Pompeii switches to winter hours on 15 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 05:50 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- Pompeii switches to its winter timetable on 15 October 2026, with the seasonal schedule running through 15 March 2027.
- The Archaeological Park lists opening at 9am, last admission at 3.30pm and closing at 5pm under the winter timetable.
- Pompeii is part of the UNESCO-listed Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata, which were progressively excavated from the mid-eighteenth century.
Pompeii (Pompei) will switch to its winter timetable on 15 October 2026, changing how visitors plan a day at the archaeological park in Naples, Italy. The Archaeological Park of Pompeii has published the seasonal schedule for the period from 15 October 2026 to 15 March 2027.
Pompeii begins winter hours on 15 October
The change takes effect on Thursday 15 October 2026. The official timetable lists the Pompeii site as opening at 9am, admitting visitors until 3.30pm and closing at 5pm during the winter period. The same winter schedule is set out for the wider network of sites managed through the Grande Pompeii cultural area.
Until 14 October 2026, the longer seasonal timetable remains in force. The switch therefore creates a clear boundary for visits during the second half of October: arrivals after 3.30pm will not enter the ancient city under the winter schedule, while the site closes at 5pm. The official winter timetable places the change within the park’s visitor information for the 2026-27 season.
Shorter access fits Pompeii’s open-air remains
The seasonal adjustment applies to an extensive archaeological landscape rather than a single enclosed museum. UNESCO describes Pompeii as an excavated area of 44 hectares that preserves the plan and buildings of an ancient Roman city, including the forum, public baths, theatres and amphitheatre.
Vesuvius buried the city in AD 79, and the ruins were progressively excavated and made accessible from the mid-eighteenth century. That long process is part of the site visitors see today: streets, houses and public buildings remain distributed across an open-air setting, so a shorter closing time changes the practical shape of a visit rather than simply moving the final museum entry. The site forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage property covering the archaeological areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata.
Winter access also affects the wider Pompeii network
The official information groups Pompeii with the Antiquarium and Villa Regina at Boscoreale, the villas of Arianna and San Marco at Stabiae, Villa of Poppea at Oplontis, the Archaeological Museum of Stabiae and the Castle of Lettere. Several of those locations have their own closure days or access arrangements, so a combined itinerary requires checking the relevant site rather than assuming that every venue follows identical conditions.
The park also identifies three entrances for the ancient city: Porta Marina, Piazza Anfiteatro and Piazza Esedra. Piazza Esedra provides access to the Antiquarium, while the Pompeii for Everyone route from Piazza Anfiteatro is described by the park as barrier-free and can connect with the lift at the Antiquarium.
Visiting Pompeii: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The winter timetable starts on 15 October 2026 and runs through 15 March 2027. Pompeii opens at 9am, last admission is at 3.30pm and closing is at 5pm.
- The access change is earlier closing and earlier last admission, not a closure of the archaeological park. Visitors arriving from 15 October should plan the ancient city around the 3.30pm entry deadline.
- The ancient city can be entered through Porta Marina, Piazza Anfiteatro or Piazza Esedra in Pompeii, near Naples. Piazza Esedra is also the recommended access point for the Antiquarium.
- The terrain is an extensive open-air archaeological area with ancient streets, houses, public buildings and uneven historic surfaces. The barrier-free Pompeii for Everyone route starts at Piazza Anfiteatro.
- Italian is the official language and the national currency is the euro.
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Frequently asked questions about Pompeii
When do winter hours start at Pompeii?
The winter timetable starts on 15 October 2026 and continues through 15 March 2027. Opening is at 9am, last admission is at 3.30pm and closing is at 5pm.
Where is Pompeii and how do you get there?
Pompeii is near Naples in Italy. The archaeological city has entrances at Porta Marina, Piazza Anfiteatro and Piazza Esedra.
What is Pompeii?
Pompeii is an ancient Roman city buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. Its excavated remains form part of the UNESCO-listed Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata.
