DIY POMPEII excursion – exactly how TO get the very best OUT OF POMPEII

nothing can truly prepare you for Pompeii. The immediate journey back in time as you check out its streets as well as houses, the remove photo you see of exactly how life was lived then. Here’s what to expect as well as exactly how to get the most from your see to Pompeii.

It occurred at twelve noon on 24th August 79AD. Vesuvius, the mountain that loomed over one of the richest as well as a lot of prosperous trade cities in the Roman Empire, exploded.

It was a Tuesday.

For the next 25 hours, ash, pumice as well as super-heated gas spewed from the volcano consuming Pompeii as well as its residents, preserving a slice of ancient Rome in a time capsule only unearthed in 1748.

And even though archaeologists considering that then have been excavating this city for nearly 300 years, still over a third of Pompeii stays untouched, uncovered as well as undisturbed. This sleeping giant, woken after 1700 years, is still exposing tricks lost for millennia.

Check out our video walkthrough of Pompeii, which shows a few of our much-loved parts of this extraordinary city:

Click right here to see the video on YouTube.

How to get the very best out of your see to Pompeii

Getting to Pompeii

Pompeii is on the primary train line from Naples as well as from the Amalfi Coast. It’s much more affordable than a taxi and, thanks to the poor web traffic there, quicker too. You don’t requirement a car.

The Campania reveal train is a restricted stop train worth the additional Euro too. Mind though, the trains are old as well as rickety. Here’s a lot more on getting from the Amalfi coastline to Pompeii by train.

You can even make a much longer journey of it – here’s our two-week travel plan that takes you from Provence in the South of France, all the method to Pompeii.

What to take

It can get truly hot in Pompeii in summertime – a lot more so than the rest of this part of Italy. There’s not much air flow in the city, as well as since it’s all stone with extremely bit vegetation, the warm truly builds.

You’re likewise likely to be doing a great deal of walking.

Water

There are water fountains around the city, however I’m not as well sure exactly how risk-free they are. They’re developed into the old street wells. Bringing your own bottle of water is the very best option. keep in mind to bring sun cream as well – summertime in southern Italy is hot!

Comfortable shoes

The majority of Pompeii is cobble or gigantic flagstone, as well as there’s a great deal of walking involved. The city spans about 170 acres. Make sure you’re using comfortable shoes or your time right here will truly suffer.

Snacks

There’s only one location to get food in Pompeii (though at time of writing, they were building a restaurant). The food on offer isn’t great, though one of our much-loved memories is sitting on the deep curbside of in the shade of by means of del Foro near the extraordinary Forum as well as the Sanctuary of Apollo with a chilly beer, sharing some taralli.

Your phone

If you have data on your phone, you can look up details of what you’re checking out online. The official Pompeii web site PompeiiSites.org has a excellent interactive map as well as great deals of info.

If you don’t have data, we utilize Maps.me which enables you to plot a path as well as even identify as well as make notes on the map. It likewise has some information on crucial landmarks too.

You requirement to download the appropriate map section on wifi very first though.

Grab a booklet

Pick up the official guide at the ticket desk – the ‘Plan of the Pompeii excavations’ booklet. It’s free, however has great deals of info on the city including 4 different routes for you to select from if you’re not sure which method to go.

These routes variety from a quick 2 hours to a marathon 7 hours. This guide booklet is likewise offered to download here.

And if you want an even a lot more complete guide, the one they have on the Pompeii web site right here is amazing. It’s quite legendary though at nearly 150 pages long.

Your camera

It may noise obvious, however make sure you bring your camera. even if it’s just to take a picture of the bawdy frescos in the ‘den of iniquity’ – the Lupanare.

How much does it cost?

Ticket costs vary depending upon your age as well as – surprisingly – nationality. If you’re between 18 as well as 24 as well as from the EU, you get a discount. If you’re under 18, you get in for free!

It’s complimentary to get into Pompeii on the very first Sunday of every month, which seems excellent, however the site becomes extremely crowded.

Full adult tickets are E13 each.

Do you requirement a personal excursion guide?

We’re truly split when it pertains to guided excursions generally. In Pompeii, we’ve never had one as well as it doesn’t feel like we’ve missed as well much.

Here’s a lot more on whether having a guided excursion in Pompeii is truly worth it.

When doesPompeii open?

Pompeii opens at 9am everyday as well as closes at 7.30pm between April – October as well as at 5.00pm November – March. Last entry is an hour as well as a half before they close.

The site is closed on may 1st annually (as well as January 1st as well as December 25th).

Throughout Pompeii, particularly in regions I, II as well as IX, you’ll discover special exhibitions where personnel will temporarily open villas for a short time. If you see the ropes being moved, wait as well as go in. There’s commonly some truly special stuff inside.

It’s crucial to keep in mind is that what you see in Pompeii today doesn’t just represent ancient Rome or that single fateful summer’s day in 79AD.

By the time Vesuvius erupted, Pompeii was already an ancient city. established some 700 -1000 years before by the Oscan peoples, then conquered by the Romans in 3rd Century BCE, Pompeii’s history stretches as far back as the early Iron Age.

As you walk the deep-paved boulevards as well as lanes of a city that’s maybe 3000 years old, it’s like you can still hear the footsteps behind you of all those who when called Pompeii home.