Pompeii tickets 2026
How much is the entrance fee, which ticket is worth it, and how do you get there from Naples, Rome or Sorrento? All prices and opening hours come from the official website of the Archaeological Park, last checked on 25 September 2026.
Pompeii tickets in 30 seconds
- Pompeii Express costs €20 and covers the ancient city only. Pompeii+ costs €25 and adds the Villa of the Mysteries, the Villa of Diomedes, Villa Regina with the Antiquarium in Boscoreale and the shuttle bus.
- Entry is free for everyone under 18. EU citizens aged 18 to 24 pay €2.
- Tickets are personal: your name goes on the ticket and you need ID at the entrance. No more than 20,000 visitors are admitted per day.
- Official tickets are sold online via Vivaticket or at the ticket offices on site. Online tickets come as a PDF that takes you straight to the turnstiles.
- Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month; you cannot book online on those days.
The second link is an affiliate link: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Pompeii ticket prices and entrance fee 2026
These prices apply from 12 January 2026. Every ticket is valid for one entry: once you leave, you cannot get back in with the same ticket.
| Ticket | Includes | Price | Reduced* | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pompeii Express | Ancient city of Pompeii only, without the suburban villas | €20 | €2 | 1 entry |
| Pompeii+ | Ancient city, Villa of the Mysteries, Villa of Diomedes, Villa Regina with Antiquarium in Boscoreale, shuttle bus | €25 | €2 | 1 entry |
| Pompeii + other sites (3 days) | Pompeii+, plus Oplontis, Villa Arianna, Villa San Marco, Archaeological Museum of Stabiae, Boscoreale, shuttle bus | €30 | €2 | 3 days, 1 entry per site |
| Single site | Boscoreale, Oplontis or the Archaeological Museum of Stabiae | €8 | €2 | 1 entry |
| MyPompeii annual pass | All sites of the park and the shuttle bus for one year | €45 | €10 | 1 year from first use |
* Reduced: EU citizens aged 18 to 24 and non-EU citizens with certain Italian residence permits. Free for everyone under 18. The park’s themed tours (“Civic Pompeii”, “Daily Pompeii”, about 1.5 hours each) cost €8 on top of the ticket and are free for children under 10. Villa Arianna and Villa San Marco in Stabiae are free. Source: Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
Pompeii Express or Pompeii+: which ticket should you buy?
Pompeii Express, €20
Right for a first visit of three to four hours: the Forum, theatres, baths, houses and streets of the ancient city.
Pompeii+, €25
Right if you want to see the Villa of the Mysteries, with the most famous frescoes in Pompeii, plus the Villa of Diomedes and Villa Regina in Boscoreale by shuttle. Plan a long day.
You can upgrade later, but it costs more: with an Express ticket the villas route costs €8 extra at the Porta Ercolano entrance, so €28 instead of €25, and card payment only. Last entry there is 17:30 in summer and 15:30 in winter. If you are staying in the area for several days, the 3-day ticket for €30 is the best value.
Pompeii opening hours
| Period | Opens | Last entry | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 March to 14 October | 9:00 | 17:30 | 19:00 |
| 15 October to 15 March | 9:00 | 15:30 | 17:00 |
Closed on 25 December and 1 January. From mid-March to mid-October there are time slots: no more than 15,000 people are admitted between 9:00 and 13:00, and no more than 5,000 between 13:00 and 17:30. The other sites of the park (Oplontis, Stabiae, the Stabiae museum) are closed on Tuesdays. Not every house in Pompeii is open every day; the park lists which houses are open in its overview of the houses.
Official Pompeii tickets or a tour?
Just the ticket? Buy it officially on Vivaticket. This is the sales channel the park links to, and it is the cheapest option. Show the PDF ticket at the turnstile; you do not need to queue at the ticket office. Third-party “skip-the-line” tickets usually add nothing for the entry itself.
With a guide, transfer or Vesuvius? Then a package makes sense. Providers such as GetYourGuide bundle ticket, guide and often transport from Naples, Rome or Sorrento. It costs more than the ticket alone but saves planning, and a good guide turns stones into stories.
Watch out for mark-ups: many websites with “Pompeii tickets” in their name are not official and add surcharges. The park’s official address is pompeiisites.org, and official online sales run through pompeii.vivaticket.it. Tickets are personal: enter the correct name when buying and bring your ID.
Free entry: first Sunday, children and teenagers
- First Sunday of the month: free entry (“Domenica al Museo”). There is no online booking and no personal ticket; you go straight to the turnstiles. The daily limit of 20,000 still applies, and it gets very busy.
- Under 18: free, regardless of nationality. Children under 12 must be accompanied (Italian Ministry of Culture rules).
- Visitors with disabilities and one companion also get in free.
- With your Pompeii ticket you can visit some museums in the area for free within 30 days, such as the Archaeological Museum in Terzigno.
Pompeii guided tours
Pompeii is huge, and much of it only makes sense with an explanation. A two- to three-hour guided tour covers the main sights, and afterwards you can keep exploring on your own with the same ticket.
Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, languages and availability change; the provider’s details apply. Selection checked on 25 September 2026.
How to get to Pompeii
Naples to Pompeii
Pompeii lies about 25 kilometres south-east of Naples. The easiest way is the Circumvesuviana regional train on the Naples–Sorrento line to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri station, right next to the Porta Marina entrance. The ride from Naples takes about 35 to 40 minutes. Trenitalia regional trains stop at Pompei station instead, closer to the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance.
From the Pompei Scavi station you can walk to the entrance in a few minutes.
Rome to Pompeii
A day trip from Rome is possible but long. Take a high-speed train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale, then change to the Circumvesuviana to Pompei Scavi. Allow roughly three hours each way including the change, so start early and plan at least three to four hours on site.
If you would rather not organise trains and tickets yourself, a guided day trip from Rome takes care of transport and entry.
Sorrento to Pompeii
From Sorrento, the Circumvesuviana runs in the other direction on the same line to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri, a journey of about half an hour. It is the simplest option from the Sorrento peninsula.
Arriving by car, you will find paid car parks around the entrances.
The three entrances
- Porta Marina
- Close to the Forum and the Circumvesuviana station. The best start for most visitors.
- Piazza Esedra
- Right next to it, with a bookshop; recommended for the Antiquarium.
- Piazza Anfiteatro
- By the amphitheatre, start of the step-free “Pompeii for all” route.
All entrances, 20 highlights and three routes are on our Pompeii map. Our tip for a first impression: walk from the Porta Marina to the Forum, stand at its southern end and look north. Temple, arches and Vesuvius line up. What this view may have looked like 2,000 years ago is shown in our time journey through the eruption of Pompeii.
Tips for visiting Pompeii
- Come early: right at 9:00 it is quietest and coolest.
- Best time to visit: spring and autumn. In high summer there is hardly any shade.
- Water and shoes: there are drinking fountains on the site. The ancient paving is uneven; sturdy shoes help.
- No re-entry: if you leave, you need a new ticket, so plan breaks inside.
- Read up first: our tour of the House of the Tragic Poet shows how a Roman house worked.
Pompeii or Herculaneum?
If you only have time for one site, this is the classic question. Pompeii is large: a whole city with a forum, theatres, an amphitheatre and Vesuvius in view. Herculaneum is much smaller and can be seen in two to three hours, but parts of it are better preserved, with upper floors and carbonised wood. For scale, choose Pompeii; for detail, Herculaneum. Ideally, see both.
Pompeii tickets: frequently asked questions
How much are Pompeii tickets?
A Pompeii Express ticket for the ancient city costs €20, and Pompeii+ with the suburban villas costs €25 (prices valid from 12 January 2026). Visitors under 18 get in free; EU citizens aged 18 to 24 pay €2.
Where can I buy official tickets for Pompeii?
Online via Vivaticket, which the Archaeological Park links to from its website, or at the ticket offices at the Porta Marina, Piazza Esedra and Piazza Anfiteatro entrances. Tours that include a ticket are also sold by providers such as GetYourGuide.
Should I buy tickets to Pompeii in advance?
Yes, especially between mid-March and mid-October. Admission is capped at 20,000 visitors a day, with time slots in summer. Online tickets come as a PDF, so you can go straight to the turnstiles.
What is the best ticket to buy for Pompeii?
Pompeii Express (€20) is enough for a first visit of three to four hours. Choose Pompeii+ (€25) if you want to see the Villa of the Mysteries and its famous frescoes. Adding the villas later costs more: €8 on top of the Express ticket at the Porta Ercolano entrance, card only.
Is 2 hours enough for Pompeii?
Two hours are enough for the Forum, a few famous houses and the baths near the Porta Marina entrance. For the theatres, the amphitheatre and more of the city, plan three to four hours; with the Villa of the Mysteries, half a day or more.
Can you walk around Pompeii without a tour?
Yes. With a normal ticket you can explore on your own. A map and some preparation help, because the site is large and not every house is open every day. A guided tour is worth it if you want to understand a lot in a short time.
Is Pompeii free on the first Sunday of the month?
Yes, entry is free on the first Sunday of every month and on some other special days. Online booking and personal tickets do not apply; you go straight to the turnstiles, but the daily limit of 20,000 visitors still applies and it gets very crowded.
Is Pompeii free for children?
Yes. Admission to state museums and archaeological sites in Italy is free for everyone under 18. Children under 12 must be accompanied.
What is the best way to get to Pompeii from Naples?
The Circumvesuviana train to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri station, next to the Porta Marina entrance. The journey takes about 35 to 40 minutes.
Pompeii or Herculaneum: which is better?
Pompeii is large: a whole city with a forum, theatres, an amphitheatre and Vesuvius in view. Herculaneum is much smaller and can be seen in two to three hours, but parts are better preserved, with upper floors and carbonised wood. For scale, choose Pompeii; for detail, Herculaneum. Ideally see both.
Sources and date
Text: Daniela Pieper, Back in Time Travel. Prices, opening hours, time slots and rules checked on 25 September 2026 on the websites of the park and the Italian Ministry of Culture. Details can change; the official website prevails.
Image credit
Forum of Pompeii: Gary Todd, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
_%26_Mt._Vesuvius_(48440863097).jpg){kind=link}