--- title: "Visit Paestum - Paestumsites" description: "Plan your visit to Paestum: what to see, how long you need, archaeological museum, tickets, transport and tips for exploring the ancient city." url: "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/plan-your-visit/visit-paestum" date: "2026-08-14T19:15:39+00:00" language: "en-GB" --- # Visiting Paestum: Complete Guide to Planning Your Visit Paestum is one of the most important archaeological sites of Magna Graecia and is home to some of the best-preserved Greek temples in the Mediterranean. Planning your visit carefully will allow you to discover not only the famous temples, but also the remains of the Greek and Roman city and the collections of the National Archaeological Museum. This guide covers the essential information you need to decide **how long to spend in Paestum, what to see, when to visit and how to organise your day**. ## What to see in Paestum A visit to Paestum can be divided into two main parts: the **archaeological area** and the **National Archaeological Museum of Paestum**. The archaeological park contains the three great Doric temples for which Paestum is famous: - the **Temple of Hera**, traditionally known as the Basilica; - the **Temple of Athena**, formerly known as the Temple of Ceres; - the monumental **Temple of Neptune**. But Paestum is much more than its temples. As you explore the site, you can also see the Greek Agora, the Roman Forum, the Amphitheatre, public buildings and the remains of houses that once formed part of the ancient city. **[Discover the temples and monuments of ancient Paestum](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/paestum)** ## How long do you need to visit Paestum? The amount of time you need depends on how much of the site you want to explore. For the main monuments of the archaeological area, you should allow **at least 2 hours**. If you want to explore the site at a more relaxed pace and also visit the National Archaeological Museum, plan on spending **around 3 to 4 hours** in Paestum. Half a day is therefore a good choice for most visitors, giving you enough time to see the principal monuments without rushing and to include the museum. If this is your first visit, a guided tour can also help you make the most of your time and understand the different monuments and historical periods. **[Discover the Paestum guided tour with an archaeologist](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/tickets/paestum-guided-tour)** ## Should you visit Paestum with a guide or on your own? Paestum can easily be explored independently, particularly if you have plenty of time and prefer to follow the archaeological route at your own pace. A **guided tour**, however, is particularly useful if you want to understand the function of the temples, the layout of ancient Poseidonia and the changes that took place under Lucanian and later Roman rule. Without historical context, it is not always easy to distinguish the remains of the Greek city from buildings constructed or transformed during the Roman period. The guided experience available through Paestumsites lasts approximately two hours and includes priority admission, a tour with an archaeologist and a visit to the National Archaeological Museum. **[Check availability and book a guided tour of Paestum](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/tickets/paestum-guided-tour)** ## Is the Paestum Archaeological Museum worth visiting? Yes. The National Archaeological Museum is an essential complement to the archaeological area and contains objects that help explain the history of the monuments you see outside. Its most famous exhibit is the **Tomb of the Diver**, an exceptional example of Greek painting dating from the 5th century BC. The museum also preserves the sculpted metopes from the Sanctuary of Hera at the mouth of the Sele River, archaeological finds from ancient Poseidonia and an important collection of painted Lucanian tombs. **[Discover the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/paestum/archaeological-museum)** ## Tickets for Paestum The standard admission ticket includes the archaeological area and National Archaeological Museum of Paestum as well as admission to the archaeological site of Velia. Ticket prices, reductions, free-admission categories and access arrangements may change, so it is always advisable to check the latest information before your visit. **[Check Paestum opening hours and ticket information](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/plan-your-visit/opening-hours-tickets)** You can also find information about buying the standard admission ticket online. **[Paestum and Velia tickets](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/tickets/paestum-velia-tickets)** ## Best time to visit Paestum Paestum can be visited throughout the year. Spring and autumn are particularly pleasant because milder temperatures generally make walking around the archaeological area more comfortable. During summer, when possible, it is better to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon and avoid the hottest part of the day. Much of the archaeological route is outdoors, so during the warmer months it is advisable to bring water, wear a hat and choose comfortable shoes. ## How to get to Paestum Paestum is located in Capaccio Paestum, in the province of Salerno, and can be reached by both train and car. **Paestum railway station** is approximately 800 metres from the archaeological area, making the train a convenient option for visitors travelling from Salerno or Naples. If you are travelling by car, Paestum is easily accessible from the main roads crossing the Sele Plain and southern Campania. For detailed information about trains, driving routes and nearby airports: **[How to get to Paestum by train, car and plane](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/plan-your-visit/how-to-get-to-paestum)** ## Can you visit Paestum in one day? Yes. Paestum is easy to visit as a day trip. A possible itinerary is: **Morning:** explore the archaeological area and the three great Greek temples. **Midday:** take a break near the archaeological park. **Afternoon:** visit the National Archaeological Museum and see the Tomb of the Diver. If you only have half a day, you can concentrate on the archaeological park and its most important monuments. ## First time in Paestum: our recommendation If this is your first visit to Paestum, allow at least half a day and do not limit your visit to the three great temples. One of the most fascinating aspects of Paestum is the opportunity to see different periods of the city's history in the same archaeological landscape: from **Poseidonia, the Greek colony, to Roman Paestum**. If you would like to understand this history without having to plan your own archaeological route, **a guided tour with an archaeologist is one of the easiest ways to discover the main monuments and understand their historical significance**. **[Discover the Paestum guided tour with priority admission](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/tickets/paestum-guided-tour)** Details Written by: Paestumsites Parent Category: [Paestum](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/plan-your-visit/visit-paestum?view=category&id=21) Category: [Paestum Visitor Information](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/plan-your-visit) Also available: [![Italiano](https://www.paestumsites.it/media/mod_languages/images/it.gif "Italiano")](https://www.paestumsites.it/it/info-news/visitare-paestum) Last Updated: 14 August 2026 ## Schema ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Plan Your Visit", "item": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/plan-your-visit" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Visit Paestum", "item": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/plan-your-visit/visit-paestum" } ] } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/plan-your-visit/visit-paestum" }, "headline": "Visiting Paestum: Complete Guide to Planning Your Visit", "description": "Plan your visit to Paestum: what to see, how long you need, archaeological museum, tickets, transport and tips for exploring the ancient city.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.paestumsites.it/" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Paestum", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.paestumsites.it/images/paestum_logo.png" } }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tiberio Gracco", "url": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/plan-your-visit/visit-paestum" }, "datePublished": "2026-08-14T11:12:35+02:00", "dateCreated": "2026-08-14T11:12:35+02:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-14T11:14:49+02:00" } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/plan-your-visit/visit-paestum" }, "headline": "Visiting Paestum: Complete Guide to Planning Your Visit", "description": "Paestum is one of the most important archaeological sites of Magna Graecia and is home to some of the best-preserved Greek temples in the Mediterranean. Planning your visit carefully will allow you to discover not only the famous temples, but also the remains of the Greek and Roman city and the collections of the National Archaeological Museum. This guide covers the essential information you need to decide how long to spend in Paestum, what to see, when to visit and how to organise your day.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.paestumsites.it/" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Paestum", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.paestumsites.it/images/paestum_logo.png" } }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tiberio Gracco", "url": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/plan-your-visit/visit-paestum" }, "datePublished": "2026-08-14T11:12:35+02:00", "dateCreated": "2026-08-14T11:12:35+02:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-14T11:14:49+02:00" } ```