How to Get to Pompeii from Rome

Travel two hours from Rome and 2,000 years back in time to the ancient city of Pompeii, which was tragically buried in ash. Here are some ways to experience the famous UNESCO-listed ruins, either as a half-day or full-day tour from Italy’s capital. 

Half-Day Tours

If you want to see Pompeii and be back in Rome by dinner (and perhaps a wine tasting), half-day tours typically leave in the morning and return by early afternoon. Spend two hours at the excavated ruins and see for yourself why the entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A half-day tour still offers enough time to explore the area surrounding Pompeii on your own before returning to Rome for an evening out in the city.

Full-Day Tours

If you’d prefer to see more in the Pompeii region, make a full day of it by checking out the ruins and touring Sorrento to sip limoncello, or hike up the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius for unforgettable views (only accessible in summer). Visit the heart of downtown Naples and see popular sights like Castel dell’Ovo and Piazza del Plebiscito, or stroll the narrow, cobbled streets of Positano on the scenic Amalfi Coast.

Things to Know

• Pompeii is located 150 miles (242 kilometers) southeast of Rome, a 2.5-hour journey by road.

• Most tours travel from Rome to Naples by train, and then transfer to minivan or bus. A few tours drive directly from Rome, so be sure to check the itinerary.

• Virtually all tours include skip-the-line access to the ruins at Pompeii.

• Pack for warm weather—especially in summer—since southern Italy is often a few degrees warmer than central Rome. 

• Full-day Pompeii tours usually meet in Rome around 6am or 7am, and most last between 12 and 14 hours.