We visited Pompeii about 5 years ago, did not get a guide and regretted not doing so. We are going back with another couple to that area in September and will visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum and the Naples Archeological Museum. I want to get a tour guide for Pompeii this time. What are your experiences and preferences for getting a guide? Should we get one for Paestum and Herculaneum as well? And would you go to the Naples Archeological museum before or after the site visit to Pompeii? Thanks in advance.
Posted by
3847 posts
To be honest, I wish we had spent another day in Pompeii instead of visiting the Naples Archaeological Museum. I really don't think it matters if you go to the Museum before or after you visit Pompeii.
In 2022, the owner of our B&B in Salerno found a guide for us Paestum, and she was well worth the expense. Unfortunately, I don't remember her name, let alone her contact information.
For Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis and Stabiae, we used Askos for private guides. We wanted to see Pompeii from the Amphitheatre to the Villa of the Mysteries, and the Askos guides delivered. If you love Roman ruins, but hate crowds, consider adding Oplontis and Stabiae to your plans - I would see them over the museum.
Posted by
231 posts
Hello,
In March of 2024, we used Silvia Braggio, (recommended in the Rick Steves book) for our 3-hour private guide of Paestum. She is great!
Silvia also does tours of Pompeii and the area, but we chose to book our private 4-hour Pompeii tour with Mondo guides (also listed in the Rick Steves book) and we were happy with that also.
I have included a link to my trip report in case it is helpful.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-february-march-in-italy
I am happy to answer any questions. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Minnesota
1218 posts
The biggest issue with the RS recommended guides is that there are relatively few compared to the hoards of us that want to hire them. Availability is certainly an issue and cost can be an issue. There are a lot of fantastic Archeology PhD candidates out there who are hustling to pick up some euros. Be open to that idea.
Pompeii full day: I absolutely would do a guided tour for a few hours and then get lunch at the cafe and wander on your own. We used Grand Tour Experience from airbnb experiences for a small group tour. It was €25 per person and was really great. I'm not sure what more I would have gleaned by having the guide talk to just me rather than me and 8 others.
Pompeii and Herculaneum/Paestum in one day. Here I might start to think a private guide with a car would be a nice splurge, but I don't know. I will say you'd be leaving some Pompeii stuff on the table. That's not the worst thing in the world if you plan to come back again.
Naples Archeological Museum I regret missing this on our last Pompeii trip and I'm really glad I did it this time. It was a 1+1=3 thing were the Scavi and the Museum gave each other a lot of context and color. Absolutely do it with a guide. The RS audio tour is fun, but it's really out of date. Stuff has moved and access pathways are not the same as they were when they recorded. Get there early and you can use the free lockers for your bag. There will be guides waiting right at the door offering tours. If I were to return, I'd probably just strike a deal with one of them.
Pompeii and Naples Museum in one day. Doable but it's a lot. I think I'd feel rushed and my brain would fog.
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
2203 posts
I think guides for all three is probably over doing it, but guides really can add context and a deeper appreciation for what the ruins mean. If you're going to skip a guide for one I would drop Herculaneum since it is the smallest and similar to Pompeii in time and place. Pompeii deserves at a least one whole day - more if you can spare it but not at the expense of one of the other siyes.
Paestum has three layers of history to it - Greek, "barbarian" and Roman all layered together. Everyone goes (correctly) for the Greek ruins but it would be a notable Roman sites by itself, but everyone is too distracted by the temples to really notice. The attached museum in open again and well worth it In 2024 the Roman floor wasn't open but hopefully it is now.
I would watch the recent PBS documentaries on the recent excavations because it adds a lot of direct information both about the ruins and the fateful events in Pompeii - even trying to track survivors of the event in other local records. Inside Pompeii there is now an huge catwalk area where you can walk over and watch excavations as they happen and it is really interesting. I've see the photos and they have made so much progress since I was there in 2024.
I go back and forth on whether it is better to visit the Naples museum before or after Pompeii. I think after but it doesn't really matter in the long run I don't think. I adds context and what it was like to live there, but Herculaneum adds a lot of that as well since it is smaller and feels more itimate.
Also there are no official guides at Pompeii. There a number of guides hanging around looking to get hired and tour guides in Italy are licensed so they have passed the tests but enthusiasm and personality are guaranteed.
Enjoy!
=Tod
Posted by
OP
Lafayette, Indiana
19 posts
What is the general cost for a guide if you get one at the entrance? I hope you can use a card or your phone to pay or do you need cash? I assume a half day or so tour. We would also probably get there mid morning as we are traveling from Salerno.
Posted by
Minnesota
1218 posts
It totally depends on how busy Pompeii is, but use €150-200 as a guesstimate. I don't know about cards/contactless/ApplePay. Venmo doesn't work in Italy and I don't use Wise or Revolut. If you want to avoid that situation, you could use one of the tour booking companies (we used AirBnB experiences because I had the app and it was simple). The advantage to something like that is you're locked in with a particular guide so you don't have to spend time mucking about after arriving at the gate. You are getting there right during the busiest part of the morning so ad/hoc group tours will form quickly as guides sort folks into language. Being part of one of these larger groups will be maybe €25 pp and will be a totally great experience I'm sure.
I honestly think the rates some of the favored guides charge is kinda bonkers. I'm sure they're good and I'm happy for them getting on the RS inside track to financial independence and early retirement.
Posted by
After Dubrinik - Kotor, Montenegro then Albania or North Macedonia (?)
10 posts
Naples Archeology Museum
Much of the mosaics and painting in both Pompeii and Herculaneum have been cutout and removed as you will see if you visit Pompeii and Herculaneum. So, I am recommending you visit this museum.