Joining a Tour at Pompeii
A tour at Pompeii can mean several different things: a walk led by the park, a private guide met at the gate, a reseller’s package or a ride on the shuttle between park sites. Knowing which is which makes it easier to choose, and to avoid paying twice for entry. Amounts are in euros.
Step one: the entry ticket
Every tour needs an entry ticket, whether you buy it or the tour company does. Tickets sold by the park come in three levels. Pompeii Express, EUR 20, is for the ancient city. Pompeii+, EUR 25, includes the Villa of the Mysteries, the Villa of Diomedes, Villa Regina with the Antiquarium at Boscoreale, and the shuttle. A 3 day ticket, EUR 30, widens that to Oplontis, Villa Arianna, Villa San Marco and the Stabiae museum, with one visit to each place.
Entry is capped at 20,000 people daily, and the holder’s name goes on each ticket; staff may ask for ID at the ticket offices. Reseller prices include a fee on top. The park’s own sellers are Vivaticket , the entrances, and self-service offices at Piazza Esedra, Porta Marina and Piazza Anfiteatro.
Step two: the guide
Park itineraries. Civic Pompeii and Daily Pompeii are the thematic routes. Expect roughly 90 minutes, a charge of EUR 8 added to entry, and free places for under 10s.
Licensed guides. They wait at the entrances. Fees are agreed with each guide directly, so ask about price, length and group size before you set off.
Reseller tours. These bundle a guide with transport or tickets. Read the listing for what is actually included. You can compare options on GetYourGuide .
Step three: moving between sites
The Artebus shuttle connects the park’s sites and is covered by Pompeii+ and the 3 day ticket. Wheelchair users cannot use it. Use the park’s accessibility page to plan a multi-site day.
A Thursday special at Oplontis
Oplontis has an excavation viewing of Villa Poppea each Thursday. It runs from 10:30 to 12:00, in Italian only, is capped at 10 visitors per group and takes 15 minutes. No reservation is needed, and the Oplontis ticket of EUR 8 covers it. Tuesdays are closing days at Oplontis, Boscoreale and Stabiae.
Timing
From 16 March to 14 October you choose a morning slot (09:00 to 13:00) or an afternoon slot (13:00 to 17:30), and the park shuts at 19:00. Outside those dates no slot is needed, and the gates close at 17:00 with last entrance at 15:30. Tour start times should fit the last entrance. Read the park’s timetable page before you book anything.
Etiquette on any tour
The ancient city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a burial place. Stay off the walls, keep your hands off frescoes and leave stones and mosaic pieces where they are.
Read more: walking tours of Pompei covers independent routes, and the 2 day Naples itinerary fits a tour into a short stay.