A Paestum tour takes you to three Greek Doric temples south of Salerno, in Campania. Specifically, two options stand out on Viator. The small group with an archaeologist, with a skip-the-line ticket included, is rated 4.9 across 260 reviews, from about $46. The private tour of the temples and the National Museum is rated 5.0 across 18 reviews, from about $145.
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The verdict
The archaeologist tour is our pick for most travelers. For two hours, an archaeologist guides you around the site, and the skip-the-line ticket is included in the price. It also has far more reviews behind its rating. One reviewer points out that the tour involves walking on uneven surfaces, so wear sturdy shoes.
The private tour adds the National Archaeological Museum to the temples, with a guide just for your party. Also, it is the only one of the two listed as wheelchair accessible. Two things to weigh: the entrance ticket and the tip are extra, and the perfect rating rests on only 18 reviews, a small base.
Both last about two hours and offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
A 5.0 rating from 18 reviews says less than a 4.9 from 260. Still, it is a good sign, not a guarantee. For the coast nearby, see our Amalfi Coast travel guide.
Which one is for you?
Take the archaeologist tour if
- You want the ticket included, with skip-the-line entry.
- The lower price, from about $46, matters to you.
- You want a rating backed by 260 reviews.
- You are happy in a small group.
Take the private tour if
- You want a guide just for your party.
- The National Museum matters to you as well as the temples.
- You need a wheelchair-accessible option.
- You don’t mind paying for the ticket on top.
What each price covers
The archaeologist tour, from about $46
Included: a guided tour with an archaeologist and a skip-the-line Paestum ticket.
Not included: food and drinks, and transportation.
The private tour, from about $145
Included: a private guided tour of the temples and the National Archaeological Museum.
Not included: the entrance ticket and the tip.
Where each one starts
- Archaeologist tour: outside the Basilica Paleocristiana dell’Annunziata, Piazza della Basilica, in Capaccio Paestum.
- Private tour: at the entrance of the National Archaeological Museum, Via Magna Graecia 919.
Side by side
| Archaeologist tour | Private tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 from 260 | 5.0 from 18 |
| Five-star reviews | 242 (93%) | 18 (100%) |
| Price | from about $46 | from about $145 |
| Length | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Format | Small group | Private |
| Entry ticket | Included, skip-the-line | Not included |
| Museum | Not listed | Included in the visit |
| Accessibility | Not wheelchair accessible | Wheelchair accessible |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the archaeologist tour
The Paestum tour is definitely worth your time.
Kelly_K, September 2026, via Viator
Extremely insightful and enjoyable tour of Paestum.
Elisa_G, July 2026, via Viator
On the private tour
Roberta is a walking encyclopaedia concerning Paestum and the Greek temples.
DIANN_S, August 2024, via Viator
Both are reviewed almost entirely with five stars: 93% of the ratings on the archaeologist tour, and all 18 on the private tour. The private tour’s base is small, so one new review can move its rating.
How Paestum fits a trip to Campania
For the Roman side of the region, compare the Herculaneum tour and the Pompeii and Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples. On the coast, the Amalfi Coast boat tour and the Amalfi Coast cooking class are easy half days.
For planning, read our southern Italy itinerary and our Amalfi Coast travel guide. In winter, Salerno hosts Luci d’Artista.
Questions travelers ask
Which Paestum tour should I book?
For most travelers, the archaeologist tour, rated 4.9 from 260 reviews on Viator, from about $46 with a skip-the-line ticket (checked September 2026). For a private guide and the museum, the private tour, from about $145, rated 5.0 from 18 reviews.
Is the entry ticket included in a Paestum tour?
On the archaeologist tour, yes, with skip-the-line entry. However, on the private tour the entrance ticket is extra.
Does a Paestum tour include the museum?
The private tour covers the temples and the National Archaeological Museum. However, the archaeologist tour does not list the museum.
How long is a Paestum tour?
Both options last about two hours.
Is a Paestum tour wheelchair accessible?
Specifically, the private tour’s listing marks it as wheelchair accessible. However, the archaeologist tour is not, and a reviewer notes uneven surfaces.
Can I cancel a Paestum tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Book the archaeologist tour for value with the ticket included; book the private tour for your own guide and the museum.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, meeting points, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 23258P164 and 366454P4), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.