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The Forum of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius behind

No. 25 Top Landmarks & Attractions 2026

Archaeological Park of Pompeii

Pompeii, Italy

The Roman city buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, with its streets, houses and frescoes preserved.

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Photo: Commonists, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Archaeological Park of Pompeii is No. 25 in Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026 ranking of the top attractions in the world. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 buried the prosperous Roman town under metres of ash and pumice, preserving its streets, houses, shops and wall paintings.

Excavations began in 1748 and continue today, with new discoveries in recent years. Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata were listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The town covers about 66 hectares, of which about two-thirds has been excavated.

Columns and ruins around the Forum of Pompeii
Columns and ruins around the Forum of Pompeii. Photo: Adam Harangozó, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. In summer there is little shade, so start early. Tickets are personal and timed, and the park has a daily limit of 20,000 visitors, so book ahead in busy periods.

Highlights

  • 1

    The Forum

    The civic heart of the town, lined with temples and public buildings, with Vesuvius rising behind.

  • 2

    Villa of the Mysteries

    Outside the walls, a villa with a famous cycle of frescoes on a deep red ground showing a Dionysian ritual.

  • 3

    House of the Faun

    One of the largest houses in Pompeii, named after its bronze dancing faun. The original Alexander Mosaic from its floor is now in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

  • 4

    The amphitheatre

    Built around 70 BC, it is the oldest surviving Roman amphitheatre.

  • 5

    Garden of the Fugitives

    Plaster casts of victims who died trying to escape the eruption.

  • 6

    Stabian Baths

    Public baths with changing rooms, hot and cold rooms and decorated stucco vaults.

Getting there

Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri station, on the Circumvesuviana line between Naples and Sorrento, is next to the Porta Marina entrance. Trains from Napoli Porta Nolana and Garibaldi stations take about 35 to 40 minutes. Naples International Airport is about 30 km away.

Practical tips

Tickets
Tickets carry the visitor's name, date and entry time. Buy them online through the official website or at the ticket office with ID, and carry ID, as staff may check it.
Time needed
At least three to four hours; a full day to see more of the site.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes for the uneven paving, and bring sun protection and a water bottle to refill at the site's fountains.
Currency
Euro (EUR). Cards, including contactless, are accepted almost everywhere.
Safety
Buy tickets only through official channels and ignore touts at the gates. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Italy is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.

Official information: Archaeological Park of Pompeii (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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