Booking choice: The Elite tour with lunch, from $137 per person. Check dates Tour details
Pompeii keeps two timetables. From 16 March to 14 October it opens 9:00 to 19:00. From 15 October to 15 March it opens 9:00 to 17:00, and the last entry is at 15:30.
This winter runs from Thursday 15 October 2026 to Monday 15 March 2027. On top of the shorter days, the park has flagged reduced access to some houses from 4 PM, and the Vesuvius crater closes even earlier than the ruins.
The quick answer
From 15 October 2026 to 15 March 2027 Pompeii opens 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 15:30. It closes on 25 December and 1 January. There are no entry time slots in winter, but the 20,000 daily cap stays. The Vesuvius crater closes at 15:00 from November to February, so book a tour with an early start.
What are Pompeii's opening hours in winter 2026-27?
9:00 to 17:00, last entry 15:30, from 15 October 2026 to 15 March 2027. Summer hours (9:00 to 19:00) return on 16 March 2027.
The times come from the park's timetables and tickets page. The other sites of the park, Boscoreale, Oplontis and the Stabiae museum, keep 9:00 to 17:00 in winter with last entry at 16:00. The Stabiae villas and Oplontis close on Tuesdays all year; the main Pompeii site does not.
An hour and a half between last entry and closing sounds like a lot. It isn't, at 66 hectares. If you go on your own, be inside by 14:00 at the latest.
| Period | Opens | Last entry | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct 2026 to 15 Mar 2027 | 9:00 | 15:30 | 17:00 |
| From 16 Mar 2027 | 9:00 | 17:30 | 19:00 |
| Boscoreale, Oplontis, Stabiae museum (winter) | 9:00 | 16:00 | 17:00 |
Is Pompeii closed on Christmas and New Year's Day?
The timetable lists 25 December and 1 January as closing days. Holiday changes appear in the park's service announcements.
The official timetable gives two closing days a year: 25 December and 1 January. Any change for the holidays is published in the park's service announcements.
Planning around Christmas? 24 and 26 December are normal opening days on the timetable. Tours run on their own calendars, so check the date on the listing before you book.
Do Pompeii's houses close earlier in winter?
Some do. The park's homepage warns of reduced access to some domus from 4 PM from 15 October.
The banner on the park's homepage reads: "From 15 October from 4.00 pm reduced access in some domus." The park's InfoDomus list shows which houses are open.
Which houses are open at all changed in August. Since 15 August 2026 the House of Menander, the Fullonica of Stephanus, the House of Octavius Quartio, the House of the Tragic Poet and the House of Pansa open every day, while the House of the Ceii, the House of the Lararium of Achilles, the House of the Silver Wedding and the Praedia of Julia Felix have closed, according to the park's notice. The House of Menander is one of the stops on the Askos Tours minibus day.
Are there time slots at Pompeii in winter?
No. Time slots apply only from 16 March to 14 October. The daily cap of 20,000 entries holds all year.
The park's ticket page splits entries into a morning and an afternoon slot only in the summer season. In winter you can walk in at any time up to 15:30 with a valid named ticket.
Tickets are still nominative, prices are the same as in summer, and the free first Sunday still applies. For the full price list, read our 2026 ticket post.
How do winter hours change a Vesuvius and Pompeii day trip?
The crater closes at 15:00 from November to February and at 16:00 in October and March, so the volcano has to come before mid afternoon.
The Vesuvius park shortens the crater's hours in winter more than Pompeii does. A day with Pompeii in the morning, lunch, and then the volcano has little slack in December. A tour that starts early, or goes to the volcano first, has more.
Our pick for November to February: the minibus day, which climbs Vesuvius in the morning, or the Elite tour, with pickups from 7:10 (it still does Pompeii first). The crater's own winter rules are in our post on crater closures.
| Month | Pompeii last entry | Vesuvius crater hours |
|---|---|---|
| October (from the 15th) | 15:30 | 9:00 to 16:00 |
| November to February | 15:30 | 9:00 to 15:00 |
| March (to the 15th) | 15:30 | 9:00 to 16:00 |
| March (from the 16th) | 17:30 | 9:00 to 16:00 |
Pickups from 7:10, two hours with an archaeologist in Pompeii, lunch, then the crater before it closes.
Explore the Elite tour with lunch Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
What time does Pompeii close in winter?
At 17:00, with last entry at 15:30, from 15 October to 15 March.
When does Pompeii switch to winter hours?
On 15 October. Summer hours, 9:00 to 19:00 with last entry at 17:30, return on 16 March.
Is Pompeii open on Mondays in winter?
Yes. The main site has no weekly closing day; only the Stabiae villas and Oplontis close on Tuesdays.
Is Pompeii open on 25 December?
No. The official timetable lists 25 December and 1 January as closing days.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Pompeii & Mt Vesuvius Elite Tour with Lunch
- Pickup from listed central Naples hotels or the cruise terminal (about 7:10 to 8:30 AM)
- Two-hour walking tour of Pompeii with an archaeologist, skip-the-line entry
- Vesuvius National Park ticket (EUR 11.68) included; the listing says bad weather or heat may switch the stop to the Valley of Hell
Mt Vesuvius Hike and Pompeii Guided Tour
- Round-trip minibus from Piazza Garibaldi (Starhotels Terminus, opposite Napoli Centrale)
- Mt Vesuvius ticket with audioguide and a tour leader
- Pompeii admission and a skip-the-line tour with an archaeologist
Pompeii Half-Day Trip with Priority Entry
Skipping the volcano and keeping the afternoon free
