Pompeii preserves the scale of an entire city: the Forum, theatres, amphitheatre and domestic streets can be read together. Frescoes, objects and casts make the eruption personal, while the street plan shows ordinary urban life before it. It offers a broader urban picture than Herculaneum's smaller excavation.
What to look for
The Forum and surrounding public buildings
Domestic frescoes and objects in open houses and the Antiquarium
The amphitheatre and theatre district
Useful to know
Choose a few districts before entering; the site is too large for an unhurried look at everything.
Check the current list of open houses before aiming for a particular interior.
Expect uneven paving and some steep sections, including on the designated accessible route.
Your next visit
Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.
Outdoor visit · 30–45 min
World planning estimate; admission, opening, visit duration and access need checking.
