10 Pompeii Attractions: What to See and How to Plan

Choose a few connected stops before you try to see everything. Pompeii combines public spaces, houses, shops and entertainment buildings, but their current access can differ. Start with our entrance and itinerary planner and the Park’s official map, then check the open-buildings list.

1. The Forum

The civic centre is a useful starting point for understanding the city’s public life. Look at the relationship between the open square and surrounding religious, commercial and administrative buildings. Our two-hour itinerary keeps the Forum, Basilica and Forum Baths together, subject to access.

2. The Amphitheatre

The amphitheatre is on the eastern side of the archaeological area. It makes a different starting point from the Forum: plan your entrance around your priorities rather than assuming all highlights are next to one another. Piazza Anfiteatro is the eastern entrance used in our full-day suggestion.

3. House of the Vettii

The house rewards close attention to decoration and domestic space. Read our House of the Vettii guide for the Priapus image, Cupid frieze and garden, with a clear distinction between the evidence and modern interpretation. Check its own opening hours before arriving late in the day.

4. Villa of the Mysteries

The famous painted room is part of a suburban villa outside the ancient walls. Our Villa of the Mysteries guide explains the frescoes and route. Express excludes the suburban villas: compare current ticket inclusions before making this extension a central part of your day.

5. The bath complexes

Use the Forum Baths or another currently open complex to understand the relationship between bathing, architecture and social life. Do not assume every bath building is open because the park itself is open. The Park’s current building list is more useful for a visit than an old “must-see” checklist.

6. House of the Faun

This large house is associated with the Alexander Mosaic. Distinguish objects displayed at the site from originals held in museum collections. The familiar Cave Canem dog mosaic belongs to the House of the Tragic Poet, not the House of the Faun; use the official map and guide to keep the two houses separate.

7. The Lupanar

The building is frequently discussed for its explicit imagery and inscriptions. Give the evidence historical context rather than presenting it as a novelty. Families can decide in advance whether to include it; access and visitor flow are controlled by the Park.

8. Via dell’Abbondanza and food counters

A street can help connect individual buildings into a picture of urban life. Our thermopolium guide explains the food evidence from the Regio V counter. Do not confuse that discovery with a different establishment on Via dell’Abbondanza: similar building types are not interchangeable archaeological contexts.

9. The theatre district

The theatres offer a comparison with the amphitheatre’s different layout and function. Include this district in a longer urban route rather than treating the entire city as a single short circuit. Allow time for uneven surfaces and breaks between areas.

10. The Antiquarium

The Park’s Antiquarium description explains its role in presenting Pompeii’s history and finds. Check current displays rather than assuming a particular cast or object will always be exhibited. The Park recommends Piazza Esedra for Antiquarium access.

Choose a route, then check access

• About two hours: prioritize the civic centre rather than crossing to every corner.
• About four hours: add selected houses and the theatre district, allowing for closures and breaks.
• A full day: consider an east-to-west visit with the suburban-villa extension if your ticket and the day’s access permit it.

The planner lists the suggested stops and offers printable and saved text guidance. Check opening hours and the booking walkthrough separately. Route lengths are choices, not promises that all interiors can be visited.

Sources and review

Reviewed October 28, 2026 using the Park’s map and excavation guide, building-access list and ticket information. This is an independent guide, not the Park’s official website.