How to avoid the line at the Pompeii ruins

Visiting the Archaeological Excavations of Pompeii is an experience not to be missed and one that will remain etched in the hearts, especially, of those who love history, art and ancient culture. Visiting an ancient Roman city that was completely buried by the eruption of a volcano, brought back to light and well preserved is an experience that one can experience only a few times in a lifetime.

But as with all good things, many are made to wait. And that is what might happen when visiting Pompeii, especially in the summer months and on weekends. During the busiest periods, in fact, you might find queues for entry to the site, even quite long and daunting ones.

You have to know that Pompeii has 4 million visitors in a year, and on particularly busy days you might find a lot of lines to get your ticket at the ticket office.

Here, then, are some practical tips to avoid the line and enjoy your visit to the fullest.

1. Buy Tickets Online in Advance

The easiest way to skip the ticket line is to buy tickets online through the official website www.ticketone.it. Digital tickets give you direct access to the turnstiles without going through the ticket office. This way you will avoid waiting in the hot sun, especially, in summer to get your ticket and you will recover valuable time inside the site.

Both the Pompeii Express ticket € 18, ( which allows you to visit the ancient city and the antiquarium, without the suburban villas of Villa dei Misteri and Villa Diomede) can be purchased on the ticketone website.

Either the Pompeii Plus ticket at a cost of € 22, which allows you to visit Pompeii entirely. ( So ancient city + Villa dei Misteri + Villa Diomede and Villa Regina in Boscoreale with included shuttle bus leading to the site).

Ticketone is the only official channel that allows you to purchase tickets for the archaeological park.

Once you purchase your ticket, you will receive an email from ticketone, which will allow you to download the title in PDF format, to print or show on your smartphone at the entrance turnstiles of the Archaeological Park.

On presale are, also, Reduced tickets € 2.00 (18-25 years old and under) and Free tickets (under 18 years old).

On the other hand, free tickets of other specific categories ( the disabled, teachers, etc.) cannot be purchased. Purchasers of which will have to go to the Archaeological Park box office to show proof of entitlement (as appropriate, ID card or other document proving the right to free admission).

2. Choose Less Crowded Times

Another useful tip for avoiding lines at the Pompeii excavations is to choose the least crowded times!!!

If you really want to visit Pompeii in peak season, choose the times with the least crowds.

Be aware that waiting lines form not only at the ticket office for entry to the site, but also for access to individual houses that can be visited within the archaeological park.

So if you want to find reduced lines and enjoy a quieter Pompeii, without being surrounded by thousands of people, choose the most convenient times.

Or early in the morning (opening at 9:00 am). Very early in the morning, the lines are reduced, as, tourist groups arrive later. Also, especially, in the summer and during very hot periods, you will be able to walk comfortably before the asphyxiating heat arrives in the middle hours.

Or late afternoon (after 3:30 p.m.): many visitors decide to visit Pompeii in the morning, with considerable relief during the afternoon. This allows you to walk freely within the site, without crowding or difficulty.

Imagine that since November the daily entry limit went into effect: 15,000 entries in the morning, 5,000 in the afternoon. So, you can well imagine that the largest influx of tourists is concentrated in the morning. While in the afternoon the site is spectacular, few lines, the sun starting to become less oppressive, especially, in summer and very few people, which will make your visit quiet and pleasant.

And if you take a guided tour, you will be able to fully enjoy the guide’s explanation, without being surrounded by other groups of people obstructing your view or making noise making it difficult to listen.

3. Visit Pompeii with a Tour Guide

If you really must visit Pompeii in the high season, do it together with a tour guide. The guide will be able to make your visit enjoyable and interesting, despite the lines. He will tell you anecdotes and peculiarities of this ancient city buried by the eruption of Vesuvius, making the wait less tedious and nerve-wracking.

Pompeii, in fact, gives you minute and unexpected details that you would not be able to grasp on your own. A guided tour would allow you to explore a totally hidden Pompeii. But I recommend that even together with a guide you choose the most appropriate times!