Private 2 Hour Paestum Tour: Greek Temples & Museum

Walk among three 6th-century temples, then see the Tomb of the Diver in the museum

A private two-hour guided tour of the Archaeological Park of Paestum takes you through some of the best-preserved Greek ruins in the world: the Temple of Poseidon, the Temple of Ceres, and the Basilica, all dating to the 6th century. The tour ends in the museum, where you stand in front of the Tomb of the Diver, a Greek painting depicting a funeral banquet and considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or German.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Paestum ruins and museum

• Guided tour of Paestum ruins
• Visit Temple of Poseidon
• See temple of Ceres and Basilica
• Admire Tomb of the Diver in museum

The experience

Two hours is enough to move through the three main temples without rushing. The Temple of Poseidon and Temple of Ceres anchor the site (both standing structures you walk around and through), while the Basilica completes the trio of monuments the guide will explain. The ruins sit in an open park, so you're moving between them on foot across the grounds.

The second half of the tour takes you into the museum to see the Tomb of the Diver, a painted limestone slab from the 5th century BCE showing a young man diving into water above a funeral banquet scene below. It's a rare example of Greek painting that survived, and the guide will walk you through why archaeologists consider it one of the most important finds of the last hundred years. The museum also holds other artifacts from the site, though the Diver is what most visitors come to see.

A licensed guide leads the whole tour and can answer questions about the site's history and what you're looking at. The park is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are nearby if you're arriving without a car.

What’s included

• Licensed tour guide.
• access to the Archaeological Park of Paestum and its museum.
• two hours of guided time through the temples and the Tomb of the Diver.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Entrance of the site”

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

Paid on site€ 15

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Tour Guide Naples

Is this one for you?The two-hour length fits a morning or afternoon slot without eating a full day, and the private format means the pace and stops follow your interests rather than a group schedule.

Traveler reviews

4.82★★★★★★★★★★

11 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What are the three main temples I'll see on this Paestum tour?

The Temple of Poseidon, the Temple of Ceres, and the Basilica: all dating to the 6th century and among the best-preserved Greek structures outside Greece itself.

What is the Tomb of the Diver and why is it important?

The Tomb of the Diver is a painted limestone slab from the 5th century BCE showing a young man diving into water above a funeral banquet. It's one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century because Greek paintings this old almost never survive.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

You'll walk between the three temples across the open park grounds and then move through the museum. The pace is steady but not strenuous, and the park is wheelchair accessible.