GAC

A daytrip to Pompei Scavi from Rome is a popular undertaking for many travellers, who typically choose between taking an organized bus tour or going "on their own".

Many travellers understandably prefer avoiding organized tours, which invariably place significant limits on the flexibility of a daytrip to Pompei, as well as actual time at destination. However, some have noted the steep fares of the fast trains between Rome and Naples (currently 88 Euros round-trip in second class on the fastest AV train).

Fortunately, it is possible to do this daytrip by using the trains and spending UNDER 50 Euros per person: taking the Intercity (IC) train in both directions, rather than the more expensive AV and ES trains.

The difference in fare is very significant: 41 Euros round-trip on the IC versus 88 Euros on the AV or 68 Euros on the ES (all fares are second class). The difference in travel time compared to the ES train is modest: only 18 minutes longer each way on the IC train. The time difference compared to the AV train is more pronounced: 53 minutes more each way on the IC train (due to the fact that the AV train takes the new high-speed rail line). AV and ES trains go non-stop between Rome and Naples. The IC trains usually make three very short stops en-route (Latina, Formia and Aversa).

Seats on the IC, ES and AV trains are all reserved. First class seats are not necessary on this route. These trains are all non-smoking and have air conditioning (which does not work 100% of the time). Many travellers have noted that the IC trains are not as "nice" as the ES and AV trains.

In addition to the Trenitalia fare, travellers must also pay 4.80 Euros round-trip for the 35-minute Circumvesuviana commuter train ride between Napoli Garibaldi (underground to Napoli Centrale) and the Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri station, across the street from the entrance to the archeological site. Seats on the Circumvesuviana all all non-reserved. Allow at least 15-20 minutes to connect between trains (based on actual arrival time at Napoli Centrale). These commuter trains run every half-hour.

There are two IC train departures out of Roma Termini station which are particularly useful: at 6:27 a.m. and at 7:27 a.m. Travel time to Napoli Centrale is approximately two hours.

The archeological site opens at 8:30 a.m.

On the return trip, there are IC trains from Napoli Centrale back to Roma Termini at 16:30, 17:30, 18:38, 19:30 and 20:30.

You don't need to pay nearly 100 Euros to see Pompei from Rome: it can cost less than half this amount, as this posting bears out. Of course, the primary "trade-off" in using the IC trains is the longer travel time involved: travellers are saving money by spending more time sitting on a train instead of enjoying Pompei. It comes down to a personal decision.

Fares and schedules quoted above are believed to be accurate as of the date of posting, but are not guaranteed to be correct, since they are taken from internet sources which are not always current. Travel times are accurate but not guaranteed to be exact, and are always subject to travel conditions, delays and other unforeseen circumstances. The IC train departures noted above are not necessarily daily. The Trenitalia website should be consulted by inserting the actual travel date. Also, fares, schedules and routings are subject to change and should always be verified prior to start of travel. The foregoing is general information, and should not be relied upon in the absence of individualized travel planning.

www.ferroviedellostato.it (Trenitalia)

www.vesuviana.it (Circumvesuviana)

Dayle

Hey GAC,

You know I love and respect your detailed and absolutely invaluable public trans contributions here, I REALLY do! You'be been so much help to me in planning for my (hopefully) upcoming trip to Sicily!!

But - I have to relate my personal experience with the IC train from Termini to Naples. I had just arrived at FCO, taken the express to Termini and bought a ticket for the ES. Went out to the track and it was less than 10 min. to my train's departure time. Train was already there and destination was Naples. Fine.

I got on and was completely repulsed. And I am not an overly picky person. The whole compartment smelled like a stadium bathroom at the end of the game is the best description I can think of. The seats were so filthy that the green upholstery was brown everywhere but the middle. Ugh.

As we took off, the windows were down and there was no A/C, but lots of wind. As we made more than one stop and all the passengers were locals, no tourists, I realized I had boarded the wrong train. At the second small station stop, I had to sit there and watch the ES train breeze through the station as it passed us.....

My mistake in my jet lagged condition, but the IC train ended up taking 2.5 hours. It was a very long 2.5 hours, especially when you don't dare go in to use the restroom but need to very badly!

On this trip the AC train wasn't in service, but based on this experience, I would have gladly paid the 88E. I realize that everyone has different priorities and sometimes budget is key. Just needed to share this personal experience so people might know ahead what to expect and can make their decisions accordingly!

Pompeii is amazing and if a day trip is the only way - go for it.

PalenQ

GAC - there are direct trains also to Popmpeii the city itself, right - why not take these direct to Pompeii? Or am i mistaken?

thanks for the great info

PalenQ

Well i'll answer my own question - there are trains to modern Pompeii from Naples Garibaldi station (attached to Centrale) and they take only 35 minutes vs 65-70 on the metro-like (and IME often congested CircumVesuviana) but then you'd have to go about a mile i think from the Pompeii FS station to the ruins. Still i wonder if there is anything in modern Pompeii that may attract folks.

GAC

Dayle: are you sure that you boarded an IC train and not a "regionale" train? The reason I ask is because you talk about several stops and at the "second small station stop" ... which leads me to believe that you may have been on the "regionale" train which has only second class and whose seats have green vinyl. Did your train have separate compartments with sliding glass doors (indicative of a traditional IC trains), or open-compartment seating (indicative of a "regionale" train)? You also say that the trip took 2.5 hours, which is about the right amount of time for the "regionale" train.

In any case, I did say in my original posting:

"Many travellers have noted that the IC trains are not as "nice" as the ES and AV trains." In your case, this may have been quite an understatement!

As I re-read my posting, I would also add the following comment:

On the return trip from Naples to Rome, travellers should be aware that some IC trains originating in Sicily or Calabria and passing through Naples may be running late (even very late), compared to their scheduled departure times.
By contrast, the AV trains should all be originating in Naples or in Salerno, which means that they are much less likely to be running late, compared to the IC trains. The ES trains are also likely to be originating in Calabria and passing through Naples to Rome.

Dayle

GAC,

As usual, I'm sure you are correct! From your description, it sounds like it was a regional train. But the seats weren't vinyl, they were some sort of unidentifiable cloth....

I've used the Circumvesuviana many times and the Metro in Naples, Rome and Milan - no complaints, but Lord help me if I every encounter another trian like that one! I think I'll think I'll pass thank you!

fanshawe

I took an IC train from Termini to Naples at around this time last year, and it worked very well indeed. I don't recall the specifics, but the fare was significantly cheaper than the ES and the ride didn't take much longer. My companion and I had an entire compartment to ourselves and were far more comfortable than we usually are on train rides.

Granted, it was mid-morning on a weekday, and we weren't tired or in a hurry. Your mileage may vary.

PalenQ

I've used the Circumvesuviana many times and the Metro in Naples, Rome and Milan - no complaints, but Lord help me if I every encounter another trian like that one! I think I'll think I'll pass thank you!>

i've been on regional trains in Italy whose carriages seem to date from pre-war times - so i know what you mean, fanshawe

Viajero2

Beware that Pompei is the town and Pompeii is the excavation site....lots of people end up in the wrong station because they don't understand this (see examples above...)

Nikki

The name of the Circumvesuviana station for the ruins is Pompei Scavi. See this photo:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...mpei_Scavi.jpg

Viajero2

Exactly-- when referring to the excavations in the Town of Pompei the nomencalature is POMPEI SCAVI. When referring to the partly buried Roman town-city (actual excavation) the correct name is POMPEII. Really- what is so difficult to understand...!?

Nikki

I am sorry, I am getting confused here. When I went to the partly buried Roman town, I got off at the Pompei Scavi station, which is right at the entrance. This is the train and the station that you use to visit the ancient excavated city. Are you saying something different?

GAC

POMPEII and POMPEI are one and the same. POMPEII is the Latin spelling and POMPEI is the Italian spelling.

When boarding the Circumvesuviana train in Naples, go must get off at POMPEI SCAVI - VILLA DEI MISTERI.

Do NOT get off at the POMPEI station of the Circumvesuviana.

Do NOT take the Trenitalia train to POMPEI.

Take the Circumvesuviana train to POMPEI SCAVI - VILLA DEI MISTERI. See this photo (which Nikki posted above):

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...mpei_Scavi.jpg

GAC

(An afterthought):

When referring to the modern town, one would always write: POMPEI (and not Pompeii).

When referring to the archeological site, one might use the Latin word POMPEII (particularly archeologists or Latin scholars), but Italians (and many others) would say "SCAVI di POMPEI".

In any case, the three train stations noted above are always referred to by their Italian spelling, with the specification "POMPEI SCAVI" to distinguish the Circumvesuviana Station near the main entrance to the site.

GAC

For those for whom this information might matter, of the five northbound late afternoon/early evening IC trains from Naples to Rome identified above, all but one originate in the "deep south", as follows:

16:30 departure originates in Palermo; 17:30 departure originates in Naples; 18:38 departure originates in Taranto; 19:30 departure originates in Siracusa; 20:30 departure originates in Reggio Calabria. There is also an ICN northbound train at 21:08 (not mentioned above) which originates in Naples.

Remember that northbound trains originating far south of Naples have a greater likelihood of running late, compared to those which originate in Naples.

With reference to the two early morning southbound IC trains from Rome to Naples identified above, the one departing Rome at 6:27 goes to Taranto; the one departing at 7:27 goes to Palermo.

Viajero2

GAC, glad we agree; Pompei is the town, Pompeii refers to the archaelogical site.

kodi

Gac, this information does indeed matter! Thank you very much for posting all this great information.
We will be going to Pompei in Feb and this is exactly the information I need.

It sounds like a very long day, but doable.
Perhaps it would be better to stay overnight for one night. After reading your post, I would think Naples would be the place to stay.

Is there a way of staying in Sorrento and seeing the Amalfi coast from the train?

GAC

If you stay overnight in Sorrento, you can take the SITA bus to Amalfi (100 minutes), then another SITA bus to Salerno (75 minutes). A 24-hr. bus ticket costs 7.20 Euros. In Feburary, there will not be any ferry boats or hydrofoils between Sorrento/Positano/Amalfi/Salerno, so the SITA bus would be your only public transportation option. Between Sorrento/Pompei/Naples you can take the Circumvesuviana commuter train.

With the UNICO CAMPANIA 3T tourist ticket (20 Euros, valid for 3 consecutive days), you can lock-up public transportation in the Naples/Pompei/Sorrento/Amalfi Coast areas. You can buy this ticket at the Napoli Centrale train station, as well as in many other locations (newsstands, bars, tobbacconists).

If you also plan to visit Pompeii, consider buying (in lieu of the UNICO CAMPANIA 3T tourist ticket) the Campania Artecard Tutta La Regione-3 days (27 Euros), which gives you all the public transportation coverage, PLUS free entrance to two museums or archeological sites, PLUS a 50% reduction for all additional museums or sites.

www.unicocampania.it

www.artecard.it

sandicran

Thank for the detailed information.

When you mention the Campania Artecart Tutta La Regione - 3 days, what archeological sites does that cover? What is the admission price to visit Scavi di Pompeii?

kodi

GAC, you are amazing! What a wealth of knowledge!
Thank you so much.
If we do stay overnight, does the bus follow the same dramatic road as the cars do? I'm not at all familiar with the area, but do remember years ago, our tour bus driving along a very dramatic road, and I'd like to follow the same route.

Would you like to come to Rome with us???