Visiting Pompeii With Kids

Pompeii is a fascinating city: its cobblestone streets, historic buildings that were petrified by the lava of Vesuvius and the customs of a population for which time stopped almost 2000 years ago will keep the whole family attentive during the visit.

Of course, as always when traveling with the little ones of the house, it is best to have planned the organizational details so that everything goes smoothly.

When it comes to visiting a place like Pompeii with so much historical context and relatively far from the big cities like Rome, the best thing to do is to take an all-inclusive tour.

This will allow you to forget about getting to Pompeii, transfers, buying tickets and waiting at the ticket office. In addition, an expert guide will make sure you understand what you are seeing every step of the way.

By the way, the guides are very used to having children in the groups, so the younger ones will also enjoy the guided tour.

If you want to visit Pompeii from Rome

If your intention is to make an excursion to Pompeii from Rome as a family, you should know that the distance between the Italian capital and the city of Vesuvius is 242 kilometers, so the travel time is about 2 hours and a half.

Since the trip is made by air-conditioned bus and you will be accompanied by an expert guide, the journey will pass in a jiffy, also for the little ones of the house that can train watching the scenery and asking the guide all the questions that arise.

If you plan to travel in summer, hiring the excursion to Pompeii from Rome will also allow you to visit Mount Vesuvius.

If you want to visit Pompeii from Naples

If you leave from the Neapolitan capital and want to make an excursion to Pompeii from Naples, the trip will be much shorter, since both cities are less than 30 kilometers apart.

In this case the trip is made in an air-conditioned minibus and an expert guide will explain the history of the best preserved Roman city in the world.

Hiring an excursion to Pompeii from Naples is a great idea if you are traveling with children, because the whole tour lasts about 4 hours and the transportation can include pick up and drop off directly to the hotel, if you are staying in one of the selected hotels.

And following the previous recommendation, another tip I can give you is that whether you decide to visit Pompeii with an organized tour or if you prefer to buy tickets to Pompeii and tour the city on your own, it is best to book online and in advance.

In Hellotickets, for example, you can choose between different types of tours, departing from Naples and from Rome: some also include a visit to the Amalfi Coast or even the ascent to Vesuvius. And depending on your budget, you can choose with or without lunch included, so you can organize it as you prefer.

If you are traveling in high season, it is possible that the influx of tourists will be higher, so booking in advance makes special sense, as the tours may be sold out or the capacity is full on the day you want to travel.

Babies up to two years old get in for free (they also have free access to tours and guided visits), but for children up to 6 years old there are very reduced rates that compensate.

In Hellotickets, for example, when you go to book an excursion to Pompeii from Rome or an excursion to Pompeii from Naples you will have the option to select what is the age range of your children, so that they will automatically calculate the reduced price that each of them will have to pay.

In the case of babies, even if they travel for free, it is best to select the entrance or tour for him/her even if it is free, that way you will avoid confusion at the entrance. Enjoy!

Between July and August the temperatures in the Pompeii area rise quite a bit and considering that practically the entire visit is outdoors, you are not going to find too many places in the shade during the tour.

That is why it is essential that they are well hydrated and prepared with hats and sunscreen. This also applies to the older ones, as the temperatures can be quite oppressive for everyone, so don't hesitate to prepare for a day in the sun.

Remember also that comfortable shoes will make you stand the day and the walk much better. An ice cream at the end of the visit will make you forget the heat and you will leave there with the best taste in your mouth.

Although it is possible to access much of the tour with the baby stroller, it is not the most advisable. Think that the streets of Pompeii are cobblestone and this does not help you to spend several hours walking around.

A good option, if the baby is still small, is to opt for backpacks or baby carriers: you will have much more flexibility when moving around the area and you will not have to worry about the logistics of the stroller.

If the children are a little older, they will have a lot of fun walking and if you combine the walk with several breaks along the route, they will be equally delighted.

In general, the good preservation of the ruins and the fascinating history of the city will keep them attentive for quite a while, so you should have no problem.

It is true that at the entrance of Pompeii you will find several stalls where you can get some snacks or refreshments, but when it comes to the little ones of the house, it is best to go well stocked from the beginning.

We don't know when they will want to take a break, when they will get a little hungry or just need to divert their attention and take a break to play or rest.

Carrying something light in your backpack for them to eat or nibble on will help keep them energized for a stroll through Pompeii.

And in line with the previous point, if you have in mind to spend the whole day in Pompeii, it is best that you know where to eat and at what time, so you can organize and even book a table.

In the central hours of the day, especially in high season or holidays, there can be quite a few visitors in the area, so finding a good place to eat is not always an easy task.

I recommend my article on where to eat in Pompeii so you can choose from a wide variety of restaurants and menus. You are sure to find something that can satisfy everyone and allow you to organize your meal ahead of time, without having to improvise there on the fly.

If there is something that fascinates (young and old) it is the history of Pompeii. To prevent them from just seeing the ruins and not really understanding what it is, it is best to tell them a little about the history of the city.

The good condition of many of the remains will make them marvel just by looking at them, but if you have also told them something a little before, they will be completely hooked. Besides, sooner or later they will study the history of volcanoes at school :)

This documentary tells the story of Pompeii through illustrations and is quite useful to explain what happened. Take a look at it and if you like it, don't hesitate to show it to them a few days before going there.