Day trip - Rome, Italy to Pompeii - GOOD IDEA?
Sep 18th, 2005, 10:28 AM
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Day trip - Rome, Italy to Pompeii - GOOD IDEA?
We are considering staying in Rome for a few days and using one of them to make a day trip to Pompeii. Rail Europe says it's a mere 2 hour ride and the books say you can then purchase a $3 ticket roundtrip from Naples to Pompeii. On the other hand, Rail Europe also shows a full ticket from Rome to Pompeii... anyone else travelled this before?
Sep 18th, 2005, 10:52 AM
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There are several stations in Pompei. One is on the main line from Napoli to Salerno, but it is not near the ruins. For the ruins, you need Pompei Scavi station (also known as Villa dei Misteri) which is on the Circumvesuviana line from Napoli to Sorrento. You get the main line train from Roma to Napoli Centrale or Napoli Piazza Garibaldi then change and buy a ticket for the Circumvesuviana train which runs twice an hour to Pompei Scavi.
Sep 18th, 2005, 10:53 AM
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Whatever you do, don't buy train tickets through Rail Europe, which puts a hefty surcharge on the regular price.
Go to
www.trenitalia.com
to see the prices. Enter "Roma" and "Napoli" as points of departure and arrival.
When you arrive at Napoli Centrale (the main train station in Naples), you go down one floor to the Circumvesuviana commuter trains and buy a ticket to "Pompeii Scavi"; it is the stop right at the entrance to Pompeii.
It's certainly doable to do a day trip to Pompeii, but I would suggest that you get an early start.
I gather that you are now thinking of spending all your time in Rome and only doing day trips. It's much better, I think, than trying to add another city.
Another easy day trip (1 hour by train) is to the hill town of Orvieto.
Go to
www.trenitalia.com
to see the prices. Enter "Roma" and "Napoli" as points of departure and arrival.
When you arrive at Napoli Centrale (the main train station in Naples), you go down one floor to the Circumvesuviana commuter trains and buy a ticket to "Pompeii Scavi"; it is the stop right at the entrance to Pompeii.
It's certainly doable to do a day trip to Pompeii, but I would suggest that you get an early start.
I gather that you are now thinking of spending all your time in Rome and only doing day trips. It's much better, I think, than trying to add another city.
Another easy day trip (1 hour by train) is to the hill town of Orvieto.
Sep 18th, 2005, 10:57 AM
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It's two journeys: Rome to Naples, then a transfer to the Circumvesuviana line, which is another 30 mins from Naples to Pompeii. The Circumvesuviana is picked up downstairs there at the Naples station. (there are signs) You'd want the fast Eurostar train from Rome to Naples, and you'd want to leave early in the morning. trenitalia.com has the Rome-Naples schedule that you can look at and get a sense of the time needed.
It can be done, and I've done it myself. It wasn't as leisurely of a visit as I had when I stayed in Sorrento and used it as a base, but I got to see the highlights.
If your trip is in the winter, be aware that Pompeii site closes earlier than it does in the summer. This may influence your decision, so I'd check if this applies to you. You can probably find out online when closing time is, or maybe somebody here knows...?
It can be done, and I've done it myself. It wasn't as leisurely of a visit as I had when I stayed in Sorrento and used it as a base, but I got to see the highlights.
If your trip is in the winter, be aware that Pompeii site closes earlier than it does in the summer. This may influence your decision, so I'd check if this applies to you. You can probably find out online when closing time is, or maybe somebody here knows...?
Sep 18th, 2005, 11:05 AM
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Although many will disagree, I think that it is an excellent idea.
Pompeii is a World-class site and there is only 1 Pompeii (a complete walled 1stC-AD Roman city that was frozen in time).
It's a 3hr trip and IMO it's best to leave Rome on the 0645 Eurostar train. Total cost R/T tickets and admission will cost just under 60euro p/p.
For detailed directions that will walk you thru doing this daytrip click-on my screen name 'ParadiseLost'. You will find my post probably ~ #13 "Rome to Pompeii Daytrip Directions...".
Regards, Walter
Pompeii is a World-class site and there is only 1 Pompeii (a complete walled 1stC-AD Roman city that was frozen in time).
It's a 3hr trip and IMO it's best to leave Rome on the 0645 Eurostar train. Total cost R/T tickets and admission will cost just under 60euro p/p.
For detailed directions that will walk you thru doing this daytrip click-on my screen name 'ParadiseLost'. You will find my post probably ~ #13 "Rome to Pompeii Daytrip Directions...".
Regards, Walter
Sep 18th, 2005, 12:51 PM
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Yes, we will be travelling in the winter, which I forgot to mention (late Nov.) and I think your train advice is VERY helpful. I will make sure we check the open hours at Pompeii - thank you all for your helpful advice!
Sep 18th, 2005, 01:04 PM
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Here are Walter's/Paradiselost's detailed directions, Rome to Pompeii
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34665492
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34665492
Sep 18th, 2005, 01:31 PM
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Do not purchase the ticket in Rome for the complete trip to Pompeii. They only sell tickets on there trains, and this will cause a 1-2 hour layover in Naples. Get a ticket to Naples ONLY. Then in Naples, go downstairs to the local station and purchase the ticket to Pompeii, the local leaves every 30 minutes. In Pompeii, you can purchase the full return ticket. There are many threads with more accurate directions on this site.
Leave early.
Leave early.
