Italy is one of the countries that everyone either has a fond memory of or wants to visit. Myself included. It has the most amazing landscapes but also pretty epic cities and culture.
I’ve spent some time in both cities so I’m here to put two of Italy’s popular cities against each other here to see which one is better to visit if you have a short stay in Italy.
When planning your Italian trip you might wonder if you should bask in the busy but grand culture of Rome or head south to the more traditional and calmer Italy in Pompeii. Let’s compare these two destinations to see which is better for you: Rome or Pompeii?
It’s worth knowing that these two cities are a complete contrast to each other. They are so different so it really depends on what you’re into here and I will try to give an unbiased opinion considering both the calmer and more lively audience tastes. We will score these cities across 6 categories.
- Activities and things to do
- Scenery
- For families
- Restaurants
- City Life and Culture
- Nightlife
Ok… Let’s get into it!
Activities and Things to Do
Rome is the capital of Italy so you can imagine it’s a huge, bustling city with hundreds of activities available to try. Well, you’d be right. From exploring the ancient Colosseum and the historical Roman Forum to soaking up the sights inside the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, every corner of the city is like an actual museum, inside and out.
Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain, climb the Spanish Steps, or check out the huge collections of the Capitoline Museums. You can also try a Vespa motorbike tour, walking tour or a bar crawl through the crazy Rome nightlife. There’s an insane amount of experiences to be had in one of the biggest cities in Europe.
Rome: 9/10
Pompeii, on the other hand, is a different type of vibe altogether. The city is centered around one very immersive experience. The ancient ruins are frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius volcano in AD 79 and visiting these really does make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to ancient Italy. It’s actually very hauntingly spectacular.
Walk through the ancient streets, try the local shops and restaurants, or plan a hike up Mount Vesuvius itself. While Pompeii’s scope is more limited than Rome’s, it’s got a real romantic historical feel about it, so is well-suited to taking it easy but there’s not a huge range of things to do outside the ancient ruins.
Pompeii: 6/10
Winner: Rome
Scenery
Rome’s scenery is very unique as a city as it’s a mix of ancient ruins, Renaissance architecture, and true European piazzas. The city’s skyline has an older feel about it. It’s dominated by the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and the huge Colosseum, so it does look amazing from many viewpoints. You even get your picturesque fountains and statues all over the place.
The downside is that the traffic is pretty horrendous, tourists are grouped on every corner, there are few road rules and getting around can take a while.
Rome: 8/10
Pompeii’s scenery is stark but more peaceful. The ruins are set against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Vesuvius, so there’s that stunning view on every corner along with green mountainous surroundings.
The area is generally more green and the ruins themselves are a stunning step into the past providing a unique window into Roman life in a grid life structure with plenty of greenery surrounding it. It’s much quieter here if you prefer the peaceful life then it’s for you.
The downside is there’s not much around the city and transport can be a bit of a struggle to check out the best of the area so a car is a good idea.
Pompeii: 8/10
Draw – For different reasons
For Families
Rome is a great destination for families and kids can get stuck into the gladiator stories in the Colosseum, check out interactive exhibits at the Explora Children’s Museum, and explore the parks.
There’s lots of family-friendly tours to take, but kids might get a bit bored of museums after a while. Rome is better for older kids though as it will be more difficult to get around with toddlers.
Rome: 8/10
Equally Pompeii can draw in older children and teens with its death-riddled stories of ancient Roman life and dramatic history, however it might not be so exciting for younger kids. The site requires a fair amount of walking, and the ruins, while fascinating, might not hold the attention of the very young for long. Pompeii overall has some nice family friendly restaurants and parks but there’s not a lot to do for kids on the whole.
Pompeii: 6/10
Restaurants
Rome is considered as a capital for food lovers worldwide. So you’re never far from a fantastic restaurant. I found some great restaurants throughout Rome as it offers an overwhelming range of foodie delights.
There are nice little trattorias serving classic pasta and pizza dishes or classy restaurants offering a more modern Italian cuisine, not to mention the bustling food markets like Campo de’ Fiori. You can also come across a bad restaurant or two but generally the wide choice here will give you a positive overall experience.
Rome: 9/10
Dining options in Pompeii are more limited, mostly catering to the influx of tourists visiting the archaeological site. That said, I did have some of the best food that I’d had in Italy here but it may have been pure luck choosing some nice, backstreet restaurants in the city centre.
While you can find decent pizzerias and trattorias in Pompeii that are decent on a European comparison scale, the restaurant experiences here don’t quite match the levels of Rome.
Pompeii: 7/10
City Life and Culture
Rome is a cultural epicentre of Europe (all roads lead to Rome remember?). The city is booming with life, from its fresh food markets and busy streets to its busy bars, ancient historic ruins dotted throughout the centre.
Museums, galleries, and theatres are everywhere so you’ll get your fix of exciting or educational culture in Rome if you can bear the crazy streets of traffic here, which I struggled with.
Rome: 8/10
Pompeii, being an archaeological site, doesn’t offer the same dynamic city life as Rome. Its cultural experience is more focused on the past than the present. While the ruins themselves are rich with history and culture, the modern town of Pompeii nearby is quieter and more subdued.
That said it does offer a more laid back city culture if that is your preference so you won’t have to deal with the craziness of Rome and get to enjoy the mountainous green coast of Italy.
Pompeii: 6/10
Nightlife
Rome’s nightlife is among some of the most exciting in Europe. Here you will get a mix of rooftop bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and booming nightclubs. You can enjoy a cocktail with a view at one of the city’s many rooftop terraces to enjoy the warm weather looking over ancient history. Try a late-night gelato by the Trevi Fountain, or dance the night away in Testaccio’s clubs. Whatever you want from a night out you can likely find it in Rome.
Rome: 9/10
Nightlife in Pompeii is pretty quiet compared to Rome. The town of Pompei offers a few bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a quiet evening, but it lacks the busier, lively nightlife scene of a major city. Visitors typically go out in nearby Naples if they’re looking for a bit more choice and atmosphere, so it’s a weak spot for Pompeii.
Pompeii: 5/10
Final Thoughts
Both Rome and Pompeii offer incredible but very different experiences, Rome’s is huge, busy and has tons of activities, great food options but also rolls in a great amount of history as the city itself is like a museum.
Pompeii on the other hand is much more chilled so ideal if you want a quiet break, with some sightseeing and natural coastal, mountainous scenery so it suits that kind of personality. In my opinion, there’s a clear winner here and it’s not much of a contest.
Overall Winner: Rome