Best Things to Do in Pompeii | Detailed Guide

Visit the Amphitheatre

The Amphitheatre is the oldest surviving Roman amphitheater to date. A popular space for the people of Pompeii, the amphitheater once seated a whopping 20,000 people. With the top section of the amphitheater still kept intact, you may take a seat and transport back in time. Situated at the far end of Pompeii, there is a smaller number of tourists visiting the amphitheater, especially in the morning and late afternoon, giving the arena an eerie feel to it.

Hours: From November to March, the opening hours are 9 AM to 5 PM, with the last entry at 3:30 PM. From April to November, the timings are 9 AM to 7 PM, with the last entrance at 5:30 PM.

Location: Piazza Immacolata, 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Map]

Tip: Visit the attraction in the early morning or late afternoon as the crowd tends to be lesser during those hours.

Explore the Brothels of Pompeii

The city of Rome was a thriving place for the wealthy, with luxurious indulgences, like the houses of pleasure. Although the people of Pompeii portrayed these brothels as an erotic treat, the reality of the sex workers is quite tragic. Many of the workers were slaves working in tiny cells. It does have a heartbreaking past attached to it, but these structures are still worth exploring. These brothels are beautifully preserved, with erotic art painted on the walls, displaying the services provided for the historic community.

 Hours: From November to March, the opening hours are 9 AM to 5 PM, with the last entry at 3:30 PM. From April to November, the timings are 9 AM to 7 PM, with the last entrance at 5:30 PM.

Location: Situated at the intersection of two side roads on Via dell’Abbondanza near the town center.

Tip: The only confirmed brothel is lupanar which is one of the most visited houses in all of Pompeii.

View the Temple of Apollo

The Temple of Apollo, also known as the Sanctuary of Apollo, is a Roman temple dedicated to the Greek and Roman God Apollo. One of the oldest places of worship, the temple occupied a very strategic position, along the path that leads to the Marina Gate, which led to the heart of the city. Between the 3rd and 2nd centuries, the temple was renovated and it took on the Neronian style of architecture. Gladiator games and theatrical performances that honored Apollo and his sister, Diana, used to be held here during its glory days. 

Hours: Daily, 8 AM to 8 PM

Location: Via Villa dei Misteri, 4, 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: Dedicate at least 3 hours to visiting the archaeological site to soak in the history and admire the frescoes.

View the Forum Baths

Sitting near the Forum, the baths are beautifully well-preserved to date. Get insights into how they heated the baths back in the day when they were in use while exploring the bath. 

While these baths are comparatively small to the various bath ruins in Pompeii, they are arguably the most elegant. The forum baths had separate sections for men and women, including separate entrances. 

Hours: Daily, 9 AM to 7 PM

Location: Via del Foro, 26, 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: Take a guided tour of the place if you wish to understand the history of the Forum Baths.

Stabian baths

The Stabian Baths are the oldest and the largest of the 5 public baths in Pompeii. Their original construction dates back to 125 BC. Since then, until the eruption of the Vesuvius, the bath complex was remodeled several times. Like all typical Roman baths, the Stabian baths had separate men’s and women’s showers. The facilities the baths offered included a changing room, cold room, warm room, hot room, and swimming pool. However, the women’s chambers did not have a cold room. Instead, they were given a cold water basin. Visiting the baths not only gives you an insight into the daily life in ancient Roman  

Hours: Daily, 9 AM to 7 PM

Location: Via del Foro, 26, 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: Explore the site to observe great frescoes, incredible engineering, and unbelievable methodologies to mix cold and hot water.

Admire the Villa of Mysteries

The Roman Villa of Mysteries is a well-preserved rural Roman estate, known for its colorful frescos and intricate mosaics. The most famous of these are the ones in Room 5 which is believed to depict the initiation of a bride into a Greco-Roman cult. Dating back to the 2nd century BC, its prominence reached its zenith during the Augustan age. After a devastating earthquake in 62 AD, it fell into disrepair and was converted into a farmhouse dedicated largely to producing and trading wine. In 1909-1910 Giuseppe Spano conducted an archaeological excavation that uncovered this hidden villa. It miraculously escaped significant damage from Mount Vesuvius' eruption; with its walls, ceilings, and especially frescoes still standing today for all of us to behold!

Hours: Daily, 9 AM to 5 PM

Location: 2, 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: Nested on the outskirts of the city, the villa takes about half an hour to walk to. The amazing scenery of the area is well worth the stroll.

Visit the House of the Small Fountain

The House of Small Fountain is small but holds a great amount of beauty. Once home to a rich family, the villa is wrapped around stunning architecture, preserved frescoes, and a famous fountain. The fountain is a crucial reason why tourists venture here. Decorated with colorful mosaics and shells, and a small bronze statue, the fountain is a great example of simple yet beautiful Roman architecture. A popular fashion feature in ancient times, it displays incredible detail Pompeiians used to put into their work.

Hours: Daily 9 AM to 5 PM

Location:Vicolo Di Mercurio, 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: Observe the sloped roof of the building as it reveals how rainwater was used to fill the fountain, an incredibly innovative idea at that time.

View the Palaestra

Palaestra is the Latin word for ‘gym’. The Large Palaestra comprises a large open-air square that is surrounded by porticoes. The area is enclosed by a high wall. Centuries-old plane trees lined the three sides of the courtyard. All that is left of the trees today are the molds of the roots. At the center, you will find the pool. 

Built in the Augustan period, at the beginning of the 1st century AD, the courtyard was used as a gym for the physical and intellectual training of young citizens of Pompeii. Today, the Palaestra hosts the permanent exhibition dedicated to the frescoes and artifacts found in the Complex of the Moregine Triclinium. 

Hours: Daily, 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Location: Via Roma, 44, 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: Observe the stone foundations, and bricked upper walls covered with mortar that was used to build the Palestra.

Explore the Great Theatre of Pompeii

The theatre area in Pompeii is situated in the southwest region of the city. They had three main buildings that make up the area – the Great Theatre, the Odeon (small theatre), and the Amphitheatre. The theatres served as an entertainment source and meeting centre for the people of the city. The Great Theatre, located in the south, could hold about 5000 spectators. Tragedies and comedies, dance and music, as well as political meetings, were also held here. Built around the middle of the 2nd century BC, the theatre was the first large public building that was freed from the deposits from the eruption. It was significantly restored according to the Roman style. 

Hours: Daily, 7 AM to 7 PM

Location: 80045 Pompeii, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: It may be possible to see the grand staircase that leads from the theatre to the Triangular Forum and its Temples of Minerva and Hercules, depicting the theatre’s original religious role.

Stroll through the Garden of the Fugitives

Nested in the back of Pompeii, the Garden of the Fugitives is an old vineyard. Today, it is the resting place of thirteen victims who were desperately trying to escape during the eruption. The plaster casts depict the dramatic events that occurred following the eruption, as people unsuccessfully tried to flee.

 This place revives the horror of the tragic death that Pompeii’s inhabitants suffered. The bodies can be seen lying on the ground, frozen in various angles, either taken out by the forces around them or cowering in terror. 

Hours: Daily, 9 AM to 3:30 PM

Location: 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: Visit the place first thing in the morning when the attraction opens and enjoy the privilege of finding yourself in the Garden alone for some time.

Visit House of Vetti

Excavated between 1894-1895, The House of Vetti was one of the richest and most famous houses in Pompeii. The house belonged to the brothers, Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus, who gained wealth through trade.

In the Augustan era, the house was restructured. The decorated rooms overlook the open courtyard, which featured statues with jets of water. The main productive activities of that time were carried out in the living room, such as selling wine, cleaning clothes, jewelry making, and creating perfumes.

This year, the House of Vetti reopens to the public after being closed for 20 years, apart from a partial reopening in 2016. Hours: Currently closed

Location: Vicolo dei Vetti, 80045 Pompei SA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: At the entrance, take a moment to admire the graffiti depicting the prostitute Eutychus. 

Explore the House of the Tragic Poet

The House of Tragic Poet is best known for the mosaic that reads ‘Cave Canem’, which translates to ‘Beware of the dog’ at the main entrance. The house’s atrium and tablinum feature fine mosaics, including one of the scene of actors who is in the process of getting ready for a play. This mosaic became the source of inspiration for the name of the building.

The living room features mythological paintings, including episodes from the Iliad. The most visible one of these is the one that depicts Ariadne being abandoned by Theseus, on the wall opposite the Sale of Cupids.

Hours: Daily, 9 AM to 5 PM

Location: Vicolo Della Fullonica, 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: Don’t forget to look out for the mosaic of Ariadne being left by Theseus.

Admire the Temple of Isis

The Temple of Isis is situated east of the Little Theatre and is dedicated to the Egyptian goddess whose cult was famous in the Roman Empire. The temple was constructed in the 2nd century BCE, but was destroyed in an earthquake and completely rebuilt.

The temple stands on a raised base at the center of a courtyard surrounded by porticoes. The temple is dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis, who finds parts of her spouse, Osiris’s body parts, and revives him. The cult was particularly popular among the lower classes of Pompeii.

Hours: Daily, 9 AM to 7 PM

Location: Via del Tempio d’Iside, 30, 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: As you enter the Temple of Isis, you can see an inscription scratched on its walls by the French novelist Stendhal in 1817.

Visit the Antiquarium

The Antiquarium was constructed by Giuseppe Fiorelli, between 1873 and 1874 in the region below the terrace of the Temple of Venus, overlooking Porta Marina. It used to be an exhibition venue for a selection of finds from Pompeii that represented the daily life of the ancient city, as well as for casts of the victims of the eruption. Some of them date too long before the Roman era.

You can see plaster casts made out of perfect molds left in the solidified ash by the bodies of those caught in the destruction. The place was carefully filled with plaster, forming images of the victims as they tried to escape.

Hours: Daily, 9 AM to 4 PM

Location: 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: You will not just find helpful interpretive displays, but you can see many artifacts from the excavations that were either too fragile or prone to weathering to be left in place.

Visit the House of the Fawn

Built during the 2nd century BC, the House of the Faun was one of the most impressive private residences in Pompeii, both in terms of scale and architecture. The House of the Faun is amongst the most luxurious aristocratic houses from the Roman Republic and home to some truly spectacular works of art. Covering almost 3000 square meters, the residence occupies an entire city block and is divided into five major parts.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM and Saturday-Sunday, 8:30 AM - 5 PM

Location: Via Villa dei Misteri, 2, 80045 Pompei NA, Italy [Find on Maps]

Tip: At the center of the impluvium of the main atrium, you will find a copy of the famous statue of the dancing faun.