Pompeii entrances
Pompeii is an archaeological park with three entrances: Porta Marina, Piazza Esedra and Piazza Anfiteatro. All three are also exits and have a ticket office. Porta Marina, next to the Pompei Villa dei Misteri station of the Circumvesuviana, is the main gate, while Piazza Anfiteatro, at the east end, is where the step-free 'Pompeii for all' route starts.
Entrances to Pompeii
The three entrances to Pompeii are in different parts of the site, so you can pick the one closest to your train or to the area you want to see first. All three are entrances and exits, and each has a ticket office:
| Entrance name | Address | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|
| Porta Marina | Via Villa dei Misteri, 80045 Pompei (NA) | Main entrance, at the west end. Next to the Pompei Villa dei Misteri station (Circumvesuviana, Naples-Sorrento line), with luggage storage and the information office. |
| Piazza Esedra | Piazza Porta Marina Inferiore, 80045 Pompei (NA) | South-west side, near Porta Marina. The park recommends it for the Antiquarium, and the free Artebus shuttle for park visitors leaves from here. |
| Piazza Anfiteatro | Piazza Immacolata, 80045 Pompei (NA) | East end, next to the Amphitheatre. Start of the step-free 'Pompeii for all' route, with luggage storage. Nearest station: Pompei Santuario (Circumvesuviana, Naples-Poggiomarino line). |
The Pompeii map shows the three entrances on a 3D map of the excavations, with a site plan and a free PDF.
Where is the main entrance to Pompeii?
The main entrance to Pompeii is identified as Porta Marina. This access area is located on Via Villa dei Misteri and represents the busiest entry point due to its proximity to the Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri train station, on the Circumvesuviana line. For visitors who arrive from Naples or Sorrento, the exact address places this gate at the western end of the archaeological complex.
Porta Marina Pompeii entrance
Porta Marina Pompeii entrance
The Porta Marina Pompeii entrance is the main service point for visitors, with a ticket office, luggage storage and the information office at Via Villa dei Misteri 2. In fact, as a Reddit user states, “the Porta Marina entrance is the largest and most popular.”
Its opening time is at 09:00 hours throughout the year, with the last entry at 15:30 in winter and at 17:30 in summer. Drivers on the A3 motorway take the Pompei Scavi exit; the park has no car park of its own, but there are municipal and private car parks outside the site. This entrance gives immediate access to the Temple of Venus, the Basilica and the Civil Forum, with an instant view of the urban scale of the ancient city.
Photo: “Puerta Marina Pompeya” by Eufrosine~commonswiki.
Other entrances in Pompeii
Other entrances to Pompeii exist to distribute the flow of visitors and facilitate access according to the means of transport used. These options allow a more direct entry to specific sectors of the ruins, such as the entertainment area or the residential neighborhoods of the eastern and southern sectors of the site.
Piazza Anfiteatro
The Amphitheatre entrance, whose address is Piazza Immacolata, is at the eastern end of the ancient city. It has a ticket office and luggage storage, and the park names it as the access point of the step-free 'Pompeii for all' route, over 3.5 km along the main streets. The nearest Circumvesuviana stop is Pompei Santuario, on the Naples-Poggiomarino line. According to a Reddit user, “the entrance to Piazza Anfiteatro is the most accessible,” and another user of the same platform points out that it “is the closest to the Trenitalia station in Pompeii,” the station of the national FS network, distinct from the Circumvesuviana.
It is important to consider that, if the priority of the traveler is to see the Roman Amphitheater or the Palestra Grande upon arrival, this entrance is the recommended one, since these monuments are located a few meters from the security control. From this point, the tour starts in the area of the large buildings for spectacles, allowing a progression towards the city center through the Via dell’Abbondanza.
Photo: “Entrance to Pompeii” by Thomas Shahan/Magnus Manske.
What else should you know?
Opening hours
Since the schedule changes throughout the year, verifying the seasonal opening hours is essential for a smooth visit.
How to get to Pompeii
When figuring out how to get to Pompeii from Naples or Rome, taking the train is usually the most convenient and popular option.
Pompeii map
Since the archaeological site is massive, carrying a detailed Pompeii map is the best way to navigate the ancient streets without getting lost.