Tours · Pompeii guided tours · Pompeii Small Group Tour with an Archaeologist

9. in Pompeii guided tours · The walk with the most reviews

Pompeii Small Group Tour with an Archaeologist

Choose the daytime English Tour for the largest review base here, with an archaeologist and city entry included. The 2-hour route starts at Porta Marina and leaves out the Villa of the Mysteries.

By Chiara Vitale · Operator: Askos Tours · Viator data from October 19, 2026 · prices, options and terms rechecked November 8, 2026 · no change · Sources checked

From €29.50 per adult · English Tour option
4.8 out of 5 · 7,754 reviews, Viator and Tripadvisor

Every day. The listed start times cover several options; confirm the departure for English Tour. Meeting point for this option: Porta Marina Superiore, opposite Hortus. Full refund up to 24 hours before departure; nothing back after that. Instant confirmation.

Pompeii Small Group Tour with an Archaeologist, photo 1 from the operator's listingPompeii Small Group Tour with an Archaeologist, photo 2 from the operator's listingPompeii Small Group Tour with an Archaeologist, photo 3 from the operator's listingPompeii Small Group Tour with an Archaeologist, photo 4 from the operator's listingPompeii Small Group Tour with an Archaeologist, photo 5 from the operator's listing

Photos from the operator's listing.

Our check of this tour

What we verified in the listing for the English Tour option.
Time inside Pompeii 2 h with an archaeologist
Whole day 2 h
Park entry Includes the city ticket, not the villas
Exact Pompeii ticket City ticket (matches the park's €20)
Villa of the Mysteries Not included: the city ticket doesn't cover the suburban villas
Group Shared group: up to 20; up to 15 per booking
Meeting point Porta Marina Superiore, opposite Hortus
Price From €29.50 per adult, English Tour option
Main trade-off The city ticket excludes the Villa of the Mysteries; mobility scooters aren't allowed.

Read from the operator's listing on Viator for the named option; park rules from the park ticket table. Viator record data from October 19, 2026.

Is this tour right for you?

Book English Tour for the daytime walk from Porta Marina. It is the shared pick with the most reviews in this collection. You spend 2 hours with an archaeologist in a group of up to 20.

The western route links the Forum and baths with private houses. Your ticket covers the city and excludes the Villa of the Mysteries. Food and transport cost extra.

Meet opposite Hortus and look for the ASKOS TOURS sign. The park lists the Forum Granary as temporarily not visible, so its planned stop needs replacing. Choose the daytime option to keep the route and meeting gate described here.

What I'd do: choose the daytime English Tour for city entry and the largest review base, then bring water for the walk.

Which option?

English Tour Compared in Guided tours
€29.50 per adult

French Tour
€29.50 per adult

Portuguese Tour
€29.50 per adult

Italian Tour
€29.50 per adult

German Tour
€29.50 per adult

Spanish Tour
€29.50 per adult

Prices are the lowest listed price per option, per adult; the booking page shows the price for your date. Viator records data from October 19, 2026.

How does the day work?

  1. 10 min
    Porta Marina: Meet the guide and begin the visit, 10 minutes.
  2. 15 min
    Basilica: Visit the public building, 15 minutes.
  3. 10 min
    Forum: Stop in the city's public square, 10 minutes.
  4. 15 min
    Forum Granary: 15 minutes planned; listed as closed by the park.
  5. Via dell'Abbondanza: Walk along the ancient street.
  6. 15 min
    House of Menander: Visit the house, 15 minutes.
  7. 15 min
    Stabian Baths: Explore the bath complex, 15 minutes.
  8. 15 min
    Lupanar: Visit the former brothel, 15 minutes.
  9. 15 min
    House of the Faun: Visit the house, 15 minutes.
  10. Small Theater: Pass by from outside, per the park's list.
  11. 10 min
    Large Theatre: 10 minutes listed; check current access before your visit.
Where you meet: Porta Marina Superiore, opposite Hortus. The operator's instructions: The meeting point is the main entrance of Pompeii ruins called "Porta Marina Superiore" opposite to a restaurant called 'Hortus'. Please put this one, for easier navigation. Meet our staff at the entrance gates holding ‘ASKOS TOURS’ sign to be recognized.

What's included?

  • Licensed guide with archaeological background
  • Guidance and assistance for the entire duration of the tour
  • Small Group (maximum 20 people per guide)
  • Headsets (for groups of 16 or more)
  • 'Pompeii Express' entrance ticket

What's not included?

  • Food and drinks
  • Transportation

These two lists are the operator's for the whole product; where they disagree with English Tour, that option decides. This option includes the city ticket, not the villas.

Departure times in the listing: 09:00, 09:10, 09:15, 09:30, 09:45, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30; they are tour start times, not the time of the first stop, and they cover several options, so confirm yours when booking.

Itinerary, inclusions and exclusions: the operator's listing on Viator. Times are the listing's. Viator data from October 19, 2026.

What should I know before booking?

Names on tickets The park's tickets carry each traveler's name. Bring ID or a passport for everyone, children too. The listing adds: “For under 18 y.o. travelers, please bring your ID card/passport with you.”
No re-entry One entry to the site. Bring lunch if you want to eat during the visit. Your bag must fit within 30 × 30 × 15 cm.
Mobility and health Suitable for all physical fitness levels; Mobility scooters are not allowed.
Cancellation Full refund up to 24 hours before departure; nothing back after that.
Booking cutoff Book at least 1 hour before departure. Instant confirmation. Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
Children The listing prices under 4 as infants, ages 4 to 11 as children, ages 12 to 17 as youths and ages 18 to 99 as adults; the booking page shows each rate. Each booking needs at least one adult rate.
From the listing:
  • Choose English Tour; the night options use another gate and give conflicting lengths.
  • Meet at Porta Marina opposite Hortus.
  • Mobility scooters aren't allowed, and the route isn't recommended for travelers with mobility impairments.
  • Children need an accompanying adult; bring ID for everyone under 18.
  • The walk runs in rain or shine; bring water and comfortable shoes.
  • Ask which stop replaces the closed Forum Granary.

Operator's conditions on Viator; park rules on names, bags and re-entry from its visitor regulations. Viator data from October 19, 2026.

How is it rated?

4.8 out of 5 on Viator · 4,327 reviews
5 stars: 3,763 reviews.
4 stars: 356 reviews.
3 stars: 101 reviews.
2 stars: 58 reviews.
1 star: 49 reviews.
4.8 out of 5 on Tripadvisor · 3,427 reviews
5 stars: 3,083 reviews.
4 stars: 233 reviews.
3 stars: 51 reviews.
2 stars: 35 reviews.
1 star: 25 reviews.

Combined rating: 4.8 out of 5 from 7,754 reviews, Viator and Tripadvisor. We have the marketplace's figures, not the review texts. Viator data from October 19, 2026.

Which tour should I choose instead?

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From €180 per adult English option
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Pompeii Skip-the-Line Entry Small Group Guided Tour

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From €49.99 per adult
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Meet at Tempio Travel inside Pompei Villa dei Misteri station. Your archaeologist walk lasts 2 hours with city entry included. The group is capped at 15.
From €80 per adult

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Chiara Vitale Writes pompeii.day

I grew up in Castellammare di Stabia, under the volcano, and spent six seasons on hotel front desks in Sorrento. Which ticket, which train, which gate, how many hours: I've answered these more times than I can count.

Now I live in Pompei, ten minutes on foot from the Amphitheatre gate, and I go into the site most weeks on a MyPompeii card. For this page I compared the options and booking terms with the park's rules. Report a correction.