bdj

We are undertaking an ambitious day-trip from Rome to Pompeii. Our train from Rome arrives in Naples at 10:10am with the return train from Naples to Termini departing at 6:50pm.

We would like to spend 2-3 hours in Pompeii and utilize the balance of the time to visit the crater at Mount Vesuvius.

Would anyone have an idea how to strategically plan this within our timeframe?

Thanks in advance...bdj

nytraveler

IMHO this is too much in one day. By the time you get to Pompeii it will be about 11 am. If you stay 3 hours and then have some lunch it will then be 3 pm. (And you really need more time than that to see much of Pompeii. We've been twice and spent more than that each time - and still haven't seen it all.)

to then go on to Vesuvias, see anything and get back for a 6:50 train would be a real challenge.

Often less really is more.

bdj

Understood. But it is what it is.

We would be willing to "shortchange" Pompeii with a 2 hour visit and skip a sit-down lunch for the opportunity to visit Vesuvius.

Would anyone have an idea as to how to strategically plan this within our timeframe?

Much obliged...bdj

Texastrips

I can't understand the idea of "shortchanging" Pompeii (where you could spend a week) to see Vesuvius which is a drive up, look and leave deal more or less for most people. I agree with skipping the sit down lunch though.

cathies

Nobody suggested you would have time for a sit-down lunch - you'll be lucky to have time to grab a sandwich somewhere. Why do you say 'it is what it is' - surely you can drop either location if you choose to?

bdj

Understanding that arrival time into Naples is 10:10am and departure time out is 6:50pm, what would be the most expiditious way to visit both sites in that timeframe?

Would it be better to catch Vesuvius initially and then onto Pompeii? Or, vice-versa?

What would be the travel options and parameters (time, cost, convenience) for each?

Much gratitude to anyone with the capacity and willingness to share how such a day-trip could be strategically put together...

Dayle

bdj,

I think what people here are telling you, you just don't want to hear.

If you are absolutely set on doing both, I would hire a private driver to pick you up directly at the Naples station and drive you up to Vesuvius. Take and look and then head to Pompeii via private driver. Have the driver wait for you and drive you back to Naples train station when think you've seen enough of Pompeii.

I never understand why people feel the need to go up and look at Vesuvius. Have you never seen a dormant or active volcano before? Dormant volcanoes are not very exciting. Active volcanoes are! Vesuvius is a nice view from below.

If you were to take the Circumvesuviana (local train line) from the Naples station to Pompei Scavi, you would need to add at least an hour each way. Time to buy ticket, wait for next train, etc. You don't have 2 hours to spend that way.

Buona fortuna

Dayle

PS - I would also recommend taking an earlier train to Naples. If you arrive mid day at Pompeii, you will be in long ticket lines.

PalenQ

You can take a train from Rome right to Pompeii, arriving in the modern town of Pompeii about a mile or so from the ruins.

And past posts have mentioned that there is a mini-bus service that goes directly from Pompeii ruins to Mount Vesuvius or as near to the footpaths to the crater as possible. From there you would descend to Ercolo or some seaside town and hop the commuter train to Naples Centrale to change for Rome Termini trains.

PalenQ

Pompeii - Mt. VesuviusTOUR N. 18 - POMPEII - MT. VESUVIUS One of our English speaking drivers will be at your hotel or pick up location at about 9 am with the air conditioned ...
http://www.romelimousines.com/tours/...t-vesuvius/67/ -

PalenQ

Pompeii - Mt. VesuviusTOUR N. 18 - POMPEII - MT. VESUVIUS One of our English speaking drivers will be at your hotel or pick up location at about 9 am with the air conditioned ...
http://www.romelimousines.com/tours/...t-vesuvius/67/ -

bdj

Dayle & PalenQ...

Piggy-backing on your suggestions. Would it be possible to have a private driver take us from Napoli Centrale at 10:10am to Vesuvius, then take a bus to Pompeii and return to Naples vis train from Pompeii Scavi?

ggreen

FWIW, here's another discussion of getting from Rome to Pompeii for a day trip: GAC is our "local expert" on the trains...
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...n-a-budget.cfm

Marija's trip report includes her experience of climbing Vesuvius: scroll about 2/3 of the way through to her post on Nov 13, 2010 at 10:07am.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-and-paris.cfm

Knowing that Pompeii scavi gets more and more crowded as the day goes on, I would advise going there first then Vesuvius. And while of course it's true that you could spend tons of time there, I think 2-3 hours will give a good taste. Have a plan based on your style of siteseeing: either broad strokes by walking the boulevards, or decide ahead of time if there's a particular building or area you especially want to see, and explore around that.

Will you be returning to Rome from Naples or is your 6:50 train heading on to your next location? If it's the latter, you can put your luggage in the quite secure Left Luggage at Napoli Terminali; apparently there is also a place to store luggage when you get off the Circumvesuviana train at the entrance to Pompeii Scavi. Obviously, if you hire a driver for the whole day, your luggage can stay in the car...

bdj

Thanks ggreen...

If my interpretation of the schedules are correct, it appears one could catch the 12:55pm bus from Vesuvius arriving at Pompei Scavi at 1:55pm and then catch the 5:37pm train from Pompei Scavi arriving in Naples at 6:12pm, leaving ample time to catch the 6:50pm back to Termini.

Maybe even one could catch the 5:55pm out of Scavi arriving in Naples at 6:30pm and still make the 6:50pm to Rome.

Would anyone be aware of options and the timeframe of getting from Napoli Centrale at 10:10am by either train or bus to Vesuvius?

ggreen

bdj, I just did something I've never done before: on the "Pompeii day trip" post I referenced above, I asked GAC and A_Brit_In_Ischia if they could chime in on your post here. Hopefully we can get some more specific answers for you!

kybourbon

Have you already booked your Rome/Naples tickets? If not, don't worry about time. Just take an earlier train to Naples and a late train back whenever you get finished touring around.

Here is the bus info for Vesuvius.
http://www.unicocampania.it/index.ph...action=vesuvio

It's also possible to taxi from Naples train station. Taxis are set fees. Click on the pdf visualizza le tariffe. Page 2 of the pdf is in English and the fares to Pompeii or Vesuvius are listed including wait time.
http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/.../IDPagina/1193

A_Brit_In_Ischia

Can I do this in several pieces?

From last year, you'll find a long thread on visit to both sites (including the planning stages, and an interesting report-back afterwards) here...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...ome_Lazio.html

Their plan was the more sensible one, that of taking one of the EAVBus buses to Vesuvius first, and then descending to Pompei using the other service, but do follow through to the end, to discover how it all worked out!

Peter

A_Brit_In_Ischia

I guess the next thing should be a warning that the Internet is littered with information that's misleading and/or out of date... as if that really needs to be said?

------

For instance, an earlier post in this thread, and the UnicoCampania's own article on the Pompeii/Vesuvius route, link to a timetable which finished last September (which VERY VERY clearly says that it's "Valid till 30/09/2010).

That page's Italian version has one that gets the winter version - which, unsurprisingly, includes no use of the opentop Citysightseeing buses...
http://www.unicocampania.it/files/orari_pompei2.pdf

... even though they themselves have bothered to post it on their site...
http://www.napoli.city-sightseeing.i...ei_vesuvio.pdf

You'll perhaps notice that there are only eight, rather than twelve, services a day at present!

........

But of course that's all likely to change again soon, with the introduction of 2011's spring/summer schedule, so it would be a great help to know just when you'll be travelling.... duuh!

Also, the tourism people recently announced there are alterations to come for the service from Naples to Vesuvius - but as yet haven't been very specific about what they'll be, or when they'll take effect... but before Easter would be my guess!

As things stand at the moment, your train's 10:10 arrival would fit well with the 10:40 departure of the bus to Vesuvius that passes near the railway station - allowing you just long enough to find the concouse kiosk and purchase the €27 Campania Artecard... mentioned in that earlier TA thread, and described in more detail here..

http://www.campaniartecard.it/itinerary.cfm?id=13

It's almost certainly a saving on the sum of the various costs - and way more convenient than establishing which individual tickets to buy!

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

For some suggested itineraries around the ruins, timed at between 2 and 6 hours, see this page on the excellent new official website:
http://www.pompeiviva.it/pv/en/mappa...rsi_pompei.htm

If not immediately obvious, on the Circumvesuviana you'll most probably arrive at the Porta Marina entrance.

However, if taking the bus from Naples up to Vesuvius first, you might want to consider staying onboard the one that comes down from there to Pompei - right through to its Piazza Anfiteatro terminus - and entering the site there, so you walk through, and then out of the exit near the Pompei Scavi train station, and do less backtracking?)

There's a pair of useful maps here, one of them will help you spot those places, and where that bus stops...

http://www.unicocampania.it/index.ph...n=mappe_pompei
................................

For food....
Autogrill, who've now got the on-site catering franchise, provide reasonable fare - adequate enough to sustain you for the day's outing, if not exactly haute cuisine!
http://www.pompeiviva.it/pv/en/autogrill.htm

And you may in any case be glad of at least a comfort stop at their premises?
..............

Lastly, but with the strongest of "may be out of date in places" cautions, two other things that may be of interest...

- the English version of the Vesuvius National Park's leaflet...

http://www.vesuviopark.it/pnv/home/d...ochure_ENG.pdf

- and for, more about the towns and villages around the volcano, a 100+ page leaflet, 'Discovering Vesuvius', here....

http://www.costadelvesuvio.com/brocure.pdf

(Ignore, for instance, references to “Vesuviana Mobilità", the former operators of buses to Mount Vesuvius, now provided by EAVBus)

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

Hope that will have moved things forwards,

Peter

PS -- Your 12:55 bus down from Vesuvius? Presumably that now leaves at 13:10 - however I'm at a loss as to where you would have found one at that time... and a little concerned about what else might have been said there?

A_Brit_In_Ischia

For getting from one set of tracks at the Naples station to the other, try this..

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-or-pompei.cfm

Even with such excellent guidance (blush!), I'd consider unlikely that on your first time there you'd make that 6:30pm/6:50pm change of trains, but you could try...

::::::::::::

There doesn't appear to be a direct service that links Rome with any of the stations in Pompei - all that I've ever seen involve a change somewhere along the route, either in Naples or elsewhere... however I'm no would-be travel agent, and am happy to be corrected!

Peter

qwovadis

Assuming you are at the Naples Central railway station (Napoli Centrale), main floor: look for the signs that say "Circumvesuviano". Circumvesuviano is a light rail services that goes all around Mount Vesuvius. You will take Line 1, the train that goes from Naples to Sorrento, at the southern end of the Bay of Naples. Pompeii is about 2/3 way to Sorrento.If you are in the main train station with the platforms behind you, the Circumvesuviano can be found one floor below the main level and to your left. Follow the signs "Circumvesuviano" past a few shops and other displays. It is only a few hundred feet.At the ticket office, buy a ticket for round-trip.This is the station you get off at. Note the secondary name, Board Circumvesuviano heading towards Sorrento. Make sure the train you board stops at "Pompeii Scavi"--this is your stop. From the Naples train station it about a 40 minute ride, with quite a few stations before you get to Pompeii Scavi.Exit train at Pompeii Scavi. Leave the train station and immediately turn right and walk a few hundred feet to the entrance to Pompeii Scavi, where you can buy a ticket for entry to the site.Try for Vesuviuswith a private guide/driver if time after your visit but way too crammed for me and underwhelming just sort of a fumy sulferous pit.

Good luck you will need it make more time around Amalfi

if you can www.hoteldelfino.com is where I am staying in

April $60/nt Otel.com perfect for touring down there.



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