Find Pompeii’s opening hours and plan your visit to the ancient ruins with our up-to-date information and tips.
If you’re wondering what time Pompeii opens or closes, the answer is that from April 1st to October 31st, the gates open at 9:00 AM, allowing the morning light to cast a golden hue over the ruins. The last entry is permitted at 5:30 PM, just as the afternoon sun begins to soften, and the site closes at 7:00 PM, giving you ample time to wander through history.
During the quieter months, from November 1st to March 31st, Pompeii opens its doors at 9:00 AM. The last entrance is at 3:30 PM, as the days grow shorter, and the site concludes its daily tours at 5:00 PM, under the early cloak of dusk.
| Period | Days | Opening Hours | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1 - October 31 | Monday - Sunday | 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM | 5:30 PM |
| November 1 - March 31 | Monday - Sunday | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
To manage crowds, Pompeii now restricts access to a maximum of 20,000 visitors daily. For the high season (April to October), the day is divided: 15,000 people can enter during the morning (9:00 AM to 1:00 PM), leaving only 5,000 spots for the afternoon window (1:00 PM to 5:30 PM).
The key takeaway? Booking your ticket ahead of time is highly recommended to ensure you secure your spot!
Used to be that booking online was just convenient. Now? It’s practically mandatory if you don’t want to waste half your day in line.
During high season, physical ticket office lines can hit 45 to 90 minutes of wait time. One tourist in August 2025 called them “biblical waiting times.” And that’s assuming tickets haven’t sold out, which happens regularly when the site reaches its 20,000-person capacity.
As you can imagine, the queue to get into Pompeii varies depending on the time of year, the day of the week, and the time of day. During peak tourist seasons, like summer and holidays, you can experience longer waiting times, sometimes ranging between 20 to 60 minutes, especially in the late morning.
That’s why we strongly recommend arriving early or buying your tickets in advance. This can significantly reduce your waiting time and make your visit to Pompeii much more enjoyable
Here’s something that catches people off guard, tickets are nominative. That means each ticket carries your name and you’ll need to show ID that matches exactly. We’re talking passport or official identification. No, you can’t transfer your ticket to your friend if plans change. This was specifically designed to kill the resale market.
As mentioned above, last entry is at 5:30 p.m. from April 1 to October 31, and at 3:30 p.m. from November 1 to March 31. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend arriving early so you can fully enjoy this remarkable Italian archaeological site.
The site remains open almost every day of the year. According to the official website of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, there are two confirmed closures, in addition to May 1st, the date on which other sources indicate Pompeii will be closed:
| Reason | Closing Day |
|---|---|
| New Year | January 1 |
| Labor Day | May 1 |
| Christmas | December 25 |
The bigger headache? Partial closures. The Amphitheatre was shut from June 16 to August 9, 2025 for maintenance and summer concert prep. Individual buildings like the House of the Faun, Villa of the Mysteries, the Forum, and the Lupanar (the famous brothel) close unpredictably for restoration or safety concerns.
If you’re planning to visit the suburban villas included in the Pompeii+ ticket, note that Villa Arianna, Villa San Marco, Villa di Poppea, and the Archaeological Museum of Stabia all close every Tuesday.
If you want to know when the best time to visit Pompeii is, we recommend considering the shoulder seasons: in spring (April to June) or in autumn (September to October). These months offer mild weather, which is perfect for exploring the archaeological wonders at your own pace.
And if you are looking for a truly serene experience, the off-season between November and March (excluding the last two weeks of December) allows you to visit Pompeii quietly, which is ideal if you want to explore the site in detail.
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