Are you visiting the excavations of Pompeii and don’t know how much time to devote to your visit?
You should know that the Excavations, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have an extension of 440,000 square meters and are one of the most visited archaeological sites in Italy.
A vast, important site, rich in history and monuments that requires to be really visited all of it at least one day.
Visiting this site, in fact, offers a journey back in time to 79 AD, when the city was buried by a devastating eruption of Vesuvius. To fully understand the historical and cultural richness of Pompeii, it is important to plan your visit properly, taking into account the time you have to explore the many attractions the site has to offer.
2-hour short visit to the Pompeii excavations
If your time is limited or you plan to visit other attractions during the day then I recommend that you focus on the highlights. In this itinerary you will be able to visit the most important and most frequently visited places in ancient times by Pompeians.
These include: the forum, the basilica, the great and small theater, the house of the faun, the lupanare, and the Stabian baths.
In short, the most famous and well-known places in the world. If you want to enrich your visit even more and don’t want to get lost among the many narrow streets of Pompeii with a map in your hands then book a guided tour.
In two hours with the help of an experienced tour guide you will have the opportunity not only to see all these places, but also to learn about their history and discover all the small details that you will not be able to see on your own.
Visiting Pompeii with a guide will enrich your sightseeing experience and you will leave the Archaeological Park with a rich and full cultural background.
5-hour visit to Pompeii
If, on the other hand, you want to totally immerse yourself in the history of these places and discover every facet and detail of them, but you do not have a full day at your disposal, then make a visit of at least 5 hours.
Having more time on your hands will allow you to explore Pompeii in greater depth, visiting even the lesser-visited areas and secondary sites.You can admire the lesser-known private houses, you can go as far as the amphitheater. Get to know the small details that will make all the difference in your trip to Pompeii.
A challenging, sometimes tiring route that I recommend you do during periods that are not particularly hot, so avoid July, August and early September, and if you can, avoid doing it with young children. Who might get tired or bored from spending too many hours at the site.
If you want to book a guided tour, I recommend that you do so with a guide who is not only knowledgeable and experienced. But also friendly and fun, who will make your visit interesting but not heavy and boring. Here I point you to a suitable tour if you want to visit Pompeii in 5 hours.
Visit Pompeii in a day
If, on the other hand, you are an archaeology and history buff, a full day or even two may be necessary to explore every nook and cranny of Pompeii.
This approach allows you to appreciate the details of the works of art and visit the museum within the site. By devoting a full day to a visit, you will be able to see Pompeii in its entirety; you can pause to admire the many frescoes that adorn its houses. Get to little-known corners. Discover details, for big fans, that on a short visit you will not even have time to see.
In this case, however, to visit Pompeii entirely, it is necessary to do the Pompeii Plus ticket. That also includes Villa of the Mysteries and Villa Diomende, which cannot be visited with the Pompeii Express ticket. Indeed visitable but at the increased cost of €8.00. With the Pompeii Plus ticket you will pay € 22 admission, including shuttle service to Boscoreale to visit the site and the antiquarium of the town of the same name.
So as you have come to understand, Pompeii because of its great extent requires at least a day’s visit or even two if you want to visit it all in every little detail.
But already a 2-hour visit will allow you to get to know the main and most famous sites of Pompeii.
In any case, the time needed to visit the excavations of Pompeii varies greatly depending on personal interests and the time available.
Whether it is a short visit to admire the main points of interest or a full day dedicated to discovering every detail. Pompeii offers a unique and unforgettable experience that will allow you to relive the daily life of a Roman city 2000 years ago.
