Do you have to queue for Pompeii?

[Monr0e]

Just that really. We are in italy now and hoping to go to Pompeii tomorrow. We have 2 dc's with us so from what I've read we can't book tickets online but need to purchase them at the ticket office as under 18's go free.

But I'm worried there may be massive queues to get in. I'm already concerned about the heat but as we come home on Friday tomorrow is the only day we are able to go. Has anyone been recently? And were there any queues to get in?

Thank you 😊

I didn’t queue. That was in September about 12 years ago so I don’t know how helpful that it is. But it is a large space with big capacity.

Either way it is one of my favourite places on this Earth. Have a wonderful visit.

You should be able to book online direct with the park but maybe get free ones on arrival. We went 2019 and didn't prebook with no queuing issue but times may have changed.

Went 5 yrs ago. We went really early. I don't recall queuing. But we were there as it opened

Went 2 years ago in July. Almost no queue. Enjoy!

Dont know about Pompeii, but if its anything like EVERYTHING in Rome, you have to queue your heart out

And distinct lack of loos EVERYWHERE

So bottled water and tena lady at the ready

I know it's not what you asked, but how about Herculaneum instead?
I've been to both , & I think it's more interesting.

It's smaller, less crowded, & probably better for children

I don't remember there being a queue at all. It didn't feel massively busy as it's quite expansive.
I went up to the top of vusuvius as well, it took ages to get there, and well, it's a mountain with a massive hole in the middle. So maybe that's not the most exciting thing on earth. It was mildly interesting though. Pompeii was quite cool. The actual town is quite cute and pretty if I remember? This was 20 yrs ago.

I went in August a few years back, probably 11am ish. Had to queue for maybe 10-15 mins? Which is totally normal, and if I remember correctly the queuing area is covered so at least you’re in the shade. It was not bad at all.

I took a couple of groups there years ago. I do remember brief queues (probably caused by us turning up with 40 people at once 😳), but not too bad.

I do remember that the area where you would queue is shaded though. (And the toilets are right next to it)

We went in May, so only a couple of months ago and there was no queue. We went on a Wednesday. Our air bnb host told us that it only really gets busy on the weekends. She also advised not to buy online as you have to buy tickets again when you get there or something. We got a 2hr tour and it was great. Very close to the Pompeii train station. A great day out. Very hot though and there's no shaded areas, so be warned!!

Thanks everyone, we can handle a smallish queue, just not 1-2 hours which I have read online!

@Georgyporky we went to herculaneum on Monday 🙂
14 year old dd actually squealed with delight when she looked over the walkway and saw it laid out before her. So I'm really looking forward to her reaction tomorrow (she's been wanting to go for years)

@jostart I've read the same, that we would have to get the dc's tickets from the ticket office so no point buying ours online. And we have a very much older looking 17 year old ds so will definitely need to show his ID!

I'm worried about the heat, but we are just going to power through, take lots of water and hope for the best, thank you.

Nice and warm in Italy this week No I didn't queue last time I went.

As a freckly redhead, I cannot say I'm enjoying the weather 🥵

Could you let me know how your visit to Herculaneum compares to Pompei please? I'm going in September to Southern Italy with my boyfriend, with a brief stay in Sorrento to see some sights.

I've been to Pompei before many years ago with my exh, but boyfriend has never been. I wondered if Herculaneum would be a good alternative?

No queue when I have been.

But take sunscreen, hats and water as there is not a lot of shade.

We were there a few weeks ago. We got the train from sorrento. Arrived about 10. There was no queue. We didn't have a guide but most people seem to do this. A guy in the ticket office drew us a route. It got busy in the afternoon. We had water bottles which you could fill up at fountains. We also took sandwiches which we made from our hotel breakfast. Food options not great but there are lots by the cafe. It was hot and we did loads of walking but it was a great day. Enjoy.

Yes we queued - it was August. However, it was fairly quick and the queue ran outside the gate. Quite a slick process. Take food (loads of water fountains in there so perhaps a bottle); hat and sunscreen as very little shade.

We bought our tickets from
The tourist board desk in Naples train station, which included bus there and back, and a tour which meant we didn't have to line up. The tour was very good and you got free time afterwards to look around on your own.

We went yesterday, no queue. We stepped straight off the train and straight to the ticket desk. We opted for a guided tour then time to spend at our leisure. The heat was just about bearable but we probably spent less time than we would have on a much cooler day.

@Cloverforever Herculaneum is very different. Tiny in comparison really, but we found the museum their better, much less crowded and much more to see. The town itself you could walk around in a few hours but Pompeii is huge and much more to see in comparison. Although we really enjoyed both.

So you can just join a tour when you arrive without pre booking it? How many were in the group, sorry for all the questions, but that would suit me as I wouldn't have to be tied down to a particular day if booking a guide for a certain day and time from my hotel IYSWIM!

Could I also ask how long you spent there, and in Herculaneum? If I could get to do both on the one day I would, but I might have to realistic! Did you use a tour/guide in Herculaneum? I'll be there later in the year. Thanks.

I wouldn't do both in one day. There are other sites connected to Pompeii with a shuttle bus.

When we went to the ticket desk she asked if we wanted the 2 hour tour, she said one was leaving shortly. I think they are run very regularly so you would be fine to book one in the day. There were around 20 in our group, we were all given ear pieces and she had a small microphone so you could easily hear her while you looked around whatever area you were in, we did not all have to be clustered around her.

@halava where are you staying and how will you be travelling to the sites? They are on the same train line but some distance apart, I wouldn't do both in the same day personally but you could at a push if you did Herculaneum first thing then spent the rest of the day at Pompeii. I think it is open till around 7pm at the moment.

@Monr0e Thanks so much for all that very useful information. I hope to stay in Naples and take the train from there (and back) to both sites. I totally accept that doing both might do neither of them justice, so I'm happy enough to split it up a day for each. Getting a tour at the site sounds great, and the earpieces, OMG that is wonderful for me as I am partially deaf, and often struggle to hear the speaker when there is a big group. Looking forward to it more than ever now!

If you are staying in Naples you will want the Naples - Sorrento line for both.

Herculaneum is the Ercolano Scavi stop, it is about a 5 min walk from the train station straight ahead. Pompeii is the Pompeii Scavi stop which is further away from you.

The trains are straightforward to use but can be very crowded and not all have air conditioning 🥵

Map here of the local train lines