Temples of Paestum

Where: Via Magna Grecia, Paestum
Best for: Three Doric temples
Allow: 2 hr 30 min

Greek colonists from Sybaris founded Poseidonia around 600 BCE on a plain south of Salerno, and its three Doric temples, raised between about 550 and 450 BCE, are among the best preserved anywhere outside Greece. The so-called Basilica and the Temple of Neptune, both actually dedicated to Hera, stand side by side in the southern sanctuary, while the Temple of Athena crowns the higher ground to the north, long mislabeled as a temple of Ceres. Lucanians took the city around 400 BCE and Rome renamed it Paestum in 273 BCE. It faded into malarial marsh rather than being destroyed, which is why the columns still stand. The on-site museum holds the Tomb of the Diver, a rare Greek painted tomb.

A Greek, Lucanian and Roman archaeological city within the serial UNESCO cultural-landscape property.

The surviving columns and broken pediment of the Temple of Athena at Paestum — The Temple of Athena stands in Paestum’s northern sanctuary.

Three things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

Temple of Hera I (the “Basilica”)Greek builders, c. 550 BCE
The oldest of the three temples, with an odd nine-by-eighteen column plan and swelling columns that make it look heavy and ancient.Southern sanctuary
Temple of Hera II (the “Temple of Neptune”)Greek builders, c. 460 to 450 BCE
The best preserved of the lot, with both colonnades and the pediment nearly complete. It is the one that makes people think they are in Greece.Southern sanctuary
Temple of AthenaGreek builders, c. 500 BCE
Smaller and more elegant than its southern neighbours, mixing Doric and Ionic details, and set apart on the higher ground to the north.Northern sanctuary, on higher ground

Plan your visit

Booking: Check booking requirements
Time needed: 2 hr 30 min
Best time: Early morning in spring or fall, before the heat and the tour groups
Getting there: Paestum has its own station on the Naples-Reggio Calabria line, a short walk from the site entrance; by car it lies south of Salerno on the SS18, with parking at the entrances.

The ticket is valid for three consecutive days and covers the temples, the museum and the Velia site. €10 from December to February. Free under 18 and on the first Sunday of each month; reduced rates for ages 18 to 25.

See the museum’s Tomb of the Diver before the temples, not after: knowing what it depicts changes how the empty sanctuary outside reads.

Official website

Get directionsGoogle Maps Apple Maps

Via Magna Grecia, 919, 84047 Capaccio Paestum (SA)

Good to know

How long should you spend at the temples of Paestum?

Allow about two and a half hours to see all three temples and the museum without rushing. If you only want the temples, an hour and a half is enough.

Is Paestum worth visiting?

Yes, it is one of the best Greek sites outside Greece, and far less crowded than Pompeii. The temples stand in open fields, which is unusually beautiful in morning or late-afternoon light.

Can you see Paestum and the Amalfi Coast in one day?

It is possible but a stretch. Paestum is a couple of hours from the coast towns, so most people dedicate a morning to the temples and a separate day to Amalfi or Positano.