Pompeii Tickets 2026: Express vs Plus, Prices, Time Bands, Free Entry and Getting There

Pompeii tickets changed more in the last two years than in the previous decade. Yet many guides online still describe the old system. In fact, entry is now personal and capped at 20,000 visitors a day. Also, the two main tickets differ on one key point: the Villa of the Mysteries. As a result, this guide explains which ticket to buy, who enters free and how the time bands work.

Last updated: September 26, 2026

Pompeii tickets at a glance

These are the rates in force since January 12, 2026, according to the park’s official timetables and tickets page (checked September 2026). The same page lists a reduced rate of about €2 on each of the first four tickets. In addition, Villa Arianna and Villa San Marco at Stabiae are free.

Pompeii Express or Pompeii Plus: the one difference that matters

The Parco Archeologico di Pompei, the state body that runs the site, sells two main tickets. However, their names hide the real distinction.

Pompeii Express: the ancient city, nothing outside the walls

The official description is short: “Only the ancient city of Pompeii. Suburban villas not included.” In practice, you get the Forum, the Amphitheater, the baths and the main houses. By contrast, you do not get the Villa of the Mysteries, which lies just outside the city walls.

Pompeii Plus: the city plus the Villa of the Mysteries

Pompeii Plus adds the suburban villas, above all the Villa of the Mysteries with its famous red-ground frescoes, and the Villa of Diomedes. It also covers Villa Regina and its Antiquarium at nearby Boscoreale, plus the shuttle bus. For about €5 more, it is the ticket most first-time visitors should consider.

Pompeii Plus Extended: for a second or third day

Finally, the Extended ticket lasts three days and adds Oplontis, the villas of Stabiae and the Stabiae museum. It suits travelers based in Sorrento who want the quieter villas.

One rule applies to both main tickets: each is valid for one entry only. In other words, you cannot exit and re-enter. So bring water and snacks.

Personal tickets, the daily cap and time bands

Since November 15, 2024, Pompeii tickets have carried the visitor’s name, according to the park’s official ticket page. At the same time, the park set a daily limit of 20,000 entries. Then, from March 16, 2025, it added time bands for the busy season.

• March 16 to October 14: a maximum of 15,000 admissions between 9 am and 1 pm, and a maximum of 5,000 between 1 pm and 5:30 pm.
• October 15 to March 15: the 20,000 daily limit still applies, but the official page lists no time bands.
• Your name must match: enter each visitor’s real name when you buy, because tickets are personal.
• Print or phone: the official page says online tickets arrive as a PDF, which you can print or show on a smartphone at the turnstiles.

In practice, the afternoon band is smaller, so a 1 pm entry on a summer weekend can sell out first.

Free entry and reduced Pompeii tickets

Pompeii is a state site, so the national rules of the Ministry of Culture apply. According to the Ministry’s admission concessions page (checked September 2026), these visitors enter free or at a reduced rate:

• Under 18s, of any nationality: free admission to all state museums and archaeological areas.
• People with disabilities: free, together with one accompanying family member or caregiver, on presentation of documentation.
• EU citizens aged 18 to 24: a reduced ticket of about €2. The park extends this rate to some non-EU residents of Italy.

Note that the reduced rate depends on EU citizenship, not on a student card. As a result, a 20-year-old American pays the full price, while a 20-year-old from Ireland pays about €2.

The first Sunday of the month: free, but capped

Pompeii joins the national Domenica al Museo scheme, “Sunday at the museum,” which makes state sites free on the first Sunday of every month. The official page describes it as “direct and immediate access to the site of Pompeii.” It lists no online booking for these days. However, the 20,000 daily cap still applies.

That cap is not theoretical. For example, the local daily Metropolis reported that the free Sunday of May 3, 2026 reached 20,000 visitors, the daily maximum. So for a quiet visit, avoid free Sundays. Our guide to free museum days in Italy lists the other state sites that take part.

Opening hours and closing days

The park runs on two seasonal timetables, according to the official page (checked September 2026). Notice that the switch to winter hours falls on October 15, right in the middle of fall.

The ancient city closes on December 25 and January 1. By contrast, Oplontis and the Stabiae sites also close on Tuesdays. The park’s FAQ suggests at least two to three hours for the main site, which covers about 44 hectares.

Entrances, the Villa of the Mysteries and bag rules

Pompeii has three entrances, each with its own ticket office:

• Porta Marina: the classic entrance on the west side, close to the Forum and the Circumvesuviana station.
• Piazza Esedra: a short walk from Porta Marina, and also served by the same station.
• Piazza Anfiteatro: on the east side, near the Amphitheater and the modern town. It is also the start of the accessible route, a path of over 3.5 km described on the park’s Pompeii for All page.

The Villa of the Mysteries sits outside the northwest walls, beyond the Herculaneum Gate. So with a Pompeii Plus ticket, enter at Porta Marina and walk there first, before the crowds.

Pack light. The visitor regulations allow bags up to 30 x 30 x 15 cm. Larger items go to the left luggage area. In addition, the rules ban eating outside designated areas and visiting “scantily clad.”

Getting to Pompeii by train

The site is well connected, according to the park’s how to get there page (checked September 2026):

• Circumvesuviana, Naples–Sorrento line: get off at Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri for Porta Marina and Piazza Esedra. EAV, the regional operator, runs this line from Naples and from Sorrento.
• Circumvesuviana, Naples–Poggiomarino line: get off at Pompei Santuario for Piazza Anfiteatro.
• Trenitalia, Naples–Salerno line: get off at Pompei, then take the Pompei Link train-and-bus service, which the park says takes about 15 minutes.
• By car: take the A3 Naples–Salerno motorway to the Pompei Scavi exit.

Our comparison of visiting Pompeii from Rome or Naples covers trains, timing and when a tour makes more sense. If you are staying on the coast, check the Amalfi Coast ferries to reach Sorrento first.

Pompeii tickets or a guided tour: which to choose

A ticket gets you in, but Pompeii has few signs and little shade. Therefore, the right choice depends on your base.

For a start, our page on a Pompeii day trip from Rome suits travelers without a base in the south. From Naples, a Pompeii and Vesuvius day trip pairs the ruins with the volcano that buried them. Alternatively, a Pompeii and Capri day trip from Naples or a Pompeii and Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples combines the site with the coast.

Also, this article covers tickets and logistics only. For what to see once you are inside, read our guide to the attractions in Pompeii. Then compare other Naples tours for the rest of your stay.

Planning more than one visit? Our guide to tickets in Italy groups every ticket guide by city, from Rome and Florence to Venice, Milan and Pompeii.

Not sure Pompeii is the right site for you? Our Herculaneum vs Pompeii guide compares size, crowds, tickets and trains, and our Herculaneum tour comparison shows two ways to visit with a guide.

Pompeii tickets: frequently asked questions

Which Pompeii ticket includes the Villa of the Mysteries?

Pompeii Plus and Pompeii Plus Extended include it. The cheaper Pompeii Express covers only the ancient city, without the suburban villas.

Do I need to book Pompeii tickets in advance?

It is strongly advised. Tickets are personal and the park admits a maximum of 20,000 visitors a day, with time bands from March 16 to October 14.

Is Pompeii free for children?

Yes. Visitors under 18 of any nationality enter free, as at all Italian state sites. EU citizens aged 18 to 24 pay a reduced rate of about €2.

Is Pompeii free on the first Sunday of the month?

Yes. Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month, but the 20,000 daily cap still applies, and free Sundays can reach it.

Can I leave Pompeii and come back on the same ticket?

No. The official page says the Pompeii Express and Pompeii Plus tickets are valid for one entry only, with no re-entry.