Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Pompeii?

Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Pompeii?

Many travelers spend one to two days in Pompeii during their visit. After all, the iconic archeological site has plenty to explore such as the famous sights and museums.

Pompeii is a world famous archaeological site that was once a large Roman city, but is now frozen in time after being covered in ash by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The site is filled with archaeological ruins that tell the story of everyday life during Roman times. Today it is one of Italy's most popular tourist destinations, and you can explore as part of a tour or independently.

Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Pompeii? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is 3 days enough time in Pompeii?

Three days is more than enough time to see everything that Pompeii has to offer such as the Pompeii Archaeological Ruins and other attractions. Many visitors prefer to spend one to two days here, so you'll be able to take in all of the famous sights and museums at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the region.

How to spend 3 days in Pompeii

When visiting Pompeii, you absolutely can't miss the Pompeii Archaeological Ruins as it's the main reason visitors come to this famous archeological site. It's very popular among families who will enjoy all of the activities available. When planning your trip, make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience the various areas, along with breaks to eat and relax, too. Keep in mind that many visitors spend one to two days here, so you'll probably be missing out if you don't allow yourself plenty of time.

Pompeii is a very walkable city. With only a day in the archeological site, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. You can walk around the entire site in about 4 hours, but you'll really want to allow a full day if you want to see everything in depth.

Pompeii is famous for it's world-class attractions, museums, and landmarks. You'll want to spend at least a day exploring one or more that you're interested in the most.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Pompeii: Skip-the-Line Ticket and Virtual Museum ($50)
  • Private Half Day Tour to the Royal Palace of Caserta ($112)

Public transit in Pompeii is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the archeological site quite easily. Many visitors from Sorrento and Naples arrive via the the Circumvesuviana train. There are also buses from many different locations.

After you've explored most of Pompeii, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Naples Shore Excursion Mt Vesuvius and Pompeii Day Trip ($125)
  • Naples Shore Excursion: Pompeii Half Day Trip from Naples ($71)

Is 4 days enough time in Pompeii?

Four days is more than enough time to see the Pompeii Archaeological Ruins and pretty much everything else around Pompeii. You can move at your own pace or relax in your hotel while you wander through the museums. You could also use Pompeii as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.

How to spend 4 days in Pompeii

With 4 days in Pompeii, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the archeological site has to offer.

With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Pompeii. Plenty of amazing options are available.

Is 5 days enough time in Pompeii?

Five days provides ample opportunity to explore the Pompeii Archaeological Ruins and other nearby attractions at your own pace. You'll have more than enough time to wander through the museums. Then you can use the city as a convenient base for venturing into nearby destinations where you'll discover exciting day trip options.

How to spend 5 days in Pompeii

With 5 days in Pompeii, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy everything the archeological site has to offer at your own relaxed pace. You'll want to spend plenty of time perusing the musuems. You can also relax at your hotel, or casually explore this archeological site looking for hidden gems. Also, consider taking some day trips to nearby destinations where you can explore more of the region.


A few trip suggestions:

  • Naples Shore Excursion Mt Vesuvius and Pompeii Day Trip ($125)
  • Naples Shore Excursion: Pompeii Half Day Trip from Naples ($71)

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Pompeii, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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