Out of all the ancient artefacts and historic monuments found throughout the country of Italy, there is no greater destination than Pompeii!
Pompeii, Italy
Known as the largest and longest continuous archaeologist site in the entire world. Once a thriving ancient city of the Roman Empire period that was tragically destroyed back in 79 BC by the nearby Mount Vesuvius. Many are lured into its crumbling streets at a chance to see how this ancient society once lived! But as the city is covering roughly 66 hectares, it's hard to work out the best way to see it all in just one day!
First, choose between a tour or a solo adventure
Not sure what to do once you get there? A lot of travellers simply rock up to Pompeii and wander around without a plan set into place. For a lot of travel areas, this wouldn’t be an issue, but with Pompeii being as big as a normal city, simply walking around streets can be tiring and frustrating-as there are no bikes, cars, or public transport allowed. Choosing between if you want to go your own way or joining a tour may help you beat this problem. Tours can include transport, picking you straight up from your hotel before offering an entire day in Pompeii, with the professional guide detailing the buildings and artefacts on display. If you’d rather go yourself, make sure you have listed the attractions you want to see most, and organised a schedule so you won’t run out of time!
The Best Season to go
The most popular time to travel to Pompeii is from April to October. With hot sticky days filling up these months, and herds of foot traffic taking over the streets. The tours are bumped up in price, and the trains become swarmed with visitors. Although you get the great weather in this high season, the multitude of tourists and stinky hot days can make this an exasperatingly sweaty adventure. Skip this and instead travel in the offseason, starting from November to March. Although you will face chiller days, you can enjoy the peaceful ancient streets of Pompeii without bumping shoulders with others. Prices also drop during this time so those looking for a cheaper trip look during this period!
The Best Day to Visit
Like most places, weekends are by far the most crowded days to visit, as even some Europeans off work might stop into the city for a visit. The middle of the week is always best, as they can include better deals and fewer crowds. However, be aware of it within school holidays, the mid-weekdays might be just as busy as weekends!
The Quietest Hours to Visit
Most travellers visiting Pompeii will be trekking from Rome or the Naples, with these two cities being the closest tourist destinations nearby. Due to this, the majority of the crowds don’t arrive until late morning, with the morning spent weaving through traffic to reach Pompeii. Therefore, staying closer to the ancient city and getting there as soon as it opens is a great way to avoid lines. This goes the same way with the afternoon, with most visitors leaving early in the afternoon to make sure they get back to their base city for dinner. Simply visiting the popular attractions late afternoon can give you a completely new perspective, free from shouting children and pushing crowds.
Recommended Pompeii Tours: Pompeii Day Tour
Price: €120
Company: Sightseeing Tours Italy
Related article: Guide to Pompeii
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Violet Cowells is an Australian blogger with a love for all things new! Violet is the owner at Violet's Voyage.
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