Pompeii With Kids: Everything You Need To Know Before Your Trip

You may be wondering if visiting Pompeii with kids is a good idea. I was actually waned against it when planning our family trip to Italy, but it turned out to be one of our best experiences. Just a short journey from Naples, Pompeii is one of the most fascinating historical sites in the world, offering a unique glimpse into life during the Roman Empire.

That said, exploring Pompeii with children can come with challenges. The site is huge, there’s very little shade, and the history, while incredible, can be difficult for younger kids to fully grasp without a bit of context.

With a little planning (and the right expectations), visiting Pompeii with kids can be both educational and genuinely enjoyable.

In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know before your trip. From the best things to see in Pompeii with kids, to practical tips, fun facts, and how to make the experience memorable for the whole family.

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What is Pompeii?

Pompeii is an ancient Roman city in southern Italy that was buried under ash and pumice when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. What makes Pompeii so unique is how well preserved it is, walking through the ruins, you can still see streets, houses, shops, and even some of the mosaics and paintings that have survived for nearly 2,000 years.

Today, it’s one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, offering a fascinating glimpse into everyday life in Roman times.

Getting to Pompeii

Our most recent visit to Pompeii was with our kids, as part of a Southern Italy road trip, which started in Naples. The easiest way to get to Pompeii is from Naples. If you’re planning a trip to Naples, make sure to read our Naples with kids guide here.

You have a few options on how to get to Pompeii from Naples. In short, by train, drive yourself or book an organised tour. I will go into more detail on each option below

Train Trip to Pompeii from Naples

On a previous trip to Pompeii, we took the train, and it is a very easy way to get there. Personally, my kids would always rather travel by train than by car!

Take the Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Garibaldi station to Pompei Scavi. Trains run regularly, and the journey takes around 30–40 minutes. Pompei Scavi is only a few minutes’ walk from the main entrance of the Pompeii UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Train tickets start at just €3 each way. Visit Omio to check the schedule and book your tickets in advance.

Driving to Pompeii

I mentioned that our trip to Pompeii was part of a Southern Italy road trip. We picked up our hire car (find the best rental price here) from Naples airport and drove directly to Pompeii, before going on to Puglia. The drive took about half an hour and was very easy.

While I probably wouldn’t recommend hiring a car just to visit Pompeii, it was the most convenient option for our trip, as public transport in Puglia is limited.

Organised Tours to Pompeii

If you don’t want to use public transport or hire a car, you do have the option to book an organised tour, which includes transfers. Consider this top-rated Pompeii excursion, which departs from Naples and includes a guide and transfers.

Parking in Pompeii

We decided to drive to Pompeii. Finding out about parking in Pompeii was a bit of a mindfield, we couldn’t find any up-to-date information on where to park, how much it costs and the car park we did try to find didnt seem to actually exist!

Parking in Pompeii was actually very easy. There were men in the street as we approached, trying to wave you in to their car parks.

We ended up parking in a car park really close to one of the entrances, in a car park called Parcheggio Pompei, just off Via Roma. The exact Google Map location is linked here.

Parking here was €2 per hour. You took a ticket and paid at the end, which meant we didn’t have to rush to be back by a certain time

There was a small amusement park located just next to the car park. It was closed when we visited, which is a shame because our kids would have loved it!

Pompeii Opening Times

From April 1st to October 31st, the Archaeological Park of Pompeii is open from 9 am to 7 pm, with last entry being at 5:30 pm.

From November 1st to March 31st, the Archaeological Park of Pompeii is open from 9 am to 5 pm, with last entry being at 3:30 pm.

The site is closed for a few days each year, as follows: January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.

Pompeii Entrance Fee & Ticket Options

Tickets for Pompeii start from €20 per adult for basic tickets or €25 for full tickets. Children under 18 visit for free but still need a ticket.

The entry times are 9 am or 1 pm but you dont need to arrive at the exact time on the ticket. For example, if you have a 9 am ticket, you could arrive at 11 am, but possibly not 2 pm (depending on the business of the site on the day.)

They are usually cheapest when booked directly through the Pompeii official website, which is what we did. The website is quite difficult to navigate and doesn’t seem to be translatable to English.

So, if you prefer something a little more straightforward, especially when travelling with kids, it can be worth booking through a reputable provider such as GetYourGuide. The platform is very easy to use and allows you to cancel the ticket should you need to, which can be really helpful when travelling as a family.

You can check the latest prices and availability for Pompeii Tickets here.

There are many options for guided tours of Pompeii. Personally, I’m not a fan of these with children, as we prefer to explore at our own pace. However, I did notice this new tour, which is specifically aimed at families.

Finally, there are companies which run coach trips from Naples to Pompeii. Of course, these are more expensive, but they are a convenient option as your travel, guide and tickets are all taken care of in one booking.

The first Sunday of each month, entrance is free, so no tickets are needed.

Is Pompeii Worth Visiting With Kids?

In my opinion, yes, Pompeii was an incredible place to visit with kids. My children had so much fun, and my husband and I enjoyed it as well. I will share some tips below on how to make the most of your visit.

The reason some people say not to do Pompeii with kids, is that, the site is huge. It’s not pushchair (stroller) friendly, and it can be a lot for children to manage.

There are also some sensitive areas that kids might not fully understand and could find upsetting.

My children are young, aged 6 and 3, and they managed it really well. We live in London, so they are very used to big cities, and my 3-year-old is an excellent walker.

If you are concerned that Pompeii might be a bit overwhelming, there is a smaller site called Herculaneum that you may want to consider. Ultimately, we decided we were going to go for the most iconic experience and I’m glad we did!

How Long Do You Need at Pompeii with Kids?

Plan to spend a minimum of two to three hours at Pompeii. There is a lot to see, and you could probably spend a full day exploring.

We were there for three hours and found that long enough to cover all the main things to do at Pompeii. After 3 hours of walking around, we were all getting tired and my husband ended up carrying our little one back to the car.

With children, I think it’s important to know thier limits. If they are tired and cranky, it stops being fun for everyone!

Tips for Visiting Pompeii with Kids

Below, I am going to share everything we learned about visiting Pompeii with kids, so you can plan a perfect trip!

• Purchase 9 am arrival tickets – and get there as close to 9 am as you can. We arrived at about 9:30, and it wasn’t too busy. By the time we left at around 12:30, it was getting very crowded.
• Prepare them for the visit. Talk about it before and tell them what to expect. This helps to get kids excited and makes everything run more smoothly. We found this pop-up book about Pompeii very useful!
• Pick up a free map. There were lots of people outside trying to direct you to their shops to buy maps and guide books. Of course, you can if you want to, but you don’t need to. Free maps are available once you’ve passed the entrance turnstile, and my kids love being in charge of navigating!
• Don’t take a pushchair. It is really not accessible. Either have your kids walk or use a carrier.
• Pack plenty of drinks, snacks and ideally a picnic. I’m sure I dont need to tell you that hangry kids are no fun! There are a few restaurants outside the historical site (but you can’t go out and re-enter on most tickets) and one cafe inside. However, it was definitely best to have supplies to hand.
• Wear comfortable shoes. Lots of walking on uneven surfaces. Also take hats and suncream if you’ll need them, there is not much shade.
• Don’t try to see everything. As the site is so big, you’re unlikely to be able to see everything, especially with small children. We managed to see most of the main things to do, and I will share those below.
• Possibly skip the human remains. The casts of the victims of the eruption can be found at multiple points around the site. These are marked on the map, and we decided to avoid them as we thought it might upset our children. You can make the call about what is right for your family.

Top Things to do at Pompeii with Kids

Below are the top things not to miss during your visit to Pompeii, plus tips on how to make them fun for kids!

Pretend to be Gladiators in the Ampeitheartre

The Amphitheatre is one of the main sites to see, whether you’re visiting Pompeii with or without kids. My children love running around and pretending to be gladiators here. Also known as battling with Daddy!

March Like a Roman in the Forum

We have also been to Rome with our kids, so they know a bit about the Romans. Marching about was something they decided to do, and they really enjoyed it.

I dont know why marching is easier for young children than walking, but for some reason it is!

The Forum is another key area to see when visiting Pompeii. Of course, it is runins now, but how interesting to imagine it full of life!

Put on a Show in the Theatre District

The Theatre District is another cool area in Pompeii. This giant stone arena is where they would have once put on shows.

My children enjoyed putting on their own quick show for us, while we enjoyed a few minutes to sit down!

Let Them Explore

To adults, Pompeii is a historic, very tragic site. For children, it’s almost like a playground. There are plenty of places they can run and explore. Some of the ruins seem almost like a maze, and they loved running in and out of all the walls.

Of course, let them explore, but be respectful. We did have to remind them not to climb on things quite a few times, and there are some places where you’re asked not to touch, and of course, you need to respect that.

Pompeii Children’s Facts

Below are a few interesting facts. Save these to share with your kids as you explore Pompeii.

1. Around 2,000 years ago, Pompeii was a beautiful, busy Roman city filled with homes, shops, and even fast-food-style takeaway counters.
2. In 79 AD, a huge volcano called Mount Vesuvius (which you can see in the distance) erupted and covered the city in ash and rock.
3. The ash from the eruption actually helped preserve Pompeii. This is why we can still see so much of it today, and it was the first time in history that such well-preserved remains have been found.
4. Some houses in Pompeii had colourful wall paintings (called frescoes) that you can still see today.
5. People didn’t know the volcano was going to erupt, so the city was suddenly frozen in time. Today, scientists would most likely be able to predict an eruption.
6. Mount Vesuvius is still an active volcano, but it is carefully monitored.
7. You will be able to see grooves in the street where horse and carts would have been used to transport rich people around the city. Poor people would have had to walk on the pavements and sewage would have run down the road.
8. You will often see large rocks creating walkways across the streets (shown in the photo below). These were designed to allow poor people to cross the road without spepping in the sewage.
9. They also hade them taller than in other cities. This was to stop people bringing in horse and cartsfrom neighboring towns and make them pay to hire one instead!

FAQ’s About a Trip to Pompeii with Kids

Final Thoughts on Visiting Pompeii With Kids

While Pompeii with kids is one of those experiences that can feel a little daunting at first, we had such a lovely, memorable visit.

With the right expectations, plenty of breaks, and a simple route through the site, Pompeii can be both fascinating and enjoyable for children. It’s a chance for them to see history come to life in a way that books or museums can’t quite replicate.

Whether you spend a couple of hours exploring the highlights or take your time wandering through the ancient streets, Pompeii is a unique stop that can easily be combined with a family trip to Naples.

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Thank you so much for reading our guide on taking a trip to Pompeii with kids. Hopefully, it has helped you feel more prepared for your visit and given you a clearer idea of what to expect.

Don’t forget to read our full guide to visiting Naples with kids next! After Pompeii, we drove on to Alberobello as part of a Southern Italy Road trip, thinking of doing the same? Read my detailed guides for more information!