We travelled to the Pompeii Archaeological Site from Rome on a bus trip with one of the larger Italian Tour companies. Our advice is that if you have a bit of time you should make your own way there. After that, either walk to the ruins by yourself or organise a guide or tour locally.
The guide we had was a professional archaeologist with an in-depth knowledge of Pompeii. Her presentation was excellent and she spoke very good clear English. She provided a huge amount of information on the excavations and what has been learned from them. The tour was shorter than we would have liked however, we did get to see the highlights of what has been excavated. These sites are very busy with a lot of tourists, so can become a little congested at times.
Only a small amount of free time was available at the end of the guided section. We would have appreciated more time to look around this fascinating place.
Although many buildings have been uncovered, not all are being actively conserved and are deteriorating quickly. The well-known buildings such as the public baths, some private villas and the brothel are exceptions. It is unfortunate that many of the frescoes Pompeii is famous for are rapidly fading.
When entering or leaving the ruins you have to walk through a market of souvenir stalls. There is a huge variety available with a similar variety of quality. This is also where you can by a quick meal or drink.