It's doable but it's a long day. The train from Rome to Naples is 2 hours. The train from Naples to Pompeii is 1 hour. The Archeological museum in Naples houses most of the artifacts that were removed from Pompeii and is a good thing to do in conjunction with Pompeii itself. You could taxi to the museum and even down to the coast if you want the small jar of rocks. Have fun!

Dear Sandi,
Just back from Rome - we took a IC (Inter-City - better fewer stops) train from Salerno - on the Amalfi coast- to Rome. It just had one stop befpre Rome in Naples. The Italian RR has a website, you can see train schedules and book tickets. It is important to get a reservation. We traveled on a Sunday and only got our tickets the day before - we had to take the last two in smoking car.
Website is www.trentitalia.com
Loved the Amalfi coast. But it is hard to travel via trains, you can get to Salerno, but then you need either a bus or taxi to go to Amalfi. Stayed at the Hotel Cappuchino Convento. Okay but we thought it was pricey.
Ciao!

We had a train pass for Italy (actually Eurorail pass) and decided one day to go out from Sorrento to Pompeii arriving about the time it opened in the morning. Our plan was to then go into Naples for lunch and see the museum, etc. To make a long story short, we found Pompeii so fascinating, then we went out the back way to have lunch from about 12:30 to 1:30, came back into Pompeii and left about 5:00. Not everyone finds Pompeii so interesting as we did, but we had purchased a pretty extensive guide book beforehand and just kept wandering and reading. We had to make another trip to Naples.

Sandi, we took the Eurostar from Termini to Naples and the Circumvesuvia (sp?) at the Naples station (downstairs, not upstairs) to Pompeii Scavi (the archaeological site), not the new Pompei. It took just over 1 1/2 hours for the first (high speed) train and about 30 minutes for the other. Easy trip and not expensive.

We didn't explore Naples to spend more time in Pompeii. Naples looked pretty seedy around the train terminal.

We left our apartment around 9:00 AM and were back in Rome for dinner at about 8:30 that evening. We took our time and saw just about everything in Pompeii. Very interesting.

Ed & Julie posted my Rome-Pompeii trip report on their site http://twenj.com/ click-on "Rome" and at the bottom of the sidebar click "Pompeii". There is 1 mistake though it should be Naples *Centrale* Train Station not *Garibaldi*, actually the same station just on different levels. The trip takes ~3hrs, Rome-Naples just under 2hrs, Circumvesuviana 35/40min and runs about every 30min. Best to go on a Mon-Thur and take the 0610 InterCity for an early start. There is nothing to see around the train station, I've stayed on the Piazza Garibaldi twice it's not unsafe but it can be alittle seedy. Perhaps if "Joedy" (American Serviceman stationed in Naples) reads your post (or e-mail him) he can give you info on getting to a nearby beach (metro, taxi, bus). I love Pompeii, been 3 times and will do a 4th in March also. But it is practical to cut it alittle short (4hrs) combine it with another site, like Herculaneum, the Naples Archaeological Museum or a short visit in Naples on a long daytrip. Regards, Walter

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I would like to see the museum in Naples with the archeological finds from Pompeii.

Walter, I have already found your wonderfully detailed directions for the train trip to Pompeii and also the directions to see Tivoli by public bus on Ed and Julie's site. This has been very helpful information.

Thanks again!

Sandi

Herculaneum is a bit closer and, having seen both, in many ways much more impressive as its ruins are so much more intact. You can walk inside buildings and see charred beams. You can walk inside a Roman Bath ON the mosaics. Etc.

Doug

There is just so much to see in a trip to "Pompei". If you go only to Pompei you will miss the museo archeologico in Naples where most of the art from Pompei resides. Also, Napoli is home to the Museo Capodimonte with an amazing collection of Titians, Raphaels and other heavyweight artists. Not to mention Pizza.

Pompeii takes a minimum of 4-5 hours and thats if you don't also include a tour. Its a place to wander and amaze at. The Pallestrina and the arena are very much worthwhile sights and they are at the far end of the site. Last but not least, you absolutely have to go see the Villa dei Mysteries (SP?) home to the most amazing and complete fresco cycle from the 1st century. It is one of the real highlights of my travels in Italy. And after Pompei there is Oplontis and Herculano.

So in short, can you stay overnight? Otherwise you will miss out on so much.

Hit send too soon! Instead of a rushed trip to Pompeii, think about Ostia Antica or Hadrian's villa for a shorter and easier day trip into Roman antiquity

Prior posts have been very informative and I'm hoping someone can tell me about accomodations around Pompeii.

Want to spend about 3 days in the area at the beginning of a trip next spring. Will land in Rome in the AM, and though we'd take the train straight south. Would like to visit the museum before the ruins, but DON'T want to stay in Naples.

Would like to visit Vesuvius, Herculeum, Pompeii and whatever else fascinates in that general area. Also, we're photographers so everything takes longer and I would expect at LEAST one full day in Pompeii.

Where should we stay? How should we get around to these different sites?

Thanks,

LJ

Hi

If not staying in Napoli is your plan, I would suggest Sorrento. Because its the end stop for the circumvesuviana and has great bus connections, you are centrally located.

Dean,

I really don't want to do an overnight stay. I plan to take the earliest train possible from Rome, I think it's around 6:00 a.m., and stopping in Naples to visit the Archeological Museum. I do want to spend at least four hours in Pompeii. I'm not sure about return times on the train yet, but I understand they run pretty late as well.

I actually was wondering about riding the Circumvesuvian train all the way to Sorento just for the heck of it, and then back track to Pompeii. Are there pretty views from the train on the way or would it be a waste of time? I realize there would be no time to visit Sorento, but if the ride is with pleasant views that would be worthwhile to me.

Thanks again to all the comments here.

Sandi

Sandi,

I don't know what the flora and fauna look like in March but in the summer it is an interesting ride. There are some views of the Bay of Naples and lots of backyard stuff that is on the surface unattractive (at best) but if you are interesting in observing "Life" it's interesting. When you get closer to Sorrento it's quite beautiful and agriculturally interesting. The southern Italians are brilliant at making the most of a patch of land with grape vines growing above orange or lemon orchards (via tall poles that the vines climb). You would even enjoy a half hour or so stroll around Sorrento since the train station is right in town.