Free walking tours in Paestum and what to see

Must-sees

Paestum, the ancient Greek Poseidonia, lies on the plain of the river Sele south of Salerno, in the municipality of Capaccio Paestum. Its archaeological park keeps three Doric temples standing: the Temple of Hera, from the 6th century BC, the so-called Temple of Neptune, massive and almost complete, and the Temple of Athena, a little apart to the north. Between them you walk through the Roman forum, the amphitheatre and remains of the Greek agora, all enclosed by a long circuit of walls that you can follow on foot or by bike.

Don't skip the archaeological museum next to the excavations. It holds the Tomb of the Diver, with its Greek paintings, as well as metopes and finds from the area's sanctuaries. Together with the Cilento and the ruins of Velia, the site is on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Beyond the ruins, the plain is buffalo and mozzarella country, and the coast has long beaches backed by pine woods.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free tours in Paestum. What you will find are guided visits of the archaeological park, in groups or private, which help make sense of the temples and the museum. There are also food-focused plans, such as visiting a buffalo mozzarella dairy or a local farm, and day trips to the Pertosa caves inland.

How long to spend

Allow a good half day for the park and the museum, ideally early in the morning or late in the day to avoid the strong summer heat, as there is little shade. With a full day you can add a visit to a cheese dairy and some time on the beach. If you stay two or three days, Paestum is a good base for Velia, the Pertosa caves and the villages of the Cilento.

Where to stay

The most practical choice is to stay near the archaeological area or along the coast, where there are hotels with gardens, agriturismi and places to stay by the beach pine woods. It is much easier with a car, as services are spread out. If you want a town with more evening life, Agropoli, a little further south, has an old town and a seafront promenade.