There is only one sensible suggestion: dedicate a day to each of the two. Otherwise you'll do neither justice. You'll regret it (unless you belong to that species of rat race tourists who believe they can see the whole of Europe in ten days).

No suggestion donnae since you have definately made up your mind. But there is no way I would attempt to visit Pompeii and Capri all on the same day.

The round trip on hydrofoil Naples - Capri will eat up 2 hours alone. It could take 2 hours for the 10 min Blue Grotto excursion. Last hyrdrofoil back to Naples is around 7:45 PM. Naples - Pompeii round trip is 1.5 hours at best. Allowing a minimum of 4 hrs for Pompeii that doesn't leave much time for Capri.

"We are definately visiting both the Isle of Capri (blue grotto) and Pompeii on the same day . . . . . . . Do you have any suggestions?"

Yes, but you won't like them

As the others say - just not a good idea. If you are set on trying it, good luck, but no suggestions from here.

Hi Donnae,

I agree with the others, this isn't a good idea. Even if you are the type of visitor is happy with a "brief overview", the transportation time alone makes it impractical for one day.

Choose one.

Very bad idea, you will barely see anything of either place. And be advised the Blue Grotto is not something you can visit at any given time on any given day. This is because you cannot get into the grotto at high tide. I've been to Capri twice and both times I was unable to get in.

As suggested above, spend one day at each place. If you don't have that kind of time, choose one or the other. Personally I would choose Capri, but that's JMO. If you do go to Capri, check the tidal forecast in advance.

donnae_b,

Sage advise from the previous posters.

It is almost impossible. By the time you reach one destination, you have to get back in order to get to the second destination--tired, frustrated, having experienced nothing.

Well if your energenic, and don't plan on 'studying' Pompeii, you go there in the morning & capri in the afternoon. Best way to get to Capri, is take the metro outta Naples central, to Meergilina, and catch the boat from there. As previously posted, there's no guareentee about the blue lagoon- they only take people there under certain conditions. I don't know where travelmini gets all that time between Naples and Pompeii, it took me 10 minutes by public bus from main bus station in Naples to Pompeii- then maybe 20 minutes on metro from there to Mergilina-then maybe 10 minutes walk from train-exit to dock.

The problem with going to Capri in the afternoon is that the last boats back to the mainland leave in the late afternoon.

Frankly, I don;t think this is possible. But- if you want to do it you must get the first boat to Capri, then take the first launch to the Blue Grotto, get back to the little port and head right back to Naples. You won;t have time to see anything else on Capri - either the towns of Capri or Anacapri or the Roman ruins.

Then head to Pompeii and you will have a couple of hours (assuming you're going in the summer when daylight hours are longer).

You will see very little of either - but will be able to say you've been there.

Wow and thank you all for your input!! Do you think that we could do both the Isle of Capri and Herculaneum in one day?

TTT

No, as you have basically the same issues.

donnae-b: NYtraveler hit it right on the button. IMO, with 2 days, concentrate on 2 places, one for each day. Why not do Pompeii in one day, relax as you absorb & appriciate, have a nice meal, and set out to Capri the next day. It has more interest to offer than the grotto, many nice restaurants, other boat excursions from there. This way IMO, there's always so much to go back for, rather than scanning a bunch of areas at once.

i'd just accept that Capri is a trip in and of itself. Not really possible to combine it w/ any other major site(s).

Just visited both sites a few weeks ago and am not sure on logistics but sounds like a private helicopter would make Capri and Pompeii doable.

What interests you more? Ruins, or beautiful views, shops, and restaurants? Pompeii was really interesting but I was disappointed not to see many of the artifacts that reside in a museum in Naples. Next time, I'd combine the site with the museum.

Capri was beautiful but so was all of the Amalfi coast. Next time I'd actually stay on Capri for a few days and settle in. I felt like a cruise day-tripper trying to "see it all" in one day...

Good luck...

We did a tour as part of a cruise ship itinerary where we left from Naples (by coach) toured Pompei, had lunch in Sorrento, went to Capri and returned on the last hydrofoil to Naples.
On your own, I wouldn't risk it. Nor would I do the blue grotto at all (have done this). Much better to explore Capri with the time. The blue grotto trip (if it is on) requires several transfers to smaller and smaller boats.

Capri and Herculaneum would be just the same hassle as Capri and Pompeii.

*shakes head*

If you do not have time for a day in each location, pick one. You will not do justice to either location in trying to attempt this. "I think we will need more time in Pompeii to look around"....You need more time, not only in Pompeii but also in Capri.

You never said why you had to do both sites in one day. Just curious.

We spent one day in Pompeii then the next day in Capri - worked out great. Spent the whole day in Pompeii so we didn't rush through it. Then did a tour of Capri on a mini-bus - which enabled us to see the whole island while we had based ourselves in Sorrento the night before. Worked out great. then, we returned to Sprrento from Capri and actually had to take a train back to Rome that night. Made for a long day but we were able to fit that in - we arrived in Rome in time for a late dinner (around the same time the Italians eat! ha, perfect) Doing Capri and Pompeii in one day - impossible. Well, wait, it's not impossible - do you have a helicopter?! jk

As an overview so that you might go back some other time, I can't fault this plan. I had to make the same choice in May while on a Mediterranean cruise. I had always wanted to see both and just could not make up my mind which one to sacrifice. Fortunately, Princess cruises had a tour that took in a half day at each. Sure you don't get to see everything, or for that matter, anything in depth. But for someone who only has one day and wants badly to do both, it can be done. In that case, though, I think you almost have to take a tour. You can't waste any time getting lost or missing any connections. You want someone or some tour company to take you to Pompeii and show you the highlights, get you to lunch, then to the ferry to Capri, walk you to a good spot so that you can be on your own for a while to see the sights, then make you way back to the Mainland.

The other posters are correct that it would be better to dedicate one day to each place, but if you absolutely cannot, just know that it can be done in a day and still enjoyed. This day was one of the highlights of my cruise.

Well I will now be a Johnny Come Lately and pile in with everyone else
The greatest day of my Europe trip was lazily walking around the isle of Capri. This took the WHOLE DAY. The ride out and back took long enough I can't imagine having less than 1/2 day.

Ditto Pompeii. Certainly there is something else worth cutting in your trip so you don't need to do this?

The logistics for Herculaneum and Pompeii are the same but the former is much smaller and you will be able to appreciate more of it in your limited time. That said, I agree with most of the others that it is too much for one day. Seeing both Herculaneum and Pompeii as a nice same day trip would also be a good plan. IMO they compliment eachother.

"You never said why you had to do both sites in one day. Just curious."

We are staying over two nights in Naples and want to spend one day just wondering around Naples itself the other on a day trip.

Thank you all for your help. This time we will visit Capri.

Pompeii is only half an hour from Naples, and you can easily spend a few hours there on your "wandering around Naples" day.

Most of the interesting art found in Pompeii is already in the Archeology Museum in Naples. Spend a couple hours in there during your Naples day.

Well, I have actually went to Herculaneum and Capri in the same day. But there is no way I would have had the time to do the blue grotto in the same day as it sucks up a lot of time. And I had to start the Herculaneum visit early in the morning just as the doors opened. I spent 3 hours at Heraculaneum (but archaeology is my passion) You could see the whole site in 1.5 hours but with walking from the train stop to the site and into site plus rest and lunch time, alow another hour or so. I had taken the ferry from Sorrento to Capri but leaving from Naples there may be more frequent boats. I only got to spend a few hours in Capri before the last ferry back. I felt like Capri wasn't fully enjoyed because you couldn't spend the slow moments of strolling or getting lost in the pathways or spending a long time at a cafe or restaurant enjoying the moment. There is no way I could do Pompeii and Capri in a day. You need a full day in Pompeii. I spent 8 hours there, but even after 4 hours was exhausted and couldn't imagine doing any other siteseeing somewhere else. At that point you just want a relaxing end with no stress about catching ferries and getting somewhere. If you are going to do it save time with taking a taxi to the Naples port, eating lunch in Capri, and skip the blue grotto. But decide after you first day in Naples. One day in Naples with a museum visit is short and you may want to spend more time in Naples. I spent one day museum and one and half days for the city and still need to go back to Naples to see more.

We just returned from the Amalfi Coast. We ended up canceling our plans to go to Capri since we only had one day. After speaking with several tourists, we decided to do Pompeii instead. This killed me since I always dreamed of going to Capri. According to all that tried it, the experience was miserable....way too many people. They felt like cattle and they wished they hadn't gone. The line ups were unbelievable (late September) and the entire experience was a negative one. I am only relaying what several different groups of tourists who went to Capri for the day said. Perhaps a couple of days there might be a better idea, especially since it so breathtaking to be there at night.

Janie

If TIME is THE big factor and you don´t have much of it then Pompei and Capri can be done in one day.

Plan to arrive in Pompei no later than 9:00 in the morning. Buy a guide book and stroll through the ruins for 2 and a half hours. Grab a sandwich for lunch and take the train from Pompei to Sorennto (40 minute ride, departs every half hour, costs €1.80) In Sorrento walk (or taxi) down to the harbor and take the hydrofoil to Capri (20 minute ride). This should put you on Capri at around 1:30 in the afternoon. You then have about 4 hours on the Island to explore, shop, relax, swim, or whatever. The Blue Grotto
excursion is costly, time consuming, and no guarantee that you´ll be able to visit it (hide tide, rough seas) There are other boat excursions which are probably as rewarding. You will need to budget your time wisely while enroute from point A to point B not spend time perusing shops and souvenir stands. Save that for Capri. Of course if time and Euros are not so limited then you should spend a half day at Pompei and one and a half days on Capri. Have fun.

Please please please don't skip Pompeii. It's remarkable, and I have the name of the greatest guide to take you on a four hour tour. Start early one day before the heat fries everything, then spend the afternoon and night wandering around Naples, then get up and do Capri early the next day. No matter what any book, magazine, or poster says, Naples is the least interesting of the three spots you mention. And while the Naples museum has Pompeii's great artifacts, what good is that if you don't see and feel the spot where history was made? I've actually been twice to Pompeii, most recently June 2006, and took a day trip from Rome that day because I felt my children HAD to see it. (We arranged for a bus, guide, and driver, so it wasn't too demanding, and actually quite fun.)

Pompeii is a dream of a place.
Not to be missed.
With careful planning, you can do it all.

BOOKMARKING

Don't even think about trying to see both. If your short on time just see Pompeii. Suggest you stay in Sorrento.....a beautiful city with easy access to Pompeii. We spent 2 days on Capri. It was nice and the blue grotto was neat but worth the trip if you can't relax and enjoy it. Good luck.

"We are definately visiting both the Isle of Capri (blue grotto) and Pompeii on the same day."

I'll join the chorus. What a sad idea. I frequently discourage people from making an all day day trip to Capri as many of them end up disappointed in Capri and I always say a person needs to spend overnight to appreciate it. Going there for an hour or two seems so pointless, unless it is imperative that you check it off your list of "been there" places. Maybe to speed yourself along, you could just step off the boat then get back on it for the immediate return -- at least you can honestly say you've "been to Capri".
And although we thought we'd spend a good half day at Pompeii and arrived when it opened, we ended up covering less than half of it by lunch, and left and came back, leaving around 5 -- yes -- all day. I can honestly say I've seen Pompeii, but even then there are some things I missed and wished we had seen.
But again, if you only need to say you've been there, 30 minutes or so will accomplish that.

Not ideal, but it can be done. I've done it. I took an early ferry to Capri, got there as the shops were just opening. Strolled around, took bus to Anacapri, had a very nice lunch, back on the boat - once back in Sorrento, taxi to the train station, 30 min. on the train and then spent approx. 3 hours in Pompeii, which was plenty of time for me. I really wanted to see both and just did not have the time to do both separately. I've since been back to Capri.

You had a nice lunch on Capri, and still got to Pompeii by 2? Wow. I'm impressed.

Hmm, not sure I was there by 2:00, but I indeed had a very nice lunch, not rushed either.

Oh. I got the 2:00 since you said you spent three hours at Pompeii, and to my knowledge it always closes at 5.

Just seemed like a tight squeeze and good connections, boat, taxi, and train! Kind of hard for me to imagine getting from Capri to Pompeii in less than two hours with the double connection issue.

Well this was back in 2001, and in Sept. so maybe the closing time was later back then. I recall getting back to Sorrento around 7ish. It was a very hot day, so the time we spent in Pompeii was about all we wanted under the circumstances. Guess we were just lucky with connections, although there were frequent trains and taxis were always waiting at the dock.

'Just "piling on" -- doing both in a day doesn't do either of them justice, and you'll feel blown out in the process of just the travel arangements. I'd focus on one **OR** the other, if you only want to spend a day in that part of the world.

The OP posted this back in Oct and hasn't been on Fodors since Dec 15 - don't think she's still looking for suggestions.

Just checked times - April - Oct. 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Hi,
If you are in Naples for two days, go to Capri on day one, early in the a.m. and return after or right before lunch. Spend the afternoon walking around Naples. On day 2 go to Pompeii early in the a.m. and spend the afternoon walking around Naples.

Have fun. Yipper

Hi Fodorites! We arrived in Naples at 11 PM and did not visit either Capri nor Pompeii, there wasnt enough time. We only had the next full day to explore and decided to stay in Naples. If you are interested in our experience there I posted our day on a separate thread.
Thank you.

Hi donnae, I just read about your lovely time in Naples and I am so glad you had a great time.

hello,

I have been to pompeii 3 times and I have still not seen all of it.

And there is quite a bit to see in Capri and in Anacapri that even a full day would not be enough.

You may want to consider staying at the Hotel Ambassador Weber only about $135.00 Euro a night and plan on spending about 3 or four days there. From capri you can take the ferry to sorrento which has nice shopping. From Sorrento you can take the train to Pompeii and spend a few hours there but you have to leave by about 4 pm to take the train to Naples to catch the last ferry to Capri about 6 PM.

In Capri you can find any number fo boats that will give you a tour of the island and stop at the blue grotto which is amazing--anywhere from $75.00 -120.00 euro.

If you start walking down the side streets of the piazetta you will find the gardens of Augustus.

Also on capri is Emperor Tiberius Palace, Villa San Michele. There is also the light house and La Cassa Rossa in Anacapri. Also Anacapri has the festival of Saint Anthony on June 13 with a lovley religious procession through the town with children in costumes just like a Fellini film.

I love Capri and yes there are way too many tourist but you can not enjoy capri simply in one afternoon.

And it is much nicer to take the ferry to Sorrento and Positano than staying at a Hoetl in Naples, which can be sketchy...

have fun....