seekholidays.co.uk See deals
Landmark · Amalfi Coast

Pompeii Tickets & Guide 2026 | Named Tickets, Visitor Cap & Tips

White stone columns of the Forum in Pompeii with the slopes of Mount Vesuvius rising behind under a blue sky
Photo: Commonists, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

By Emma · Updated · 3 min read

TL;DR
  • Tickets are named and checked against your ID, so book in the name of each visitor
  • A cap of 20,000 visitors a day applies, with morning and afternoon slots from mid-March to mid-October
  • Pompeii+ (€25) adds the Villa of the Mysteries
  • Bring water and a hat: there's little shade
Type
Landmark
Where
Amalfi Coast
Time needed
3-5 hours
Admission
from about €20 (2026), named tickets, book ahead

On 24 August AD 79, or possibly a few weeks later as recent finds suggest, Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the thriving Roman town of Pompeii under metres of ash and pumice. Rediscovered in the 18th century, it has been under excavation ever since, revealing streets, shops, bakeries, bathhouses, brothels, theatres and vividly frescoed homes, frozen at the moment of disaster. It is one of the most visited sites in Italy and an easy trip from the Amalfi Coast.

What you'll see

The site covers about 66 hectares, so plan a route rather than wandering aimlessly:

  • The Forum: the civic heart of the town, with the Temple of Jupiter and Vesuvius looming behind it.
  • Grand houses: the House of the Faun, the House of the Vettii and others with mosaics and frescoes. Opening of individual houses rotates, so check the list on the official site.
  • Everyday life: the Stabian Baths, the Lupanar (brothel), bakeries with millstones, and fast-food counters (thermopolia) still painted with their menus.
  • Entertainment: the Large Theatre and the amphitheatre, the oldest surviving Roman amphitheatre.
  • Plaster casts: the haunting figures of victims, made by pouring plaster into the hollows left in the ash.
  • Villa of the Mysteries: just outside the walls, with a famous cycle of red-ground frescoes. It's included only in the Pompeii+ ticket.

Tickets and the 2026 rules

Pompeii now runs a tighter system to protect the site and manage crowds:

  • Named tickets: every ticket shows the visitor's name and entry slot, and staff can check it against your passport. If the names don't match, you can be refused entry with no refund.
  • Visitor cap: no more than 20,000 entries a day. From 16 March to 14 October, tickets are split into a morning slot (9am-1pm, up to 15,000 entries) and an afternoon slot (1pm-5.30pm, up to 5,000 entries).
  • Pompeii Express: €20 (2026), the ancient city only.
  • Pompeii+: €25, adding the suburban villas, including the Villa of the Mysteries, plus a shuttle bus.
  • 3-day ticket: €30, also covering Oplontis, Stabiae and Boscoreale.

EU citizens aged 18-24 pay €2, and under-18s are free. Since March 2026 the official online seller is Vivaticket, linked from the Pompeii Archaeological Park website. Tickets allow one entry only, with no exit and re-entry. Check current prices before booking.

Book the morning slot and arrive at 9am. You'll have a couple of hours before the heat peaks and the tour groups spread out, and you can stay until closing time.

Opening hours

From 16 March to 14 October, Pompeii is open 9am-7pm (last entry 5.30pm). From 15 October to 15 March, it's open 9am-5pm (last entry 3.30pm). It's closed on 25 December and 1 January. Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month, but tickets can't be booked and queues are long.

Getting there

From Sorrento, the Circumvesuviana train to Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri takes about 30 minutes; from Naples, around 35-40 minutes. From Positano or Amalfi, take a ferry or bus to Sorrento first, or book a tour with transfers. Flights from London to Naples take about 2 hours 40 minutes.

Wear comfortable shoes for the uneven Roman paving, and bring water: there are fountains on site but little shade. Combine with a hike on the Path of the Gods, and see Amalfi Coast without a car for getting around.

Where is Pompeii?

Open in OpenStreetMap · 40.74906, 14.48482

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book Pompeii in advance?

It's strongly recommended. With the daily cap and named tickets, booking online secures your slot and lets you go straight to the turnstiles.

Is Pompeii+ worth it?

If you have time, yes. The Villa of the Mysteries has some of the best-preserved Roman paintings anywhere.

How long do you need at Pompeii?

At least three hours for the highlights, and five or more if you include the villas and want a relaxed pace.

Should I hire a guide?

A licensed guide or audio guide brings the ruins to life. Book through official channels and avoid touts at the station.

Written by

Emma City breaks & deals editor

Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.

More from Emma

Opening times and ticket prices change often; check the official website shortly before you visit.