Can you do Pompeii without a tour guide?

Short answer: no, you don't. You can easily explore Pompeii on your own with the maps provided at the ticket office and with your phone. And there are plenty of signs around the site that tell you about the city. Plus, when you see a group following a tour guide, you realise you really don't want to be part of that.



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To maintain the city as good as possible and continue to offer travellers the chance to explore Pompeii, you do need tickets to gain admission.

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Your guide will take you to the most fascinating places in Pompeii. Some attractions you might see include the Amphitheatre, Basilica, Forum, thermal baths, the House of Vettii, and Pompeii's brothel. But if there's anything you want to see and it's not on the itinerary, let your guide know.

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Though you could spend an entire day touring the site, the average time needed once inside is about two to three hours. Like most Roman-built cities, Pompeii is well organized with a clear street plan, but the modern-day signposts are often wrong.

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If you buy a skip the line ticket, you will skip the long lines and get entrance into Pompeii. If you want to avoid the long lines, we recommend spending the extra money and buying skip the line ticket. This means you will have more time to explore Pompeii and not waste time standing in line for ages.

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We both strongly recommend doing Pompeii before Vesuvius for several reasons, but it is absolutely possible to do them the other way round; just follow these steps in reverse and keep a keen eye on timetables.

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We recommend purchasing tickets in advance to speed up entry to the Archaeological Park. Those who buy in advance will receive their ticket in PDF format, that can be printed out or shown on their smart phone, and they can go directly to the turnstiles at the entrance to the Archaeological Park.

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Top Tips for Visiting Pompeii
  • Don't Hold Back. Thanks to the site's “Pompeii for All” itinerary, the park can now be accessed by everybody. ...
  • Give yourself plenty of time. ...
  • Take the train. ...
  • Bring a day bag. ...
  • Have a wander. ...
  • Book a guided tour. ...
  • Beware of Closures. ...
  • Opening hours.


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I strongly recommend a guide for Pompeii. Its MASSIVE, much larger than you may think, and hard to navigate on your own. There are several people who hire as guides at the entrance to Pompeii, but you can look on tripadvisor to find a good one and prebook.

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Entry is staggered, group of 50 people every 10 minutes, so booking is compulsory. You can access the Crater by stamping your ticket at the automatic gates you can find at Piazzale di Quota 1000. You need to stamp your ticket when entering and exiting.

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Pompeii is the bigger of the two sites, taking significantly more time to explore in full. Herculaneum is smaller, meaning that you can get around and discover its evocative remains in just a half-day if you're pushed for time.

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There are 4 accessible toilets at Pompeii, Porta Marina Inferiore, Piazza Anfiteatro, Porta Marina Superiore, and the Villa Imperiale.

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Pompeii is a large site that offers a complete vision of an ancient town, from the public to private life. Herculaneum is a smaller, compact site that offers a window opened mainly onto ancient private life.

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To avoid the peak times when visiting, it is best to go early in the morning between 9 am – 11 am or later in the afternoon. From April to October, the site opens at 9 am and closes at 7 pm, with the last entry at 5:30 pm.

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Weekday vs Weekend Weekends tend to be quite crowded. So, we suggest you visit Pompeii during weekdays. This will allow you the chance to explore Pompeii peacefully.

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In terms of clothes that are good for Pompeii, lightweight cotton is key during the warmer months. The ruins are a bit gritty so wear something that is easy to wash in case the outfit gets dusty from wandering around. Since you are not visiting a religious site, you can absolutely wear shorts and a tank top.

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