Pompeii and the Coast with kids

Pompeii works wonderfully with children — it’s a real city, with the amphitheatre, the houses, the casts: for them it’s more “real” than many museums. It just takes a little planning, and a comfortable base to come back to. Here’s how to set it up.

Stroller: yes or no?

The ancient surface is basolato, uneven paving: a stroller is hard going. For the youngest, a baby carrier or backpack is far more comfortable. If you do need the stroller, use the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance, where the accessible “Pompeii for all” route begins (over 3.5 km, with some ramps): all the hours and tickets are in the Visiting Pompeii guide.

The stops that win kids over

• The Amphitheatre and the great Palaestra: huge open spaces, room to breathe.
• The body casts and the everyday objects: told well, they make an impression.
• The houses with frescoes and mosaics: hunt for the “cave canem” dogs and the fountains.
• Vesuvius, the volcano that buried it all: for children, the story comes full circle here.
• A break by the sea: Regina Giovanna’s Baths or an Amalfi Coast beach, reachable by train and ferry.

The secret: a house with a garden

With kids, what makes the difference is where you come back to in the evening. Our houses sleep 4–6, made for families, and there’s the garden: the perfect place to let off steam after a day out, where they run while you catch your breath. And the ruins are one train stop away, so you can split the day: out in the morning, home in the afternoon.

The train is already an attraction

Don’t underestimate it: for many children the train is half the fun. From Scafati you reach everything — Pompeii one stop away, Naples, Salerno and the ferries to the Coast — without the stress of the car, the parking and the hairpin bends. How to get around is in the Getting here guide.

Two practical things

Bring water (there are fountains) and hats: in summer there’s very little shade at the ruins. And aim for the early morning, when it’s cool and the little ones are rested. → The houses