Brilliant! You document pretty much what it looked like when I passed through in early May, only this
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/128799399
was a mass of construction and had to navigate around it (of course with our large American wheelie luggage!).

I hadn't been to Naples in decades, so imagine my surprise at such a dramatic change to the station. The funniest thing was an outpost of the Hudson News newsstand, a chain that originated here in New York.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10019873@N07/5157792461/

Thanks. Looks much improved. Have they upgraded the trains too?

The Circumvesuviana?

They've got some shiny new ones - and plenty of the old as well!

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/125740296

But it's generally all going forwards, step by step....

Peter

Peter

Thank you so much for posting this. Not only directions but pictures too! I will be going to Sorrento in Jan it is nice to have a picture guide of where to go and what do to, etc... WONDERFUL!!

THANK YOU!

My pleasure!

There are so many tales around of how difficult it had been (and certainly WAS, during the renovations) that an up-to-date report seemed worthwhile.

Have a nice time in January!
Peter

Thank you so much. We will need all the help we can get!! I am thinking we will do the trip in reverse, but I'm sure coming into the station from Pompei , to head back to Rome will be made so much easier with our wonderful information.

I agree--the new Circumvesuviana station layout is *much* less confusing than the old one. However, if you take it, be sure to take measures to avoid pickpockets; some of them are collected here:
http://www.wikinapoli.com/transport#TOC-Avoiding-Pickpockets

bookmarking

Thank you so much, Peter. This will help us a lot when we are there in May.

Wow!! Peter, you are a treasure!!! Thank you so much!!!

Bookmarking

bookmarking

Thanks Peter!

This was the most helpful picture for me - http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/130148215 - I might have searched for Pompei under destination, so now I know exactly what to look for in July! Thanks Peter!!!

Perfect timing with this post as we are researching this trip right now. One question, do you know if it's secure to store your luggage in Naples or Pompei? We wanted to visit Pompei on the trip down from Rome to Sorrento, rather than make a separate trip back up.

Glad it's been useful!

There's an LLO in the train station...

http://www.grandistazioni.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ed6d9b9c72efb110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

... and a free one at Pompei...
http://www.pompeiviva.it/pv/en/serviziofferti.htm

I know of no reason not to use either, and would be happy to do so myself if the circumstance arose!

For you though, Pompei's the better choice as you could then continue on by train to Sorrento.

Peter

Thank you so much Peter - this is wonderful !

Great directions. Exactly what I was looking for

>>>You'll first go down the new main escalator...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/123069561<<<

The new escalator wasn't working when I was there early Sept.

TTT

That's tough!

All was fine again when we were there only a few weeks later, with plenty of taxis waiting outside as well...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/140928958

I note though that they've swapped sides, so it's no longer the one on the right that goes downwards - as was previously the case...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/126274003

Balancing out the overloading perhaps?

Peter

For fares between Rome and Naples, here's what you'd see today if trying to buy tickets for travel on May 21st - which is about as far in advance as they're selling them at present...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/141715225/original

Look elsewhere in the Forum for discussion of the benefits and conditions attached to the advance-purchase "Mini" offer, although it may be some months before those for travel this summer go on sale... by when all sorts of things could have changed!

Peter

PS.... for that "view", the 'Le Frecce' portal to the Trenitalia ticketing system can be found here...

http://www.fsitaliane.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=1d85c6b9455c2210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

... but do be sure you use the Italian version of place names!

Thank You Peter

I had another look today, and the sales "window" has now moved on to about June 8th or so....

P

I revised this post for myself and wanted to share it with others as it's a great planning tool.

Question - we will be going Rome to Pompeii to Sorrento and plan on using the luggage storage at Pompeii. Which is the best stop for the luggage storage? I've seen Pompeii and Pompeii Scavi ? What are the procedures? Do you get a key, a lock or something similar?

And, most of all,Peter ... thanks again !

oops "Pompei"

My pleasure!

There are actually 4 stations within the area covered by the Comune of Pompei, however you'd be best taking the Circumvesuviana's Sorrento line - and getting off the train at the one that's variously known as "Pompei Scavi", "Pompei Scavi - Villa dei Misteri" and even just "Pompei" by some!

Main point though is that it's the only stop with Pompei in its name along that route!

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/128288647

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/124987094

Haven't had to leave anything with them, but at the luggage place you'll probably only get a receipt of some sort from the attendant?

Peter

The maps and pictures are wonderful! Are the luggage places generally considered to be safe?

We are staying at Hotel II Nido near Sorrento. Would it make the most sense to use the luggage storage at Pompei instead of taking Circumvesuviana to hotel and backtracking on same day?

I've heard nothing bad about the Left Luggage place - but haven't used it!

May depend on what's in your luggage - ours is usually only clothes, wash-bags and books, so I'd have no qualms about leaving it - but you could easily spend 2 hours going to the hotel and returning.... 4 if really unlucky?

30 mins each way on train, wait for hourly hotel shuttle twice, c.15 min shuttle ride twice, wait for 1/2hourly train back to Pompei.

http://www.ilnido.com/location

Peter

Il Nido will pick you up at the train station upon arrival (a service they offer on arrival day only). Just call them, but it may take them 15 minutes or so to get there. If it's close to a scheduled pick up time, they will swing by the train station. If not, they will make a run. You can also take the Sita bus and have it drop you at Il Nido.

I would use the storage at Pompeii. Put any valuables in a backpack and carry it with you while touring around if you are worried about things getting stolen.

Thank you for all the advice - I am doing the same thing & had thought about the luggage storage @ Pompeii or backtracking from Sorrento - I will definitely be doing Pompeii en route from Rome - Hopefully all the electronics won't be too heavy and it won't be too hot that day - we're staying at the Hotel Prestige.

Thanks Peter

Kybourbon - Is the Sita bus at the train station? I didn't realize that they would pick up at the train station on day of arrival. We would probably arrive during the shuttle afternoon break at the pick-up location ( which is about a 10 minute walk from train station, correct?). Somehow I missed that. I was confused since I had read reports where the pick-up was referenced at the train station. When I emailed them about a week ago for clarification on arrival directions, they made no mention of a possible pick-up.

This is off topick Ky, but have you previously stayed at the Agriturismo Macchione near Pienza? I had seen pictures on a trip report and thought it was yours, but couldn't find it recently.

Perhaps a nudge will get you answers to the other questions - but, of the pickup location, the hotel does say, "... 10 min walk for the CIRCUMVESUVIANA train Station"

There's even a map...

http://www.ilnido.com/free-shuttle-service

Glowing reviews over on Tripadvisor, although I can't see any 2012 guests having mentioned being picked up at the station - only someone belatedly posting about last year... in case they're not allowed to go there any longer, perhaps worth calling from Rome to find out?

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g187782-d205448-r129060994-Il_Nido_Hotel_Sorrento-Sorrento_Province_of_Naples_Campania.html#REVIEWS

But yes, the SITA buses - as well as the Citysightseeing ones, and the Curreri Viaggi service for the airport - run from the train station!

http://www.unicocampania.it/files/mappe/sorrento.pdf

Peter

>>>I didn't realize that they would pick up at the train station on day of arrival.<<<

They used to offer that as part of booking. Ask if they still do. They've picked me up twice at the train station, but I guess it's possible they no longer offer the service.

>>>This is off topick Ky, but have you previously stayed at the Agriturismo Macchione near Pienza?<<<

I haven't stayed there, but have stayed at a different agriturimso near there and have also stayed in Pienza.

<<but have you previously stayed at the Agriturismo Macchione near Pienza? I had seen pictures on a trip report and thought it was yours, but couldn't find it recently.>>

We stayed there last year and loved it. Maybe you saw my pictures from the link in my trip report?

YES kwren !! I loved your pictures and when I was trying to make a final decision, they were my motivation! Makes me even more excited to know we will be there in 10 days. Now, I can go back and reread your great report.

Btw - didn't have a chance to read it, but noticed your trip report on Case Western - great school ! I took some of my grad classes there back in the 80s ( whew that makes me feel old!). The Art Museum area, circle etc. are wonderful - where I had my wedding pictures taken. Lovely area in the spring to fall.

Imont - I'm so glad I happened to check back in with this thread! Which apartment did you decide on? I'm sure you will love it. Have some Nutella tart for me! And they make some really good olive oil. We didn't get to do this, but sometimes they can take you to see it being made.

Case really was beautiful when we visited, but he decided to go with Boston University. Such a hard decision, but he's happy with it. Case didn't have an overview course of the different engineering majors and he wanted to be able to hear about them all to be sure biomedical engineering is the best for him. BU offered that course. He also liked Boston a lot. There's a lot of building going on at Case now. It will be even better in a couple of years!

Have a great trip - I hope to see a trip report!

bookmarking ... great info, thanks!

Perhaps worth also having a look at the 2012 version - which is running here:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187785-i421-k5220237-By_train_through_Naples_to_Sorrento_or_Pompei_2012-Naples_Province_of_Naples_Campania.html

Peter

As a simple alternative - though with services that vary by season - try the direct Marozzi bus:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g187791-i22-k5453610-Easy_early_to_Pompeii_esp_at_weekends-Rome_Lazio.html

Peter

I've written about the Marozzi bus in a couple of other threads and I agree with Peter's suggestion. We took it instead of the train and it was extremely easy...and also very comfy. Book in advance though. We bought the first tickets on our bus early on and the day we went, the bus was full. We brought food with us to eat on the ride, but that wasn't necessary as the bus stopped at an autostop enroute and the food looked wonderful.

I included directions (although not as detailed as Peters above) to the station in a trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/alps-to-volcanoes-grindelwald-lucca-tuscany-rome-and-pompeii.cfm#last-comment

It's almost at the end of the report under the heading "July 13 – Pompeii and Naples"

The Marozzi bus may be more crowded now as Curreri is no longer running this route so Marozzi is the only bus option.

With my experience of the full bus I have to agree with ky. Book ahead!

As the photos referenced in this thread's opening post still get a daily stream of "views", New Year seems an opportune time for a further update?

........................

Maybe the biggest change is the arrival of a serious competitor to Trenitalia on the Rome/Naples rail route - the "Italo" company - who run an equally-fast 70 minute service between the two cities with, sometimes, an earlier departure than the FrecciaRossa. Both companies routinely make a variety of discount and pre-purchase offers, so do make the comparison!

Note that, at the Rome end, Italo use only the Tiburtina station, not Termini (whereas Trenitalia have departures from both) although, for the present at least, they all arrive at Napoli Centrale, within a few platforms of each other.

Timetables for the new service can be found here:
http://www.italotreno.it/SiteCollectionDocuments/Orario-Treni-Italotreno.pdf

For a round trip - if not on the same day as one's flying in - I'd recommend pre-buying a cheap ticket for an early fast train down to Naples and, so as to keep some flexibility, only make the return leg purchase once back at Napoli Centrale....

On this busy line departures are very frequent and, in 15 or more years of using it, I don't recollect ever not being able to catch the 'next' one!

........................

If visiting during the next few days, note that the Circumvesuviana strike planned for this coming Thursday (and other disruptions, likely to affect other lines until Jan 19th) shouldn't affect trains on the route between Naples and Ercolano (for Herculaneum), Pompei Scavi and Sorrento.

And whilst the good news is that fares haven't changed - so tickets from Naples to Pompei still cost only €2.80 - maybe that's part of the reason for the financial difficulties which have led to those engineering and staff difficulties!

........................

At Napoli Centrale, they've opened a pair of lifts (situated near the main station entrance, and labelled as going down to both the Metropolitana and the CV platforms), however neither was in operation either time we passed by last November - although the up and down escalators were!

If unable to cope with the moving stairways and/or actual stairs, it might be better to go to the nearby Porta Nolana station, the terminus of the CV rail lines, where they've another lift - the keys for which are held by the station staff there.

........................

Whilst the "PompeiViva" project ended some time ago - with the much-lamented end of its web presence - the location of the various Left Luggage facilities can be seen on the improved maps available from the (Italian-only) official website; each is marked with a yellow symbol that's intended to represent a suitcase!

Pompeii:
http://www.pompeiisites.org/allegati/Pompei_120515053335.pdf

Herculaneum:
http://www.pompeiisites.org/allegati/Ercolano_120515053426.pdf

Also one for Oplontis (although there's no LLO at that site!)
http://www.pompeiisites.org/allegati/Oplontis_120515053531.pdf

........................

Peter

One addition to the above...

When seeking "News" of disruptions/changes to the Circumvesuviana service, note that they tend to post such stuff only on their Italian webpages.

Past experience has shown that even plans for foreseeable breaks such as Easter and Xmas don't appear until just a few days before time - so try to check here shortly prior to travelling...

http://www.vesuviana.com/web/it/news

.... and ask if uncertain whether any of the published items might affect your journey!

Peter

Whilst on this this theme, something that may be of assistance if using Termini and/or Napoli Centrale....

From the GrandStazioni company, an offshoot of Trenitalia that runs 13 of Italy's largest rail stations, recently-improved websites for their main operations:

Termini: http://www.romatermini.com/en/

Select the "Info" section for travel stuff, as much of the site's dedicated to promoting the various retail opportunities!

Under that heading they've maps too, although those don't also include the associated Metro lines etc - but, for instance, for the layout of platforms etc on the ground floor, select "Piano Binari" from the dropdown list here:

http://www.romatermini.com/en/map/

(A quick look at that will also show how much more convenient the Fiumicino airport's Leonardo Express service is, now that it's changed to platforms 23/24 - rather than the outlying pair 25/26 ?)

A similar site for Napoli Centrale: http://www.napolicentrale.it/en/home

Maps http://www.napolicentrale.it/en/map/

(The Frecciarossas have a dedicated area there, positioned centrally, near platforms 13/18 - whereas 'ItaloTreno' services [sometimes coded NTV on departure boards] are generally be over towards platform 24)

At present the Italian versions of both sites appear to be getting more input, but hopefully the English ones will improve with the approach of the main visitor season?

Peter

With Easter only a month or so away, a reminder for those who will be here that the Circumvesuviana usually observes the Sunday holiday!

First trains that day around 8AM, with the last setting off around lunchtime, 12:30 or so!

Then, on Easter Monday, they often add a few to the schedule - mostly on the Naples / Pompei / Sorrento line...

Peter

Following the expansion of the EAV group... as of this month the place to look for timetables for the Circumvesuviana (and also several other local rail lines, not part of the Trenitalia system) is now...

http://www.eavcampania.it/web/node/95

Peter

Just in case it's not been mentioned above, the LLO at Napoli Centrale appears to have new opening hours - with an earlier evening closure - after having been taken over by KiPoint.

For details, see:

http://www.napolicentrale.it/en/service/detail/left-luggage

Peter

Requested clarification, please.

Planning trip to Pompeii perhaps this Sunday, May 26th. Do I book all the way through to Pompeii from Roma Termini on the Trenitalia site? Or do I just book to Napoli Centrale and buy tickets on the CV when we get there?

Thanks for clarifying!

You cannot book to Sorrento on trenitalia since that line is not a part of the Italian State Railways but a separate entity called the CircumVesuviana train line - so you have to buy a ticket once at the CircumVesuviana station - adjacent to Napole Centrale - in the new (in 10/10) ticket window A Brit in sichia describes in his original post.

The ticket to Sorrento or Ponpeii is all of 3 euros or less I believe - chump change - no seat reservations, single class. You get a great view of Mt Vesuvius as the train trundles by its base.

Thanks much PQ!

>>> so you have to buy a ticket once at the CircumVesuviana station - adjacent to Napole Centrale -<<<

Downstairs. The Circumvesuviana is the lower level and Pompeii Scavi is the stop you want on the Naples/Sorrento train.

Be sure to check the Italorail if no discount tickets are left on Trenitalia for Rome/Naples. Italorail departs Rome Tiburtina to Naples and tends to have discounts available even when Trenitalia doesn't.

http://www.italotreno.it/en/Pages/default.aspx