Visiting Pompeii With Kids
If you are planning to visit Pompeii during your holiday in Italy and you are travelling with your family, there are a few tips that can make your trip more enjoyable with children. Take note!
Views of Pompeii | ©Paul Kelley
Pompeii is a fascinating city: its cobbled streets, the historic buildings that were petrified by the lava of Vesuvius and the customs of a population for whom time stood still almost 2,000 years ago will keep the whole family attentive during the visit.
However, as always when travelling with the youngest members of the family, it is best to plan the organisational details so that everything runs smoothly.
An organised excursion, more comfortable for family trips
When it comes to visiting a place like Pompeii with so much historical context and relatively far from the big cities like Rome, the best thing to do is to take an all-inclusive tour.
This will allow you to forget about getting to Pompeii, transfers, buying tickets and waiting at the ticket office. In addition, an expert guide will make sure you understand what you are seeing at every step.
By the way, the guides are very used to having children in the groups, so the younger ones will also enjoy the guided tour.
If you want to visit Pompeii from Rome
If you are planning a family trip to Pompeii from Rome, you should know that the distance between the Italian capital and the city of Vesuvius is 242 kilometres, so the journey time is about 2.5 hours.
Since the journey is made by air-conditioned bus and you will be accompanied by an expert guide, the trip will be a breeze, even for the little ones, who can train themselves by watching the scenery and asking the guide any questions they may have.
If you are planning to travel in summer, booking the excursion to Pompeii from Rome will also allow you to visit Mount Vesuvius.
If you want to visit Pompeii from Naples
If you leave from the Neapolitan capital and want to make an excursion to Pompeii from Naples, the journey will be much shorter, as both cities are less than 30 kilometres apart.
In this case, the trip takes place in an air-conditioned minibus and an expert guide will explain the history of the best-preserved Roman city in the world.
Booking an excursion to Pompeii from Naples is a great idea if you are travelling with children, because the whole tour lasts about 4 hours and the transport can include pick-up and drop-off directly at the hotel, if you are staying at one of the selected hotels.
Always book in advance
And following the previous recommendation, another tip I can give you is that whether you decide to visit Pompeii with an organized tour or if you prefer to buy the tickets to Pompeii and visit the city on your own, it is best to book online and in advance.
In Hellotickets, for example, you can choose between different types of tours, departing from Naples and from Rome: some also include a visit to the Amalfi Coast or even the ascent to Vesuvius. And depending on your budget, you can choose with or without lunch included, so you can organise it as you prefer.
If you're travelling in high season, it's likely to be more crowded, so booking in advance makes particular sense, as tours may sell out or be fully booked on the day you want to travel.
Take advantage of reduced prices for children on tours and tickets
Babies up to two years old get in free (they also have free access to tours and guided visits), but for children up to 6 years old there are very reduced rates that compensate.
In Hellotickets, for example, when you book an excursion to Pompeii from Rome or an excursion to Pompeii from Naples you will have the option to select the age range of your children, so that they will automatically calculate the reduced price that each of them will have to pay.
In the case of babies, even if they travel for free, it is best to select the entrance or tour for him/her, even if it is free, so you will avoid confusion at the entrance. Enjoy!
Protect them from the sun if you are travelling in summer
Between July and August the temperatures in the Pompeii area rise quite a lot and considering that almost all of the visit takes place outdoors, you're not going to find too many shady spots during the tour.
That's why it's essential that they are well hydrated and prepared with hats and sunscreen. This also applies to the older ones, as the temperatures can be quite oppressive for everyone, so don't hesitate to prepare yourself for a day in the sun.
Remember also that comfortable shoes will make you stand the day and the walk much better. An ice cream at the end of the visit will make you forget about the heat and you will leave with the best taste in your mouth.
Beware of pushchairs
Although it is possible to access much of the tour with a baby pram, it is not advisable. The streets of Pompeii are cobbled and this does not help you to spend several hours walking around.
A good option, if the baby is still small, is to opt for backpacks or baby carriers: you will have much more flexibility when moving around the area and you will not have to worry about the logistics of the stroller.
If the children are a little older, they will have a lot of fun walking and if you combine the walk with several breaks along the route, they will be equally delighted.
In general, the well-preserved ruins and the fascinating history of the city will keep them attentive for quite a while, so you should have no problem.
Bring snacks in your backpack
It is true that at the entrance to Pompeii you will find several stalls where you can get some snacks or refreshments, but when it comes to the little ones in the house, it is best to go well stocked from the beginning.
We don't know when they will want to take a break, when they will get a little hungry or just need to divert their attention and take a break to play or rest.
Carrying something light in your backpack for them to eat or nibble on will help keep them energised for a stroll around Pompeii.
Plan your meals ahead of time
In line with the previous point, if you are planning to spend the whole day in Pompeii, it is best to know where to eat and at what time, so that you can organise and even book a table.
In the middle of the day, especially in high season or on public holidays, there can be quite a lot of visitors in the area, so finding a good place to eat is not always easy.
I recommend my article on where to eat in Pompeii so you can choose from a wide variety of restaurants and menus. You're sure to find something that will suit everyone and allow you to organise your meal in advance, without having to improvise on the spot.
Put them in context so they understand what they are going to see
If there is one thing that fascinates (young and old) it is the history of Pompeii. To prevent them from just seeing the ruins and not really understanding what it is, the best thing to do is to tell them a little about the history of the city.
The good condition of many of the remains will make them marvel just by looking at them, but if you have told them a little about it beforehand, they will be completely hooked. Plus, sooner or later they'll be studying the history of volcanoes at school :)
This documentary tells the story of Pompeii through illustrations and is quite useful to explain what happened. Check it out and if you like it, don't hesitate to show it to them a few days before you go there.