I'll go with Brenda's answer as well. A knowledgeable tour guide can save you time, frustration, and effort, esp. abroad in an unfamiliar culture. You can always ask questions or make special requests, too. At the end of the guided tour you can always return on your own and check out things you want to see again. Pompeii is a complicated place--an entire town at one time. The museums and villas represent a snapshot of pre-Christian Roman times like no other place. Well worth the money for an introductory tour. (And don't forget to tip.)

You don't "need" to take a tour, but a tour would help put what you are seeing in context and bring it more alive, but allow yourself extra time to explore at your leisure. It's a truly fascinating place.

Just explore Pompeii on your own although it is helpful to read up on Pompeii before you go. It's only a 10-minute walkfrom the Pompeii trainstop to the Pompeii ruins. They will give you a map of the ruins when you buy your ticket. Wear comfortable walking shoes with good support because the ground is uneven and rocky. There is a cafeteria located in the
center of the ruins so you can explore for awhile and then take a break.

We got the individual recorders that had information on it. That way we could move at our own pace and explore whatever caught our eye. If the tours groups are small I'd consider a live tour guide otherwise our method worked really well.

It is absolutely one of my favorite places in the world. It's the only place on my bucket list that I'm returning to. We were there Easter Sunday and only had a couple of hours before the trains shut down.

i went on this rour in 2008 the guide was so full o knowledge. I think its best to be with a guide