Pompei (or Pompeii, outside of Italy) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Napoli. It is an ancient city, now an archaeological site at the base of Mount Vesuivius. Buried in 79 A.D., the city was a Roman Empire resort and is 150 miles south of Roma and 15 miles south of Napoli.
By train, you can get there via the Circumvesuviana at Napoli Centrale, stopping at Pompei Scavi– Villa Dei Misteri. Once you arrive, it is a short walk to the main entrance.
Note: these local trains do not have A/C so it gets pretty toasty during the summer. If you want an air conditioned train, take the Campania Express though it will cost more than the local trains.
A few tips when visiting Pompei:
Try to go when it’s not summer. We went in July and there was very little shade. It was sweltering. That being said, bring water!
There are places to eat right outside the entrance. I had bruschetta at a restaurant outside of the park which was yummy. There is also a food court area to eat at within Pompei next to the Forum.
Pompei is an actual city–meaning it is huge and much bigger than I realized it would be. The sights and attractions are spread apart and are a bit of a walk. The whole city is about 4.6 miles and it was about 160-170 acres at one point in time. Roughly speaking, one end to the other is over 2 miles so plan ahead.
Plan your visit ahead of time (what you want to see) so you can plan how long it’ll take to see everything. Pompei is easily a full day tour, but check the website here for what is open and closed.
Just like in any Italian city, wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. The walkways are cobblestones and dirt.
What to See When Visiting Pompei
1. Antiquarium: features the exhibitions for daily life in Pompei
2. Forum: was essentially an outdoor town hall for the city; the place for worship, trade, business, and politics
3. Theaters like Teatro Piccolo
4. Temple of Isis
5. Terme Stabiane: Stabian Baths, or the bath houses
6. House of Menander: claimed as one of the most wealthy and magnificent houses in Pompei; it has a servant’s quarters and a bathhouse
7. Nuovi Scavi
8. Ampitheater
9. House of the Vettii: belonged to freedmen or former slaves who became very wealthy through trade; this home has frescoes and rich decor to explore
10. Villa of the Mysteries: on the outskirts of Pompei, this hall has murals showing a rite ceremony for Dionysus, the god of wine
Italy is one of my favorite places to visit. I’ve been about 4 times and could never get tired of it. For more posts about Italy, check here. Do you have any plans to visit Pompei? If so, I’d love to hear about it. I find it so funny that in Italy, Pompei is spelled with one “i” and in America and elsewhere, it’s spelled with two “i’s.”
