Tour Details
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
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- Pompeii Archaeological Site
- Naples Archaeological Museum
- Naples Train Station
Photos & Highlights
- Explores ancient roads, private homes, shops and other structures that illustrate what everyday life was like in Pompeii
- Includes a private car service during the duration of the tour
Select a date
Tour Description
Buried in ash when the nearby Mt. Vesuvius volcano exploded in 79 A.D., the wonderfully preserved ancient Roman city of Pompeii ranks as one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. In this Pompeii tour, a full-day trip from Rome, we'll join a local archaeologist or classical historian for an in-depth tour of Pompeii, coupled with a visit to the Naples Archaeological Museum, where many of the artifacts from Pompeii have been stored.
- Pompeii Archaeological Park
- Naples
- Naples Archaeological Museum
- 8 hours with a PhD or MA-level archaeologist or classical historian
- Car service during the duration of the tour
- Tickets into Pompeii Archaeological Park
We'll begin with a first class train ride from Rome to Naples, the easiest and fastest way to travel the majority of the distance. Once in Naples, we'll meet our guide, hop in a private car, and be whisked to the archaeological site of Pompeii, where our day truly begins.
Upon arriving in Pompeii, we will spend about three hours exploring the site, walking the ancient roads, stepping into private homes frozen in time, and spending time in the shops, baths, and theaters where Romans lived two thousand years ago. Along the way, our guide will focus on everyday life and, using the amazingly well-preserved ruins around us, paint a portrait of the complex social, political, and economic world in which Roman citizens lived.
Leaving Pompeii by early afternoon, we will return to Naples by car. Our first stop will be a small, local restaurant in the city center where we can grab lunch and debrief on what we've seen so far.
Next, we'll take a short stroll through Naples on our way to the famed Naples Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums of ancient history in the world. It is here where many of the statues, paintings, and other artifacts excavated at Pompeii are stored, making it a critical component of any day trip from Rome to Pompeii. Following our guide's lead, a native Neapolitan, we might stick our heads into a church or two, or stroll down an enigmatic alley of this rich city.
The group will then head to the Archeological Museum of Naples, where we will build on the knowledge gained during our exploration of the archaeological site. The impressive museum was founded by the Bourbon kings of Naples in the late 18th century in order to house the antiquity collection amassed during the major excavations the royal family financed. A close reading of these frescoes, models, and artifacts fully illustrates the enigma that is Pompeii and is a fitting conclusion to our day-long discovery.
Traveling with kids? Check out our Pompeii for Kids Tour that includes games and fun activities. For those visiting Naples, we offer both a half-day Pompeii Tour and a full-day private Mount Vesuvius Tour, a private-only tour that can be designed around your interests.
What costs are not included in the tour?
We will stop for a lunch break but you'll be responsible to cover for the cost of lunch for you and the guide. Your expert guide will suggest a choice of local restaurants. The car service includes transfers throughout the tour and leaves you at the museum with your guide. It is a good idea to have some local currency on hand for the cost of your lunch as well as the cost of a taxi back to the train station.
Are the tickets to the Naples Archaeological Museum included?
Yes, we also pre-purchase tickets for the museum.
What are skip-the-line tickets?
For this tour, your tickets are pre-purchased which allows you to skip the ticket office line upon arrival at the venue. You may still have to wait in a security line or in a line to have your pre-purchased ticket scanned.
How long is this excursion?
With travel time to Naples and back to Rome included, your entire day will be close to 10.5 hours, while the actual time with the expert guide for the tour is 8 hours. Your day will start by train around 8am and end around 6:30pm in Rome when your train returns.
Are the first class train tickets included in this excursion?
No. First class train tickets to and from Naples are not included in the price of this excursion and must be added on separately during checkout. Clients have three options for purchasing train tickets:
No. First class train tickets to and from Naples are not included in the price of this excursion and must be added on separately during checkout. Clients have three options for purchasing train tickets:
- Purchase tickets from an outside vendor (travel agency, directly at any Italian train station, etc.). If pursuing this option please remove the tickets during booking.
- Leave in your cart the appropriate train tickets to your order with us.
- Add a note to this tour request (in the "Special Interests" box) that you want train tickets (and class type) and we'll add them to your order for you.
Where You'll Start
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103 Reviews
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I can’t say enough about Francesca and our driver (I am so sorry I can’t recall his name!). Due to a series of unfortunate events entirely of our making, we arrived in Pompeii hours later than when we were supposed to arrive. We showed up very upset and frazzled. Francesca calmly took charge and somehow not only saved the day but did her magic and still gave us the tour we had hoped for! She was so flexible and immensely helpful with arrangements helping us change our train tickets back to Rome, etc. She and the driver went way beyond what was expected to ensure we still saw all we wanted to see and even took personal time to make sure we made it to the museum to finish our day. Francesca was incredibly expert in the subject matter and her love of the subject and her hometown of Napoli shone throughout the day.
Elizabeth
Nov 29, 2024
Francesca is an outstanding guide! I have a much better understanding of Pompeii thanks to her. She explained everything beautifully and managed to avoid the crowds. The museum tour was also superb. I loved spending time with her!
Randee
Oct 28, 2024
The absolute highlight of our two-week trip to Italy. We were blown away by Pompeii and really enjoyed learning from Fabrizio. He knows it all! The visit to the museum and pizza lunch were also fabulous. Highly, highly recommend.
Alana
Oct 7, 2024
