Tips to Visit Pompeii

Pompeii does not need too much introduction: it is one of the best preserved Roman cities despite the fact that the lava of Vesuvius completely petrified it in 79. Today it can be visited, you can walk through its authentic streets, visit some of its temples, theaters and houses and understand what life was like there for its citizens.

To get the most out of your trip to Pompeii, take note of the following essential tips and I assure you that the visit will go smoothly.

A place with so much detail, history and context is much more enjoyable with an expert guide who accompanies you and explains what you are seeing at all times. There is so much to see and do in Pompeii that if you visit on your own you will be missing a great part of the meaning of the place.

In addition, the guide will tell you more about the daily life of the citizens, how the eruption of the volcano affected them and what happened to Pompeii after that fateful episode.

Believe me, if you have already come this far, have a guide to visit the place and your experience will be much more interesting. You can take a look at my article if you are thinking of booking an excursion to Pompeii from Rome.

Whatever you decide, book as soon as possible. More than 4 million visitors come to Pompeii every year and you don't want to get there and be left without a ticket or have to wait in an endless line to get in already tired. You can read here more information about how to get tickets to Pompeii.

As I said, a guided tour will make you enjoy the place much more, but whether you are in Naples or coming from Rome, joining a guided tour that includes the round trip will simplify the logistics and help you not to worry about anything.

Remember that it's best to book online so you can compare rates, schedules, availability and route types (there are some tours that include a volcano climb or even a walk or a meal in Naples) - you'll be spoilt for choice!

It is obvious that in summer it is very hot, but you should also know that in Pompeii the shadows are not abundant so after several hours of walking around the city, you will be grateful to have been well prepared against the sun and the high temperatures.

Wear cool and comfortable clothes, avoid dark colors, bring a cap or hat, sunscreen and plenty of fresh water. You will be able to get bottles of water and soft drinks when you need them.

July and August are usually the months in which the heat is the most intense and the central hours of the day are inevitably the hardest, but if you are well prepared you will have no problem. In spring and autumn temperatures are usually much milder, but even so, don't forget a hat to protect you from the sun just in case and check the weather forecast a few days before your visit to prepare yourself.

You get to know and enjoy Italy on foot. And Pompeii is no exception. Its cobblestone streets, archaeological remains, the palaces and temples that are still standing... Keep in mind that the tour of the city will be done entirely on foot along the cobblestone streets of the time.

So as you can imagine, comfortable shoes will be your great ally in this excursion. If you go in the hot season, this rule becomes even more essential. Avoid sandals that are not fastened to the foot, high heels (of course), narrow shoes, etc.

Make yourself comfortable and get ready to enjoy a unique place from which you will want to take many memories (but not unbearably sore feet!).

The visit to Pompeii always pleases the little ones, but like every outing with children, it requires some tricks. Wrap them well in winter and protect them from the sun and heat in summer: think that you will spend practically the whole day outdoors. Fresh water and snacks are a must in the backpack.

They will also need comfortable shoes (the stroller is accessible although the cobblestone streets are not always comfortable) and take it easy because along the route they will need to take a break.

A good idea is to tell them a little of the history of the place before arriving, so that they are immersed in the context and understand a little better what they are going to see. Here is an article with more tips for visiting Pompeii with children. Enjoy!

Vesuvius defines the skyline that frames the town of Pompeii, and peering into its crater will make all the difference to your visit. If you feel up to it (the climb is quite steep, so be aware that it requires some effort) you will be rewarded with the best views of the area.

Take the opportunity to recharge your batteries after visiting Pompeii and before the climb up the volcano, but don't rule it out; I assure you it's worth it and when you're at the top you' ll be glad you went up. On the way down a good pizza awaits you to compensate for the effort. Here is an article to give you all the information about how to visit Mount Vesuvius.

By the way, if you want to know more about the city and how the tragedy originated, a good idea is to watch the movie Pompeii before the trip.

This is probably the number 1 rule to follow when it comes to visiting a tourist attraction and this case is no different. Unlike other places like museums or even the Colosseum itself, here you will never get to feel crowded since everything is outdoors. But walking the cobblestone streets of Pompeii with less people will make you live a more real experience, connect more with the place and get into the role of the tour. Here you can read more about the best time to go to Pompeii.

This applies also to holidays, long weekends or high season periods, where there may be more tourists than usual. In any case, remember that booking your ticket or guided tour in advance will make the experience much better.

In fact, if you can avoid the summer heat, you will be grateful: the temperatures, the sun and the number of visitors can make the visit more stifling.

The proximity of Naples and Pompeii ( only 23 km away) makes Naples a great place to end the day after an exhaustive visit to the archaeological remains of Pompeii.

Its lively atmosphere, monumental squares and authentic neighborhoods will transport you to another Italy that you will love to know. Even if you do not have much time, if it fits in your agenda, do not hesitate to pay a visit to this emblematic city.

And, above all, take the opportunity to sit on one of its typical terraces with checkered tablecloths and order an authentic Neapolitan pizza.

The tour can be long and even if you think you will need a lot of things throughout the day, if you wear good shoes and a hat, you won't need more.

Take a bottle of water with you but you can buy more fresh bottles when you need it, so you don't need to carry too much weight and even less if you travel by public transport, where you will not be able to leave anything on the bus or train.

The tour in Pompeii is entirely on foot and if you go up to Vesuvius, the climb is quite demanding, so you will be grateful to go light.

The wonders you will see in Pompeii will make you want to play with your camera, take pictures from different perspectives of the cobblestone streets, the temples, the theaters, the amphitheater, the forum... But do not fall into the temptation to be all the time looking for the best framing.

For me, the best photos of Pompeii are taken from a more distant perspective that gives you a frame of the entire archaeological complex, its amplitude and the famous Vesuvius in the background. Those are the landscapes you'll conjure up when you're home again and again.

As for the rest of the tour, capture the essential places, the ones that impact you the most and keep the camera to continue enjoying the tour and listening to your guide!