Updated: 1/19/22 | January 19th, 2022
When I was growing up, I wanted to be an archeologist. I loved history, and the thought of uncovering temples and tombs in jungles ecstatic me. I used to read books on Greek and Roman history and have discussions with my history teacher, even as young as 13. In short, I was a substantial geek from the get-go.
Being such a substantial history geek, checking out Pompeii, the city destroyed by mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, has always been high on my list of things to do.
The falling ash came so swiftly that it preserved the city just as it was, burying the city in 4-6 meters (13-20 feet) of ashes. It’s a city frozen in time.
The earliest settlements in the area date to the 8th century BCE, though a lot of people know Pompeii as the Roman city that it was at the time of its demise. The rich agricultural land combined with its location on crucial trading routes indicated that over time, Pompeii became a affluent provincial city with a population of over 20,000 people.
The city was also a regional cultural center, with a large amphitheater, forum, public baths, various temples, and an substantial aqueduct system supplying clean water. lots of of these buildings, including expansive private villas in the surrounding countryside, were buried during Vesuvius’s eruption.
The eruption itself lasted over two days, with the first phase of falling ash and pumice enduring over 18 hours. While the 1,150 bodies discovered is significant, it was only a fraction of the overall population. a lot of inhabitants likely had a chance to escape during this initial eruptive phase, though the final casualty count is unknown.
While the eruption was the greatest catastrophe of its time, the falling ash also kept the buildings, frescoes streets, pots, and bodies exceptionally well preserved. WAnd while there was some looting after the eruption, eventually Pompeii’s location was lost with the passage of time.
It wasn’t until the rediscovery of the nearby town of Herculaneum (buried in the same Vesuvius eruption) that interest was renewed in the area. The first excavations at Pompeii occurred in 1748, with archaeological work continuing to this day. There is still a significant portion of the site that remains unexcavated so who knows what they will discover here in the future?
I’ve traveled the world for a while and have seen plenty of marvelous ruins over the years. but this is one of the best. even though a lack of upkeep has taken its toll on the site, I still found it a fascinating place to spend the day. My only hope is that the Italian government will get its act together to keep this site from falling into additionally disrepair.
Located near Naples in Italy, Pompeii takes a full day to see. If you genuinely want to indulge your inner Indiana Jones and check out every building here, schedule an extra half day. At over 160 acres, it’s a substantial site and you could easily spend even a lot more time than that.
I saw a lot on my full day, but there was a lot that I missed. To help you make the most of your visit, here are some of the main highlights of Pompeii.
Table of Contents
The top Attractions in Pompeii
Tips for checking out Pompeii
How to get to Pompeii
Visiting Pompeii FAQ
The top 12 Attractions in Pompeii
1. The Brothel
The ancient lupanar (brothel) is a tiny house with stone beds and scenes of the acts customers might pay for. It’s essentially ancient porn, though whether the frescoes served a functional purpose or were merely decoration is unclear.
Unsurprisingly, this is one of the most checked out homes in all of Pompeii (it was probably just as popular before the eruption — no pun intended — too).
2. The Forum Baths
Located near the forum, these baths are exceptionally well preserved. You can peek inside the wall to see how they heated the baths back when they were still in use. Their advancement is exceptionally impressive, and it’s not hard to picture the baths as they were.
While the forum baths are the smallest of the various bath ruins in Pompeii, they are arguably the most elegant. There were separate areas for men and women, including separate entrances. The bath not only had hot baths but cold and tepid baths as well.
3. The rental property of the Mysteries
Located outside the main area, the frescoes here are amazingly well preserved in their full lively color. In fact, they’re some of the best examples of 1st-century Roman painting. The frescoes seem to illustrate a woman entering into the initiations for a Greco-Roman mystery cult, for this reason the name the rental property is known by today.
The villa, which is on the outskirts of Pompeii proper, was excavated long after the rest of the city (excavation of the rental property began in 1909). considering that it’s a bit of a walk, not lots of people come here either, giving you the place essentially to yourself.
4. The Forum
The a lot of congested place in Pompeii, the forum is located ideal near the main gate. It was the main center of life in Pompeii, the cultural and civic nerve of the city. any significant religious or commercial events would occur here; it was essentially the main square and heart of the city.
5. The Stabian Baths
Another well-preserved bath, this one is the oldest in Pompeii. It also has a slightly bigger chamber and sees a whole lot fewer crowds. You can also see some preserved bodies here, which is unsettling (though you’ll get used to it the a lot more you wander the ruins).
The bath area also had a gym and workout area (for wrestling, as well) and a large, nearly Olympic-sized, swimming pool.
6. house of the small Fountain
A stunning house with a large back room, terrific frescoes, and a stunning mosaic fountain. nearly all of the rooms lead to the central atrium and you can see that the house was owned by someone who was wealthy.
The sloped roofing was used to collect rainwater and doubled as a fountain, a terrific example of advancement at the time.
7. house of the Faun
This is the greatest house in Pompeii and gets its name from the statue in the front courtyard. developed in the 2nd century BCE, there’s a large courtyard in the back where you can also find a very in-depth mosaic of a battle scene.
It’s one of the most complete surviving examples of a affluent and glamorous private residence from the time — even better preserved than lots of sites in Rome itself!
8. garden of the Fugitives
Located in the back of Pompeii, this old vineyard has preserved casts of people who didn’t make it out of the city alive. There are 13 bodies in the garden, frozen in a grotesque and agonizing tableau that reflects the horrible final moments of the city. It’s both exceptionally interesting and unsettling at the same time.
9. house of Venus in the Shell
Another place located far away from the crowds, this house has a colorful fresco to the goddess Venus. There are also a few gardens here and a in-depth statue of Mars.
The house was actually under restoration when Vesuvius erupted and was also damaged during the bombing in world war II (though it was restored in the 1950s).
10. The Amphitheater
This substantial amphitheater is where the citizens of Pompeii held the ancient games that entertained them. It’s a quiet place to walk around and given its position at the far end of Pompeii, you’ll see very few people there, especially during the early morning or late afternoon hours.
Built in 70 BCE, it was one of the first amphitheaters to be developed of stone. Today, it is the oldest surviving Roman amphitheater in existence.
11. terrific Palestra
Right next to the amphitheater, the “great palace” was an exercise park and place for youth groups. It was used for sports and games, and there was also a swimming pool here as well.
It’s another a terrific place to escape the crowds as not so lots of tourists make it here.
12. house of Sallustio
This is one of the oldest homes in Pompeii, with sections dating to the 4th century BCE. It was a lot of likely an elite residence, owing to its location and size. The upper floors may have even been used as an inn at some point in its history.
There’s a small garden and covered deck in the back, a fresco of the goddess Diana, a bakery, and even a little food shop in the front. during world war II, a bomb partially destroyed the back walls, though these were restored in the 1970s.
Tips for checking out Pompeii
Watch out for closings – Not all the attractions are open, even if they say they are. I found a number of places you were meant to be able to get into closed. They even started closing one while I was looking around.
Start in the back – To avoid the crowds, step from the farthest temples toward the front. The majority of people stick to the center of Pompeii, and you can check out the main area when the crowds have gone by late afternoon.
Don’t do the audio guide – I gotten the audio excursion for 10 EUR and found it to be a waste of time. The complimentary book they give you includes enough information. The audio guide doesn’t describe much more.
Limited time? Do a guided excursion – I listened to a number of guided excursions while I was walking around and I was impressed with their knowledge. Plus, I like being able to ask questions that can additionally describe things. The guided excursions simply take you to the highlights, unless you do a personal tour.
Bring lots of water – during the summer, it gets scorchingly hot. Bring lots of water and some sunscreen to avoid getting burnt.
Pack snacks – There are a few cafes and snack bars here, but if you wander far into the ruins, you might not be near them for a while. It’s best to bring some food with you for the day’s explorations.
Take the train – This is the easiest way to visit. just make sure you go to Pompei Scavi – rental property Dei Misteri station as the main Pompeii station only takes you tothe modern city.
Watch out for scams and pickpockets – As Pompeii is such a popular attraction, there are lots of people who try to take advantage of visitors. common scams include trying to sell fake (or overpriced) train and bus tickets or saying that the entrance is closed (but they can get you in). also enjoy out for pickpockets around the entrances and train station.
Don’t bring a large backpack – safety likely won’t let you bring in a large rucksack, so only include a smaller purse or day bag.
Choose your excursion very carefully – If you’re going to do a tour, do an official excursion from inside the gate. There are plenty of excursions used outside of the gate, but they are much larger and not as good (though they are cheaper).
How to get to Pompeii
The train is the best way to get to Pompeii if you’re coming from Naples. Trains leave every 30 minutes and considering that it’s a commuter train, you don’t need to purchase a ticket in advance. Tickets cost 2.80 EUR per person each way.
Get off at the Pompei Scavi/Villa dei Misteri stop, which is just a 5-minute walk from the heritage site. The train ride is around 45 minutes.
There’s also a train called the Campania express that only stops at the main vacationer sites in the area. It’s about 20 minutes but also costs 15 EUR round-trip. Personally, I don’t think it’s really worth the steep price increase.
If you’re coming by car, it’s about a 30-minute drive. note that there is no complimentary vehicle parking lot for the site, though there are lots of paid municipal and private vehicle parking lots nearby.
From April 1 to October 31, the entire site is open from 9am-7pm. From November 1-March 31, the site is open from 9am-5pm. However, each individual attraction has its own opening and closing times, with last entrances starting 1-1.5 hours before closing time of the entire site. For updated hours, check pompeiisites.org.
FAQ on checking out Pompeii
How long do you need in Pompeii?
You’ll want to spend a full day here to really see everything, though if history isn’t your thing and you just want to see the main sites, 3-4 hours will suffice.
Do you have to pay to check out Pompeii?
Yes! Tickets are 16 EUR per person.
Should I book a guided tour?
If you don’t have a guidebook or if you want a deeper, a lot more insightful check out then getting a guide is a good idea. There is minimal signage here so you’ll get much a lot more from your check out if you have a guide.
You can either book a guide on arrival (you’ll see a bunch hanging around the entrance) or opt for a trusted company like Pompeii ToursTake Walks. They have a detailed and informative 3-hour excursion of the site as well as a full-day excursion that includes Pompeii and a drive along the Amalfi Coast. Tickets are 55 EUR for the 3-hour excursion and 165 EUR for the full-day excursion (includes tickets that let you skip the line).
Do you need to book tickets in development for Pompeii?
Tickets can be gotten online in advance, which includes access to Pompeii, Oplontis, and Boscoreale. If you’re checking out on a Saturday or public holiday, you need to book online in advance.
How lots of tourists check out Pompeii each year?
Pompeii is one of the most popular attractions in Italy, bringing in over 3.5 million tourists each year.
When must I check out Pompeii?
The summer uses the best weather, but it is also exceptionally hot and busy. consider checking out in the carry season (May or October) in buy to beat the crowds but still have great weather.
***
In the time I was there, I barely scratched the surface of Pompeii, and I filled a whole day! One day, I’d love to go back and check out all the buildings I missed. but then again, I’m a history geek and could spend days upon days among ruins. If you don’t live and breathe history as I do, one day would be enough to see the highlights.
Make sure you step away from the city center to see some of the lesser-known and less congested sites. walking among the ruins is an eerie but stunning feeling.
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