Pompeii Tickets 2026: €20 Price, Official Site & How to Book
Official Pompeii entry tickets for 2026 are sold online through VivaTicket via the Archaeological Park of Pompeii website, pompeiisites.org. Standard Pompeii Express admission costs €20, and individual tickets are nominative, meaning the visitor name must match valid identification at entry.
Pompeii Tickets 2026: Quick Booking Rules
- Official online seller: VivaTicket via pompeiisites.org
- Standard entry: Pompeii Express, €20
- Named tickets: required for individual admissions
- ID: bring valid identification matching the ticket name
- At-the-gate sales: available at official ticket offices, subject to availability
- First Sunday of the month: separate free-entry process; do not assume a normal paid reservation applies
All 2026 tickets are strictly nominative—you must enter each visitor's name at checkout, and you must show a matching government ID at the gate. Advance purchase is recommended, but it is not universally mandatory: official ticket offices at Porta Marina, Piazza Esedra, and Piazza Anfiteatro also sell tickets, allowing accredited tour operators to hold a single ticket under an official operator's group ticket arrangement. Check the official timetables and tickets page before paying because prices, open buildings, and exceptional arrangements can change.
Source and verification: PompeiiItaly.org is an independent visitor guide. It summarises the prices and rules published by Pompeii Archaeological Park and links to the Park's own booking route; it does not sell admission. Prices and rules were last checked on 28 August 2026.
How much are official Pompeii tickets and where do you buy them?
Standard admission tickets to Pompeii cost €20, while the expanded "Pompeii+" ticket costs €25. You can buy official Pompeii tickets online in advance through VivaTicket, or in person at the official ticket offices located at the Porta Marina, Piazza Esedra, and Piazza Anfiteatro entrances.
Official Pompeii ticket prices in 2026
The Park lists these prices from January 12, 2026:
| Ticket | Adult price | What it covers | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pompeii Express | €20 | Ancient city of Pompeii; suburban villas excluded | One entry |
| Pompeii+ | €25 | Ancient city, Villa of the Mysteries, Villa of Diomedes, Villa Regina and Boscoreale Antiquarium, plus the listed shuttle | One entry |
| Grande Pompeii | €30 | Pompeii+, Oplontis, Stabiae sites, Boscoreale and the listed shuttle | Three days, one entry per included site |
| MyPompeii annual pass | €45 | Park sites covered by the pass, during ordinary opening | One year from first use |
The reduced ticket is generally €2 for eligible EU citizens aged 18 to under 25 and certain eligible Italian residence-permit holders. Other free or reduced admissions have their own evidence requirements. Use the Park's current rules rather than relying on a reseller summary.
The Pompeii+ and annual-pass descriptions have details and exceptions, including route access and collection rules. Read the official table before choosing solely on price.
How to buy official Pompeii tickets online
- Start on the Park's official ticket information page.
- Follow its link to the dedicated Pompeii VivaTicket portal.
- Choose the site, ticket type, date, and available entry time.
- For individual admission, enter each visitor's name accurately. The ticket is personal and non-transferable.
- Check the access included with the ticket before payment.
- Save the PDF ticket. The Park says it may be printed or shown on a smartphone and used at the entrance turnstiles.
- Bring valid identification in case staff request a name check. Also carry evidence required for any free or reduced admission.
Avoid starting from an advertisement or an unrelated domain when you intend to buy the official entry-only ticket. A third-party tour can be legitimate, but it is a different product with its own operator, cancellation policy, meeting point, and inclusions.
Are advance reservations mandatory?
No. The Park explicitly lists both online sales and official on-site ticket offices. It recommends advance purchase to speed entry, especially when demand is high, but does not say every visitor must buy online.
Advance purchase is still sensible when:
- you have only one possible visit date;
- you need a particular morning or afternoon slot;
- you are visiting between March 16 and October 14, when admission is split into capped time periods;
- you are coordinating trains, a guide, or another timed attraction;
- you need certainty before making a long day trip from Rome or Naples.
A walk-up purchase leaves availability to the day. It should not be described as guaranteed, but neither should online booking be described as legally mandatory.
How the 20,000-person cap and time slots work
Pompeii has a daily limit of 20,000 admissions. From March 16 to October 14, the official allocation is:
- 9:00 AM–1:00 PM: up to 15,000 admissions, divided between Pompeii Express and Pompeii+;
- 1:00 PM–5:30 PM: up to 5,000 admissions, also divided between the two ticket types.
The ticket states the day and entry slot. The Park can change operational limits for conservation, safety, or temporary circumstances, so treat the ticket and current official notice as controlling. Check Pompeii opening hours and last entry times before selecting a ticket time.
What the individual named-ticket and ID rules mean
For individual admission, the visitor regulations state that:
- the ticket must show the holder's name, visit day, and time slot;
- it is personal and non-transferable;
- staff are authorised to request identification at entry or during the visit;
- a name mismatch can lead to refused entry without a refund;
- the visitor name and visit date cannot be modified;
- tickets are generally non-refundable except when the Park closes extraordinarily.
The rule says valid identification. It does not say that every visitor must carry a passport specifically. Use an accepted current ID and bring the document needed to prove any age or concession.
Article 4 of the same regulations allows accredited tour operators to hold a single ticket for an organised group. If you book through an operator, ask whether admission is issued as individual named tickets or under that group arrangement, who retains the ticket, and what identification the operator requires.
Can you buy tickets at the gate?
Yes. The Park identifies official ticket offices inside the archaeological area at:
- Porta Marina;
- Piazza Esedra;
- Piazza Anfiteatro.
The Park warns visitors against unofficial sellers outside the entrances. If you buy at the gate, use the official office and be prepared to provide valid identification for the named ticket.
Plan the journey so you reach the gate before your entry slot: see the Naples to Pompeii day-trip guide or, from the coast, the Sorrento to Pompeii transport guide. For routes, entrances and what to bring once you are inside, read the complete Pompeii Visitor Guide.
What if official tickets are sold out?
First, check other official ticket types or entry periods that genuinely fit your plan. Do not buy a ticket for access you cannot use merely because it remains available.
A third-party guided tour is an option only when its checkout confirms that a valid Pompeii admission ticket is included for your date and time. Tour operators do not provide a universal back door around the Park's capacity rules, and a “skip-the-line” label does not by itself guarantee admission. Verify:
- the exact site and date;
- whether admission is included or must be bought separately;
- whether admission uses individual named tickets or an accredited operator's group ticket;
- the meeting point and late-arrival policy;
- the operator's cancellation terms.
Our guided-tour comparison explains what “skip the line” can and cannot mean.
Do official tickets skip the line?
An advance official ticket lets you go directly to the entrance turnstiles instead of joining the ticket-purchase queue. It does not waive security, identity checks, a guide's meeting procedure, or temporary access controls. “Skip the line” is marketing shorthand, not a separate class of Park admission.
Is Pompeii free on the first Sunday?
The Park currently lists free admission on the first Sunday of each month under Italy's Domenica al Museo programme. Special entry measures may apply, and availability or access procedures can change. Check the official ticket page for the relevant Sunday rather than assuming that a normal paid reservation works the same way. Our guide to Pompeii free-entry days and first-Sunday rules sets out the access process and the eligibility categories in full.
Frequently asked questions
What is the official website for Pompeii tickets?
Use the Archaeological Park's official timetables-and-tickets page and follow its link to pompeii.vivaticket.it. VivaTicket became the Park's exclusive online portal on March 2, 2026.
Do I need to book Pompeii tickets in advance in 2026?
Advance booking is recommended, not universally mandatory. Official on-site ticket offices also sell individual tickets, subject to availability and the daily cap.
Do I need a passport to enter Pompeii?
The regulation requires valid identification and allows staff to check that the ticket name matches the visitor. It does not specify a passport as the only acceptable document.
Can I change the name or date on my ticket?
No for an individual named ticket. The Park says it is personal and non-transferable and that the name and visit date cannot be modified.
Do I need to print the ticket?
No. The Park says the PDF can be printed or shown on a smartphone. Save it offline and keep your phone charged.
Which ticket should a first-time visitor choose?
Pompeii Express covers the ancient city. Pompeii+ adds the listed suburban villas and Boscoreale route. Choose according to the places and time you can realistically use, then confirm current inclusions on the official page.
Official sources
- Timetables and tickets, Archaeological Park of Pompeii
- Regulations for visitors, Archaeological Park of Pompeii
- Official VivaTicket portal