10 Best Things to Do in Pompeii

Headed to Pompeii soon? You’re in for a pretty unforgettable experience!

The ancient city of Pompeii was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. And if you’re lucky enough to explore the city’s remarkably preserved streets today, you’ll get a glimpse into what everyday life looked like almost 2,000 years ago, which is honestly pretty mind-blowing! 

But beyond all that incredible history, the area surrounding Pompeii is pretty special in its own right, with volcanic vineyards, fantastic food, and beautiful destinations along the Amalfi Coast within easy reach.

So to help you make the most of your visit to this very special Italian city, we’ve rounded up our favorite things to do in Pompeii, including the experiences we think are most worth your time.

Ready? Let’s get to it! 

Pompeii at a Glance

Pompeii is much bigger than most people expect, and between the sheer size of the archaeological site and the summer heat, a little planning can make your visit a whole lot more enjoyable.

Here are a few practical tips we wish we knew before our first visit:

Important Tip: Plan ahead and book tickets or tours early, especially during peak season!

Don’t underestimate the size of the archaeological site: Pompeii covers over 160 acres (65 hectares), and you could spend days exploring without seeing everything. Rather than trying to squeeze it all into one afternoon, pick the sights you most want to see or join a guided tour to make navigating the huge site much easier.

Start early: If you’re visiting between May and September, we recommend arriving as close to opening time as possible. There’s very little shade among the ruins, so exploring under the midday sun can be exhausting. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a refillable water bottle (you can top it up at working public fountains throughout the site).

Wear comfortable walking shoes: You’ll spend a lot of time on your feet, and Pompeii’s original Roman streets are made from large, uneven stone blocks. They’re incredible to walk along, but not particularly kind to your feet! Skip the sandals and wear a sturdy, comfortable pair of shoes instead.

How I Would Spend Two Days in Pompeii

With two days in Pompeii, you’ll have enough time to explore the famous ruins while also seeing some of the incredible sights nearby. From ancient cities and Mount Vesuvius to local wine and plenty of pizza, we’ve mapped out the perfect mix. Here’s how I would spend two days in Pompeii!

🏛️ Day 1: Pompeii Ruins & Wine Tasting
Explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii on a guided tour with an archaeologist, then enjoy lunch and wine tasting at a nearby vineyard! Finish up with dinner and rooftop drinks in the modern city.

🌋 Day 2: Herculaneum & Mount Vesuvius
Take the train to Herculaneum for a guided tour and lunch, then choose between hiking Mount Vesuvius or spending a relaxed afternoon exploring modern Pompeii. End the day with pizza and an evening stroll through the city center, with a stop for gelato, of course!

Find more details in our complete 2-day Pompeii itinerary!

Things to Do in Pompeii

1. Hike Mount Vesuvius

You really can’t visit Pompeii without looking up at Mount Vesuvius looming in the distance, so why not go all the way to the top with this guided Mount Vesuvius hiking tour?

After driving up the winding slopes of Vesuvius, you’ll be dropped off near the entrance to the national park. From here, it’s around a 30-minute hike along a steep ash and gravel trail to reach the crater rim. It definitely gets the legs working, but standing at the top of one of the world’s most famous volcanoes is more than worth the effort!

Once you reach the rim, you’ll be able to peer down into the enormous crater and take in incredible views across the Bay of Naples and the surrounding coastline. Your hiking guide will also explain more about the geology of Vesuvius and how the volcano is monitored today.

In our opinion, this is the perfect activity to pair with a visit to the Pompeii ruins. Exploring the ancient city gives you one side of the story, while standing on the volcano responsible for its destruction gives you a completely different perspective. Plus, having your transport and entrance ticket organized for you means you don’t have to worry about navigating the mountain roads or figuring out public buses.

Just keep in mind that the final hike is steep and the loose volcanic gravel can be slippery, so sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must! 

2. Explore Pompeii with an archaeologist

If you only have time to book one tour while you’re in Pompeii, this small-group tour with an archaeologist should definitely be at the top of your list! 

The Pompeii archaeological site is absolutely massive, and while you can explore it independently, having an archaeologist show you around makes such a difference. 

Over the course of two hours, you’ll cover many of Pompeii’s biggest highlights, including the Basilica and Forum, the plaster casts of the eruption’s victims, the House of Menander, the Stabian Baths, and the famous Lupanar. Along the way, your guide will point out details you could easily miss on your own, and they’ll happily explain anything and everything you want to know about how Romans lived. 

We especially love that this tour gives you a really solid introduction to Pompeii without taking up your entire day. Two hours is enough time to see a ton with someone who knows exactly where to go. And then once the tour finishes, you can stay inside the archaeological park and continue exploring independently for as long as you like.

With thousands of glowing reviews, this is easily one of the most popular Pompeii tours out there and worth every penny in our opinion! 

3. Explore modern Pompeii

One thing that might surprise you about Pompeii is that, outside the famous archaeological site, it isn’t nearly as touristy as you might expect. Many visitors come specifically for the ruins and leave the same day, so the city itself can feel refreshingly relaxed compared to nearby Naples or Sorrento. 

A great place to start is the Santuario della Beata Vergine Maria del Santo Rosario di Pompei, an enormous basilica overlooking the center of town. It’s an important Catholic pilgrimage site, but even if you’re not religious, the beautiful architecture alone makes it worth popping inside.

Right outside, you’ll find Piazza Bartolo Longo, which is the heart of modern Pompeii and one of our favorite places to slow down for a while. Grab a coffee from one of the surrounding cafes and do a bit of people-watching, or come back in the early evening when local families head out for their passeggiata, the traditional Italian evening stroll.

From the piazza, you can wander along Via Sacra and Via Roma where you’ll find small boutiques, local shops, and gelaterias. Then, once you’ve worked up an appetite, Ristorante Spinelli Bistrot is a great spot to finish with lunch or dinner and some delicious regional dishes.

You don’t need an entire day to explore modern Pompeii, but we think spending a few hours here gives you a much better feel for the city beyond its famous ancient ruins.

4. Ride along the Amalfi and Sorrento Coast by Vespa

Is there anything more Italian than cruising along the Amalfi Coast on the back of a Vespa? We don’t think so! And this private Vespa tour makes that dream surprisingly easy to pull off.

The itinerary is flexible depending on where you’re staying and what you want to see, but you can expect to visit some of the coast’s most beautiful spots. Typical stops include Positano, Furore, Amalfi, and Ravello, with plenty of scenic viewpoints as you cruise along. 

In our opinion, this tour is especially perfect for couples or anyone looking for something a bit more adventurous than a standard sightseeing tour. It’s private, the itinerary can be personalized, and the guides get fantastic reviews, with lots of travelers mentioning how comfortable and safe they felt throughout the ride.

If you’re an experienced scooter rider and really want to get behind the handlebars yourself, you can also arrange to drive your own Vespa with the tour provider in advance. Otherwise, all you have to do is hop on the back, enjoy the scenery, and let your local driver handle those famous coastal roads!

5. Learn all about Pompeii with a private guide

If you want to explore Pompeii at your own pace and have a guide all to yourself, this private Pompeii tour should definitely be on your radar! 

For two hours, your guide is all yours, so you can really make the tour your own. That means you can ask as many questions as you like, spend longer at the places you find the most interesting, and move through the archaeological site at a pace that works for you.

Another huge perk is that your guide knows Pompeii inside and out, so they can take you beyond some of the busiest streets and into quieter corners of the ancient city while still making sure you see the major highlights. We think this is especially valuable during the busy summer months when the most popular areas can get seriously crowded!

We also really like this option for families. Since the tour is completely private, your guide can adapt the experience to different ages and interests, helping bring ancient Pompeii to life for everyone in your group. And if you’re traveling with extended family or a group of friends, the tour can accommodate up to 14 people, making the cost much more reasonable when you split it between everyone.

Just keep in mind that admission to the Pompeii archaeological park isn’t included in the tour price, so you’ll need to purchase your entrance tickets separately. 

6. Visit the Cultura Immersiva Museum

It can be pretty hard to imagine Pompeii’s crumbling ruins as the busy, colorful Roman city they once were, which is exactly why we think the Cultura Immersiva Museum is worth checking out!

This small museum in modern Pompeii uses virtual reality to bring the ancient city back to life. All you have to do is pop on a VR headset, and suddenly you’re walking through Pompeii’s streets, stepping inside villas, and seeing colorful frescoes and buildings as they would have looked before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

There are a few different VR experiences to choose from, covering topics like art, everyday Roman life, and the eruption itself. We especially recommend this for families with kids or teenagers, as being able to actually see ancient Pompeii reconstructed makes it much easier to understand what you’re looking at when you explore the ruins.

That said, it’s definitely not just for kids either! We think this would be a really fun stop before heading into the archaeological park, as you’ll have a much better picture in your head of what all those ruined buildings once looked like.

The entire experience only takes around 30 to 45 minutes, so it’s super easy to squeeze into your itinerary without sacrificing much sightseeing time.

7. Spend an afternoon exploring Herculaneum with an archeologist guide

Pompeii might get most of the attention in the tourist brochures, but nearby Herculaneum is absolutely worth making time for as well! In fact, parts of the ancient city are even better preserved than Pompeii, and this two-hour tour with an archaeologist is a fantastic way to explore it.

Over the course of the tour, your guide will take you through some of Herculaneum’s most fascinating sites, including its ancient thermal baths and beautifully decorated homes. They’ll also explain more about the people who lived here, what everyday life looked like, and why so much of the city survived.

One of the main reasons why we always recommend Herculaneum is because it’s much smaller than Pompeii and generally less crowded. You can see a lot in just a couple of hours without feeling like you’re racing around a massive archaeological site, making it perfect for shorter visits. 

If you’ve already explored Pompeii, you may think Herculaneum will feel like more of the same, but it really doesn’t. Herculaneum gives you a completely different look at Roman life, and having an archaeologist there to point out all the little details makes the experience even more interesting.

Getting here is pretty straightforward, too. The meeting point is at the Herculaneum ticket office, which is around a 10-minute walk from the Ercolano Scavi train station.

8. Go wine tasting and enjoy lunch at Bosco de Medici Winery

After spending hours wandering around ancient ruins, you’ll definitely be ready to put your feet up for a while, and this private wine tasting and lunch at Bosco de Medici Winery is one of our favorite ways to do exactly that! 

Your experience begins with a guided tour of the property and vineyards, where you’ll learn more about the grapes grown here and how the volcanic landscape influences the wines you’re about to taste. You’ll also get a peek behind the scenes in the refining room, where wines are aged in wooden barrels and terracotta amphorae. 

Then comes our favorite part: lunch! You’ll sit down for a three-course meal showcasing local Campanian ingredients, typically including cured meats and cheeses, pasta made with local tomatoes, and dessert. And, of course, you’ll taste three of the winery’s wines, including a sparkling variety.

Honestly, we think this is such a lovely way to spend an afternoon, especially if your itinerary has been packed with archaeological sites and hiking. You still get to learn more about the area and its history, but this time you can do it with a glass of wine in hand and Mount Vesuvius as your backdrop!

9. Eat local cuisine

You’re in Italy, so naturally, eating as much delicious local food as possible needs to be on the itinerary! 

To start, you absolutely have to try some Neapolitan-style pizza while you’re here. Expect a soft, slightly charred crust straight from a wood-fired oven, topped with simple ingredients like tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil. 

Another dish we highly recommend trying is gnocchi alla sorrentina, which is especially popular around this part of Campania. Think soft potato gnocchi covered in rich tomato sauce, mozzarella, and fresh basil, then baked until the cheese is bubbling on top (simply divine!). 

Given how close Pompeii is to the coast, you’ll also find plenty of fresh seafood on local menus, along with dishes showcasing tomatoes, vegetables, olive oil, and other produce grown around the region. The volcanic soil surrounding Mount Vesuvius is incredibly fertile, so fresh local ingredients are a huge part of the food here.

And then there’s the wine! Vineyards have been part of this landscape since ancient Roman times, and today, you’ll find several wineries clustered around the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. Keep an eye out for Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio, one of the area’s best-known wines, or better yet, head to a local winery and taste it right where it’s produced.

10. Ride horses on Mount Vesuvius

We’ve already provided an option for exploring Mount Vesuvius on foot, but how about exploring it on horseback with this horseback riding experience? 

The actual horseback ride lasts around an hour and takes place roughly 500 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level. As you ride, you’ll get fantastic views of the surrounding countryside, with Mount Vesuvius towering above you. It’s a much quieter way to experience the volcano than hiking to the crater, and we love that you get to see a completely different side of the landscape.

If you love the idea of riding a horse around Mount Vesuvius but aren’t exactly an experienced rider, don’t worry, you’ll be just fine! This experience is designed for all skill levels, and the guides will show you the basics and pair you with a calm, well-trained horse before you set off. 

We especially recommend this tour for couples, families, or anyone who wants to escape the crowds for a little while. Plus, round-trip transportation from Pompeii is included, so you don’t need to worry about figuring out how to reach the stables yourself.

Where to Stay in Pompeii

If you want to make the most of your time at the ruins, it’s definitely worth staying in modern Pompeii. You’ll be close enough to get an early start before the biggest crowds arrive, and it’s also a much quieter base than nearby Naples.

To help you find the right fit, we’ve rounded up our favorite places to stay in Pompeii across three price points. 

Resort & Winery Bosco De Medici – $$$

For our luxury pick in Pompeii, we cannot recommend Resort & Winery Bosco De Medici enough! This gorgeous resort is set on a working winery with views of Mount Vesuvius, so it feels like a real escape even though you’re still incredibly close to Pompeii’s main attractions.

As you can probably imagine, the property itself is beautiful, with landscaped gardens, a large outdoor swimming pool, and an excellent on-site restaurant. The rooms are spacious and modern too, but honestly, we think the pool and vineyard setting are the biggest draws after spending a hot day exploring the ruins!

Location-wise, you’ll be just outside the busier town center while still being within easy reach of the archaeological site. And as for pricing, you can expect rates around €150 to €250+ per night, which is fantastic value for a property this special. Book your stay at Resort & Winery Bosco De Medici here!

Residence O’Sole Mio Pompei – $$

For our mid-range pick in Pompeii, we absolutely love Residence O’Sole Mio Pompei. This aparthotel has spacious units with kitchenettes and balconies, plus a lovely garden and outdoor swimming pool.

In our opinion, this hotel works really well for families or longer stays, as having your own kitchenette makes it easy to prepare breakfast, keep drinks cold, or throw together a quick meal when you don’t feel like eating out.

You’ll be a little outside the center of Pompeii, but the property offers a shuttle service to help you get around, so you’ll still have easy access to the ruins and the rest of town. Rooms typically range from around €80 to €130+ per night, depending on the season and room type. Book your stay at Residence O’Sole Mio Pompei on your preferred dates here!

Hotel del Sole – $

Last but not least, Hotel del Sole is our top budget pick in Pompeii. We love this hotel because it sits directly across from the archaeological site, so you can walk out the front door and be at the entrance in just a couple of minutes. 

And (despite the affordable price tag) you’ll have access to plenty of handy amenities, including a restaurant and bar, a shared garden, and air conditioning. Some rooms even have panoramic balconies overlooking the ruins or Mount Vesuvius, which is a pretty impressive bonus for a budget-friendly stay.

In terms of pricing, you can expect rooms to typically range from around €60 to €100+ per night, making this fantastic value for such a convenient location. Book your budget-friendly stay at Hotel del Sole here!

If you didn’t find the stay you’re looking for, check out more hotels listed for Pompeii here!

Thanks for reading!

Pompeii is easily one of the most fascinating places to visit in Italy, and there’s so much more to experience here than we initially expected. Of course, exploring the ancient ruins is an absolute must, but hiking Mount Vesuvius, tasting wine grown in volcanic soil, visiting Herculaneum, and eating your way through the local cuisine make a trip here even more memorable.

If you’re planning more adventures around Italy, be sure to check out our other Italy blogs here. We’ve traveled all over the country and have tons of guides to help you plan your trip. And before you go, check out some of our most popular guides below!

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