Pompeii & Amalfi Coast Private Tour: Skip-the-Line Tickets

Pompeii's Forum and Temple of Apollo sit exactly where Roman civic life and worship intersected, still legible in the stone.

A private full-day tour of Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast with skip-the-line tickets, Mercedes minivan transport, and an optional certified guide who walks you through the archaeological highlights. After Pompeii, you have free time to explore Sorrento and Positano, two pastel-colored coastal towns perched on cliffs above the Bay of Naples, with stops along the scenic Amalfi Drive. The day is customizable: tell your driver what you want to see or taste, and the itinerary adjusts.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Pompeii Archaeological Site2h · entry included
2. Temple of Apollo5m · entry included
3. Piazza Tassopassing by
4. Chiostro di San Francescopassing by
5. Spiaggia Grandepassing by

Explore Pompeii and Amalfi Coast towns

• Skip line at Pompeii
• Tour Pompeii Archaeological Site highlights
• Visit Porta Marina gate
• See Basilica in Pompeii
• Explore Temple of Apollo
• Walk through Pompeii’s Forum
• Visit Macellum food market
• Tour Forum Baths
• See House of the Vettii
• View Insula dei Casti Amanti
• Visit Teatro Grande
• Explore Antiquarium of Pompeii museum
• Drive along Amalfi Coast to Sorrento
• Free time in Sorrento town center
• Drive Amalfi Drive to Positano
• Free time in Positano
• Visit Church of Santa Maria Assunta

The experience

Your private driver picks you up and handles all the driving while you settle in. Skip-the-line tickets to Pompeii are included, so you walk straight past the entrance queue. If you want deeper context, add a certified guide (standard or kid-oriented), who leads you through the archaeological park and explains what you're standing in. Without a guide, you move at your own pace through the ruins: the Forum where magistrates once issued rulings, the Temple of Apollo with its open courtyard and bronze statues, the House of the Vettii with its frescoed walls, the Teatro Grande where you can look down onto the stage and orchestra, the Basilica with its tall columns, and the Macellum where vendors once sold fish and imported goods. The Antiquarium museum near the entrance holds smaller artifacts (jewelry, household objects, plaster casts) that give shape to daily life before the eruption in AD 79.

After Pompeii, the route follows the Amalfi Drive along cliffs planted with lemon groves, with views across the Bay of Naples toward Mount Vesuvius and the islands. You stop in Sorrento first, where you have free time to walk Piazza Tasso (the social heart, ringed by cafés), browse Corso Italia's boutiques and limoncello shops, or slip into the Cloister of San Francesco for quiet. Then on to Positano, where pastel houses cascade down the mountainside almost to the water. Spiaggia Grande, the main beach, sits at the base of the town and opens onto the harbor. From there you can stroll the waterfront or climb the narrow lanes to the Church of Santa Maria Assunta with its majolica dome. The day ends with your driver returning you to your hotel or ship.

A Mercedes minivan seats your group comfortably with air conditioning and live commentary from your driver as you travel. Comfortable walking shoes and sun protection matter: Pompeii involves real walking through the archaeological site, and the Amalfi Coast towns are built on steep terrain with stairs. The operator recommends moderate fitness. Those who don't want to walk the whole Pompeii site can rest in the cafés and shops at the entrance. Cruise passengers need to provide ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and last boarding time so the driver can time your return.

What’s included

• Mercedes minivan with English-speaking driver and air conditioning.
• live commentary during the drive.
• skip-the-line Pompeii tickets.
• optional certified guide in English or Italian (standard or kid-oriented).
• free time in Sorrento and Positano for shopping, meals, and photos.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private tour with driver and ticketGuide in English or Italian · 8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 10:30Private tour with a driver in a Mercedes minivan: clean, comfortable and air-conditioned. Admission fees are included: skip-the-line tickets for Pompeii. Pickup is included.

Private Driver&Guide&TicketsGuide in English or Italian · 8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 10:30Pompeii private official guide: a private 2-hour walking tour in a clean, comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes minivan. Skip-the-line tickets: skip-the-line entry to Pompeii is included. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 10:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (under 18): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Leisure Italy

Is this one for you?Choose the standard guide option if you want the history and context of Pompeii's ruins explained as you walk. Skip the guide if you prefer to explore at your own pace and use the extra time for the coastal towns. Cruise passengers should book this when you need a return timed to your ship's departure: the driver coordinates the schedule so you're back with buffer time.

Traveler reviews

4.86★★★★★★★★★★

36 verified traveler reviews

5 ★34

4 ★0

3 ★1

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 18): free.

What are the main stops inside Pompeii on this tour?

The Pompeii Archaeological Site walk includes the Forum, Temple of Apollo, Basilica, House of the Vettii, Teatro Grande, Macellum, and Forum Baths, plus the Antiquarium museum at the entrance where you see smaller artifacts and plaster casts. A certified guide (if you add one) walks you through these highlights and explains the history. Without a guide, you explore at your own pace.

How much free time do I get in Sorrento and Positano?

The itinerary builds in free time in both towns so you can shop, eat, photograph, or simply sit in a café. Sorrento's Piazza Tasso and Corso Italia are the main gathering spots. Positano centers on Spiaggia Grande beach and the narrow lanes climbing toward the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Your driver can suggest spots or adjust the schedule based on what interests you most.

Do I need to book a guide, or can I explore Pompeii on my own?

The guide is optional. Skip-the-line tickets are included either way, so you enter directly. If you want expert context on the ruins, you can add a certified guide: available in standard or kid-oriented versions (recommended for ages 6 to 11). Without a guide, you walk the site independently at whatever pace suits you.

What's included in the tour, and what should I bring?

Included are the Mercedes minivan with English-speaking driver, skip-the-line Pompeii tickets, and live commentary during travel. Bring comfortable walking shoes (Pompeii and the coastal towns involve real walking and stairs), sun protection, and a valid passport or photo of it. Lunch is not included, but you'll have time and opportunity to eat in Sorrento or Positano.

Is this tour suitable for cruise ship passengers?

Yes. Provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and last boarding time when you book, so the driver can time your return to the port. The eight to nine hour tour fits within a typical port call, and the driver will coordinate the schedule to get you back with time to spare.