Private tour of Pompeii with archaeologist - 3 hours.

About this tour

Walk through Pompeii's preserved streets and homes with an archaeologist who unpicks the site's layered history. This private three-hour tour moves at your pace through markets, temples and domestic quarters buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD—then forgotten until systematic excavations began in the 1740s. Your guide reveals how ordinary Romans actually lived, reading the archaeological evidence aloud as you stand in their houses and gather spaces.

Highlights

• Private tour with qualified archaeologist guide
• Explore domestic homes and daily life artefacts
• Ancient markets, temples and public buildings
• Customisable itinerary to match your interests
• Volcanic preservation reveals original Roman details
• Three hours unrushed access to the site

What to expect

You'll move through Pompeii's grid of streets following your guide, who contextualises the spaces you enter—pointing out carbonised remains, mosaics, graffiti and structural details that tell stories. Rather than sweeping narratives, expect granular observations about how people cooked, traded, worshipped and lived. The archaeologist shapes the tour around what interests you most: perhaps the brothels and tabernae, or the grander patrician villas. You'll have breathing room to linger and ask questions without a crowd pushing through.

Good to know

Entrance ticket not included—purchase separately or arrange beforehand. Wear comfortable walking shoes; uneven ancient paving is constant. Summer heat is intense; bring water and a hat. The site is steep in places but accessible routes exist for wheelchairs and prams.