Ticket Included Small Group, 2 Hours

Ticket Included Small Group, 2 Hours, 2 hours, rated 4.8 across 7,656 traveller reviews.

Overview

This two-hour walk through Pompeii is led by a licensed guide with an archaeological background, which is the main thing separating it from most visits to the ruins. Askos Tours caps each group at 20 travellers and supplies headsets when a group reaches 16 or more, so you can hear the guide even when the site is busy. Your Pompeii Express entrance ticket is included, meaning you skip buying entry on the day.

The route starts at the Porta Marina Superiore entrance and works through the core of the ancient city: the Basilica, the Forum, the Granaries, the House of Menander, the Stabian Baths, the Lupanar, the House of the Faun and the Teatro Grande. Along the way the guide sets out what daily life looked like before Vesuvius buried the city. Reviewers repeatedly say the context is what makes the difference, with one noting you would be a bit lost without a guide.

One reviewer noted that a tour of this length covers only a fraction of the grounds, so anyone wanting more should leave time afterwards. The walk ends inside the ruins.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Porta MarinaGather at the Porta Marina Superiore entrance, opposite the restaurant called Hortus, where Askos Tours staff hold a sign. Allow about 10 minutes here.
2. BasilicaSpend 15 minutes at the Basilica.
3. ForumThe guide covers the Forum in about 10 minutes.
4. Granaries and Via dell'AbbondanzaPass by the Granaries of the Forum along Via dell'Abbondanza, roughly 15 minutes.
5. House of MenanderA 15-minute stop at the House of Menander.
6. Stabian BathsSpend 15 minutes at the Terme Stabiane, the thermal baths of the ancient city.
7. LupanarA 15-minute visit to the Lupanar.
8. House of the FaunSpend 15 minutes here, passing the Odeon, or Teatro Piccolo, on the way.
9. Teatro Grande and finishThe final stop is the Teatro Grande, about 10 minutes. The tour ends inside the ruins.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make the two hours easier, based on what the listing asks for and what travellers report.

• Footwear and sun. The listing advises comfortable shoes, plus sunglasses and sunscreen in summer. One reviewer also mentioned a lot of walking, so dress for being on your feet the whole time. A small bottle of water is recommended.
• Headsets. Headsets are provided for groups of 16 or more. One reviewer said the earpieces meant they could hear the guide clearly throughout, which matters when the site is crowded.
• Pace and breaks. The listing notes the tour runs all year, rain or shine, so plan for the conditions of the day.
• Crowds. One reviewer found the site very crowded on a Saturday in late September, even outside the busiest season.
• Plan extra time. The walk covers only part of the site, as one reviewer pointed out.
• Documents for under 18s. Travellers under 18 need to carry an ID card or passport. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and mobility scooters are not allowed; the listing warns of steps, ramps and a little steep climb, and suggests contacting the operator about a private tour if mobility is limited. One reviewer felt staff could communicate better before the tour began. Food, drinks and transport to the meeting point are not included, and the tour runs in all weather. The two-hour format means you see only a fraction of the site, as one reviewer noted.

Common Questions