Visiting Pompeii With Children
Pompeii suits families who like walking and old buildings, and the ticket rules are kind to young visitors. The main things to plan for are heat, distance and the question of how much your children should see. Prices are in euros.
Costs for children and teenagers
Under 18s enter Pompeii and Herculaneum free. EU citizens aged 18 to under 25 pay EUR 2, as do non-EU residents with an Italian residence permit. Every paid ticket carries the holder’s name, and the park limits entry to 20,000 visitors a day. On the first Sunday of each month entry is free for everyone, with no online booking: families go straight to the turnstiles, and the daily limit still applies.
Heat, shade and walking
The ancient city is large and mostly open to the sun, and the basalt paving is uneven, which is hard on small legs and on pushchairs. Allow a half day at minimum, and plan short stops rather than one long loop. From 16 March to 14 October the site is open 09:00 to 19:00, with last entrance at 17:30. Arriving at opening time gives the coolest walking. Bring water, hats and snacks, because shade is scarce. Only small bags are allowed, up to 30 x 30 x 15 cm, so pack light and use the free luggage storage at the entrances for anything larger.
Places that hold children’s attention
The Forum is open and easy to follow, with Vesuvius behind the Temple of Jupiter. The Roman amphitheatre is the oldest surviving stone amphitheatre, and children can picture the crowds it held. The park’s thematic itineraries last about 1.5 hours, cost EUR 8 on top of entry and are free for children under 10, which makes them a manageable length for a family.
The casts
Some of the casts at Pompeii are human remains of people who died in AD 79. The Palestra Grande exhibition, open since 12 March 2026, shows 22 casts of victims with the stated aim of giving them dignity, and the Garden of the Fugitives holds casts of 13 victims. Other casts stand in the buildings where they were found. Decide in advance whether your children are ready for this, and talk with them beforehand. Walking past is always an option.
Accessibility
The park has installed tactile, Braille and LIS supports as part of its Pompei tra le mani project, at the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance. The Artebus shuttle between park sites is not wheelchair accessible. For route details, use the accessibility page on the park website .
Beyond Pompeii
Herculaneum, about 20 minutes away at Ercolano Scavi on the Circumvesuviana, is smaller and quicker to cover, and under 18s are free there too. Families can compare child-friendly guided options through GetYourGuide .
The Vesuvius Gran Cono walk admits children under 6 free with an adult, but the walk takes up to 2 hours return with a guide, and tickets are sold online only through the authorised seller .
Read more: things to do in and around Pompei lists other things to do on your trip.