One of our must-visits on our Amalfi Coast trip was to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. Matt loves all things Roman, so it was a no-brainer that we would include a visit to Pomepii on our iitinerary which is a little over an hours drive from Sorrento. You can also easily take the train from Sorrento Station to Pompeii Scavi, but since we had our car and wanted flexibility with our day, we chose to drive. There is a parking lot next to the site, (Parking Zeus) that is a short walk away.
Pompeii is a huge site – a lot of it is still under excavation (be on the lookout for archeology students digging away) and it is a lot of ground to cover in one day. It’s also a very open space, in that there is not a lot of shade. I think my biggest tip would be to go in not expecting to see it all, if you are travelling with a toddler or young child I think two hours is a good amount of time, and try and get there as early in the day as you can. Despite protests of “5 more minutes!” in bed, I think Matt was happy that we had our tickets purchased early in the day, because even waiting in line for the tickets it can get really hot.
A big decision for anyone travelling to Pompeii is deciding whether or not to hire a guide. There are a number of private guides available, or you can also find licensed guides right outside. They have a set fee of โฌ120 – but they will hook you up with other people, so your total cost per person could be considerably less. We ultimately decided to not hire a guide or join a group, because we weren’t sure how long we would make it, and didn’t want the risk of a toddler meltdown ruining other people’s tours.
Because there was a lot of ground to cover, we brought our travel stroller, but our entire time at Pompeii we only saw one other family that had brought a stroller (#strollersolidarity!). If you choose to bring a stroller, try to make sure it is one you can fold up and carry – we love our Joie Travel Stroller – as there are lots of stairs, uneven bricks, and inevitably at some point your toddler will want to get out and walk around. The only area that is totally paved is the entrance to Pompeii, and then the forum. The “sidewalks” are paved, but can often be uneven, and the streets can be tricky as the main ones have raised blocks in the middle. These allowed pedestrians to cross the street without having to step onto the road itself which doubled up as Pompeii’s drainage and sewage disposal system, which was quite advanced in 79 AD!
Another thing to note, especially if you are planning to travel in the middle of summer like we did, is that Pompeii is very much an open space, in that, there is very little shade anywhere. Make sure to bring water bottles, as there are a number of fountains throughout the site where you can fill up. Sunscreen and hats are also must haves – I love this Straw Hat for toddlers, it helps that I have a similar one. Also be sure and bring snacks. Walking around in the hot sun, carrying a toddler, you will want the extra calories. I was so happy I remembered to grab a granola bar from our breakfast buffet. There is a cafe within Pompeii, but if you bring a small picnic or snacks, no one will stop you from taking a break to eat.
In all, we spent about 2.5 hours exploring Pompeii, which was more than enough time to get a feel for the site, and to see some beautiful frescoes, mosaics and temples. Everything is very well marked, and just walking through the streets allows you a glimpse of what everyday was like for these citizens. Following our time at the archeological site, we grabbed a quick lunch at the restaurant connected to Parking Zeus. In addition to getting a discount on the parking, their pizza and air-conditioned dining room was just what was needed after a long morning of exploring.
