Pompeii and Vesuvius: the eruption of 79 AD
The ancient town of Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. The year is secure. The ruins you visit today are that town; the modern town of Pompei beside it is a later development and a different place.
Vesuvius still stands over the site. On a clear day you see it from the forum and from many streets, and it is the reason the ruins look the way they do. For how the volcano fits into a visit, see Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.
When did Vesuvius erupt? The date question
The year, AD 79, is secure. The exact day and month are still debated, so treat any single date as unsettled.
For a visitor this changes little. What matters is that the town ended abruptly in that year, and that the layers that covered it preserved streets, houses and walls.
The fall of Pompeii
The eruption buried the town and ended life there. This was a disaster for the people who lived here, and the site is also a place where people died. Please treat the plaster casts and any human remains with respect, and follow the signs and staff.
At Pompeii itself, original finds, casts and reconstructions are different things. A guide will tell you which you are looking at.
Our pick: a walk with an archaeological guide
To hear the story on site, this two-hour walk comes with a professional archaeological guide and entry included.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Pompeii guided tours with an archaeologist
Small-group walks through the ruins led by an archaeologist, who can explain what happened here. With live prices and availability.
Pompeii today: the site you can visit
The excavation is a large archaeological park. It takes up to 20,000 visitors a day on named tickets, and in summer entry is spread over time slots. You enter once per ticket. The park, the houses and rooms have their own conditions, and some are closed on a given day.
For tickets and prices, read Pompeii tickets and entry rules. For what stands in the town, see the ruins of Pompeii. The villas on the edge of town are described in the Villa of the Mysteries.
History of Pompeii and its neighbours
Pompeii was not the only town in the area to be buried. Herculaneum lies in what is now Ercolano and is a separate archaeological park with its own ticket and hours; see Herculaneum. Other Roman villas lie at Oplontis, Stabiae and Boscoreale, covered on Oplontis, Stabiae and Boscoreale. The UNESCO ensemble includes Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata, but a ticket for one site is not valid at the others. Before you go, read the entry rules on visiting tips: tickets are named, allow one entry, and bags are limited to 30 x 30 x 15 cm. A visit to a place where people lost their lives calls for quiet and consideration.
A guided visit is a good way to hear this story in order, on the ground where it happened.
Pompeii history: frequently asked questions
When did Vesuvius erupt and destroy Pompeii?
In AD 79. The exact day and month are still debated, so do not treat a single date as certain.
Is the modern town of Pompei the ancient town?
No. The ancient town was destroyed by the eruption, and the present town developed later.
Does one ticket cover Pompeii and Herculaneum?
No. They are two parks. A UNESCO ensemble covers both with Torre Annunziata, but there is no joint ticket.
Can I climb Vesuvius with my Pompeii ticket?
No. The Pompeii entry does not include the crater, which needs its own ticket.
How can I learn the history on site?
With a guided visit with an archaeologist. See our page on guided tours for the options.