How to Visit Pompeii from Naples: Day Trip Guide (Independent or Guided!)

While I have to reluctantly admit that Naples isn’t exactly one of my favorite cities in Italy, there is one distinction where I’ll happily give Naples its flowers. This city is, hands down, the best city to base yourself in Italy for the country’s most beautiful day trips.

Yes, you have the photogenic Amalfi Coast and its small towns like Positano and Ravello, as well as the scenic islands of Capri, Procida, and Ischia. But there’s also a lot of interesting day trip options near Naples that don’t involve the coast or sea.

And of course, among these day trips, you can’t miss the historic ruins of the city of Pompeii, one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Italy (and perhaps the world).

Luckily, it’s quite easy to visit Pompeii from Naples. There are dozens of guided tours led by expert historian guides, as well as plenty of options to do it self-guided (I did an independent tour on my last visit, so that I could combine it with a trip to Herculaneum as well — and I’ll give you my honest thoughts on that).

Since you’re reading this article, I’ll assume you’re already eager to visit Pompeii and you don’t need any encouragement to visit — so instead, this guide will focus on helping you decide if you want to take a guided tour or go independently; and if you do want to go independently, I’ll continue the post by writing in detail about how specifically you can get from Naples to Pompeii, as someone who navigated it myself.

Guided Day Trip to Pompeii v. Self-Guided?

Personally, I opted for a self-guided trip to Pompeii. The transit was quite easily, especially since I was staying within walking distance of the Naples train station. I also was already planning a lot of guided day trips on other days in Italy (such as my trip from Florence to Cinque Terre and Milan to Lake Como), and I was trying to save some money in my budget.

To be honest, I think I made a mistake in doing so. Yes, it’s perfectly easy to get to Pompeii from Naples independently, and I even was able to make time that same day to also visit Herculaneum, another Roman ruins site (I compare the two in this post here). But while I saved some money, I missed out on important historical context that brought the site to life.

Despite researching the site a lot beforehand and reading as much as possible at the site’s few placards, I still felt disconnected from the archaeological site’s history. It was lovely to walk around aimlessly, especially on a mostly crowd-free cloudy day in March, and my imagination did really get a chance to wander.

But afterwards, I found it hard to put together what I just saw. And Pompeii is huge — some 170 acres — so there’s simply no way to easily grasp what you saw just by wandering through it. The placards explained individual sites, but I had no felt understanding of what Pompeii was like as a cohesive city before the eruption.

So, my personal and professional opinion is that you should book a guide of some sort for your day in Pompeii. I’ll go through a few different options at different budgets, but here are my three quick picks:

Guided Pompeii Day Trips

Option #1: Pompeii 2-Hour or 3-Hour Small Group Tour

• 4.8/5 stars with 10,000+ reviews via GetYourGuide
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance

Pompeii is massive, and while there is some signage, it isn’t sufficient to tell the full, rich story of this once-bustling metropolis and the fate it experienced after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

When it comes to picking your guide, touring Pompeii with an archaeologist is my #1 recommended choice — it’s not that expensive, and it’s worth every penny!

This tour is either 2 hours (just Pompeii main site) or 3 hours (including the nearby site, Villa of the Mysteries), all led by an expert archaeologist as your guide. The price includes skip-the-line Pompeii tickets, a guide, and the chance to continue exploring Pompeii yourself after the tour.

However, note that the tour does not include transportation — which is why it’s cheaper and more budget-friendly than other offerings, which include transit to and from Naples.

So if you don’t mind the step of getting yourself to Pompeii independently via public transit, but want the knowledge of an expert guide once you arrive, this is the best and most budget-friendly option!

(And don’t worry, if the public transit part of this option intimidates you, I’ll explain exactly how to get there at the end of this post!)

Book your archaeologist-led Pompeii tour here!

Option #2: Full-Day Tour of Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius with Lunch

• 4.7/5 stars with 1,000+ reviews via GetYourGuide
• Free cancellation with 24 hours notice

A unique way to experience Pompeii is with this full-day visit that allows you to see both the city that got buried and the volcano that did the burying, all in one epic day.

This full-day experience includes skip-the-line access to both Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, plus round-trip transportation from 10 different pickup points around Naples (so no stressing over public transit to get there).

You’ll start with a 2-hour guided tour of Pompeii led by an expert guide who’ll bring the ruins to life with all of the context and stories that signage alone can’t give you.

Before visiting Mt. Vesuvius, you’ll get the chance to enjoy a leisurely lunch, because this is still Italy, and carbs are sacred. You’ll get about 1.5 hours to enjoy your meal (which is included in the tour price), before heading to the volcano.

Then it’s on to Mt. Vesuvius, where you’ll have about two hours of time to hike and explore, choosing between two routes. You can pick the classic itinerary, the Crater Rim hike, where you’ll traverse the summit and have those epic views over the Bay of Naples.

Alternately, there’s also the Valley of Hell, which is (appropriately) a more rugged and offbeat trail that was formed after Mt. Vesuvius’ last eruption in 1944, traversing volcanic formations and even a tiny lava cave.

This option is a little more spendy, but considering that all transit, lunch, and a full separate site visit are also included, the price makes sense.

Book your full-day visit of Pompeii & Vesuvius here!

Option #3: Private Tour of Pompeii Ruins

• 4.9/5 stars with 700+ reviews via GetYourGuide
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before tour

Admittedly, the definition of “small group” is often… generous. Many so-called small group tours still have 18 to 20 people, all shuffling along in a cluster, trying to keep up with a fast-talking guide while wearing headsets that only sort of work. If that scenario makes you want to crawl out of your own skin, a private tour might be the better choice.

This private 2-hour tour is perfect if you want a more intimate, one-on-one experience, whether you’re a family, a group of friends, or just someone who prefers their ruins without a crowd.

And despite being private, the price is surprisingly affordable, especially when split between four or more people — it often works out to the same cost (or less!) than joining a standard group tour. So if you’re traveling with several others, this is a no-brainer.

You’ll get an expert licensed guide, just for your group, with plenty of time to ask all your questions — whether you want to nerd out about how the frescos stay so beautifully pigmented, Roman plumbing, or what exactly happened to the bodies preserved in volcanic ash.

Book your private Pompeii tour here!

Getting to Pompeii from Naples Independently

Whether you plan to visit Pompeii with a guided tour that you meet at the ruins or if you plan to DIY the whole thing (as I did, but don’t recommend)… you still may need a bit of help getting to Pompeii from Naples city center.

Only option 2 above includes roundtrip transport from Naples city. This is because it’s so easy to get between Naples and Pompeii that many tours don’t bother to include the transfer unless you’re also visiting other places in the vicinity to actually necessitate transport.

Here are a few ways to get to Pompeii, starting with the easiest.

🚆 By Train (Recommended)

The Circumvesuviana train is the most popular option. It runs about every 30 minutes from Napoli Garibaldi Station (Naples Main Station) to Pompei Scavi, just a 5-minute walk to the ruins’ Porta Marina entrance.

• Cost: €3.30 one-way
• Duration: About 35 minutes
• Downsides: Crowded, no A/C, no reserved seats, risk of pickpockets on board this train is especially high!
• Pro Tip: Board at Porta Nolana Station for a better chance at a seat; also, wear an anti-theft bag like my beloved PacSafe CitySafe backpack which will do you well on your entire trip to Italy

📍 Want a less crowded option? Take the Metropolitano train to Pompei station, about a 10-minute walk to the ruins. It’s sometimes a bit quieter. However, note that this train doesn’t stop at Porta Nolana, only at Garibaldi.

🚌 By Bus

I haven’t personally tried going by bus, but the bus company for the larger Campania area is SITA and there is a stop right in front of the Pompeii ruins (Pompei Scavi).

If you want to check out the bus schedule, it’s Line 5001. Personally, I still recommend the train, as reading Italian bus schedules pretty much requires a PhD in reading confusing tables that make graphic designers want to jump off cliffs. But it is, at least theoretically, possible, and likely less crowded than the train because of how confusing the schedules are to figure out.

• Cost: €3.30 (according to this page)
• Duration: ~40 minutes

🚗 By Car

If you’re already renting a car (e.g., for the Amalfi Coast), driving is easy. However, I wouldn’t rent a car solely for Pompeii; only travel by car if it makes sense with already having one.

• Route: Autostrada A3 → Exit at Pompei Ovest
• Parking: Available at official lots or nearby private garages for a fee. Official lots are cheaper.
• Toll: Small fee, usually around €2-3 — carry coins just in case cards don’t work

If you’re renting a car, I highly recommend booking via DiscoverCars for the best price on your rentals as they search not only the big names but also small local Italian companies to deliver the best variety of deals.

What to See if Self-Guiding Your Pompeii Visit

Pompeii is one of Europe’s most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as one of the biggest archaeological parks in all of Italy — a country full of them! Among the important things to see are the impressive ruins of luxurious Roman villas, with rich mosaics, fountains, and impressive open patios and galleries.

There are also several theaters, the market area (or agora), the forum, and the incredible cobblestoned roads that remained intact even after the furious volcanic explosion! Also, you should check the remains of unique artwork, mosaics, and frescoes, as well as plaster casts of the people who perished during the 79 AD eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

While a guide can certainly help point you in the right direction, some people prefer to travel with a little more freedom. I still suggest having a pre-planned route — this way, you can get a general glimpse of the ancient city if you are conscientious with your use of time.

Tip: If you’re self-guiding, be sure to get a good map beforehand in order to mark the places you want to visit to avoid wasting time. The stops I recommend you visit are: 

• The Forum: A large square with triumphal arches, public buildings, and some unique landmarks including the basilica, the market, different temples, and other buildings… in other words, the heart of ancient Pompeii.
• The Large Theater and the Odeon: You will find two theaters in the same area, which will give you the opportunity to compare them. The Large Theater was probably devoted to plays, whereas the Odeon was likely used for musical acts due to its acoustics.
• The Villa of Mysteries: Locally known as Villa dei Misteri, this is probably the most important place in Pompeii. It’s outside the main archaeological visit area and requires taking a shuttle and buying the ticket that includes it (the Pompeii Plus ticket).

• The House of the Faun: One of the largest residences in Pompeii, among the most curious findings here are the special areas that were used as servants’ quarters, which gives a look into the more invisible lives of the poor who inhabited Pompeii.
• The Garden of the Fugitives: This is an old quarter named after the bodies of 13 victims that perished as they were trying to escape from the volcano eruption.
• The Lupanar: One of the most visited spots in the archaeological park, this was believed to be the city’s brothel. It features small cells and erotic frescoes — and it is easy to find, due to the phallic symbols on several nearby buildings.

Allison Green

Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.