Bay of Naples Classics & Ancient History School Trips & Tours
A Classics and Ancient History school trip to the Bay of Naples gives students the chance to explore some of the best‑preserved sites from the Roman world. Visits to Pompeii and Herculaneum help bring everyday Roman life into focus, giving students a clearer understanding of Roman society, culture and urban life.
Alongside these archaeological sites, coastal towns across the Bay of Naples show the region’s importance to the running of the Roman Empire. Together, these experiences help students connect classroom learning to real places and build a broader understanding of Roman civilisation beyond the city of Rome.
Prices start from £735pp
Which sites are most popular on a Classics and Ancient History trip to the Bay of Naples?
Pompeii and Herculaneum are among the most important Roman sites students can visit, offering rare insight into everyday life preserved by the 79AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Visits to Vesuvius itself, along with sites such as Cumae and Pozzuoli, help students explore Roman religion and the wider influence of the Empire across the region.
How can we enhance students' learning of Classical civilisation?
A Bay of Naples trip gives students the chance to explore everyday Roman life through sites such as Pompeii and Herculaneum. Adding Rome to the itinerary, with our popular multi-centre trip brings in the political, religious and cultural centre of the Empire, creating a broader view of how Roman civilisation functioned across different parts of society.
Where else can we study Classics and Ancient History on a school trip?
Alongside the Bay of Naples, NST offers Classics and Ancient History trips to destinations including Rome, Sicily, London and Athens. Each provides a different perspective on the ancient world, from Greek civilisation in Athens to Roman Britain in London and the rich mix of Greek and Roman history found across Sicily.
Price includes
- 3 nights’ half board accommodation
- Return flights & overseas airport transfers
- Excursions to Pompeii, Herculaneum & Vesuvius
- Extensive group travel insurance
- 1 in 10 free place ratio
Price shown is based on 40 paying passengers departing from a London airport and is subject to availability.
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Top visits
Naples Archaeological Museum
This fascinating museum contains wonderful exhibits including Roman mosaics (the Alexander mosaic and others from the House of the Faun), wall paintings and Greek sculpture (Doryphoros and the Tyrannicides). A valuable additional visit en route to or from the airport.
Paestum
Visit the site of three of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world. This visit provides a great opportunity to explore the development of Doric architecture, a Roman town and a museum with one of the earliest examples of Greek panel painting.
Mount Vesuvius
Nowhere in the world can the effects of a volcanic eruption be better understood. You will be driven most of the way up the mount then take a 30-minute walk to the rim with a Local Guide. Your group will study the most densely populated volcano in the world. Geography groups can complete our dedicated activity sheets to consider its formation, eruptive history, anatomy and human management issues, and even read eye witness accounts of the 79AD eruption!
Capri
Students can take a guided tour of the island of Capri, including a visit to Ana Capri, a walking tour of the Gardens of Augustus and the Palace of Tiberius, a must for all Classical fanatics. Groups access the island by ferry or hydrofoil, which we can pre-book and pre-pay.
Cumae
Cumae contains the long echoing cave of the Sibyl visited by Aeneas (even if only in legend). Visit the Acropolis and the entrance to a tunnel built by Agrippa around 38BC to join his harbour in Lake Avernus to the sea.
Pozzuoli
The well-preserved amphitheatre here is on a smaller scale than the Colosseum in Rome, but better demonstrates the human aspect of the arena.
Oplontis
An excellent visit with the supposed villa of the family of Poppaea, the second wife of Nero.
Naples Underground Tour & Museum
There is an entire underground city below Naples - a series of ancient aqueducts that were eventually shut down and used as a bomb shelter during World War II. You can go down a square flight of steps put in place by Mussolini leading down 40m into an actual air raid shelter. The museum is in a huge underground sandstone quarry and contains incredible artefacts and objects found during more than 50 years of exploring the labyrinth beneath Naples.
Olive & Lemon Mill & Mozzarella Farm
Take your students on a guided walking tour of this olive and lemon mill and mozzarella farm in Sorrento. Your group will enjoy a cheese-making demonstration, plus a complimentary pizza and soft drink.
The Amalfi Coast
On the southern side of the Sorrento peninsula lies the famous Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where a ribbon of road clings tightly to steep, rugged cliffs interspersed with picturesque towns. For geography groups there is the opportunity to study coastal landforms and tourism impact. A boat tour of this beautiful coastline is also available.
Pompeii
The preserved town of Pompeii has it all - houses, thermopolia, temples, baths, theatres, amphitheatre, palaestra and a forum. A unique chance to study ‘City Life in Roman Italy’ or to spend a day being a real “Roman” exploring the streets of the town buried by Vesuvius’ 79AD eruption.
Herculaneum
When Vesuvius erupted in August 79AD, it engulfed the two flourishing Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. These have been progressively excavated and made accessible to the public since the mid-18th century. Smaller but better-preserved than Pompeii, a visit to Herculaneum is often preferred by many students.
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On-tour support
On-tour support includes...
- Airport assistance during check-in, security and gate checks on your outbound flight from the UK
- Airport assistance for when you arrive back at your UK airport when you book a coach transfer to take you home
Additional on-tour support available...
- Services of a Local Guide
Accommodation
Popular options in the Bay of Naples
Hotel Klein Wien
The Klein Wien is a delightful family-run hotel with much experience of welcoming groups of young people. The hotel offers a good standard of accommodation in a spectacular location and – being safe, secure and a good wandering territory – provides a real alternative to staying in main Sorrento.
Hotel Mary
A spacious, comfortable, family-run hotel with superb panoramic views of the Bay of Naples.
Hotel La Ripetta
A good, family-run hotel with much experience in welcoming groups of young people. This hotel is situated in a safe and secure area that offers a good wandering territory, and is a real alternative to staying in main Sorrento.
Hotel Klein Wien
The Klein Wien is a delightful family-run hotel with much experience of welcoming groups of young people. The hotel offers a good standard of accommodation in a spectacular location and – being safe, secure and a good wandering territory – provides a real alternative to staying in main Sorrento.
Hotel Mary
A spacious, comfortable, family-run hotel with superb panoramic views of the Bay of Naples.
Hotel La Ripetta
A good, family-run hotel with much experience in welcoming groups of young people. This hotel is situated in a safe and secure area that offers a good wandering territory, and is a real alternative to staying in main Sorrento.
Expert's comment
A very relevant destination for students on the Cambridge Latin Course, with one of the highlights being Caecilius’ house. Students of Classical Civilisation or Ancient History will finally get to walk the streets of Pompeii and feel the brooding power of Mount Vesuvius!
Gill Greef, Classics Advisor
FAQs
Why is the Bay of Naples such a valuable destination for Classics and Ancient History students?
The region offers unparalleled access to sites that reveal daily life, society and culture in 1st century Roman Italy. Pompeii and Herculaneum provide extraordinary preserved streets, buildings and artefacts that give students direct context for classical civilisation studies.
How does NST tailor a Bay of Naples itinerary for Classics learning?
NST builds programmes around key classical themes, ensuring visits support curriculum goals on Roman civilisation, urban life, politics and social structures. Tailored itineraries help students see how archaeological evidence connects to their exam topics.
What ancient sites can students explore during the trip?
Groups can visit major classical sites including Pompeii, Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius, all central to understanding the AD 79 eruption and its impact. These sites offer a rare opportunity to examine houses, temples, theatres and public buildings frozen in time.
What additional historical experiences does the Bay of Naples provide?
Students can discover Naples’ extensive underground city and archaeological collections, which showcase artefacts, mosaics and sculptures from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Coastal towns and ancient landscapes further highlight the region’s strategic and cultural importance in Roman history.
What support does NST offer teachers during a Bay of Naples trip?
NST provides structured planning, expert local knowledge and on tour support to keep the experience smooth and stress-free. Options include airport assistance, local guides at key archaeological sites and preplanned meals to help teachers focus on learning outcomes.
What’s included in a typical NST Bay of Naples package?
Packages normally include return flights, three nights’ half board accommodation, airport transfers and visits to major archaeological sites such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius. Groups are also covered by comprehensive travel insurance and benefit from strong free place ratios.
Giving you full support throughout
Before your tour
- Dedicated NST expert from day one
- Responsive, flexible communication - Teams, phone, or email
- Same-day quotes
- Trips tailored to your budget, with transparent pricing
- Straightforward planning - we handle the details
- Step-by-step risk assessment guidance
- Free accommodation for group leader preview visits
- Curriculum-driven, enriching experiences across 100s of locations
- Unrivalled local knowledge & expertise
Whilst you're away
- Our travel app keeps all your info in one place
- On-tour support from our reps on the ground
- Support & assistance from our specialists
- 24/7 helpline and support
- Extensive group travel insurance
- Group-friendly accommodation
- Free educational resources
On your return
- Priority rebooking services
- Loyalty reward scheme for valued customers
- You say, we act - we're committed to continuously improving our tours
Speak to one of our school travel experts
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So get in touch today and we'll help to create a bespoke, budget-friendly tour itinerary to meet your specific learning requirements.
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