Visiting Pompeii: the essentials for 2026
Pompeii is a large open-air site, and a few facts decide most of the day: when the site opens, how late you can enter, what is allowed in your bag and which ticket you hold. Read them before you go.
Your ticket is named and valid for one entry. Choose the type that matches what you want to see, and if you plan to join a guide, our guided tour page explains what a tour adds.
Our pick: fast-track ticket with audio guide
If you want to skip the ticket queue and tour at your own pace, this ticket comes with a digital audio guide and map.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. 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 tickets and guided visits
Entry tickets with audio guide, guided walks and day trips to the ruins, with live prices and availability. Check which options include the entry ticket.
Opening hours and last entry
Winter and summer are separated by two fixed dates, not by month.
| Season | Dates | Hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | 16 March to 14 October | 09:00–19:00 | 17:30 |
| Winter | 15 October to 15 March | 09:00–17:00 | 15:30 |
Herculaneum has its own hours; do not apply the Pompeii times to it. The Herculaneum page lists them.
Entry rules
- Named tickets. Tickets are personalised, so have the names ready when you book.
- Daily limit. The park sets a limit of 20,000 people a day, and in summer entry is spread over time slots. A reseller ticket does not guarantee unlimited capacity.
- One entry. Each ticket allows a single entry. You cannot leave and come back.
- Bags. Bags up to 30×30×15 cm may be carried. Larger items belong in the left-luggage service.
- Behaviour. Do not climb walls, step over barriers or damage the surfaces.
- Drones. They need a permit.
Tickets bought from resellers are not the same as the park's own sales. The park has an authorised online sale and ticket offices at Porta Marina, Piazza Esedra and Piazza Anfiteatro. For prices and the difference between Express and Plus, see Pompeii tickets.
Which entrance to use
The park has several entrances: Porta Marina, Piazza Esedra and Piazza Anfiteatro. Piazza Esedra is the recommended access for the Antiquarium. The Villa dei Misteri is reached from its own station and path. A tour often uses a fixed meeting point, so the entrance on your booking matters more than the one in a guidebook.
The stations Pompei Scavi and the Pompei station in the modern town are different starting points. See how to get to Pompeii to choose the right one.
Self-guided visit: audio guide and the best way to see Pompeii
If you prefer to walk at your own pace, a self-guided visit works with an audio guide. Tickets with a digital audio guide are offered in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish, and some audio guides come with a digital map. You use your own phone and headphones for the digital version.
An audio guide is not a personal guide and does not give you access to the Villa dei Misteri; that needs the right ticket. To see Pompeii on your own, pick a few places and a rough route before you enter, because the site is too large for everything in one visit. Our ruins page gives you the main areas. Which houses are open changes by day, so the daily list at the site beats any fixed plan.
Heat, sun and shoes
Sun, heat, rain and slippery paths affect a visit to Pompeii. Wear sturdy shoes with a good grip, bring water and sun protection in warm months, and expect to walk a long way. Weather decides how comfortable the day is more than the clock. On our best time to visit page you can compare the seasons.
Accessible route
The park offers a route called Pompei per tutti, which starts at Piazza Anfiteatro. The signposted route and the houses it reaches are what count, not a general promise that the ruins are fully accessible. The park's shuttle bus has no wheelchair ramp. Treat the way into the site, the paths inside and the shuttle as separate barriers and check each before you go.
Visiting Pompeii: frequently asked questions
What are the opening hours of Pompeii?
From 16 March to 14 October the site is open 09:00–19:00 with last entry at 17:30. From 15 October to 15 March it is open 09:00–17:00 with last entry at 15:30.
How big can my bag be?
The park limits bags to 30×30×15 cm. Larger items go in the left-luggage service.
Can I leave and come back in with the same ticket?
No. A ticket allows one entry.
Can I bring a drone?
Drones need a matching permit.
Can I visit Pompeii on my own with an audio guide?
Yes. Audio-guide tickets come in five languages and some include a digital map. An audio guide does not replace a personal guide.
Which entrance should I use?
Use the entrance on your ticket or tour voucher. The park has Porta Marina, Piazza Esedra and Piazza Anfiteatro, and Piazza Esedra is recommended for the Antiquarium.