Paestum Ruins Tour: Ancient Temples Better Preserved

Step back to Magna Grecia’s coast where ancient ruins meet the sea breeze

A private tour of the Archaeological Park of Paestum takes you to the ancient Greek city on Italy's southern coast, where three standing temples and a museum show what Magna Graecia looked like before Rome. Hotel or port pickup is included, along with bottled water and live commentary from a guide who speaks English, Spanish or Italian. The ruins sit on the Tyrrhenian coast and are better preserved than many of the temples you'd see in Athens itself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Paestum Greek Ruins

• Pick up from your location
• Drive to Paestum ruins
• Explore ancient Greek temples
• Visit Paestum museum

The Experience

The drive to Paestum covers the route from your hotel or cruise ship, with an air-conditioned minivan and a driver who handles the route so you don't have to. Once there, you walk the Archaeological Park to see the temples and the museum on the same site. The south of Italy was a Greek colony—Magna Graecia—and Paestum is one of the few places where you can stand in front of the actual structures instead of ruins. The temples here are older and more complete than what most visitors expect to find outside Greece itself.

The museum sits within the park and holds the artifacts that came out of the ground: sculptures, pottery and the objects that show how people lived in this ancient city. Your guide provides live commentary throughout the day, explaining what you're looking at and why it matters. The whole visit—park and museum together—fits into a single outing without rushing through either one.

The tour runs nine hours from pickup to drop-off. Bottled water is provided, and the minivan is wheelchair accessible; all areas of the park and museum are also accessible. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle. The guide may speak more than one language, so confirm your preferred language at booking.

What’s included

• Private tour with hotel or port pickup and drop-off.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan.
• bottled water.
• live guide commentary.
• entry to the Archaeological Park of Paestum and the museum.
• local taxes and fuel surcharge.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Italy tour experiences

Is this one for you?The nine-hour commitment means you can see both the temples and the museum without cutting either one short, but it also leaves little room for other stops in the same day. Book this if the ruins and what they held are the main reason for your outing, not if you're trying to fit Paestum into a longer itinerary that includes other towns or beaches.

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Top questions

What are the temples at Paestum and why are they worth seeing?

Paestum holds three standing Greek temples from the 6th and 5th centuries BCE, built when the city was part of Magna Graecia. They are among the best-preserved Greek temples outside Greece, with complete columns and structures that have survived earthquakes and centuries of neglect. Most visitors come to see how intact they are compared to the scattered ruins at other ancient sites.

Is lunch included in the Paestum tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. Bottled water is provided, but you'll need to arrange your own meal or eat at one of the cafés near the Archaeological Park.

How long does the tour take and what time does it start?

The tour runs nine hours from the time the driver picks you up at your hotel or cruise ship until drop-off. The actual start time depends on your pickup location and your booking; confirm the departure time when you reserve.

Can I take this tour if I'm arriving on a cruise ship?

Yes. At booking, cruise passengers must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time so the driver can plan the route to get you back in time. Hotel pickup is also available if you're staying on land.

Is the Archaeological Park of Paestum wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The minivan is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces of the park and museum are also accessible. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English, Spanish and Italian. Confirm your preferred language at the time of booking.