly after they opened at 8:30a.m. We then took the shitty local tram to Pompei ( make sure you take the train that says 'Pompei Scavi' or else you're on the wrong one!). It's about a 30 minute ride, dirty, with so much graffiti on it, you'd think you were in Disneyland! Anyways, get off at the correct stop, & you're in for a long walking hike. We listen to Rick Steves Audio guide for free & had a better time walking around ourselves than with a tour . We walked for about 6 hours including eating at the food court before we called it quits. There's a lot to see & I suggest you read your map wisely & find the people laying down which indicates a body viewing( well plaster remains of a body lol). Bring water, chapstick, sunscreen, glasses, & stay warm! Bring comfortable waking shoes, I cannot stress this enough! The Italians girls are ignorant for wearing high heel boots, wobbling all over Cobble stone, like really you're going to break your ankle, only a matter of time!

Things you should know about me: 1) After visiting the Natural History Museum in NYC at age ~15 and seeing a child from Pompeii, I've always wanted to come here (so much so that I rearranged my whole trip just to fit in Pompeii) 2) I never studied Roman history before, so in my head Pompeii was going to be something along the line of mud huts etc. Things I learned after my visit: 1) I was correct, this place is definitely worth visiting! 2) Holy s%#t. No wonder these people weren't keen on departing from home and instead stayed there during a volcanic eruption. This place must have been fabulous! We came here as part of a tour group out of Rome. I'm guessing becoming a tour guide for Pompeii requires some certification etc, so our bus tour guide had to hand the group over to another guide when we arrived (she wasn't the best sadly) but I did manage to overhear some other guides and learn a little more. Ok, so where to begin on Pompeii itself? Well, as mentioned it was fabulous, yes even still as ruins, you can really see how marvelously advanced this city was, with sloping streets for drainage points, horse tie ups, kitchen shops, sliding doors, street cross walks to avoid puddles etc etc. My only disappointment was not seeing more "bodies" (yes that sound kind of sick and morbid) but a lot of the ones on display were off for "further restoration". Googling will reveal this is less about restoration and more about science, and they are CT scanning the plasters to look at the preserved bones. Very fascinating, so I'll give them a pass on that. Should Pompeii be on your bucket list like mine? Can't say that for sure. It's definitely a MUST see if you're anywhere in the Naples area, or yes, even worth taking a 2 hour bus down from Rome.

It's reasonably pricey to get in to Pompeii but it's really worth the $$. Try to bring small denominations in Euros to pay for your entrance because we paid in 1, 2, & 5s and the lady was so thankful as they had nearly ran out of change. Anyway, we used the Rick Steves audio tour on the app on our phones to navigate Pompeii and it was pretty reliable. With that said, Pompeii is a city so it still helps to get a map with at least a basic layout. The streets are somewhat marked and it's hard to get lost but after all the walking which you will do, you will probably be begging to find an exit by the end of the day. The Rick Steves audio tour hit the highlights so feel free to navigate on your own. It's really amazing how much work has been done to uncover this lost city and it's artifacts and how well preserved the majority of it is. We went to the Archaeological Museum in Naples prior to coming here, so it was cool to see all the sculpture, glass, metal, and art that was uncovered at Pompeii and then walk Pompeii to really get a feel for how people actually lived. I will warn though to not underestimate how much walking is involved. As mentioned it's a city after all, so prepare for that. The ground is very uneven so invest in some good shoes. It's mostly non-handicap accessible as there are steep areas, steps, tight doorways, cobblestones, deep gulleys, dirt roads, pebbles and other obstacles. I would suggest not bringing strollers. Even those backpacks that you can put your kids in would be a lot of work if you're not in good shape. It can get hot really quickly so bring lots of water and possibly and umbrella and maybe a hat and a small bite to eat as there is hardly any shade, no places to eat inside, and there are water spigots around the city but sometimes hard to find. Even though there are tour groups there, you can kind of see them coming and can just go in a different direction. Now, as you make your way around town, feel free to walk into the homes of those that no longer live there. Some of the original artwork still is on the walls. I really thought that was amazing that the colors in the art have survived more than 1900 years and still look to be in decent quality. I'm sure some may have been restored but a lot of the town appears to be authentically the way it was on that fateful day. I also thought it was cool that I think Pompeii is built on an angle and from what I read, the deep portions of the streets were so that horse carriages could take people around the city. The horses would poo in the streets among other things and in the evenings the townsfolk would just open up the water cisterns or reservoir into the streets and it would wash away all the crud from the day, leaving the streets clean as a whistle. I just thought that was cool that irrigation and innovation was prevalent even that far back in time. I also thought the amphitheater was cool in that the acoustics were amazing. You could basically hear the soft voice of the person standing in the middle of the stage even if you were in the nose bleed seats. I thought our adventure to Pompeii was well worth the money and time because it's not every day that you come across an almost perfectly preserved ancient city and be able to see what life could have been like.

The ancient city of Pompei might be the first place I ever included on my bucket list of places to see. I can still remembering as a young elementary school kid looking at pictures of this place in National Geographic and wondering if I would ever actually have the opportunity to check it out for myself. If you don't know the history of Pompei, here it is in a nutshell. It was your basic city large during the Roman Empire. It was vibrant, had plenty of good food, gladiator fights and all the residents were engaging in adult fun (you know what I'm talking about). This may seem like the idyllic place to be, but there was a problem. The city was located at the base of a big ass volcano. Then one day back in the year 79 AD this big ass volcano erupted and pretty much in an instant wiped out and it's ashes covered the entire city and wiping it from memory. It was all but forgotten for centuries until one afternoon it was rediscovered in 1599. The city was nearly perfectly preserved, including entire buildings, frescos, sculptures and even ash covered corpses (gross!). It's basically a snapshot of human life before Tivo. Today it is now one of the most visited historical sites in the region and makes for an interesting stop for anyone visiting the area. It's also an easy day trip from Rome.

During our Mediterranean cruise vacation, one of the places I was looking forward to seeing was Pompei. Our cruise ship stopped for a day in Napoli (Naples) and we had 1 day for tours. We opted for the 1/2 day Pompei tour so that we could spend the other 1/2 of the day in Napoli....hey, I had to try a legit Margherita Pizza in Napoli! Back to Pompei...it's a pretty long bus ride from Napoli to the ancient city. When you arrive, the buses drop you off in a parking lot, then you walk through a bunch of touristy shop vendors selling you souvenirs & tchotchke's. This seems to be a trend in most major tourist spots in Italy. Once we got inside, it was very chilling to actually walk through the city that was covered in volcanic ash from an eruption at Mt Vesuvius. Our tour guide took us through the streets and buildings of Pompei....you can see drawings on the walls, pottery, life as it was just before the apocalypse. I couldn't help but imagine the fear that must've been going through their minds. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/scavi-di-pompei-pompei?select=T-R9pTg_tjPUM44wKV5cXA#T-R9pTg_tjPUM44wKV5cXA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/scavi-di-pompei-pompei?select=noYDK7w69g1lxhK5II7mjA#noYDK7w69g1lxhK5II7mjA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/scavi-di-pompei-pompei?select=xUNor7uwjFCZIS6696pjyw#xUNor7uwjFCZIS6696pjyw After the thoughts of the terrible things the city inhabitants experienced subsided, my thoughts shifted to the size and scope of this excavation....it's massive! There's hundreds of workers still uncovering things. It's nowhere near completed. I began to let it sink in and imagined the life in the city before the disaster. The streets are narrow....rooms and buildings are relatively small compared to today's structures. Overall, it was amazing and once again I was awestruck. One thing about these tours.....you either listen to the tour guide, or take pics and miss out on the details. We chose the latter, so I don't have much detail on historical facts, etc....that was the trend of our trip. We'll just have to come back again. Return Factor - 100%

With mount Vesuvius in the background Pompeii is a very cool place to visit, the only way to go is with a tour guide or you're just looking at a bunch of rocks and ruins that will have no meaning. Italy is famous for ruins but these excavations are extraordinary, you get a chance to see what life was like before Vesuvius blew it's top. Our guide took us into some still standing homes that had some fresco's visible on the floors and walls. You also get to see the oldest known version of fast food restaurants. you also get to see actual life size molds of people that were caught by surprise when it erupted. The funny part for me was how the biggest crowd was around the still standing brothel, paintings of sexual positions on the walls which was a menu of what was available and included the price. The guide also showed us numerous penis logos cut into the sidewalks that pointed your way to the brothel, and yes I did say pointed. Behind a wrought iron fence you can see rows and rows of artifacts that were excavated that include pottery and tools, you also get to see actual life size molds of people that were caught by surprise when it erupted. The only downside is you must be very careful as you walk as there isn't a single spot of level ground and I saw a couple of people take a fall, other than that it's a must see historic site. Enjoy!

I have been to Pompeii twice now. I've walked through it with a tour guide and without. There are pros and cons to each. I certainly learned more with the tour guide. I understood so much more about the life that was lead in ancient Pompeii and also a better understanding of what I was looking at. It is very easy to get turned around in there as it is a *very* large area. The guide obviously prevents that. I went back very recently and this time, did not hire a guide. We covered more space and found cool areas that had been left out of the guided tour. I don't think we would have enjoyed it as much if we hadn't had a guided tour before and already knew the area though. The guide was worth it for our first Pompeii experience. First off, cash only to enter. Very important. There is an ATM if you don't mind a small hike up a hill. Second of all, there is a lot of auto theft in that area! Hide anything that looks to be of any value and most definitely pay the money for secured parking. Allow yourself time. We mistakenly thought we could spend a few hrs there. A few turned into several, much to my frustration. There is a cafe inside the park. It's sort of disguised and looks like an old building, but you walk in and enter the modern world while leaving Ancient Pompeii outside. Cold drinks, ice cream, sandwiches and air conditioning. :) It would have been easy to miss had we not stumbled into that area on accident. There are a couple of touristy market areas as you exit the park gates. Of all the places I've been in the world, they are vultures like no other. The first time, I was inexperienced and learned the hard way. The 2nd, I put my experience to good use. Haggle. Do not let them sweet talk you or flatter you. Hang on to your £££.

Sitting here and looking back on our trip to Pompeii - I'm still in awe. I can't get over the history, the architecture, and the preservation of it all, just remarkable. For those who don't know - the city of Pompeii was ruined over 1900 years ago by the mighty volcano Mount Vesuvius. The ash from the volcano covered the entire city, destroying everything and everyone in its path. It's probably good that you know this before heading into the park - at least prepare yourself for the mixture of emotions you're likely to feel. I, for example, thought it was pretty amazing that you could see where the tracks were for the doors to shops in the market place. Along those same lines - they've managed to preserve the ovens used in bakeries. They also have set up (behind a locked fence) shelves and tables of artifacts they've found since discovering the lost city 200+ years ago. Seriously the history is fascinating. But remember those emotions I mentioned before? One minute I'm mesmerized and the next I'm so saddened - looking at the skeleton of a woman who was buried, or a child. Heartbreaking to think about. Such an amazing site to visit though, and a must see as far as I'm concerned. No, you don't need to carve out an entire day; a couple hours will do just fine*, but do not miss Pompeii. Additional notes: - Make sure you wear sneakers for this one... too much uneven ground to walk over, don't want to trip and break/twist something. - Tickets to enter the park will run you about 13euros (little less than $15). - Views from the top are pretty amazing, on a clear day you can see the mighty mountain. - The park surrounding is also beautiful.

Plan to spend a whole day here. The place is HUGE and lots to see. I got in 18,000 steps crawling over the place. Saw some amazing residences Sad to see the bodies that were caught up in the pyrocastic flows from Vesuvius. Beautiful murals and mosiacs.

Pompeii is a majestic time capsule to a prior age where this patch of land was once known as the sex capital of Rome. This is true; we know this. There is evidence of nearly a hundred brothels in ancient Pompeii. Our tour guide actually walked us through a bordello where images--advertisements essentially--of available sex positions remain plastered on the walls. Now, you'd think this fact would be suppressed by the Christian fundamentalism pervasive in Italy (and for a long time, it was), but economics and the driving of tourism would have nothing of it. But modern Pompei is still as Christian as the rest of the country--the source of a yearly pilgrimage even--so along with statues of the Virgin Mary for sale around the entrance of Pompeii are numerous phallic souvenirs. I'm not joking, and it's not subtle. There are plainly large wooden phalluses with wings for genitals for sale centimeters from rosaries. Oddly, my mother never noticed these (which may explain how my girlfriend and I get away with so much when at home). While walking through the ruins, we stumbled across odd arrows carved from stone. Those weren't arrows...well, actually they kind of were. I guess they kill two birds with one stone, pointing and declaring with a single symbol. Rather efficient actually. I have to hand it to the Romans for being so candid. Pompeii was a strange stop on the Globus tour I was one, but a welcome one. Other than the Coliseum, Pompeii was the only completely secular attraction we visited. The guide was honest about the city's origin, its economy, and how it was destroyed. I know some less enlightened folk would claim divine retribution, but just remember Pompeii was only one of several communities destroyed by Vesuvius. The tour, though relatively short, was surprisingly thorough, allowing access to many of the highlights of the location, though not all. My advice, while the guide talks, take advantage of the break, and peak into many of the other ruins not covered. You can snap photos to your heart's content. The day we arrived, it was hot, like being in a volcano (too soon?). To add injury, there was little to no cover in Pompeii, and for the majority of the tour, we were climbing. The Pompeii ruins reside on a hill with every road leading up (exception for those, you know, leading down). Unlike other ruins around Italy, Pompeii is the most untouched--with actual corpses encased in ash on display. Pompeii also has the oldest roman amphitheater. If there is any criticism to be had, it would be the unfortunate side effect of history. These ruins are in poor shape, with little actual remaining evidence of the city's once greatness. All the best looking areas are later restorations, with most of ancient Pompeii be relegated to walls and columns. Basking in the elements, these ruins are fated to disintegrate with time. Personally, I hope they maintain the status quo and not take any creative license in restoration. Other than that, the vendors outside the entrance are not terrible pushy, and the comical dichotomy of Christian, pagan, and phallic memorabilia all sharing the same table had me in stitches. Pompeii is truly an important landmark and one that should be visited if one is in the region.

The city of Pompei is around the bay of Naples. This is the place where Roman municipals were destroyed during a volcano eruption loooooong ago. Our cruise ship offered us a shore excursion here to Pompei. The tour guide was very detailed about it's history making it such a fascination of how brilliant people were before our times. There were ruins but gorgeous views of public forums, basilicas, and even the temple of apollo...and much more like theaters and amphitheaters. There were also erotic wallpaintings that I thought showed humanity to it's fullest. This is definitely a check on my bucket list. Worth seeing if you are visiting Naples, Italy.

Nowhere else can you get this type of view on ancient Roman life. Since I was a child Pompeii has been on my "bucket list". Don't miss it! You can see ancient stores, temples, restaurants, bars, bakeries and even Brothels. The city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples and Sorrento. Pompeii was partially destroyed and buried under 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft) of ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Pompeii was lost for nearly 1700 years before its rediscovery in 1748. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city during ancient Rome.

Pompei - Oh my it is HOT there. In hindsight I would have done this very differently. Suggestions: 1. Bring a hat or umbrella. 2. Bring a large mouth water bottle. Use the fountains scattered about to refill them. 3. Pack a nice lunch and a blanket to sit on. Once within the city there is only dirt - no grass or leafy areas. 4. If you can manage it bring some chilled wine to have with lunch. 5. Place it all within your day pack. 6. Sunscreen is a must. Now that your ready for a full day in the sun, head on in. There is little to nothing to buy inside (and everything inside is totally overpriced). This is a place to wander and get lost so long as you are prepared. If you are not prepared you will suffer. There are few amenities inside, so be sure to use the bathroom at the main gates. All the tourist items are outside the gate - buy them on the way out, not on the way in. Kids may get bored (there is only so much gray dirt and walls one can stand after awhile) and run off, so unless you are tracking them with a GPS, keep them close. This is a good spot for the those little kid leashes. If you are prepared this can make for a very pleasant day. We were not so it sucked, at least from my perspective. It will be a few more years before I fully recover from the sunburn. Like I said before, when I go back, I will be prepared. CAVE CANEM!

How could you not give this a 5-star rating. We took a bus from Naples and stayed for about 4 hours. You can download Rick Steve's Audio Tour of Pompeii which is a walking tour to guide you through if you don't want to do a more organized tour. This worked well for us. There is so much to see, so I think it best to go in with a plan of what your highlights are. It gets hot walking in all that stone for the day, so be prepared!

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.

The pompei Scavi is such a beautiful place. It's full of history and amazing views. If you are in pompei I definitely recommend going there!

Breathtaking. Absolute must see when you come to Naples! We ordered our tickets online, but still had to wait in line (strangely). But since it was off season (we went in November) we were in and out quickly with tickets and map in hand. When you walk in and see the ruins, you can almost feel that this was a beautiful, bustling city in it's prime. Even with the map and exploring all day, we weren't able to see it all. Many people got a tour guide, but with just myself and my husband, we were able to read the map and guide and get around just fine. However, those of you with little ones may want to invest in a guide; I could see kids starting to get a little fussy. Tiny food court: We didn't have any issues as far as lines, but I can't imagine what it would be like during the summer. I think you're allowed to pack snacks, etc. so I would highly recommend that. Side note: gift shop people are rude as hell.

This is the most famous and biggest archeological site of the area. A long and curated visit is due, but before going to the excavation point, try to enter the Duomo first and then go up the tower to have a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Be careful of the opening hours. The part more rich and enjoyable to walk is the south side of the site, plenty of villas and homes and ancient local businesses to admire. Also incredibly beautiful the modern exposition of bronze statues of men and faces you can find around. The main square and the amphitheatre are crazy gorgeous, take your time to breathe in all of it! Small tip to park your car for a fair rate: use the Duomo parking next to the church for 2€ per day.