On a guided tour, how much time does one need to get the sense of Pompeii? Some tours are 2 hours, some 3hours. Seems like 3 hours would be a lot of walking and listening . Thoughts? Thanks
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
4274 posts
We did a 2 hour tour which will give you a sense, but overall we spent about 10 hours over 2 days.
Posted by
Southeast US
3881 posts
This is one of those questions with an answer that is highly dependent on the interest of the person asking it. If you have a general interest in Pompeii, a two-hour tour is likely adequate to give you a flavor of the site. I took Latin in high school and college and watched The Great Course's 24-part Pompeii: Daily Life in an Ancient Roman City before my trip. I hired a guide for a typical 3-hour tour but added on an additional hour with her to see some extra things I wanted to see. It was great for my interest level.
Posted by
Washington DC
27396 posts
Pompeii is very heavily cobbled, and those suckers are large. The sidewalks beside the cobbled streets are much, much higher than you would expect. As a result of those conditions, visiting Pompeii is very tiring, which might argue for a not-too-long tour. But also as a result of those conditions, you won't cover ground as rapidly as usual (though having a guide will be a big help); that means a 3-hour tour is fully justified if you hane a serious interest in Pompeii.