Pompeii Advice?

Archaeology lovers often spend 4-6 hours at Pompeii to include the Villa of the Mysteries and the House of Vettii. Yet another villa, the House of Thiasus, recently opened to a very limited number of visitors with advance reservations as the archaeologists continue their work.
There’s a cafe at Pompeii. and you also can bring your own snacks.

Be sure to bring hats, sunscreen and water bottles.

This is a good question. I'm a history buff, too, with two humanities degrees focused on literature, history and philosophy.

In September 2022, I visited Pompeii for about three hours: It wasn't enough, as I wanted more time to wander. I wish I had had at least two more hours. Indeed, I could have spent an entire day at Pompeii because it was so fascinating.

I have always had the ability to withstand heat, but I felt it during my September visit. There was a place within the site to get drinks and small eats.

Keep in mind that you might also want to see the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, which houses virtually all of the artifacts from Pompeii. (It's about 20 miles between Pompeii and Naples.) I did not go to the museum and regretted it in part because my brother and I came down from Rome on the fast train and had to go back, deciding to have dinner at what's reputedly the world's first pizzeria before our return trip. We ended up not having pizza because the line was out the door and around the block. We should have gone to the museum, even if it was for 1.5 hours before going back to Rome.

Because you cannot reuse same day tickets (i.e. you cannot re-enter if you go out for lunch), you are going to the air-conditioned, glorified cafeteria restaurant inside the excavation. That also give you a break from the sun. No, you are not going to a gourmet, two-hour, slow-food, artisanal lunch. But that's not appropriate in this day.

You might get better advice if you say where you are coming from and going to, on either side of the tour. You might ask if the tour includes the Villa of The Mysteries, which is quite a long walk, although quite a big attraction. And discuss what the less historically inclined individuals will do if two others want to keep looking.

For me Pompeii is a full day and they have a very nice place to eat in the center of the ruins. I've been several times and I would still give it a full day, the place is a city not four buildings and some photos of what used to be there. J

As well as hats, bring a small umbrella or parasol for your own shade.
Walking shoes that breathe.
I would also bring a really small spray bottle so you can mist yourself with water now and again when you are in a hot place like Pompeii.
It’s amazing how refreshing it is.

From our TR last year (Edited to now show the complete paragraph and context)

Napoli. Teeming, Loud, Motorini, Locals, Tourists, Rainy, Narrow Streets, Anthropology Museum, Italians, Pasticcerie, Churches, Inefficient, Piazza, Pizzarie, Tired Feet, Statues, Crosses, Mosaics, Lively, Passegiate, Youthful, Decaying, Graffiti, Elegant, Dirty, Palazzo Reale, Street Vendors, Galleria, Fiore de Zucca, Pompeii (Guide Gaetano Manfredi brought Pompeii to life), 2000-year-old Frescoes, Sfogliatelli. Pazzo. Due giorni e quatro notte a Napoli.

(Emphasis in original). I will also comment that, somehow, other Pompeii guides yielded to our guide and allowed him, with the two of us in tow, to slip right past them and their groups to allow us to get close and personal with the particular fresco or sculpture of interest, wherever he led us.

Regardless of your levels of interest I think about 4 hours is a reasonable limit for most people. The good news is the majority or highlights are roughly in the section near the entrance and forum. The amphitheater is further in and frankly you can see Roman amphitheaters all over. Between there and the forum are a lot of basic ruins that account for a good percentage of the site. I’m taking walls and not much else that you would not have encountered by that point. And that’s all good. If you’ve done it right and gone first thing, at four hours you’ll be heading out as the peak midday heat and crowds arrive.

I think a better, deeper and more rewarding alternative than more time in Pompeii is to head to Herculaneum after a good midday break. The two sites are very different from each other, and Herculaneum has surviving features that Pompeii does not. Bonus, Herculaneum is open until dusk which can be quite late in season.

For the scholars among your group, I highly recommend Mary Beard’s “Fires of Vesuvius” for some great background and perspective on Pompeii and it’s unique place in history (it was unique before the eruption too.)

Regarding lunch, there are several vendors outside the gates selling food. We purchased good paninis and drinks and took them inside. The lone lunch building inside the park had long lines, but did offer inside eating, providing a break from the sun. There is not much shade anywhere in Pompeii.
Have a great trip!

I don't have personal experience, but I believe that you are required to consume your own food only in designated picnic-type areas. These are outdoors, so from May to September, it could be a very hot lunch. It is not permitted to sit on a wall or embankment and eat from a bag beside you, while in an historic area.

The next question is whether the crowded indoor cafeteria has a "No outside food" sign?