Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do on a trip to Pompeii, Italy. While many travel blogs will tell you all the fun things to do in Pompeii Italy, we want to be sure you know what you should NOT do when you plan a Pompeii trip.
Don’t Underestimate the Size of Pompeii
You might think a one-day visit is enough to cover Pompeii, but it’s actually quite large. It covers nearly five square miles and once had over 10,000 inhabitants. The excavations have been extensive, and are ongoing. No tour covers the entire area, so you’ll likely see new areas every time you visit. But be prepared for a full day and a lot of walking.
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Don’t Forget to Plan Ahead
Look at a map before you visit Pompeii and try to plan out your day if you’re not taking a guided tour. If there are certain areas you want to see, know that ahead of time and plan your route, otherwise, you could be wandering aimlessly for hours. Make sure you also download the app which can host your tickets and also has a map.
Don’t Think Closing Time is The Last Ticket Time
Closing time at Pompeii is actually closing time, not the last time you can buy a ticket. They stop selling Pompeii tickets two hours prior to the closing time. In the summer months from April through October, Pompeii is open from 9 am until 7:30 pm, which means the last ticket is sold at 5:30. In the winter, Pompeii closes at 5:30 pm, meaning you must enter before 3:30 pm.
Don’t Feel Obligated to Have a Tour Guide
You can arrange a tour guide ahead of time, hire one on site, or just tour by yourself. While local guides bring a lot of knowledge and can quickly steer you to the more interesting sites, it’s not required to have a guide. If you’re traveling on a budget, you can skip the guide and also get in for free on the first Sunday of each month.
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Don’t Be Shocked by Art at the Lupanar
The Lupanar of Pompeii was the largest brothel at the time. The art and frescoes inside are pretty much what you would expect to find in a brothel. They can be a bit shocking the first time you visit!
Don’t Forget Sun Protection
It can be very hot in Pompeii and there’s not much shade, so be prepared! Make sure you have a hat, umbrella, sunscreen, and lots of water to drink during your tour. It’s so easy to get dehydrated in the heat and the sun; don’t let that shorten your visit to Pompeii.
Don’t Expect Easy Mobility at Pompeii
If you have limited mobility, Pompeii is not super easy to get around. It’s an active archaeological site, so the pavement is uneven. There are cobblestones, steep paths, and high curbs to navigate. If you have mobility challenges, you may want to consult with a guide who can navigate to the most accessible areas.
Don’t Forget It’s An Active Site
Pompeii is very active with students and archeologists who are still excavating and preserving parts of Pompeii. It’s also the final resting place for thousands of residents who died during the Vesuvius eruption, so be respectful of that as well. You can only eat in designated areas, and you may find some sections roped off as active worksites. Don’t expect every area to be open all the time.
Don’t Get Run Over by Tour Groups
You’ll see some large tour groups visiting Pompeii. They will be very focused on their guide, and not so focused on watching where they are walking. So, it’s up to you to be alert and step aside if an absent-minded tour attendee is about to crash into you.
Don’t Expect a Lot of Food Options
The area surrounding Pompeii is very touristy, so you will have a lot of touristy restaurants to choose from, and corresponding tourist prices. But there isn’t much to choose from, so you can eat inside the cafeteria, outside at a restaurant, or just buy snacks from street vendors.
Don’t Bring Large Bags
They don’t allow you to bring large bags or backpacks into Pompeii, so make sure you have something smaller to carry around inside. There is a luggage storage area if you do have a bag that’s too big.
Don’t Take the Wrong Train
If you’re coming from Naples, the Circumvesuviana takes about 45 minutes; it also connects to Sorrento. The trains can get a little slow, though, so it can take longer than you expect. You will need to exit the train at Pompeii Scavi, Villa Dei Misteri. There are other Pompeii stops, but this one is most convenient for the main entrance at Porta Marina. The Campania Express is another option, with stops at Naples, Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Sorrento. The trains can get very warm and crowded in the summer months. Don’t let your guard down at the Naples train station, as there are a lot of pickpockets in the area. And don’t forget to validate your ticket when you board the train.
Don’t Skip Mount Vesuvius
You will hear so much about Mount Vesuvius when you visit Pompeii, but you really should see it up close. You can take a bus up to a parking area near the summit, and it’s then about a 30-minute hike up to see inside the crater. You can see the steam vents still steaming, and you also get amazing views out over the Gulf of Naples.
Don’t Stay in Pompeii
Most travelers don’t stay in Pompeii but in one of the nearby towns. Naples and Sorrento are both easy day trips to Pompeii. You’ll find much better accommodation options here or anywhere along the Amalfi Coast. They all have options for getting to Pompeii easily.
Don’t Miss the National Archeological Museum in Naples
Some of the best treasures discovered at Pompeii now reside in the National Archeological Museum in Naples. If visiting Pompeii seems overwhelming, you might consider visiting Herculaneum instead. It’s a smaller city that was also destroyed but was discovered much later than Pompeii. It’s a much smaller area and closer to Naples.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Don’t be surprised if you plan a return trip to Pompeii! It’s such a vast place to explore, and there are always new areas each time you visit. It’s really quite amazing how well-preserved some of the artwork and architecture are, and you’ll spend the day in the shadow of the volcano that made Pompeii famous.
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