Processing your payment

Headout logo. Link to home.
Help
Guided Tours

Pompeii Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with an Archaeologist

Ancient ruins of Pompeii with stone columns and archway under a clear blue sky.
Ancient ruins and columns in Pompeii, Italy, part of a skip-the-line guided tour.
Tourists exploring the ancient Samnite House interior in Pompeii, Italy.
Tourists with a guide exploring an ancient room in the ruins of Pompeii, Italy.

Duration

2 hr - 3 hr

Open today

09:00am - 05:00pm

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

With skip-the-line entry, explore key excavations of Pompeii, including the ancient amphitheater, accompanied by an archaeologist guide.

4.6/5

(3,334)

Marion Thompson

Marion

Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
We booked a 2 hour guided tour, but stayed later to see more of the site and took a local train to and from Naples (very easy to do this.) I am so pleased we booked the skip the line tour. It saved all the hassle of the entry gate and the guide brought us straight into the site. She was full of knowledge and kept us going at a good pace through some of the main areas. Without her, we would have stayed too long at some areas and missed a lot. In 2 hours we saw a lot of the main buidlings and got a good impression of the whole site, so we were able to go and see more of the villas and streets after the tour. This is definitely the way to see Pompeii if it is your first visit. I have used this company before, in Rome, and they are organised and reliable.
Charles Reddish

Charles

Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Friendly and enthusiastic guide with good knoweldge of the site and its history. Small group. Headphones worked fine. Well paced 3 hour tour taking in a good sample of the best sites to see in Pompeii. The Villa dei Misteri was a highlight for me with its set of frescoes showing a Roman woman's journey to marriage - life size paintings in very good condition. The tour inevitably left out other "must see" sites, so taking an early morning tour and then staying on for the rest of the day to do more exploring on your own definitely recommended. The restaurant at the top of the catering building in the middle of the site was very good - ignore the self-service queues and walk up to the restaurant - nice terrace with tables and views over Pompeii.
Esquier Pierre

Esquier

Nov 2025
Verified booking
4/5
We were fascinated by our guided tour of Pompeii... so much to see, and so important also to try to mentally project ourselves into the catastrophic event of the year 79. Our guide was easy to understand and very knowledgeable. We did, however, find that a little too much time was spent focusing on the lupanar and all the sexual symbols encountered on the site. Other more interesting aspects could have been developed a little more (family life, politics, economics, sports, culture...). We had climbed Vesuvius the day before visiting the ruins, and the whole experience was very complete and rich.
    • Discover the Pompeii Archaeological Park with an expert archaeologist guide, with a skip-the-line entry ticket.

    • Walk through the ancient streets of Pompeii, and marvel at Mount Vesuvius while your guide recounts the dramatic history of this city.

    • Stroll along Via dell’Abbondanza to Teatro Grande, uncovering ancient artworks and Roman graffiti at Casa del Menandro along the way.

    • Marvel at the frescoes depicting the Nucerians-Pompeiians battle, and opt for an English, Spanish, Italian, French, or German-speaking guide, as per your comfort.

    • Fun fact: Pompeii's Amphitheater could hold up to 20,000 spectators, showcasing the scale of entertainment in ancient Rome.

    • 2-hour guided tour of Pompeii

    • Skip-the-line entry

    • English, Spanish, Italian, German, and French-speaking archaeologist guide (as per option selected)

    • Entry to Villa dei Misteri (optional)

    • Small group (optional)

    • Earphones for small groups (optional)

  • You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

  • 4.6
    3,334 reviews

    How do we collect reviews?

    These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.

    2.4K
    627
    105
    53
    91
    Guests from Spain, France, United States and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    NOWACKI Cécile

    Nowacki

    Dec 2025
    Verified booking
    4/5
    Our guide Alfredo was a great listener, knew his subject perfectly and spoke very good French. It was a real pleasure to discover Pompeii with him. He's a very good guide and we were delighted. I put 4 stars and not 5 because the tour was supposed to be yesterday and was cancelled the day before. Staying in Naples and taking the plane at 19.00, we had to hurry at the end and we could not visit the Antiquarium and spend more free time after the visit because we had to return to Naples to leave for the airport ... I will return!
    MARIA ELENA RUIZ APILICUETA

    Maria

    Dec 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    We had a unique experience visiting Pompeii with a specialized guide who made the visit even more interesting and enjoyable. The booking of the visit was very easy and the communications were fluid. We went in directly with the guide. After the 2 hours of guided tour we ended up touring Pompeii with her recommendations. We recommend 100% this guided tour to know all the history and excavations of Pompeii.
    Ida Dudot

    Ida

    Dec 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Superb visit with our perfectly bilingual archaeologist guide who, in addition to the knowledge he was able to pass on to us, was kind and patient enough to answer all our questions. There were only six of us in the group, which made things run very smoothly. We recommend taking the option with the House of Delights.
    Ana Helena pons

    Ana

    Dec 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    A guided tour of Pompeii makes all the difference in understanding how people lived at the time! Our guide Giovani was exceptional!!! I totally recommend it!!!
    BELEN RODRIGUEZ DELGADO

    Belen

    Dec 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    The guide explained everything very well and showed us where we had to leave to catch our transportation.
  • Through an archaeologist's lens

    Take a 2-hour guided walk through Pompeii, an archaeological marvel, offering insights into daily life during the Roman Empire. Breeze past the queue with the skip-the-line ticket, and begin your expedition with an archaeologist guide through ancient streets and the bustling Forum, a central public space serving as the heart of civic, commercial, and social activities.

    Learn about the city's history, including the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. This volcanic eruption buried the city under a thick layer of ash and pumice, preserving it remarkably well for centuries. Discover hidden secrets of attractions like the Basilica, the Thermopolium of Asellina, and the Stabian Baths, considered to be the oldest public baths in the city, constructed during the 2nd century BC.

    Walk through Pompeii’s highlights

    Stroll down the Via dell’Abbondanza to reach the Teatro Grande, Pompeii's foremost theatre, primarily hosting theatrical performances, musical events, and various public spectacles. Throughout the exploration, you'll have the opportunity to appreciate ancient Roman artworks. Have the opportunity to step into the culinary world of ancient Pompeii as you explore the Thermopilia, ancient Roman "fast-food" establishments that once served as communal gathering spaces for locals.

    Get to see the erotic frescoes woven into the walls of Pompeii's ruins where your guide will provide a nuanced perspective on the sensual aspects of Pompeii's culture.

    Visit Foro, a hub of ancient political activities where you can get a sense of political chatters that once existed in these ruins. End the tour at the 'Calchi dei Corpi,' plaster casts that preserve the final moments of victims during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

  • Pompeii

    Monday09:00am - 05:00pmlast entry 03:30pm
    Tuesday09:00am - 05:00pmlast entry 03:30pm
    Wednesday09:00am - 05:00pmlast entry 03:30pm
    Thursday09:00am - 05:00pmlast entry 03:30pm
    Friday09:00am - 05:00pmlast entry 03:30pm
    Saturday09:00am - 05:00pmlast entry 03:30pm
    Sunday09:00am - 05:00pmlast entry 03:30pm
  • What to bring

    • Bring along comfortable shoes since this is a walking tour.

    • It is recommended to bring along sunscreen in summer.

    What's not allowed

    • Due to venue restrictions, only small dogs on a leash can be brought inside the park. Guide dogs with a certificate are permitted.

    • Strict dress code: Modest clothing is recommended.

    • Keep in mind sharp metallic tools or objects are not allowed in this experience. Pack wisely!

    Accessibility

    • This experience is not accessible by wheelchair.

    Additional information

    • The fee for the excavation sites of Pompeii is free for all first Sundays of the month.

    • Guides will adapt the route to accommodate opening/closing restrictions or restoration work, so the specific tour sites may vary.

    • Facilities: Cloakroom

    • Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

    • Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

    • Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

    Meeting point

    • Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.

Similar experiences you'd love

Ancient Roman ruins of Herculaneum with Mount Vesuvius in the background.
Landmarks
Herculaneum Skip-the-Line Tickets
4.4(2,791)
from
€16
Herculaneum Skip-the-Line Tickets. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 2791 ratings.From €16
Free cancellation
Group listening to archaeologist during Herculaneum tour inside ancient ruins.
Guided Tours
Herculaneum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with an Archaeologist
4.7(800)
from €44.50
€40.05
10% off
Herculaneum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with an Archaeologist. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 800 ratings.From €40.05
Free cancellation
Guide explaining Pompeii ruins to tourists with Mount Vesuvius in the background.
Guided Tours
Pompeii Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
4.5(11,778)
from €44
€32.12
27% off
Pompeii Skip-the-Line Guided Tour. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 11778 ratings.From €32.12
Free cancellation
Aerial view of Mount Vesuvius crater with Naples and coastline in the background.
Day Trips
From Pompeii: Mount Vesuvius Entry Tickets with Round-Trip Transfers
4.2(1,184)
from
€26.60
From Pompeii: Mount Vesuvius Entry Tickets with Round-Trip Transfers. Rated 4.2 out of 5 from 1184 ratings.From €26.60
Visitors hiking up the rocky path of Mount Vesuvius under a clear blue sky.
Parks
Mount Vesuvius Entry Tickets
4(1,531)
from
€16.90
Mount Vesuvius Entry Tickets. Rated 4 out of 5 from 1531 ratings.From €16.90
Download app section background

We've served 45 million+ guests and we are here for you

45 million+

Happy customers across 10,000+ experiences

In the media

Featured and recommended by the best brands

24 x 7 help center

Have a question? Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime