How to Visit Pompeii on Your Own
If you are eager to visit Pompeii but the time or budget does not fit you with an organized tour, you can always get there and enjoy the city on your own. I give you the keys to get organized.
Visiting Pompeii | Carlos Fuentes
How much does a ticket to Pompeii cost? Will I be able to visit Pompeii on my own? And if I want to eat there, which are the best restaurants?
If organized tours are not your thing, you should know that Pompeii is accessible to visitors traveling on their own. Just follow these tips so that your visit goes smoothly and you don't have to leave too many things to improvisation.
Pompeii Tickets
Secure access to one of the world's most visited cultural heritage sites
Explore Pompeii and Ancient Rome at your own pace, but with guaranteed entrance. Stroll through its streets, visit its temples and buildings and live an experience that will take you back in time.
With this ticket you can visit the legendary city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, back in the year 79. Its ruins are today one of the most important cultural, historical and archaeological attractions in Italy.
Visiting Pompeii is to know firsthand the life in Ancient Rome that is preserved in excellent condition, thanks to the ashes of the volcano that allowed its preservation over time. You will see houses, stores and public buildings and you will get an idea of what it was like to live under the Roman Empire.
Recommended if... you like to go sightseeing on your own, without set schedules and stops, but you want to make sure you get your ticket so you don't have any surprises or miss out on a visit to this wonder of humanity.
Buy your tickets online and in advance
This is the first thing you should do: check availability and price of tickets to Pompeii for the dates you plan to travel.
Especially in high season (summer and holidays like Easter) tickets are in high demand and you may run out of them.
Regarding the price: if you book through Hellotickets the entrance ticket is around 23 € if you get there in the morning.
You could buy them at the box office, but it is something I do not recommend, as you will have to wait in long lines and you run the risk of entering already tired to visit the archaeological remains of Pompeii.
Remember also that if you are traveling with children, aged 17 years old or younger, they pay a fee of approximately 3 €.
Decide how you are going to get there and if you need it, book your ticket
If you are traveling on your own, my advice is to organize well the method of transportation you will use to get there. Once you have ruled out organized excursions, you can choose to go on your own by train, bus or car.
If you are traveling from Naples, the journey is short, in about 40 minutes you will be at the entrance to the ruins of Pompeii and transportation, both by bus and train, should not cost you more than 5 € each way.
If you are traveling from Rome, where the distance is somewhat longer (over 200 kilometers), it is best to organize it with more time: there are several types of trains - prices vary depending on whether you take a regional train or a fast one - that can take you to Pompeii in just over an hour.
By bus, on the other hand, the trip is longer and can take about 3 hours. You can check here timetables, prices and availability of transport to find out how to get to Pompeii from Rome.
Why you should not rule out a guided visit
Whether you have time to spare or you're on a tight schedule, a guided tour will always help you put everything you see into context: understanding the history, what each building was like before it was petrified under the lava, what life was like in Pompeii almost 2000 years ago...
Even if you have initially ruled out joining an excursion to Pompeii, a guided tour will complete your vision of the city by getting into its history and customs, something that is quite difficult to achieve if you are walking around aimlessly on your own.
If you plan to spend a whole day there, consider the option of taking a guided tour first thing in the morning to get your bearings and learn the most important details and spend the rest of your time walking around and delving into what you liked the most.
Don't fall into the tourist traps: choose where to eat wisely
Like any tourist attraction, Pompeii has plenty of gastronomic service near the ruins but also in the more modern part of town.
If you stay near the archaeological site, be careful with the menus and prices on offer, as you may be in for a nasty surprise.
If you want to organize your time and make sure you enjoy your menu, I have written an article compiling the best places to eat in Pompeii. Whether you are looking for pasta, pizza, varied dishes, good coffees or even delicious ice cream, you are in luck.
Organize in advance a tour of what you want to see in Pompeii
To avoid that you end up wandering the streets of Pompeii aimlessly or without understanding too well what you are seeing, my advice is to organize your tour a little before you go.
In this article I tell you what is essential to see and do in Pompeii and that will help you to have an initial planning of your visit.
Another highly recommended option is that you read something (or document yourself with a video) about the history of the city and the eruption of Vesuvius. I recommend this video documentary and this report from National Geographic.
Do you have time to climb Vesuvius? Don't hesitate!
If you have time to spare, the first thing you should consider is the option of climbing Vesuvius to see its crater and contemplate the spectacular panoramic view of Pompeii and its surroundings.
In just over half an hour by bus you will reach 1000 meters high in the volcano and you can walk up to the crater (be aware that the climb is quite steep, so you should have a minimum of physical fitness).
And what can you do around Pompeii when the visit is over?
As a first option, what I recommend the most is to climb Vesuvius without any doubt. If you've made it this far, take the opportunity to see this spectacle of nature up close.
If you want to continue exploring the history of the eruption of Vesuvius, Herculaneum is also quite close and its ruins, spectacularly well preserved, will allow you to complete your visit to the area.
Note also the proximity to Naples makes the city a great choice for a stroll after touring Pompeii. Also the island of Capri or the Amalfi Coast itself are idyllic destinations just a stone's throw from Pompeii. I leave you more details in my article on what to see and what to do near Pompeii.