Best Moment to Visit Pompeii

Its history, its tragic past and the exhaustive work of historians and archaeologists will make you travel 2000 years back in time. But, if you are planning Pompeii and have some flexibility, before booking your excursion to Pompeii from Rome, take note of the following times of the year and week to know when is the best time to visit Pompeii.

Whether you're worried about the cold or heat or the tourist crowds you'll encounter, read on to find out what to expect.

Spring, in general, is one of the best times of the year to visit Italy, especially if the destination is the center and south of the country, as is the case of Pompeii. Temperatures in spring are mild, days are longer and you have a great chance of finding sunny days during your trip.

Vesuvius shining in the April or May sun, with a perfect temperature, will make you enjoy the excursion to the fullest. Keep in mind that the tour takes place outdoors, there are not many places to take shelter from the sun or rain, so spring is the perfect time to go.

Checking the weather forecast or the average temperatures of Pompeii in Spring will help you to organize the clothes you need, although it is probably a good idea to bring several layers in case it is cool early in the morning and the heat is more intense in the central hours of the day.

In any case, do not be overconfident and take some sunscreen and a hat, because even if it is not too hot, the sun can get annoying after several hours of walking.

The influx of tourists in spring

Many visitors have the same opinion and that is why they decide to go to Pompeii in spring, so after the cold winter the influx begins to increase in April (especially at Easter) and May, but do not worry: they do not reach the levels of visitors who come here in summer.

The weather in Pompeii in autumn is similar to that of spring, especially if we go in October. The thermometer has not yet fallen completely, the temperatures are still mild and although the daylight hours begin to shorten, you will find in Pompeii the perfect temperature to spend a day outdoors.

My recommendation is to bring a jacket or windbreaker in case of a cooler day, but in principle you should not have any problems with cold. In case it rains, don't worry because you can still make the visit, although an umbrella and a raincoat will be good allies.

Check the forecast a few days before traveling, but here are some statistics of rain and average temperature in Pompeii in autumn that will help you when packing your suitcase.

The influx of tourists in autumn

FromOctober onwards (and especially in November) the number of visitors in Pompeii starts to decrease drastically. Gone are the months of the year with more tourists and large organized groups that come to the archaeological site of the city of Vesuvius.

It is very likely that you can spend a relaxing day strolling through the ancient streets of the city without having to dodge anyone to enjoy the ruins.

In summer Italy shines in its maximum splendor: long days of light, people on the terraces, tourists enjoying the Italian cuisine... And Pompeii could not be less. Thousands of visitors come here as part of a tour of Naples or the Amalfi Coast or as a day trip from Rome.

If you choose to visit Pompeii in summer, rest assured that it is very unlikely to rain, but it is quite possible that the heat will be quite suffocating, so go well prepared: fresh water, hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes.

Avoid black or very dark clothes, opt for cool fabrics and not too tight to the body to make the most of your day in Pompeii. If you want to know more, I have prepared an article with the best tips to visit Pompeii.

The influx of tourists in summer

Pompeii is most crowded during the summer season, especially in July and August. During this time it is common to see large groups of organized tourists, so you will also find a lot of availability of schedules for guided tours in English.

The cold and humidity in the streets of Pompeii start to make themselves felt from the end of November. Also the days are shorter, it gets dark earlier and all this makes that many visitors do not choose this epic of the year to visit Pompeii.

So if you are a traveler who flees from mass tourism, this is a great time to visit the city of Vesuvius. I recommend arriving early in the morning to make the most of the daylight hours.

Dress warmly, remember that much of the day is spent outdoors, so a good coat, comfortable and warm shoes and a scarf will be your allies. Of course, it is very likely that you will find a sunny day in which it will be a pleasure to walk even if the temperatures are not very high.

From Monday to Friday the affluence is much lower than on weekends or holidays. You are likely to find a group of students walking with their teacher through the streets of Pompeii and of course, there are organized groups that make the tour with a guide (which I strongly recommend you to do).

Anyway, from Monday to Friday you will find more availability of schedules, so although it is still advisable to book in advance the tour or tickets, you will have more to choose from.

As with major tourist attractions around the world, weekends are usually very crowded. If we are also talking about long weekends, long weekends or holidays, it is very likely that we will also find large groups of domestic tourists.

Pompeii is no exception: on Saturdays and Sundays many Italians and foreigners come here to enjoy the historic streets of Pompeii, so the visit will not be as relaxing as at other times of the week.

If you plan to visit Pompeii on your own, remember that public transportation may have a different (or reduced) schedule during holidays or weekends, so keep this in mind when organizing your arrival. Otherwise, you can always join an organized guided tour to enjoy Pompeii without worrying about anything.