
Forum Pompeii
Walk through the remarkably preserved Roman city, frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Explore the Forum, homes, and public spaces.

Highlights
Must-see attractions

Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Avoid crowds and heat

Forum Pompeii
Best Time
Avoid crowds and heat

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Walk through the remarkably preserved Roman city, frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Explore the Forum, homes, and public spaces.
"The Forum di Pompei is the beating heart of the ancient city, a wide-open plaza that instantly transports you to Roman times."

👟 Wear Comfortable Shoes
Cobbled streets are uneven; flat, comfortable shoes are essential for exploring.
💧 Bring Plenty of Water
Minimal shelter means intense heat. Water fountains are available, but carry your own.

Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

The Forum
Civic and social center of Pompeii
The beating heart of ancient Pompeii, a grand plaza surrounded by temples and public buildings.

The Blue Room
Region 9
A rare archaeological find, showcasing a vivid blue color lost for centuries.

Plaster Casts of Victims
Macellum (Market)
Poignant casts of Vesuvius eruption victims, offering a stark reminder of the tragedy.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Beat the Heat and Crowds
Maximize Your Visit
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
👟 Wear Comfortable Shoes
Cobbled streets are uneven; flat, comfortable shoes are essential for exploring.
💧 Bring Plenty of Water
Minimal shelter means intense heat. Water fountains are available, but carry your own.
🎧 Audio Guide is Key
An audioguide is highly recommended for context, but double-check if it's included in your ticket.
🚶♂️ Guided Tours Recommended
Enhance your understanding of the Forum and its significance with a knowledgeable guide.
Tips
from all over the internet
👟 Wear Comfortable Shoes
Cobbled streets are uneven; flat, comfortable shoes are essential for exploring.
💧 Bring Plenty of Water
Minimal shelter means intense heat. Water fountains are available, but carry your own.
🎧 Audio Guide is Key
An audioguide is highly recommended for context, but double-check if it's included in your ticket.
🚶♂️ Guided Tours Recommended
Enhance your understanding of the Forum and its significance with a knowledgeable guide.
📸 Capture the Vibe
The Forum offers dramatic views of Vesuvius and stunning ancient architecture.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Visitors consistently praise Pompeii for its immense historical significance and the unparalleled glimpse it offers into Roman life. The Forum is highlighted as a particularly impressive and central area. However, many note the lack of shade, the challenging terrain, and occasional issues with ticketing or audioguide services, emphasizing the need for preparation.
"Amazing, we had a guide and walked only down 1 road. Definitely need a few days to complete it all.
Minimal shelter from the heat, but does provide water fountains.
Lots of history and story telling.
Cobbled floor, so where flats"
Kelly
"The Foro di Pompei is the beating heart of the ancient city a wide-open plaza that instantly transports you to Roman times. Surrounded by the ruins of temples, public buildings and markets, the Forum offers a compelling sense of what daily life might have been like nearly 2,000 years ago before Mount Vesuvius buried the city in ash.
It’s both grand and haunting. You stand where merchants once sold their goods, where politicians addressed the crowd and where citizens gathered under the shadow of the once-proud temples to Jupiter and Apollo. What’s left of the columns and facades still echoes with history. From the Forum, you also get one of the most dramatic views of Vesuvius a quiet but constant reminder of the city’s tragic fate.
The space is well preserved and clearly signposted. It’s central to most of the other ruins, so it’s a good starting or ending point for your visit. Try to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowds and enjoy the changing light on the ancient stones.
Tip: Bring water, wear good walking shoes and if you’re keen on deeper context, a guided tour with Mario is the way to go which really brings the Forum and its significance to life.
A must-see highlight of Pompeii simple yet deeply moving."
Boxa Net
"The site was really big and it was interesting, but whatever the service was wasn’t. The audioguide was definitely necessary, and we bought tickets online and the lady there told us to redeem the audioguides at the ticket counter (which was false) and my boyfriend went and bought 2 audio guides, just to be told later our audio guides were included in the package and they refused to refund us. Just a heads up to whoever is visiting please check your ticket details carefully."
Aaliyah Hana West
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
A day trip from Rome to Pompeii is challenging due to travel time. High-speed trains to Naples (approx. 1h 10m) then the Circumvesuviana local train to Pompeii Scavi (approx. 30-40m) is the most common route. Factor in significant travel time, making it a very long day.
The Circumvesuviana train from Naples Garibaldi station is the most direct and affordable option, stopping at Pompeii Scavi. It's a local train, so expect it to be crowded.
Visiting both Pompeii and Herculaneum in a single day trip from Rome is extremely difficult and not recommended for a fulfilling experience. It's better to focus on one site or dedicate a full day to each if time allows.
Yes, numerous guided tours are available, both online and on-site. Many visitors highly recommend them for a deeper understanding of the history and significance of the ruins, especially for areas like the Forum.
Yes, there is a free luggage storage facility available at the entrance of the Pompeii archaeological site, which is very convenient for day-trippers.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
It's highly recommended to purchase your Pompeii tickets online in advance to avoid long queues, especially during peak season.
Opening hours vary seasonally, but generally, Pompeii is open from around 9 AM to 5 PM or 7 PM. Always check the official website for the most up-to-date information before your visit.
Not always. Some ticket packages include audioguides, while others do not. It's crucial to check your ticket details carefully when purchasing, as there have been instances of confusion regarding audioguide inclusion and refunds.
Pompeii is a vast site. While you can see highlights in a few hours, many visitors suggest dedicating at least a full day, or even multiple days, to explore thoroughly.
Discounts may be available for EU citizens under a certain age, students, and seniors. Check the official ticketing website for eligibility and current offers.
🎫 🏛️ Onsite Experience
The Forum was the central public space in ancient Pompeii, serving as the hub for political, religious, and commercial activities. It's a large open plaza surrounded by the ruins of important buildings.
Key highlights include the Forum, the Amphitheater, the Lupanar (brothel), the Stabian Baths, and various houses with preserved frescoes. The plaster casts of victims are also a powerful sight.
Pompeii has uneven cobbled streets and many ruins, making it challenging for those with mobility issues. Some accessible routes are available, but it's best to check the official site for detailed information.
The Blue Room is a rare discovery in Pompeii, notable for its exceptionally preserved vivid blue pigment, a color that was difficult to achieve and maintain in ancient times.
You can see a wide range of Roman structures, including temples (like the Temple of Jupiter and Apollo), basilicas, public baths, houses (domus), shops (tabernae), bakeries, and even an amphitheater and gladiator barracks.
📸 📸 Photography
The Forum offers grand vistas with Vesuvius in the background. Many houses with well-preserved frescoes and mosaics also make for stunning shots. Look for interesting architectural details and street scenes.
Yes, photography is generally allowed within Pompeii for personal use. However, flash photography might be restricted in certain areas to protect delicate frescoes and artifacts.
Early morning or late afternoon provides the best light for photography, creating dramatic shadows and a warm glow on the ancient stones. It also helps avoid harsh midday sun and crowds.
Drone usage is strictly prohibited within archaeological sites like Pompeii to protect the ruins and ensure visitor safety.
A versatile lens (like a 24-70mm equivalent) is useful for capturing both wide-angle views of the Forum and details of frescoes. A lightweight setup is best for walking long distances.
For Different Travelers
Tailored advice for your travel style
👨👩👧 Families with Kids
Keep in mind that the site is vast and can be hot with little shade, so plan for shorter exploration periods and frequent breaks. Bring plenty of snacks and water, and ensure kids wear comfortable shoes for navigating the uneven terrain. Consider a family-friendly guided tour that can make the history more accessible and engaging for younger minds.
🚶 Budget Travelers
Instead of a private guide, utilize a good audioguide or download reliable free historical information beforehand. Pack your own water and snacks to avoid inflated prices within the site. While a full day is ideal, you can focus on key areas like the Forum and a few well-preserved houses to get a strong sense of the city within a shorter timeframe.
Deep Dives
In-depth insights and expert knowledge
The Forum: Heart of Pompeii
Surrounded by impressive structures like the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Apollo, and the Basilica (a law court and business center), the Forum offers a compelling glimpse into the daily routines and social hierarchy of Pompeii before its tragic end. The sheer scale and preserved remnants of columns and facades evoke a powerful sense of history.
Many visitors find the Forum to be a particularly moving spot, offering one of the most dramatic views of Mount Vesuvius, a constant, quiet reminder of the city's fate. It's often recommended as a starting or ending point for exploring the wider archaeological site due to its central location.
Life and Death in Pompeii
The archaeological discoveries also include poignant reminders of the human cost of the disaster. The plaster casts of victims, created by pouring plaster into the voids left by decomposed bodies in the ash, offer a deeply moving and somber perspective on the final moments of Pompeii's inhabitants. These casts are displayed in various locations, including the Macellum.
Exploring Pompeii is an immersive experience that blends the grandeur of Roman architecture with the stark reality of a city tragically preserved. It's a place where history comes alive, allowing visitors to walk the same streets and stand in the same spaces as people did nearly two millennia ago.
Navigating Pompeii: Practicalities
To truly appreciate the depth of history, consider enhancing your visit with a guided tour or at least an audioguide. These resources provide invaluable context and storytelling that bring the ruins to life, transforming a walk through stones into an understanding of a lost civilization. Be sure to clarify audioguide inclusion with your ticket purchase to avoid potential issues.
Given the site's size, it's wise to prioritize what you want to see. Many recommend visiting early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the peak crowds and the most intense heat, allowing for a more contemplative and enjoyable experience.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit