We will be visiting Pompeii and Vesuvius in the summer so would like to secure entrance tickets online in advance to avoid lines. We are thinking of just doing an audio tour, not a group tour with a guide. Can one buy tickets in advance that include the audio tour? What site is good to use? I've been searching and keep coming up with tix that include guided tours which is not what I'm looking for. Thanks!
Posted by
Massachusetts
715 posts
I am not certain lines are an issue. I was at Pompeii last week of June 2013 and there were maybe three people in line ahead of me. I am not sure about Vesuvius.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
Pompeii tickets are sold at http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione.jsp?titolo=TICKETS+AND+INFO&idSezione=6786 but we also don't consider it necessary to book ahead. Once inside, the place can be crowded, so the best crowd-beating strategy is to go when they open. Not many tourists are up and about at 8:30 a.m.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15873 posts
Ditto to Laura's good advice: be at the entrance to Pompeii when they open first thing in the morning to avoid the heat and worst of the crowds. Just buy your tickets then; you shouldn't have to worry about a queue.
We skipped Vesuvius as you can see it really well from Pompeii, and was more poignant from there. You are aware that that one involves a 1/2 mile or so ascent on foot from where the buses turn around, right? We do a lot of hiking so it wouldn't have bothered us but I understand it's a bit much for people who are unused to it. If you go, wear good sturdy shoes as the trail surface is reported to be very loose.
Posted by
OP
42 posts
I appreciate the advice! I'm in such a quandary as to what to do. I initially contacted someone about a tour to Pompeii and Vesuvius - a private tour, they'd pick us up and take us there, and drop us at our hotel in Sorrento. But after conversations it turns out what I'd be paying them for is just the transportation, which is why I'm trying to figure out tickets. He said I could book a guide for 110 euros or just buy tickets and do our own audio tour. He suggested buying tix in advance, which is why I'm inquiring and also trying to figure out how to "reserve" an audio.. or if I need to. I've also heard mixed reviews about spending time hiking around Vesuvius... I don't want to waste our time, but do want to see these things. It'll be my husband and I and our 11 y.o. and 15 y.o. - my 15 y.o. is really interested in this, but I know heat and crowds will make everyone cranky so I would like to make it as easy as possible too.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15873 posts
What about downloading the guide (in English) from the site?
This map is in the guide but might be nice to be able to reference as just one document:
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15616 posts
never mind getting to Pompeii first thing to avoid lines, do it to avoid the heat! If you have the stamina in the heat, walk to the Villa dei Misteri - interesting walk out the town gate and beautiful frescoes. Skip the long walk to the amphitheatre. When I was there (in off-season), there was a stack of small booklets for free. These have the same information as the audio guides (maybe they are designed to accompany them), with a picture of each place/exhibit. I used the booklet and Rick's free audio tour and that was all I needed. That being said, a private guide could make a big difference for both kids and adults.
Instead of Vesuvius, consider spending time at the Archaeological Museum in Naples. It's a wow.