Pompeii
Parco Archeologico di Pompei
A Roman city buried under Vesuvius's ash in AD 79. Its streets, frescoes, bakeries and plaster casts of victims preserve two thousand years of daily life.
Pompeii was a Roman commercial city buried under six meters of volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. Excavation began in 1748. It is the best-preserved ancient Roman city in the world and, together with Herculaneum, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site covers 66 hectares, of which about 44 are open to visitors. Must-see highlights include the Forum, with Vesuvius as its backdrop; the Temple of Apollo; the Stabian Baths (Terme Stabiane); bakeries and fast-food counters (thermopolium); the brothel (Lupanare), with its frescoes; the Great Theatre and the gladiators' barracks; the amphitheatre; and, in the northwest, the mysterious Villa dei Misteri (Villa of the Mysteries), with its red frescoes. Also worth seeing is Regio V, opened after 2018, with the “Black Room” and the “House of Venus.” Plaster casts of victims are displayed in the granary beside the Forum and in the “Garden of the Fugitives.” Tickets cost about €18 (including Regio V). A three-day combined ticket with Herculaneum and Villa Oplontis costs about €22. Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month, and online booking lets you skip the queue. Opening hours are 09:00–19:00 from April to October (last entry 17:30) and 09:00–17:00 from November to March. It is open on Mondays too. The recommended route is to enter at Porta Marina, a 2-minute walk from the Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri station on the Circumvesuviana, and exit via Piazza Anfiteatro. Allow at least 3–4 hours. The official app or an audio guide (€8) offers 2-, 4- or 6-hour routes, or you can hire a licensed Chinese-speaking guide (about €120–150 per group). Getting there: from Naples Garibaldi station, take the Circumvesuviana toward Sorrento for about 35 minutes (€3.60), or the Campania Express. From Sorrento, the trip takes 30 minutes. Note: the stone paths inside the site are uneven, so wear comfortable shoes. In summer, bring a hat and water (there are drinking fountains on site). Large backpacks must be stored.
Opening hours
09:00–19:00 (November–March until 17:00)