We fly to Naples tomorrow 4/49), landing near 10 AM.
We can visit Pompeii either tomorrow or the next day (It is closed Wed. for May Day)
I've read about getting to Pompeii early, before the tours from the ships get there. Do tours tend to think out by a certain time?
If so, we could tentatively prioritize our visit for tomorrow.
Otherwise we'd aim for Tuesday.
The weather app shows the next two days as OK (minimumal chance of rain tomorrow)
Although I haven't used it, the Porta Marina luggage check gets high ratings from everyone at this newsboard. Pompeii may not have its own tours - are you referring simply to Cruise Ship crowds? This is such a large site that crowds aren't a big problem. The only lines are at the bathrooms, the snack bar, and the brothel. You can't avoid those lines. I'd guess that ship tours get to skip the Brothel line anyway. We found a few sprinkles to be relief from late May heat. But of course you don't want to visit in the rain.
My own priority is for avoiding mid-day and afternoon heat and sun. The site is very exposed. I would take an umbrella for sun protection if anyone is sensitive. Pompeii is very worth the trouble to visit, regardless of when you go. If you are exhausted from the flight (what country are you coming from?) it might be less fun. Where are you sleeping?
I only mention this as an option: The Villa of the Mysteries, besides its art-historical importance (IF IT IS OPEN!) is off the beaten track and might have thinner crowds. But it is a long walk. It's almost faster to use the street entrance near it, but you CANNOT re-enter Pompeii with the same-day ticket!
Thank you.
We're visiting friends in Zurich, so it is a short hop down for the week. Then back here for more time with them.
We didn't realize about the May Day closures when we made flight arrangements last year.
I've been to Italy a few time and am able to go with the flow.
Yes, it is Cruse ship crowds I was thinking of.
If they aren't bad, I'm going to propose to my wife that we head there right away - middle of the day
I would wait and go early the next day. Try to get there basically when it opens. You’ll have the place to yourself for most of your visit. Especially, the main forum (a grand space, but near the entrance) was wonderful and evocative in the morning, but choked with tour groups kicking up dust by lunchtime. While the site is large, there are sites within Pompeii that get a lot a traffic. There was one in particular I had to pass on, with about thirty people in line to file through it. Also, in the afternoon the sun can really hammer you out there. Even though it’s early in the season, I’m sure others are working around the holiday, so I’d make crowd avoidance a priority.
