Archaeological Museum of Naples Tour

The Archaeological Museum of Naples, founded in the 18th century by the Bourbon king Ferdinand IV to house the astounding collection of ancient statuary he procured from the Roman Farnese family, is one of the richest and most important archaeological collections in the world. Its vast number of Greco-Roman statues, paintings, and mosaics makes this museum a must-see for understanding the ancient history of the area, especially the lost towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. During this 2.5-hour Naples Archeological Museum Tour, we will join an archaeologist or classical historian for an in-depth look at ancient Roman society and some of the most spectacular archaeological finds in the world. (Note, we strongly recommend coupling this tour with our half-day Pompeii Tour, perhaps on separate days, to get the full experience of Pompeii in Naples.)

We will spend the beginning of the tour on the lower floors, becoming familiar with the exquisite collection of ancient statuary, such as the Farnese Hercules, the emblem of the Greek mythic hero, and the Flavian-era Agrippina, a seated statue of one of the most influential Roman Empresses. A large part of this collection stems from Pope Paul III (r. 1534-1549), a Farnese family member who borrowed liberally from the ancient sites of Rome. 

We will then proceed with admiring the beautiful Pompeian frescoes, moved to the museum during excavations. We will have the opportunity to view the richly decorated Roman paintings, depicting mythological, religious themes, as well as stills and landscapes of that era, in the process gaining an understanding of the Pompeian lifestyle and beliefs. Given the considerable size of the museum and its vast collection, our guide will select specific artifacts while skillfully weaving through sculptures, mosaics, frescoes, and the minor arts to paint a comprehensive view of ancient Italian civilizations.

Our visit to the Archaeological Museum of Naples will provide us with a memorable opportunity to learn about the history of the museum and its collections, focusing on the significance of its sculptures, mosaics, frescoes, and artifacts contextualized within the ancient civilizations of the Campania area and southern Italy during the ancient and Bourbonic era.

We also include this museum as part of our full-day Pompeii Tour. For a deeper antiquities adventure, we strongly recommend our full-day Mount Vesuvius Tour. If you're traveling with kids, take a look at our Pompeii for Kids full-day tour.

Does this tour include skip-the-line tickets?
Yes, we arrange skip-the-line tickets for your party; however, there will still be a security line to access the museum.

Does the tour include the Gabinetto Segreto?
Yes, it includes it; no extra ticket is required.

I would like to do this tour and visit Pompeii as well. What tour should I take?
If you would like to combine this tour with a visit to Pompeii, we suggest our Full Day excursion from Naples, which includes both the Pompeii archaeological site with the Archaeological Museum of Naples.

We have children traveling in our group. Is this tour suitable?
We recommend families with children under 12 take our Full Day Pompeii Tour for Kids, which is led by a family-friendly guide and includes Pompeii and the Archaeological Museum of Naples