Pompeii day trip from Naples or Sorrento or Rome
A day trip to Pompeii from Naples, Sorrento or Rome: the Large Theatre, the Stabian Baths, the Lupanar, the Forum, the Temple of Apollo, the House of the Faun, the House of the Vettii, the Villa of the Mysteries, the Garden of the Fugitives, the Amphitheatre and the Shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Pompeii in 1 day
Day 1
Large Theatre of Pompeii
Greek-style theatre built into a hillside for about 5,000 spectators, next to the smaller covered Odeon and the gladiators' barracks.
Stabian Baths
The oldest and largest of Pompeii's public baths, with changing rooms, hot and cold rooms and fine stucco ceilings.
Lupanar
Ancient Roman brothel with small stone beds and erotic wall paintings, one of the most visited buildings in Pompeii.
Forum of Pompeii
The city's main square, lined with temples, the basilica and market buildings, with Vesuvius rising behind it.
Temple of Apollo (Pompeii)
Sanctuary of Apollo beside the Forum, one of Pompeii's oldest temples, with copies of the bronze statues of Apollo and Diana.
House of the Faun
One of the largest houses in Pompeii, named after its bronze dancing faun, where the Alexander Mosaic was found.
House of the Vettii
Wealthy merchants' house with some of Pompeii's finest wall paintings, restored and reopened in 2023.
Villa of the Mysteries
Suburban villa just outside the walls, famous for a cycle of red-ground frescoes showing a mysterious rite.
Garden of the Fugitives
Orchard in the east of the city with plaster casts of thirteen people who died there during the eruption of 79 AD.
Amphitheatre of Pompeii
The oldest surviving stone Roman amphitheatre, built around 70 BC, beside the large palaestra exercise ground.
Shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei
Large 19th-century basilica and pilgrimage church in the centre of modern Pompei, a short walk from the ruins.
Watch: Pompeii
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
From Naples and Sorrento the Circumvesuviana train runs on the Naples-Sorrento line to Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri, next to the main entrance, taking about 35 minutes from either. From Rome a high-speed train reaches Naples in about an hour and ten minutes, then the Circumvesuviana continues to the site; some visitors take a regional train to Pompei station instead.
Staying in Naples or Sorrento or Rome? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Pompeii
April to June and September to October are the best months, warm but not too hot for a day walking the ruins. July and August are very hot with little shade, so go at opening time. Winter is cooler and quieter but has shorter opening hours, and the site is free on the first Sunday of the month, which brings crowds.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Pompeii on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Pompeii on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Pompeii on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Pompeii
- Buy tickets for the archaeological park online ahead, and arrive at opening time to see the main houses before tour groups and the midday heat.
- Bring water, a hat and sun protection; there is little shade across the site and the old streets are rough paving stones, so wear sturdy shoes.
- Some houses open on a rota or have timed entry, so check on the park's website or app which ones are open on the day.
- Large bags and backpacks must be left at the entrance cloakroom, so travel light and carry only what is needed for the day.
- From Rome it is a long day: take an early high-speed train to Naples, then the Circumvesuviana, and allow the same time back.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Amphitheatre of Pompeii: No machine-readable author provided. Buckeye~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Forum of Pompeii: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Garden of the Fugitives: Lordwigg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- House of the Faun: NikonZ7II, CC BY-SA 4.0
- House of the Vettii: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Large Theatre of Pompeii: William Henry Goodyear, Public domain
- Lupanar: General Cucombre from New York, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei: Velvet, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Stabian Baths: Mentnafunangann, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Temple of Apollo (Pompeii): Wknight94, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Villa of the Mysteries: ElfQrin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
