One day in Paestum is enough to see the three Doric temples and the National Archaeological Museum. With two days you can add Velia, covered by the same ticket valid for three days (€15 from March to November, €10 from December to February). With three days, explore Cilento: villages, caves, the Certosa di Padula or the sea.
Paestum rewards those who take their time: the light changes the columns over the course of the day, and the surrounding area offers far more than a quick stop between motorways. Below are three realistic itineraries, with timings, driving times from our B&B in Capaccio Scalo and a few variations for families, Sundays and the winter months.
How many days do you need for Paestum?
It depends on what you are after. A full day is enough for the temples and the museum, but the single ticket for the archaeological parks is valid for three days and includes Velia as well: spreading the visits over several days is the sensible choice and costs nothing extra.
| Length | What you see | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Archaeological area, museum, a buffalo dairy and sunset by the sea | Travellers passing through or combining Paestum with the Amalfi Coast |
| 2 days | Day 1 plus Velia and a Cilento village or beach | Anyone who wants to really understand Magna Graecia |
| 3 days | The first two days plus a Cilento day of your choice | Those also looking for nature, villages or caves |
What does the three-day ticket include?
A single ticket covers the Paestum archaeological area, the National Archaeological Museum and the archaeological park of Velia, about 45 kilometres away. When the service is running, the ticket also includes the Sunday shuttle to the Heraion Museum at the mouth of the Sele, the sanctuary from which the famous metopes displayed in Paestum come; in autumn 2026, however, visits were suspended for maintenance.
| Ticket | Single ticket valid 3 days: Paestum archaeological area, National Archaeological Museum and Velia |
|---|---|
| Full price | €15 from March to November, €10 from December to February |
| Reduced and free tickets | Reduced €2; free for 18- to 24-year-olds and under-18s; annual pass €30 (other reductions: see the official website) |
| Opening hours | Daily 8:30-19:30, last entry 18:30 |
| Reduced hours (winter 2026-27) | From 14 November 2026 to 1 January 2027, Porta Cerere in Paestum and the Velia acropolis close at 16:00 (last full visit 15:00); the southern sanctuary in Paestum and the lower town in Velia stay open until 19:30. The calendar is renewed every year: check the official website |
| Free entry | First Sunday of every month, 25 April, 2 June and 4 November (2026 calendar), no booking needed |
| Heraion shuttle | When running, on Sundays from the Voza car park; included in the ticket, booking by email required and the "shuttle ticket" must be collected at the ticket office. In autumn 2026 visits were suspended for maintenance: before you go, check the official Heraion page |
Source: Paestum and Velia Archaeological Parks, ticket information. Hours and prices may change: please check before your visit.
How should you plan a day in Paestum?
The rule is simple: temples in the morning, when the plain is cool and quiet, the museum in the middle of the day, mozzarella and the sea in the afternoon. From the B&B to the archaeological area it is about 10 minutes by car.
| Time | Stop | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 | Archaeological area: from the Temple of Athena in the north towards the forum, the "Basilica" and the Temple of Neptune | about 2 hours |
| 10:30 | National Archaeological Museum: Tomb of the Diver, Heraion metopes, Lucanian paintings | about 1.5 hours |
| 12:30 | Lunch near the archaeological area | 1-1.5 hours |
| 15:00 | Buffalo dairy and mozzarella tasting | about 1 hour |
| Late afternoon | Paestum beach, about 10 minutes by car, for the sunset | as you like |
For the details of each temple and what to look out for in the museum, our complete guide to the Temples of Paestum takes you through it step by step. In the afternoon, remember that the Sele Plain is the heartland of DOP buffalo mozzarella: Tenuta Vannulo is about 5 minutes from the B&B, and our guide to the dairies of Paestum lists other addresses too. In summer you can end the day with a swim at Paestum beach, or with a dip in the pool and an aperitivo in the garden.
If you only have one day and prefer a slower pace, you can also move the museum to another day: the ticket is valid for three days.
In the warmer months, go in as soon as the gates open and save the museum for the middle of the day: there is no shade on the plain. Bring water, a hat and comfortable shoes, even in spring. And don't over-plan the afternoon: the sunset over the sea is the part of the day our guests remember most.
What should you do on the second day?
Day two is for Velia, ancient Elea, the city of Parmenides and Zeno: the ticket is the same, and from the B&B it is about an hour's drive south along the coast. Allow 2-3 hours for the visit, with an uphill walk to the acropolis and the Porta Rosa, considered the oldest round arch in Italy. You will find the history and our tips in our guide to Velia.
In the winter months (from late October to mid-March in the 2026-27 calendar) the acropolis closes in mid-afternoon, between 16:00 and 17:30 depending on the period, so in those months it is best to arrive at Velia in the morning. From April to October you can reverse the order and enjoy the afternoon light on the sandstone.
For the rest of the day you have two options:
- A village: Pisciotta, a little further south, with its hilltop old town and its tradition of menaica anchovies; or Pioppi and Acciaroli, on the way back north. We describe them in our guide to the most beautiful villages of Cilento.
- The sea: from June to September, an afternoon on the beach at Ascea, Pioppi or Acciaroli, where the water is among the most highly rated on the coast.
And with three days?
With a third day, Cilento really opens up. Choose according to your interests and the season:
| If you like | Where to go | Time from the B&B | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villages and sea | Castellabate and Santa Maria di Castellabate, then Punta Licosa on foot from San Marco | about 35-40 min | All year; swimming from June to September |
| Caves | Castelcivita or Pertosa-Auletta caves | about 45 min / 1 h | Castelcivita from March to October; Pertosa: hours on the Fondazione MIdA website |
| Art and history | Certosa di Padula, UNESCO World Heritage | about 1h15 | Hours on the Ministry of Culture website |
| Nature | Calore gorges at Felitto | about 45 min | May to September, never after heavy rain |
| Beaches | Acciaroli or Palinuro | about 55 min / 1h20 | June to September |
For the caves, our guide to Castelcivita and Pertosa-Auletta explains how to choose and how to combine them; up-to-date Pertosa hours are on the Fondazione MIdA website. Bear in mind that the Castelcivita caves are closed from November to February.
Three days is also the ideal length for staying in one place and exploring by car in different directions, without repacking every evening. If you are thinking of a stay during the season, take a look at our garden rooms.
How does the itinerary change with children, on a Sunday or in winter?
With children
Shorten the visit to the archaeological area and focus on stories: the Tomb of the Diver in the museum, the stone giants of the Temple of Neptune, the Greek city that became Roman. The afternoon is for the dairy and for Paestum beach, with its shallow water and fine sand. On day three, the boat ride on Pertosa's underground river almost always thrills younger children.
On a Sunday
When the service is running, the Sunday shuttle to the Heraion Museum at the mouth of the Sele leaves from the Voza car park: it is included in the ticket, but you must book by email and collect the "shuttle ticket" at the ticket office before departure. It is a good way to round off a day at the temples, but in autumn 2026 visits were suspended for maintenance: before you go, check the official Heraion page to see whether they have resumed. On free-entry days, such as the first Sunday of the month, it is worth arriving early.
In autumn and winter
From December to February the ticket costs €10, the sites are quieter and the light is low and raking. In the 2026-27 winter, however, from 14 November to 1 January Porta Cerere and the Velia acropolis close at 16:00, after which the hours gradually lengthen: visit the archaeological area in the morning and leave the museum for the afternoon. The Castelcivita caves are closed until March. We have gathered everything in our guide to Paestum in autumn and winter.
If you still need to plan your journey, our guide on how to get to Paestum compares car, train and airports.
Frequently asked questions
Is one day enough to visit Paestum?
Yes, for the essentials: in one day you can see the archaeological area (1.5-2 hours) and the museum (about 1.5 hours), with time left for a dairy and the sea. With two days you can add Velia on the same ticket, which is valid for three days.
Can you visit Paestum and Velia on different days with the same ticket?
Yes. According to the official website (November 2026), the single ticket is valid for three days and covers the Paestum archaeological area, the National Archaeological Museum and Velia. It costs €15 from March to November and €10 from December to February.
How do you get to the Heraion at the mouth of the Sele?
When the service is running, the park operates a Sunday shuttle from the Voza car park. It is included in the park ticket, but booking by email is required and the "shuttle ticket" must be collected at the ticket office. In autumn 2026, however, visits were suspended for maintenance: before you go, check the official Heraion page to see whether they have resumed.
What is the best time of year for three days in Paestum and Cilento?
April to June and September to October: mild weather, fewer crowds, the caves open and the sea already or still warm enough for swimming. In summer, visit the sites as soon as they open; in autumn and winter the afternoon hours are shorter (check the official calendar) and Castelcivita closes from November to February.
