pompeii - hours of operation - help!
Jun 24th, 2003, 06:30 AM
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pompeii - hours of operation - help!
leaving for italy friday night, on the back end of our trip we are taking the night train from venice to naples, and have decided to take the circumvesa to pompeii, store the luggage, take the train to sorrento, be picked up by pre-arranged driver and taken to our hotel in positano for a little r&r.
I need to arrange a time for the driver to pick us up in sorrento. I'd like to spend a good amount of time in pompeii. I've looked in several places and gotten a multitude of different awnsers to these 2 questions (looked at frommers, fodors, a few guide books, her, etc..)
a) when does the site close for the day?
b) where can i find a circumvesa schedule (so i can arrange for a pickup at hte station)
thanks so much! you've all been a ton of help already!
I need to arrange a time for the driver to pick us up in sorrento. I'd like to spend a good amount of time in pompeii. I've looked in several places and gotten a multitude of different awnsers to these 2 questions (looked at frommers, fodors, a few guide books, her, etc..)
a) when does the site close for the day?
b) where can i find a circumvesa schedule (so i can arrange for a pickup at hte station)
thanks so much! you've all been a ton of help already!
Jun 24th, 2003, 07:01 AM
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I can't help with the closing time for Pompeii, but following is the web site for the Circumvesuviana trains:
http://www.vesuviana.it/
http://www.vesuviana.it/
Jun 24th, 2003, 07:23 AM
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Opening hours for Pompei are:
APRIL-OCT
8.30 a.m - 7.30 p.m (last admission 6.p.m)
NOV-MAR
8.30 a.m - 5.00 p.m (last admission 3.30 p.m)
Here's the link:
http://www2.pompeiisites.org/databas...B?OpenDocument
The Circumvesuviana train (Naples-Pompei Scavi-Sorreno)
- runs approx. every 30 minutes.
Here's an easy reference timetable:
http://www.massalubrense.it/circum.htm
Hope this helps ...
Steve
APRIL-OCT
8.30 a.m - 7.30 p.m (last admission 6.p.m)
NOV-MAR
8.30 a.m - 5.00 p.m (last admission 3.30 p.m)
Here's the link:
http://www2.pompeiisites.org/databas...B?OpenDocument
The Circumvesuviana train (Naples-Pompei Scavi-Sorreno)
- runs approx. every 30 minutes.
Here's an easy reference timetable:
http://www.massalubrense.it/circum.htm
Hope this helps ...
Steve
Jun 24th, 2003, 07:31 AM
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thanks all for your replies!
Steve, as always you are an awnser to my prayers
One other question...will my luggage be ok stored at pompeii? We plan to bring a bicycle lock to chain them together so they are "less attractive" to the wrong people...
Steve, as always you are an awnser to my prayers
One other question...will my luggage be ok stored at pompeii? We plan to bring a bicycle lock to chain them together so they are "less attractive" to the wrong people...
Jun 24th, 2003, 09:19 AM
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Leave the heavy bicycle chain behind, you won't need it at the baggage claim at Pompeii. It's a small office to the right of the entrance (before you enter) with an attendant inside. But I don't know what to suggest if they're full.
If you do plan to take something for luggage security, don't take a bicycle chain. Consider getting one of those retractable cable locks (REI has them) which are fairly small and light.
If you do plan to take something for luggage security, don't take a bicycle chain. Consider getting one of those retractable cable locks (REI has them) which are fairly small and light.
Jun 24th, 2003, 12:27 PM
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prego iij, I'm sure you'll have a fantastic trip!
Looking at your planned itinerary, I would suggest getting to Pompeii as early as possible so that you may enjoy the immense ruins before it gets too hot and crowded as well as getting an invaluable luggage storage space. BTW, I even tried to tip the female attendant at the baggage claim because it's complimentray, and she refused it!!!
Looking back, I wish we had taken a guided tour so that an expert could've shown us the highlights with relative ease and provided some background. Even though we roamed around (lost at times) at a brisk pace for 3.5 hours with a tour map and one of those past and present picture books, we felt like we only scratched the surface of this HUGE city of ruins. Just getting to the amphitheater and palaestra and back will take up quite a bit of time. We (in our early 30's) were thoroughly exhausted after attempting to fit Pompeii in at under 3 hours.
Visiting Pompeii early will also allow you to enjoy the drive along the Amalfi Coast in all its splendor while there's plenty of daylight. If you visit Pompeii until closing time, you'll regret it later as your private driver for to ride to Positano won't be able to point out all the wondrous beauties in the dark...you get the picture.
Hope this helps!!!
Looking at your planned itinerary, I would suggest getting to Pompeii as early as possible so that you may enjoy the immense ruins before it gets too hot and crowded as well as getting an invaluable luggage storage space. BTW, I even tried to tip the female attendant at the baggage claim because it's complimentray, and she refused it!!!
Looking back, I wish we had taken a guided tour so that an expert could've shown us the highlights with relative ease and provided some background. Even though we roamed around (lost at times) at a brisk pace for 3.5 hours with a tour map and one of those past and present picture books, we felt like we only scratched the surface of this HUGE city of ruins. Just getting to the amphitheater and palaestra and back will take up quite a bit of time. We (in our early 30's) were thoroughly exhausted after attempting to fit Pompeii in at under 3 hours.
Visiting Pompeii early will also allow you to enjoy the drive along the Amalfi Coast in all its splendor while there's plenty of daylight. If you visit Pompeii until closing time, you'll regret it later as your private driver for to ride to Positano won't be able to point out all the wondrous beauties in the dark...you get the picture.
Hope this helps!!!
Jun 24th, 2003, 01:07 PM
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Your schedule hinges on being on time to meet the driver. Wouldn't a taxi be a better option?
This way you can spend as much or as little time in Pompeii as you like.
Most important how will you and/or your partner feel that day!
I assume you're taking the 11:33PM direct train?
After b'fast in Venice you're hotel-less until the train leaves, I assume? A long day!
Will you get a good nights sleep on the train? I've never taken a night train, so I don't know. A/C good?, noise at the stations or other passengers?, and there are ~12 stops before Naples on that direct train.
If that's your train you'll probably just miss the 10:09 Circumvesuviana, you'll have 10min if you arrive on time. So figure you'll be in Pompeii's ticket line ~11:30.
If you're well rested you might want to spend most of the afternoon among the ruins. If not you might want to cut it short.
But neither is an option if you're tied to a driver pick-up
.
If you don't hire a guide, the audioguide is excellent.
To save time: The entrance is like an outdoor courtyard. You enter thru a gate. One person goes to the ticket line on the left, the other if you want the audioguide goes to the small octagonal bldg in the center. Have either 2 picture ID's or CC's for security. Or that person goes over to the ticket entrance turnstiles and checks the bags. Plan B if the luggage area if full. I have read a few posts where people have left their bags at the newstand or cafe in the Circumvesuviana Station for a few euros.
Go to www.twenj.com click-on Rome and "Excursions" on the sidebar for Naples-Pompeii directions. One mistake though, it's listed as the Garibaldi Station which is incorrect it should read Centrale Train Station in Naples (the one you will be arriving at). Actually the same station just on different levels. Have a Wonderful Trip! Regards, Walter
This way you can spend as much or as little time in Pompeii as you like.
Most important how will you and/or your partner feel that day!
I assume you're taking the 11:33PM direct train?
After b'fast in Venice you're hotel-less until the train leaves, I assume? A long day!
Will you get a good nights sleep on the train? I've never taken a night train, so I don't know. A/C good?, noise at the stations or other passengers?, and there are ~12 stops before Naples on that direct train.
If that's your train you'll probably just miss the 10:09 Circumvesuviana, you'll have 10min if you arrive on time. So figure you'll be in Pompeii's ticket line ~11:30.
If you're well rested you might want to spend most of the afternoon among the ruins. If not you might want to cut it short.
But neither is an option if you're tied to a driver pick-up
. If you don't hire a guide, the audioguide is excellent.
To save time: The entrance is like an outdoor courtyard. You enter thru a gate. One person goes to the ticket line on the left, the other if you want the audioguide goes to the small octagonal bldg in the center. Have either 2 picture ID's or CC's for security. Or that person goes over to the ticket entrance turnstiles and checks the bags. Plan B if the luggage area if full. I have read a few posts where people have left their bags at the newstand or cafe in the Circumvesuviana Station for a few euros.
Go to www.twenj.com click-on Rome and "Excursions" on the sidebar for Naples-Pompeii directions. One mistake though, it's listed as the Garibaldi Station which is incorrect it should read Centrale Train Station in Naples (the one you will be arriving at). Actually the same station just on different levels
. Have a Wonderful Trip! Regards, Walter
Jun 25th, 2003, 04:55 AM
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Thanks guys!
Yep we are on the 11:33 out of venice. We booked a compartment for 2 and are pretty good sleepers so i hope we will be decently rested. We decided to go to pompeii on the way to save some time (and some money - hence the taxi from sorrento instead of pompeii, cut the cost in 1/2 - with the us $ the way it is, we need to cut a few corners here and there)
Our plan is to get on the first circumvesa out, train gets in at 9:59(probably won't make the 10:09, but definately the 10:39), which puts us in pompeii at 11:17 (hopefully not too late to get luggage storage), we booked a driver to pick us up in sorrento at 6:30, so we will take the 5:47 circumvesa to sorrento (thanks steve for the schedule, it helps). No it won't be leisurely, but at least we'll see it and have time to recover in positano
Yep we are on the 11:33 out of venice. We booked a compartment for 2 and are pretty good sleepers so i hope we will be decently rested. We decided to go to pompeii on the way to save some time (and some money - hence the taxi from sorrento instead of pompeii, cut the cost in 1/2 - with the us $ the way it is, we need to cut a few corners here and there)
Our plan is to get on the first circumvesa out, train gets in at 9:59(probably won't make the 10:09, but definately the 10:39), which puts us in pompeii at 11:17 (hopefully not too late to get luggage storage), we booked a driver to pick us up in sorrento at 6:30, so we will take the 5:47 circumvesa to sorrento (thanks steve for the schedule, it helps). No it won't be leisurely, but at least we'll see it and have time to recover in positano
