Free first Sundays at Pompeii

When are Pompeii's free first Sundays in 2026-27?

1 November and 6 December 2026, then 3 January, 7 February, 7 March and 4 April 2027.

The park's ticket page lists a "free ticket every first Sunday of the month", and the 2026 fee rules keep it. From November to mid March the winter timetable applies, so the gates close at 17:00 with last entry at 15:30.

How do you get into Pompeii on a free Sunday?

Walk straight to the turnstiles. You can't book or buy online, no named ticket is issued, and the 20,000 daily cap still applies.

The park set out the entry measures for free admission days: on Domenica al Museo visitors pass directly through the turnstiles without going to the ticket office, online booking is not possible, and the limit of 20,000 visitors a day remains in force.

That makes it first come, first served. Before the cap came in, free Sundays drew peaks of over 36,000 entries in a day, according to The Local. Get there for the 9:00 opening and bring water and food.

Should you book a Pompeii tour on a free Sunday?

We wouldn't. You still pay for transport and the guide, and one operator says entry on those days is not guaranteed.

Read the exclusions. The Pompeii half day lists: "On the first Sunday of every month, entry to the Pompeii Park is free and not guaranteed." The ticket is only part of a tour price; the rest is the bus, the guide and, on combined days, lunch and the volcano.

If your only free date in Naples is a first Sunday, take the shuttle for transport and go in for free, or do a combined day and accept the crowds. Otherwise move Pompeii to the Saturday or Monday.

Two guided hours in Pompeii with a priority ticket, on any other day of the month.

★ 4.2 · 4 to 5 hours · from $87

Explore the Pompeii half-day trip → Tour details

Is Vesuvius free on the first Sunday too?

No. The crater ticket costs EUR 10 every day, sold online only; children under 6 go free.

The free Sunday is a Pompeii rule. The Vesuvius National Park charges EUR 10 (EUR 8 reduced) on Sundays like any other day, and only sells timed tickets online. In winter the crater also closes at 15:00, which you can read about in our crater closures post.

Who gets into Pompeii free on other days?

Under-18s, every day. EU citizens aged 18 to 24 pay EUR 2. Everyone else pays EUR 20 for Pompeii Express.

Families often don't need the free Sunday at all. Children under 18 enter free all year, per the 2026 fees, and young EU adults pay EUR 2. On a family trip the saving on a first Sunday is just the adults' tickets.

All the other 2026 prices and rules are in our Pompeii tickets post, and the kids guide covers child rates on tours.

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