Pompeii and Sorrento
Jun 13th, 2016, 07:03 PM
#2
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We did a cruise and had the same decision to make. Pompeii or Sorrento. I don't think it's doable without running the risk of being late for the ship's departure that day. We opted to go to Sorrento and took the ferry next to the cruise terminal.
Jun 13th, 2016, 08:11 PM
#4
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It's a little hard to advise you without knowing your cruise ship's schedule. Is this a night before docking in Sorrento? Naples? Capri? Pompeii takes a long time to navigate through. At a minimum, you should allow at least 4 hours, with the understanding that you will not be seeing the entire complex. To try to squeeze that in with Sorrento, in addition to Capri seems close to impossible. If you are getting a full day with an early enough start and you are not visiting Capri, then you could do a very cursory tour of Pompeii and then hop on the Circumvesuviana train and get off at Sorrento (the last stop). Sorrento has its main Piazza Tasso where you could have a caffe and walk up and down Corso Emanuele to look at the shops and the famous ceramics. If I had to choose between seeing Sorrento or Capri due to time constraints, I would choose Capri as there are more things to do there like see the Blue Grotto, the Faraglioni rocks on an island boat tour, Anacapri (funiculare up Monte Solaro), seeing the beautiful Villa San Michele and its gardens overlooking the ocean, eating gelato in Capri's Piazzetta, etc..
Jun 13th, 2016, 09:15 PM
#5
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The little narrow-gauge Circumvesuviana Railway links Sorrento station with Pompei Scavi - Villa dei Misteri every 30 minutes in around half an hour. Fare maybe €3 each way. So easy - turn up and go...
The entrance to Pompeii ruins is literally across the road from the station.
I'd recommend spending all day there, it's a rush to try and do it in 2 hours.
The entrance to Pompeii ruins is literally across the road from the station.
I'd recommend spending all day there, it's a rush to try and do it in 2 hours.
Jun 13th, 2016, 10:43 PM
#6
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I'm not sure what it is you're asking. Are you thinking of doing your own independent tour of Pompeii and Sorrento instead of the cruise line's tour of Sorrento and Capri? It would be impossible to visit all three.
If you can get to Pompeii early in the morning, which is the best time to visit, and then tear yourself away by about 11 AM, you could be in Sorrento in time for lunch and a quick look at the town before returning to the cruise ship.
You would take a taxi from the port to the train station, then the Circumvesuviana in direction Sorrento, to Pompei Scavi, where the archaelogical site is a short walk from the station. Then, after your visit to Pompeii, you'd get on the Circumvesuviana in the same direction your were going before to Sorrento. The trip on the Circumvesuviana between Sorrento and Naples is about an hour, and Pompeii is about half way. Allow lots of extra time for getting back, because the ship won't wait for you.
If you can get to Pompeii early in the morning, which is the best time to visit, and then tear yourself away by about 11 AM, you could be in Sorrento in time for lunch and a quick look at the town before returning to the cruise ship.
You would take a taxi from the port to the train station, then the Circumvesuviana in direction Sorrento, to Pompei Scavi, where the archaelogical site is a short walk from the station. Then, after your visit to Pompeii, you'd get on the Circumvesuviana in the same direction your were going before to Sorrento. The trip on the Circumvesuviana between Sorrento and Naples is about an hour, and Pompeii is about half way. Allow lots of extra time for getting back, because the ship won't wait for you.
Jun 14th, 2016, 03:46 AM
#7
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You really need to decide which 2 you want to do - assuming you have a full day there - that is from 7 am until 7 or 8 pm.
I would do Pompeii first - since it gets very hot later on in the day and then Capri in the afternoon. But for the later watch carefully for the time of the last ferry to Naples ) probably about 5 pm or so.
Sorrento is more a place to stay for those who want a larger town with more travel connections - but it doesn't really have a lot of sights in itself.
I would do Pompeii first - since it gets very hot later on in the day and then Capri in the afternoon. But for the later watch carefully for the time of the last ferry to Naples ) probably about 5 pm or so.
Sorrento is more a place to stay for those who want a larger town with more travel connections - but it doesn't really have a lot of sights in itself.
Jun 14th, 2016, 07:09 PM
#8
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thanks for your advice. We are there from 8 to 6. Not a very long time. I have hired a guide for Sorrento and Pompeii, but maybe should revisit since timing may be way off. So....if I have 1 thing to see is it better to spend time in Pompeii or Sorrento? Feels like Pompeii would be most interesting and could do in a day?
Jun 14th, 2016, 07:33 PM
#9
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Pompeii is a treasure. Sorrento may be nice (I haven't seen it), but I can't imagine that it would begin to compare to Pompeii. JMO.
If you have some good information in print, no need for a guide unless that's your preference.
If you have some good information in print, no need for a guide unless that's your preference.
Jun 15th, 2016, 05:21 AM
#11
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Pompeii is very beautifull, but in only 2 hours it's impossible to visit! You need at least a whole day...So I raccomand Sorrento, you can have a walk there and maybe visit some ceramic shops. And also here two hours isn't much but I think you can see a whole lot more in 2 hours at Sorrento then in Pompeii!
Jun 15th, 2016, 07:54 AM
#12
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We were just in Pompeii and it was crowded - so to maximize your time, see if you can get a "skip the lines" pass (not sure how, but there was an expedited line, so it can be done). If not, you might spend over 30 minutes just waiting in line.
Jun 15th, 2016, 09:15 AM
#13
if you really want to get to Pompeii - get a cab there immediately you leave the boat, spend as long as you like , then get the train back to Sorrento and spend what time you have left there.
I suspect that 3-4 hours will be enough because of the heat, and you might be back in Sorrento in time for a late lunch. There is a very nice restaurant near to the station called Il Leone Rosso [the Red Lion]:
http://www.illeonerosso.it/ristorante/
According to the info on google maps it's open all day so you could spend a nice hour or two in there, then wander back down through Sorrento to the boat.
Buona giornata!
I suspect that 3-4 hours will be enough because of the heat, and you might be back in Sorrento in time for a late lunch. There is a very nice restaurant near to the station called Il Leone Rosso [the Red Lion]:
http://www.illeonerosso.it/ristorante/
According to the info on google maps it's open all day so you could spend a nice hour or two in there, then wander back down through Sorrento to the boat.
Buona giornata!
Jun 15th, 2016, 09:21 AM
#14
Sorrento is pleasant but not really a destination. There are plenty of restaurants (we liked Re Foods), and plenty of shops and hotels, and it makes a good hub for staying in the area for a few days to see other places. Pompeii is a destination, for sure, as is Capri, but you can't do both in the same day.
