Pompeii, the legendary city wiped out by the fury of Vesuvius in 79 AD, is a great day trip from Naples, but do you know everything there is to see and do in Pompeii ? How to get there ? How much does it cost ? We'll tell you all this and more in this article.
Pompeii is a unique site, it impresses and awes at extreme levels and everyone, sooner or later, should have the opportunity to visit it. Read on to learn more about this incredible historical city and how to plan your visit to Pompeii.
Learn the History of Pompeii
Before we start with everything to see and do in Pompeii, let's summarize a little what it is, or rather what it was exactly... Pompeii was one of the richest, most prestigious and avant-garde cities in the world, so much so that it overshadowed Rome .
Today it is the best example of a 1st century Roman city that we have, and the reason is simple: when the Vesuvius volcano exploded , it threw out more than 10,000 tons of rocks, lava and debris per second! Within a few hours, most of the population of Pompeii died of suffocation and the city was buried under ashes . Paradoxically, this same eruption that destroyed the streets and buildings and claimed so many lives, has kept them in very good condition to this day.
Walking along the cobbled streets, the same ones that saw more than 2,000 people live and die, is a striking sensation: it seems like you have been transported to another time, to another life, and it is hard to believe that, from one moment to the next, what was once a dynamic, lively and prosperous city was trapped in eternal immobility and death.
What to see and do in Pompeii
Now, let's see exactly which are the best places to visit in Pompeii. We will tell you briefly about each one of them, but keep in mind that it is only a small selection.
1. The forum
The centre of the political, social and religious life of the city, it was the true heart of Pompeii . At first it only had a few shops, but during the 2nd century it was decided to give it a more modern feel and the area was enlarged, areas were created to protect against the rain, the paving of the floor was changed to travertine marble and public buildings and temples such as the Temple of Apollo were built .
2. Temple of Apollo
Very close to the forum is this temple dedicated to the God of the Sun , which was undoubtedly one of the most fabulous and beautiful places in Pompeii. The statues found near the temple are preserved in the archaeological museum of Naples.
3. The Brothel
Perhaps the most curious site and one of the best things to see and do in Pompeii, the Lupanar was the city's brothel , as evidenced by the erotic frescoes on the walls and the engravings on the doors where you could read the names (and specialties) of the women who worked here.
It consisted of two floors : the ground floor , dedicated to less well-off clients , had five rooms, a hallway and a bathroom. The upper floor , dedicated to richer clients , had a separate entrance and was much more elegant. The price for an hour of love was around 2-8 asse (a very affordable figure, since a glass of wine cost 1 asse!).
4. Grande and Piccolo Theatre
The Teatro Grande was built in the 2nd century BC and could accommodate over 5,000 spectators watching comedies by Plautus and Terenzio. The Teatro Piccolo , close to the Grande, is better preserved but, as its name suggests, smaller.
5. Rise of the fugitives
One of the most striking visits is the one that awaits you in the so-called " garden of the fugitives ". Here you will find the petrified corpses of 13 people who tried to escape the fury of the volcano. By the way, "orto" in Italian means "garden" - a bad idea!
6. House of the Faun
The remains of this residence suggest that this was possibly the most beautiful and richest house in Pompeii . It is not known who lived there, although the main attraction here is undoubtedly the statue of a small faun , the Roman deity of forests and nature , dancing in a fountain.
7. Sabiane Hot Springs
The best-preserved thermal baths in Pompeii, a clear example of how avant-garde the city was.
8. Amphitheatre
It is located at the end of the Via dell'Abbondanza and its construction dates back to 80 BC , making it the oldest Roman amphitheater in the world . Spectacles, gladiator fights and impressive games were held here.
Of course, we want to emphasize that these are just some of the sites you will visit at the archaeological site. The truth is that many more wonders await you at Pompeii.
⭐ You can download a complete 148-page PDF guide here .
Map of the archaeological site of Pompeii
We leave you this map of Pompeii (click on it to make it bigger), so you can see where the main monuments are and better organize your visit to Pompeii.
Pompeii on an organized tour
Although we visited on our own, some people prefer to visit Pompeii on an organized tour, which includes entry, transportation, and a guide in Spanish. This may be the best option if you don't have much time and prefer not to mess around with planning. Here are some links so you can see more details and make a reservation:
- Guided tour of Pompeii
- Pompeii excursion from Naples
- Pompeii + Vesuvius Tour from Naples
- Pompeii and Naples Day Trip from Rome
- Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri in 2 or 3 days from Rome
- 3-Day Pompeii and Amalfi Tour from Rome
Pompeii on your own
If you are planning to visit the ruins of Pompeii on your own, we give you all the information you need to plan your trip:
› How much does it cost to enter Pompeii?
Entrance to the Pompeii archaeological complex costs €18 (entry is free on the first Sunday of every month).
> Schedules
We recommend that you check the schedules on the official website as they may change depending on the season.
› How to get there from Naples?
There are frequent trains from Naples that take around 45 minutes and make for a perfect getaway to Pompeii. You can check the timetables here (from: Napoli Centrale / to: Pompei)
› How to get there from Rome?
The cheapest option is to get to Naples by train and from there follow the instructions from the previous point. From Rome to Naples you can use the Italotreno or Trenitalia trains .
› How long does it take to visit the archaeological site?
Pompeii is larger than people think, we advise you to reserve at least half a day for your visit.
Other things to do in Pompeii (and surroundings)
If you have decided to stay longer than necessary to visit the ruins, there are other things to do in the surroundings of Pompeii. Here are some activities:
- Amalfi and Positano boat trip
- Hiking on Vesuvius
- Hiking on Mount Faito
- And of course visit Naples
Curiosities of Pompeii
Such an emblematic place could not help but be loaded with a few curiosities :
- The houses of the wealthy were on one floor, facing inwards (so they were not very bright) and each room was well defined: they ate in the triclinium, and slept in the cubiculum. They usually had a garden with a fountain and were decorated in avant-garde and luxurious style (frescoes, mosaics).
- The prostitutes of Pompeii were easily recognizable thanks to their dyed red hair and knee-length tunics (usually covering the ankles).
- In 1971 the band Pink Floyd recorded Live at Pompei in the amphitheater .
- Another musical group ( Bastille ) put Pompeii at the centre of their music: in the song Pompeii we see a man (the singer) trying to escape from evil (a metaphor for the eruption of Vesuvius) in a modern city (" Great clouds roll over the hills, bringing darkness from above "), the ending is a bit disturbing but the song is beautiful.
This is all the information you need to plan your visit to Pompeii. We hope that it is useful to you and that you have a much clearer idea of how to plan your tour of this unfortunate but wonderful city that was trapped in time. You will see: it is a real luxury to be able to be there.
