RCLCOLPB

Is it reasonable to visit both Pompeii and Herculaneum in one day (day trip via train from Sorrento), or is that too much?

There seem to be a lot of different opinions re hiring a guide at the front of Pompeii vs. renting an Acoustiguide. Any more thoughts on that? This is for a couple with no kids.

Does Herculaneum also have guides waiting outside and an Acoustiguide? Any different answer there? Or is just a guidebook sufficient?

Thanks,

Len

Steve_James

Hi RC - I think it depends on whether or not you want to do an in-depth tour.

Personally after a few hours around Pompeii I wouldn't want to do Ercolano on top.

Just my personal opinion ...

Steve

PalenQ

I once did them both in one day and for the average tourist very possible - they are not that far apart by CircumVesuviana train and Ercolo is much more compact than Pompeii

from the Ercolo train station you walk thru several blocks of laundry-strung tenements to the site but it's still a short walk from the train station and station at Pompeii Scavi is right at the entrance.

evecolorado

It would make a difference how fit you are / how much stamina you have. Unless you are super fit, you'd be knackered doing both. My friend and I enjoyed leisurely wandering through Herculaneum, getting a feel of living there. We did see guides outside, but found the Acoustiguide (rented one between us as we were on a very tight budget) quite satisfactory; much, much better than the guidebook alone. Plus with the Acoustiguide we were on our own schedule. You can take a picnic lunch. We loved Ercolano. A couple of young women from France we chatted with over breakfast next morning had gone to Pompeii and found it too crowded.

kja

I visited both in one day. I was tired by the end, but very glad I saw both. I used the audio guide at both sites, and found them quite informative. Enjoy!

evecolorado

kja: if you could only do one of these places (I'm thinking of when I return to Italy with my husband) which one would you pick?

kja

Wow, evecolorado, I'm so glad I didn't have to make that choice! I found both sites fascinating, and the differences between them were also very interesting. If I had to choose between them, I'd probably pick Pompeii, primarily because the frescos of the Villa dei Misteri are so beautiful. I also found the Garden of the Fugitives very moving. Hope that helps!

PalenQ

I'd pick Pompeii hands down. Though Ercolo is great, it's a Pompeii in miniature. I just didn't catch the appropriate pathos at Ercolo as you certainly do at Pompeii IMO

evecolorado

Thank you both, kja and PalenQ. Pompeii it is.

SAB

I'm not a big fan of audioguides, so we hired one of the guides at Pompeii. You can either join a group for less of course, or have the guide for yourselves. We chose the latter for a 2-hour tour Together with what I had already read and knew about Pompeii, having a guide really enhanced the experience. After the guide tour was over, we explored on our own. BTW we found that a visit to the Museo Nazionale in Napoli further enhanced the experience--amazing mosaics, pottery, glass and silver.