- Take the Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Pompeii for the easiest option. Get off the train at the Pompei Scavi station to reach the ruins.
- Ride the bus for the cheapest mode of transportation. Use the local SITA bus or Flixbus to reach the bus stations in Pompeii, and walk to the ruins.
- Drive down to Pompeii if you have a vehicle. Follow the A3 Naples-Salerno motorway to the Pompei Ovest exit to park outside of the ruins.
Traveling from Naples to Pompeii by Train
Go to the Piazza Garibaldi station in Napoli Centrale for easy boarding. Napoli Centrale is the main train station in Naples, so it’s one of the easiest places to board a train. Follow the signs leading to Piazza Garibaldi where you can either board the local Circumvesuviana train or take a faster metropolitan train. The Circumvesuviana train usually takes around 35–40 minutes to reach Pompeii, and has a stop right outside of the ruins. The metropolitan train takes around 24 minutes, but the nearest stop to the Pompeii ruins is about a 10-minute walk.
Board the Circumvesuviana at Piazza Nolana for if you prefer to sit down. Since Napoli Centrale is the main station in Naples, it can get pretty crowded and make it hard to find a seat on the train. While you could stand for the whole trip, Piazza Nolana is only a 10-minute walk from Napoli Centrale and it’s where the Circumvesuviana train line begins. If you get on the train there, you’re more likely to find somewhere to sit on the train before people from other stations board. The metropolitan train line doesn’t run to the Piazza Nolana station.
Purchase your train ticket to Pompeii Scavi or Pompei. You can buy tickets at the office next to the train platform or at newspaper and tobacco shops inside of the station. Since the trains run every 30 minutes, you can purchase your train ticket on the day of your trip instead of buying them in advance. If you’re taking the Circumvesuviana, get a ticket to the Pompeii Scavi station right outside the ruins. If you instead want to take the metro train, purchase a ticket to Pompei, which will drop you off 10 minutes from the site of the ruins. A one-way ticket on the Circumvesuviana usually costs around €3.60 ($3.66 USD). A one-way ticket for the metropolitan line typically costs €4.10 ($4.17 USD).
Ride the train and get off at the Pompeii Scavi or Pompei stop. When the train arrives, board and try to find a seat if there’s one available. Otherwise, find some standing room in the train car. The train will make multiple stops, so keep your eye out for the Pompeii Scavi station if you’re on the Circumvesuviana or the Pompei station on the metro train. When you reach the station and get off the train, just make sure that you don’t leave any of your belongings behind. Pickpocketing is often a problem on the train, so keep an eye on your belongings at all times. If you brought luggage with you, store it in the luggage storage facility in the Pompeii Scavi station. You’re not allowed to bring luggage onto the Pompeii site.
Walk to Pompeii’s main entrance at Porta Marina. Once you leave the train station, take a short walk to the Porta Marina main entrance gate. If you took the Circumvesuviana train, look for the Porta Marina entrance only about 50 metres (55 yd) east of the station. If you took the metropolitan train, make the 10-minute walk west from the station following the SS18 motorway until you reach the main entrance. Look at a map or ask a local to help you find where you’re going if you’re confused about where to go.
Getting to Pompeii from Naples by Bus
Go to the Nuova Marina station for the cheaper local SITA bus. The SITA bus is the local line that runs between cities and it’s one of the cheapest options for getting from Naples to Pompeii. Head to the Nuova Marina bus station to find the schedule and purchase a ticket for your ride. Buses usually run once or twice each hour, so you don’t need to get a ticket in advance. A one-way SITA bus ticket to Pompeii costs about €2.80 ($2.85 USD).
Visit Napoli Metropark Centrale station for a more comfortable Flixbus ride. Flixbus is a long-distance bus line that makes stops in Naples and Pompeii, and it has more amenities like spacious seating, wifi, and air conditioning. Go to the Flixbus office at the Napoli Metropark Centrale station so you can buy a ticket and get a seat on the bus. You can also purchase your ticket on the bus or reserve a seat ahead of time online. A one-way ticket from Naples to Pompeii costs around €6.99 ($7.12 USD).
Get off at the Pompei Scavi or Piazza Falcone e Borsellino bus stop. Your bus ride will usually take around 35 minutes, but it may take a little longer depending on the traffic. If you’re taking the SITA bus, get off at the Pompeii Scavi station right outside of the Pompeii runes. If you took a Flixbus to Pompeii, then it will drop you off at the Piazza Falcone e Borsellino station instead. Bus rides may take longer on the weekends when the roads are busier.
Walk to the main entrance of Pompeii’s ruins. If you were dropped off at Pompeii Scavi, look for the main entrance to the ruins about 50 metres (55 yd) from the bus station. If you took the Flixbus to Piazza Falcone e Borsellino, then walk west along Via Roma for about 10 minutes to reach the eastern Pompeii entrance. You could also get a taxi if you want to reach the ruins quicker.
Taking a Car from Naples to Pompeii
Drive down the A3 Naples-Salerno motorway. If you have a vehicle, Pompeii is only a 25 km (16 mi) drive down the highway and you have more flexibility for when you arrive and leave. Hop onto the A3 highway and head south towards Pompeii for about 8 minutes. If you’d rather not drive yourself, you can also hire a private shuttle or taxi, though these are usually the most expensive at about €25 ($25.45 USD) per person round trip. You can usually book a shuttle online or by calling a taxi company.
Take the Pompei Ovest exit to the SS18 highway to reach the ruins. Have about €2.50 ($2.54 USD) in cash to pay for the exit toll and get on the SS18 highway. Drive for about 15 minutes until you reach the Pompeii exit, and follow the signs leading to Pompei Villa dei Misteri for another 8 minutes to get to the ruins. It usually takes about 35 minutes total to drive to Pompeii from Naples, but it may take longer on weekends when there’s more traffic.
Park in one of the lots near the ruins' entrance. There are multiple parking lots that are around the outside of the ruin entrances where you can keep your car. To get the closest spot, check the Zeus Parking lot right outside the Pompei Scavi bus station since it’s only about 50 metres (55 yd) from the main entrance. Otherwise, you may be able to find other lots that are within walking distance of the ruins. Parking lots at Pompeii usually cost around €3 ($3.05 USD) an hour. The lots can fill up quickly, so try to get there early in the day to ensure you find a space.
Exploring Pompeii
Purchase tickets at the Pompeii entrance. When you arrive at Pompeii, hop in the ticket queue line right away since it can get really long. Tickets cost around €16 ($16.29 USD) per person, but you’ll need to pay in cash. You can pre-purchase tickets online with a credit card at the TicketOne site. There’s free admission to Pompeii on the first Sunday of every month.
Use the map of Pompeii provided at the site. When you arrive, look for Pompeii site maps near the ticketing office. If you’re not able to find one or you’re not given one after you buy your ticket, ask an employee to get a map or guidebook to help you navigate the ruins. This map will have all of the major landmarks that you should see as well as any restrooms, food, and water fountains marked on it.
Choose a guide at Pompeii if you want to learn more about the site. You can either get an audio guide from the ticketing office, request a tour from a guide at the entrance, or download the Pompeii tour app to help you get around and learn more about the ruins. While they’re not required for your visit, a guide may be able to point out things you’d miss otherwise. An audio guide usually costs around €8 ($8.14 USD). Group tours usually run around €12 ($12.22 USD) per person while private tour guides can cost roughly €200 ($203.59 USD). Some private tour guides also offer transportation to and from Pompeii as part of their service.
See the Forum near the entrance of Pompeii. The Forum was the political, commercial, and social center of the city where all of the main buildings were. There are lots of relics to see at this site, and it's located right near the main entrance at Porta Marina.
Visit the Amphitheater to see the ruins of a large outdoor stage. The Amphitheater was where people would go to watch gladiator battles and games, and it's the oldest surviving Roman amphitheater. You’ll be able to walk out into the main stage area of the amphitheater to get a view of the stands and ruins nearby. The Amphitheater is located at the far end of Pompeii. Make your way to it first so you can work your way back to the entrance while seeing the other sites.
Look for the House of the Faun to view an ancient home. This is the biggest and most majestic house in Pompeii, and it shows great examples of how a house would have been set up architecturally. Look in the backyard to see a famous mosaic showing a battle scene and admire the large rooms and atriums inside.
Check out the Grain Store to view plaster figures and relics. The Grain Store was originally where people could buy goods, such as herbs and cereals, in the town. When you visit it now, you're able to see plastered figures who weren't able to escape the city when Mount Vesuvius erupted, as well as other interesting archaeological discoveries.
Get a look at Mount Vesuvius from the Teatro Grande. The Teatro Grande is a large theater that could seat 5,000 people, showing off the ancient architecture. When you're standing or sitting in the top row, look out over the beautiful vista with Mount Vesuvius in the background.
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