Pompeii: Must See Buildings, Sites and Ruins

Pompeii is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, if you travel to Italy and are within distance of a visit to the archaeological site it is a must-see! Words cannot express the sheer size of the town, formerly a thriving fishing port, now reduced to dusty remains after the infamous volcanic eruption in the year 79AD.

Before I get into talking about some of the must-see locations on the site, a couple of quick tips to get you started!

• While you can visit Pompeii as part of a designated excursion, it is really simple to organise yourself. Train travel in Italy is so reasonably priced and easy to use. There is a train station right outside of the entrance called 'Pompei Scavi Villa Dei Misteri'.

• Tickets from Pompeii can be purchased in advance, via their website and I would recommend doing this. It allows you to beat the queues and head straight in through a quieter entrance.

• Dress sensibly, trainers are a must! To fully explore the ruins you want to be able to get as close as possible and sandals become uncomfortable quickly!

• Suncream, water and layers! In Pompeii, there is very little shade and depending on the time of year of your visit, it can be incredibly hot - particularly in the midday sun.

• Pace yourself. While you can join a guided tour, I find exploring Pompeii yourself much easier. This allows you to plan your own route and schedule your own toilet/drink stops when needed. Visiting Pompeii as a self-guided tourist is possible, but requires a little bit of planning beforehand to work out your route and directions. (Luckily for you - I have done this for you below!)

• If you can queue up and step inside some of the houses I would really suggest taking the time to do this. There are so many treasures and wonders to find preserved inside the buildings, so take an extra 15/20 minutes to queue and step inside.

• The busiest months of the year to visit Pompeii are July and August - they are also the hottest! If possible, I would advise visiting in May/June if you still want to visit in the sunshine, but in all honesty the cooler the better.

My Tried and Tested Pompeii Tour!

I tested out the route on my trip to Italy this year and it worked really well! Pair this information with the map in the guidebooks and you are good to go.

(Please keep in mind, Pompeii is large and a fair bit of walking is required to cover this route! All recommended stops are considered 'the must-see' parts so are clearly signposted or found on the map.)

1. Forum - The main hub of Pompeii. See temples, shops and ancient political sites. Keep an eye out for the Granary and artefacts found there!

2. Teatro Grande (Grand Theatre) near the Piccolo Theatre - Dates back to the 2nd Century and could fit 5000 people in the crowded seats.

3. Casa Del Menandro (House of Menander) - The occupant of this ancient house was heavily involved in politics, making it one of the most lavish in Pompeii. Look out for the sea monster mural!

4. Orto Del Fuggiaschi (Garden of the Fugitives) - Here you will find the iconic casts of the human remains left after the volcanic eruptions.

5. Anfiteatro (Amphitheatre) - Oldest surviving Roman amphitheatre in the world (actually older than the Colosseum by a century!) Here you can also dip your toe into some musical history and discover more about Pink Floyd's unusual connection to Pompeii!

6. Via dell'Abbondanza - Ancient pedestrian zone of bars, shops and restaurants.

7. Terme Stabiane (Stabian Baths) - Oldest and most complete baths in Pompeii - there are two separate sides of the bath used by the ancient men and women.

8. Lupanar (Brothel) - Suprisingly (or maybe not at all!) The longest queue to enter a building was for here. Lupanar actually translates to 'wolf den' - keep an eye out for the frescos on the walls (these aren't for the faint-hearted!).

9. Casa dei Vettii (House of the Vettii) - Named after the two wealthy merchant brothers who formerly lived there. Look out for the pots in the kitchen.

10. Casa dei Dioscuri (House of the Dioscuri)- Originally several smaller villas that were merged together by a wealthy owner.

11. Casa del Fauna (House of the Faun) - The largest private dwelling in Pompeii with 40 spectacular rooms!

12. Casa del Poeta Tragico (House of the Tragic Poet) - This location is famed for the amazing mosaics that have survived the centuries - look out for the 'Beware of the Dog' warning on the floor!

13. Necropoli di Porta Ercolano (Necropolis) - Tombs of the affluent families in Pompeii. Supposedly, you can tell a lot about the family's wealth based on the smoothness of the stone (the smoother the wealthier!)

14. Villa dei Misteri (Villa of the Mysteries) - Mysteries actually refers to a cult depicted in the frescos on the walls. It is perhaps the best-preserved location on site and often the quietest.

15. Antiquarium (Museum) - A cool, indoor museum including artefacts from the buildings and items recovered on-site. This is the perfect place to end your tour, get out of the sun and take time studying some of the remains up close.

Are you planning a Pompeii visit? If you have any further questions or would like any other advice to get in touch!