Are you wondering where to buy Pompeii tickets? Are you asking yourself “do I need to buy Pompeii tickets in advance?”
Don’t worry, in this post I will explain everything you need to know.
I have visited Pompeii in depth and have explored various ways of getting Pompeii tickets, so I am ready to share everything I have learned and helped you score the best deal and find the most suitable way to visit.
Pompeii Archaeological Park is the site of the ruins of the ancient city that was destroyed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It’s one of the top attractions in all of Italy and one of the most fascinating ancient sites in the world. It’s a can’t miss attraction on any trip to the Naples and Amalfi Coast region.
To enter the site, you’ll need to have tickets. Although you can get them in a variety of ways, the best way to acquire tickets to Pompeii is to get them online before your visit.
This way means you’ll avoid the line-ups at the on-site ticket counter and you’ll be able to select your favorite time slot for your visit.
Are you going to Naples soon? I recommend booking your tickets to Pompeii in advance. Here are the best options to get tickets online:
Continue reading now, as in this post I will share all the details into how to get tickets to Pompeii and have a smooth visit.
Where To Buy Pompeii Tickets
Use Pompeii tickets official website
Pompeii tickets official website is Ticketone. This is the best place to buy Pompeii tickets if you don’t need a guided tour.
There are two different Pompeii tickets you can get on the Pompeii tickets official website.
POMPEII EXPRESS
Get these tickets if you only want to visit the city of Pompeii.
These are the official Pompeii tickets prices for the Pompeii Express option:
ADULTS – €18
EU CITIZENS BETWEEN 18 AND 24 – €2
VISITORS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD – Free
POMPEII PLUS
These tickets include access to Pompeii and the suburban villas.
These are the official Pompeii tickets prices for the Pompeii Plus option:
ADULTS – €22
EU CITIZENS BETWEEN 18 AND 24 – €2
VISITORS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD – Free
Are you wondering which Pompeii tickets to buy? I definitely recommend the Pompeii Plus option, as it allows you to access the beautifully frescoed villas – to many, that’s the highlight of visiting Pompeii!
There also is a 3-day ticket to Pompeii that gives you access to different parts of the site (the city, the villas and the museum) on consecutive days (one admission per site), and costs €26 for adults and €2 for concessions.
There is an additional €1 booking fee that is applied to all online bookings.
Pompeii tickets official site is easy to use, and it’s in English, so you should have no issues. In any case, it’s mostly self-explanatory: you’ll see a calendar and simply pick on the day you wish to visit. Click on it and book. It’s that simple!
Tickets sold on the official website are not refundable, unless you pay an additional €1,50 fee to secure them against cancellation or changes.
Free admissions can’t be pre-booked but can only be obtained at the door.
Buy Pompeii tickets on third-party booking sites
Another way to book Pompeii tickets is through third-party booking sites such as GetYourGuide, Tiqets, Viator, etc. These sites are significantly easier to use compared to the official site – if anything, because you can select the language and even the currency you want to use.
Third-party bookings sites allow you to book just the tickets as well as any additional perks, such as audio guides that you can follow as you tour the site on your own, etc.
The price of tickets on third-party booking sites is slightly higher, however these tickets are refundable (normally within 24 hours of the intended time of visit) and you’ll have access to a customer service via phone, chat or even WhatsApp to help you with any blips during the booking (or the cancellation).
A small price to pay for a smooth experience.
My favorite third-party booking site is GetYourGuide, which obviously also sells tickets to Pompeii.
Another option is Tiqets, which is also super reliable and easy to use.
Join a guided tour of Pompeii
The best way to explore Pompeii and get to know its past is on a guided tour. Most tours depart directly from the site, where you will meet your guide who’ll be holding your tickets. Many of these tours are actually led by archeologists, which is an incredible way of visiting the site!
Visiting Pompeii with a guided tour has many advantages.
Someone else does all the planning and booking for the group and you just enjoy the journey. You will be taken around by a local guide who is an expert on the history of Pompeii, and won’t have to worry about getting lost in this incredibly spread out site.
There are all sorts of tours available – from quick two-hour tours after which you can explore on your own, to in-depth tours where you really get to see the entire city.
My favorite tour is this guided tour by Walks of Italy that is led by an archeologist. The tour lasts three hours and is very thorough.
A similar tour is available to book on GetYourGuide, but it lasts just 2 hours.
If you are traveling with your friends, you may want to join this small group tour that also goes to Herculaneum.
There are even more tours of Pompeii that can be booked online. Just make sure you read the reviews before booking, because not all tours are good. I once visited with a truly poor guide!
Join a day trip to Pompeii
If you don’t even want the hassle of finding out how to get to Pompeii, the best thing to do is to book a day trip. There are numerous ones departing from Naples every day, as well as from Sorrento. There even are tours that depart from Rome!
These all-inclusive tours include tickets to Pompeii ruins and typically stop at other top attractions like Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that destroyed the city, or Herculaneum, the other city that was destroyed by the eruption.
I recommend this guided tour of Pompeii that includes transportation from Naples or Sorrento. It includes pick up from various locations in Naples and a short hike in Mount Vesuvius. Lunch is optional for an extra fee.
Are you traveling from Rome? Then I recommend this tour by Walks of Italy that includes a drive along the Amalfi Coast, for some of the most beautiful views in Italy.
Get the Naples City Card (Campania Card)
The Naples City Card is another option to get tickets to Pompeii. It works much like other city passes: it gives you access to discounted local transportation and entry to up to four attractions in the city and surrounding areas for a period of either three or seven days.
Upon getting the card, you will be requested to book a day for visiting Pompeii directly on the site where you get the card, so it’s super easy as you don’t have to go from one site to the other.
Some of the other attractions that you can access with this card include Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Museo, Real Bosco di Capodimonte or Reggia di Caserta, Galleria Borbonica, Herculaneum and Catacombe di Napoli.
Get your tickets to Pompeii by phone
If you really aren’t a tech savvy person, you have the option of getting tickets by phone. If this is your favorite option, you will have to call +3908118658177. The number is available from Monday to Friday, from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm.
You will have to pay by credit or debit card and there will be an additional telephone pre-sale fee of €1.50.
Buy Pompeii tickets in person
You can actually buy tickets to Pompeii in person at the door. Ticket offices are located at all entrances: Porta Marina Superiore, Porta Marina Inferiore / Piazza Esedra, and Piazza Anfiteatro.
However, this really isn’t how to buy Pompeii tickets. The line at the ticket counter can get incredibly long. This is a real nuisance at any time of year, but it can be brutal in the summer months when you have to wait under the sun!
Don’t take any chances and don’t waste your important vacation time, since getting tickets online is so easy!
Practical Guide
How much are official Pompeii tickets?
Official Pompeii tickets are sold on Ticketone. There are two ticket options you can get:
POMPEII EXPRESS
ADULTS – €18
EU CITIZENS BETWEEN 18 AND 24 – €2
VISITORS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD – Free
POMPEII PLUS
ADULTS – €22
EU CITIZENS BETWEEN 18 AND 24 – €2
VISITORS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD – Free
There also is a 3-day ticket to Pompeii that costs €26 for adults and €2 for concessions.
There is an additional €1 booking fee that is applied to all online bookings.
Free visits
Pompeii is free to visit for anyone under 18 years of age. It’s also free to visit every first Sunday of the month. Keep in mind free tickets can’t be pre-booked but must be obtained at the door.
When do Pompeii tickets go on sale?
Pompeii tickets official website only sell tickets up to a month and a half in advance.
Third-party booking sites sell tickets more in advance, so if you are in the early planning phases of your trip and want a fully refundable ticket, this may be a better option for you.
If you want to get tickets well ahead of your visit, you can use the super convenient option on Tiqets (one of my recommended third-party booking sites) called “early bird” that basically informs you of when tickets go on sale for the day you wish to visit.
Can you buy Pompeii tickets on site?
Yes, you can buy tickets at the on-site ticket counter upon arrival, at one of the three gates: Porta Marina Superiore, Porta Marina Inferiore / Piazza Esedra, and Piazza Anfiteatro.
However, it’s best to buy Pompeii tickets online and in advance to avoid line-ups and other delays. Depending on the season the site may be incredibly busy and in the summer this means waiting in line under the sun!
Do I need to buy Pompeii tickets in advance?
You may be wondering “should I buy Pompeii tickets in advance?” and my answer is that yes, you should.
If you buy Pompeii tickets online you will be able skip the line and enter more quickly than if you decided to buy tickets on siote. However, you will still need to go through security before accessing the site.
Once I enter, can I leave the site and come back later to continue exploring?
No, you will not be able to leave the site once you enter. Your Pompeii ticket allows only one entry to the site so if you have to leave for any reason, you will not be readmitted.
For this reason, it’s best to make sure you don’t forget anything before entering and that you are able to commit to your entire visit in one entry.
Pompeii opening hours
Pompeii’s hours differ depending on the season. Opening hours are as follows:
1 April to 31 October – 9:00 am to 7:00 pm; last admission at 5:30 pm.
1 November to 31 March – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm: last admission at 3:30 pm.
The site is closed on 25 December, 1 January and 1 May.
What is the best time to visit Pompeii?
The best time to visit Pompeii in terms of season is between November and March. This is the off-season which means there’ll be fewer crowds and you won’t face line-ups or delays getting into the site. The weather is also cooler in the off-season.
If you don’t mind crowds and hot weather, the summer is a great time to visit as days and opening hours are longer and you will have more time to explore.
Other than that, the best time to visit Pompeii is early in the morning when the site first opens. There are fewer crowds at this time and arriving early allows you to take your time around the various landmarks.
How to get to Pompeii from Naples
Pompeii is about 16 miles (26 kilometers) from Naples and regardless of how you travel there, the average travel time is about 40 minutes.
There are several ways to get to Pompeii from the city of Naples.
The best way of getting to Pompeii from Naples is by train. The Circumvesuviana train departs from Napoli Central Station and you will get off at Pompei Scavi, which is close to the Porta Marina gate.
You can also hop on a SITA bus from Naples, or get there by taxi, private transfer and guided tour that includes transportation.
My post How To Get From Naples To Pompeii shares more detailed information on how to travel to Pompeii from the city.
Other Useful Information
Security checks
Everyone visiting Pompeii has to go through airport-style security checks. You will have to scan your bag, including your cell phone and camera. To make the process smoother and quicker, avoid bringing to the site any large items.
Luggage storage
If needed, you can leave your stuff in the luggage storage facility, free of charge, which is available at every gate.
Accessibility of Pompeii
Pompeii is generally an accessible site, but there are a few things to note.
Porta Marina, which is the main gate to the site, is not wheelchair accessible. A special itinerary called Pompeii For All is designed for people with mobility issues, parents towing children in buggies and anyone who wishes to visit in a more relaxed way.
This itinerary is 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers) and starts at the Piazza Anfiteatro and ends at the Sanctuary of Venus. The road is flat and easily navigable with a wheelchair or buggy.
It travels along the main roads of the city and all the most important buildings are easily accessed. The goal of this itinerary is to allow everyone access to the site with ease.
GetYourGuide sells a good guided tour that is specifically designed for disabled travelers. It’s actually a private tour, so it’s not so budget-friendly, but if you are traveling in a group you can share the costs.
Visually or hearing impaired visitors have access to a specialized service that allows them to experience the wonders of Pompeii.
There are on-site employees trained in sign language so the information can be shared to hearing impaired visitors.
Are dogs allowed in Pompeii?
Yes, dogs are allowed to visit Pompeii with their owners – though apparently there is a size limit.
As long as your dog can be carried when entering the buildings around Pompeii, you should have no issue getting permission to take him or her to the site. Just be aware that sometimes there may be stray dogs around.
If you take a dog with you inside the site, you’re expected to clean up after your pet and keep them on a leash at all times.
Toilets and other facilities
You will find toilets near the access points of Piazza Anfiteatro, Piazza Esedra and Porta Marina, near the Casina dell’Aquila, the Antiquarium, Quadriportico, and the Villa of the Mysteries.
If you are already inside the site, the best toilets to use are those near the Anfiteatro. Toilets are also situated near the small theater and the café and restaurant.
For visitors traveling with babies, there are baby changing stations situated in several areas – in Via dell’Abbondanza, Via di Nola, and at the corner of Via Stabiana and Via della Fortuna.
To access these stations, you’ll need to acquire keys from the site entrance to unlock the door.
Fountains are situated throughout the site, so you can refill your bottle of water any time you need it.
Eating and drinking in Pompeii
Restaurants, kiosks and cafés are found by each access point – there really is something for every budget and taste and you will certainly not starve during your visit.
Not all restaurants are equally good, however – when I visited, our tour stopped at a place that was literally a tourist trap.
Make sure to also bring a small bottle of water inside the site to sip on it throughout the visit – this is especially important if you go during the summer months!
Further Readings
These other posts may be useful when planning a trip to Naples and its surroundings:
- Is Naples Safe?
- Where To Stay In Naples
- A Guide To Renting A Car In Naples
- The Best Itinerary To See Naples In One Day
- The Best Day Trips From Naples
Pin It For Later!
Hi, thanks for your excellent guide. Is the pompeii entrance ticket from tiketone, the official reseller, an electronic ticket or physical? Because when I tried to purchase I noticed they will deliver.
Appreciate your advise.
You can definitely print it at home!
To purchase on ticketone it only has 9am listed for the time. Is that the time we must enter the park or is the ticket good for any time that day?
Hi Amanda, it looks like you can indeed enter later too. However, the site is massive so the earlier you get there, the more time you have to explore!
Hi Claudia
I’m looking to visit Pompeii with my husband and 2 children. Do we have to queue up at the ticket office to get the children’s free tickets or can we do that when we (the adults) go through with our pre booked online tickets? Thanks
Hello Mandie, if you buy your adult tickets online, there is a priority line that you can use to get your kids’ free tickets.
Looks like that if you buy from a third party, you only get a voucher. Then you have to get in line to redeem the voucher. Any way to buy the ticket in advance without this?
You raise a very valid point and for this it may be better to use the official site (mentioned in this post too). The main issue may be availability and if you can’t get tickets via the official website it’s still better to book them via a third party booking site than go without as they only allow 20000 visitors per day.
I am planning to visit Pompeii mid-April 2025. Is there a new requirement to have a ticket with a timed entrance starting April 1st? I read that there are only 20,000 tickets allowed daily with 15,000 allocated to the morning and 5,000 allowed in the afternoon. I will only be able to get there after 1 pm, but all of the tickets I see online have only 9 am availability. Do you know how that is supposed to work?
When buying tickets on TicketOne, click on your preferred date and select how many tickets you want to buy. A new page will open up. In the new page, you will see the summary of what you are looking to buy in the left-hand side of the page. That’s where you will also see “Show seats in Seating chart”. Click on that – you will see that tickets allow you to enter between 9:00 am and 3:35 pm. The timed entrance is only for the summer season (which should be May to October).