Day drip from Rome to Pompeii
Jul 3rd, 2011, 06:19 AM
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Day drip from Rome to Pompeii
Is a day trip from Rome to Pompeii doable? We will be in Rome 3 days before going to Sicily and would like to see Pompeii. How far is it from Rome to Pompeii? We will have 2 teens with us (and it will be August).
Jul 3rd, 2011, 07:08 AM
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Take a look at Cityrama Tours-that will give you an idea of the length of such a trip. Your typo will be correct-it will be a day drip-lots of heat. You might consider a guided tour. It's a long day but with a tour everyone can sleep on the way back.
Have fun! How long will you be in Sicily?
Have fun! How long will you be in Sicily?
Jul 3rd, 2011, 08:26 AM
#4
Agreeing with the previous replies, don't do it.
BUT, should you really want to, then get the early train from Rome to Naples (the fastest train costs around €90 return, but takes just over an hour - Slower trains take over two hours, but cost as little as €23 return), Change trains at Napoli centrale to the circumvesuviana (it is downstairs) out to Pompei Scavi.
Journey time about 40 minutes.
BUT, should you really want to, then get the early train from Rome to Naples (the fastest train costs around €90 return, but takes just over an hour - Slower trains take over two hours, but cost as little as €23 return), Change trains at Napoli centrale to the circumvesuviana (it is downstairs) out to Pompei Scavi.
Journey time about 40 minutes.
Jul 3rd, 2011, 08:53 AM
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Please see the link below and scroll down to the end. A 10-hour day trip. About the same price as train mentioned by willit but someone else is driving. The cityrama site didn't mention Pompeii so I may have been mistaken about them running a tour there.
http://www.viator.com/Rome-tourism/P...kets/d511-t713
http://www.viator.com/Rome-tourism/P...kets/d511-t713
Jul 3rd, 2011, 09:13 AM
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Consider a morning or afternoon at Ostia Antica, the extensive ruins of the old Roman harbour town. It takes only half an hour from Piramide on the train and costs 1 euro to get there, including the metro from where you are staying.
We were there last week and it was lovely and uncrowded. There was a private guide offering a tour and her group seemed to be enjoying themselves as we observed them. We loved the untrammeled areas to the side, with wildflowers and mosaics, the cicadas singing, and a feeling of tranquility.
If you do go, visit the Protestant Cemetery by the Piramide monument, another quiet and interesting area in hectic touristy Rome (plus cats!)
We were there last week and it was lovely and uncrowded. There was a private guide offering a tour and her group seemed to be enjoying themselves as we observed them. We loved the untrammeled areas to the side, with wildflowers and mosaics, the cicadas singing, and a feeling of tranquility.
If you do go, visit the Protestant Cemetery by the Piramide monument, another quiet and interesting area in hectic touristy Rome (plus cats!)
Jul 3rd, 2011, 09:21 AM
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Try response #31 of this long trip report, for a wonderfully detailed account how one lady, her 13yo daughter and 70yo mother got on....
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...ome_Lazio.html
Her last paragraph begins.. "My daughter loved Pompeii. She actually wanted to go back the next day, but that seemed like too much travelling (and expense) to me."
And ends.. "I’d guess that Pompeii was one of the high points of the trip for my daughter, as 11 of the 50 photos she posted on her Facebook page were from Pompeii."
Peter
PS - No assigned seats on the very cheap train (€10.50), but there are on all the others!
PPS - you'll find those directions she mentions, for the change of lines in Naples, here...
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-or-pompei.cfm
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...ome_Lazio.html
Her last paragraph begins.. "My daughter loved Pompeii. She actually wanted to go back the next day, but that seemed like too much travelling (and expense) to me."
And ends.. "I’d guess that Pompeii was one of the high points of the trip for my daughter, as 11 of the 50 photos she posted on her Facebook page were from Pompeii."
Peter
PS - No assigned seats on the very cheap train (€10.50), but there are on all the others!
PPS - you'll find those directions she mentions, for the change of lines in Naples, here...
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-or-pompei.cfm
Jul 3rd, 2011, 10:41 AM
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It's possible but it's an incredibly long day - and in August Pompeii will be like spending the day in a frying pan.
3 days is a VERY limited time to see Rome alone - I would focus on that. If you cover the Colosseum and Forum in detail - it won;t be Pompeii - but it will be a substantial taste of ancient Rome. And either get a very good professional guide (not the 1 hour with the least common denominator guide) or a good guide book of your own - and be sure you understand Roman history - the Republic, the Empire - and what role the forum played in the government. (Remember Rome has a system of public baths, apartment houses, flush toilets and a host of "modern" facilities that were lost in Europe for more than a thousand years after the fall.)
(My high school history teacher always started the post-ancient middle east history with: The greeks had the brains but the romans had the drains - philosophers/scientists versus the practical society.)
3 days is a VERY limited time to see Rome alone - I would focus on that. If you cover the Colosseum and Forum in detail - it won;t be Pompeii - but it will be a substantial taste of ancient Rome. And either get a very good professional guide (not the 1 hour with the least common denominator guide) or a good guide book of your own - and be sure you understand Roman history - the Republic, the Empire - and what role the forum played in the government. (Remember Rome has a system of public baths, apartment houses, flush toilets and a host of "modern" facilities that were lost in Europe for more than a thousand years after the fall.)
(My high school history teacher always started the post-ancient middle east history with: The greeks had the brains but the romans had the drains - philosophers/scientists versus the practical society.)
Jan 14th, 2016, 01:30 PM
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Judy - the links in post # 6 mentioning information for change of trains to Pompeii - none of those links work.
On Trip Advisor - there are some very, very specific threads on their forums for guidelines and options to get to Pompeii from Rome and they are updated regularly.
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowT..._Campania.html
On Trip Advisor - there are some very, very specific threads on their forums for guidelines and options to get to Pompeii from Rome and they are updated regularly.
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowT..._Campania.html
Jan 14th, 2016, 01:49 PM
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Not judging on the efficacy of doing a trip it is an easy if long day trip from Rome on your own. Take a fast train Rome to Naples - about 1.5 hours or less I think each way then at Naples station follow signs to CircumVesuviana trains - a commuter train that goes very often right to the Pompeii Scavi (ruins) train station - you do not want to go to Pompeii - the modern town with the Pompeii train station but right on the CircumVesuviana train to Pompeii Scavi station - right at the entrance to the ruins.
You always have to change at Naples - the commuter train is not part of Trenitalia system - just buy a ticket for that once at the CircumVesuviana station, adjacent to Naples Centrale - the main Naples station - it's about a 5-minute walk on walkways connecting the main station to the CircumVesuviana state - the ticket to Pompeii from there is just a few euros each way - it's like a metro.
Now for the Rome to Naples trains you can always buy full fare but if you book on www.trenitalia.com yourself far enough in advance you can get the limited in number discounted tickets at a deep discount over full price - leave a lot of time for your return train and if you find you have a few hours to wait after all wander around Naples a little - the train without reservations mentioned above takes forever and is a dumpy regional train compared to the modern high-speed trains on that route.
Great info on Italian trains: www.seat61.com - tells all about discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. First class ducats also come in discounted forms and if the price of a first-class ticket is not much more than the cheapest available 2nd class fare go for first class - which is IME much more relaxed - 2nd class is nice enough for most but first class much nicer - you even get a free coffee and snack and Italian newspaper en route at your seat.
As for Pompeii 3-4 hours is IME more than enough to see the site - could be less and of course could be more - you can get guided tours at the entrance office and ticket window.
So Pompeii is a fairly easy day trip from Rome though it may take up to 3 hours each way to the Pompeii-Scavi station and ruins. But you only may be in this part of Italy once... the train trip could be interesting too if you've never taken European trains!
Cheers!
You always have to change at Naples - the commuter train is not part of Trenitalia system - just buy a ticket for that once at the CircumVesuviana station, adjacent to Naples Centrale - the main Naples station - it's about a 5-minute walk on walkways connecting the main station to the CircumVesuviana state - the ticket to Pompeii from there is just a few euros each way - it's like a metro.
Now for the Rome to Naples trains you can always buy full fare but if you book on www.trenitalia.com yourself far enough in advance you can get the limited in number discounted tickets at a deep discount over full price - leave a lot of time for your return train and if you find you have a few hours to wait after all wander around Naples a little - the train without reservations mentioned above takes forever and is a dumpy regional train compared to the modern high-speed trains on that route.
Great info on Italian trains: www.seat61.com - tells all about discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. First class ducats also come in discounted forms and if the price of a first-class ticket is not much more than the cheapest available 2nd class fare go for first class - which is IME much more relaxed - 2nd class is nice enough for most but first class much nicer - you even get a free coffee and snack and Italian newspaper en route at your seat.
As for Pompeii 3-4 hours is IME more than enough to see the site - could be less and of course could be more - you can get guided tours at the entrance office and ticket window.
So Pompeii is a fairly easy day trip from Rome though it may take up to 3 hours each way to the Pompeii-Scavi station and ruins. But you only may be in this part of Italy once... the train trip could be interesting too if you've never taken European trains!
Cheers!
Jan 14th, 2016, 02:18 PM
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Blueeyedcod - thanks, you're awesome!
PalenQ - thank you for the detailed information. I was considering doing a one-day tour, but so far I haven't found any tours that I like and most have mediocre reviews.
My kids want to hike Mt. Vesuvius - they're very outdoorsy types - I will sit at a cafe somewhere while they hike.
Doesn't look like there are any tours available that include a hike up the mountain. Is there?
A work colleague told me that the local train from Naples to Pompeii is swarming with pickpockets - truth?
PalenQ - thank you for the detailed information. I was considering doing a one-day tour, but so far I haven't found any tours that I like and most have mediocre reviews.
My kids want to hike Mt. Vesuvius - they're very outdoorsy types - I will sit at a cafe somewhere while they hike.
Doesn't look like there are any tours available that include a hike up the mountain. Is there?
A work colleague told me that the local train from Naples to Pompeii is swarming with pickpockets - truth?
Jan 14th, 2016, 02:28 PM
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I don't know that swarming is correct, but I'd certainly keep my wits about me.
In Rome, the bus from Termini to the Vatican (no 64) is more of a worry and is often referred to as 'the pickpocket express'.
FWIW I agree with the poster who suggested Ostia Antica as an alternative to Pompeii. We have been to both. It's a 30 min train ride from Rome and is just as interesting.
In Rome, the bus from Termini to the Vatican (no 64) is more of a worry and is often referred to as 'the pickpocket express'.
FWIW I agree with the poster who suggested Ostia Antica as an alternative to Pompeii. We have been to both. It's a 30 min train ride from Rome and is just as interesting.
Jan 14th, 2016, 03:07 PM
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Judy - there are shuttle buses called Vesuvio Express - they leave from Ercolao Station. They cost 20 euro per person and that includes entry to the park. They are pretty basic - the mini buses are not flash but they do the job.
The buses drop you at a bus bay/parking lot and the hike to the summit/crater is about 90 minutes there and back.
You may want to go too as it's not that difficult although the path can be a bit loose underfoot as it is gravelly cinder (and don't wear white shoes as they will turn black)
http://www.vesuvioexpress.info/
There is a tiny cafe at the start of the path - again it's not that great but you can't get a bad coffee in Naples.
'swarming with pickpockets' - I have heard that so many times. It's not true - you just need to be mindful of your belongings as on any crowded train service.
The buses drop you at a bus bay/parking lot and the hike to the summit/crater is about 90 minutes there and back.
You may want to go too as it's not that difficult although the path can be a bit loose underfoot as it is gravelly cinder (and don't wear white shoes as they will turn black)
http://www.vesuvioexpress.info/
There is a tiny cafe at the start of the path - again it's not that great but you can't get a bad coffee in Naples.
'swarming with pickpockets' - I have heard that so many times. It's not true - you just need to be mindful of your belongings as on any crowded train service.
Jan 14th, 2016, 04:07 PM
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And as PalenQ says - mom and daughter took a regional train - which is quite mystifying as if you want to see Pompeii as a day trip. They were clearly on a budget and being spontaneous.
It makes sense to use the high speed rail as you get to Naples in 1hr 10 min and have allocated seats. Being organised is the key if you are on a budget - buy tickets in advance and you can get them for as low as 9 euro one way. Use the link PalenQ provided.
It makes sense to use the high speed rail as you get to Naples in 1hr 10 min and have allocated seats. Being organised is the key if you are on a budget - buy tickets in advance and you can get them for as low as 9 euro one way. Use the link PalenQ provided.
Jan 15th, 2016, 02:42 AM
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Thank you!
I would be OK going to Ostia Antica.....however, my son and GF want to see Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius....and since we don't know when we will pass this way again, we're going to do Pompeii.
Glad to hear that the local train is not as bad as advertised. I worked in NYC for 20 years and the key to not being pick pocketed is to just remain aware of your surroundings and be mindful of where you're headed.
I will look into that mother/daughter trip report and get on target to buy tickets now instead of later.
I would be OK going to Ostia Antica.....however, my son and GF want to see Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius....and since we don't know when we will pass this way again, we're going to do Pompeii.
Glad to hear that the local train is not as bad as advertised. I worked in NYC for 20 years and the key to not being pick pocketed is to just remain aware of your surroundings and be mindful of where you're headed.
I will look into that mother/daughter trip report and get on target to buy tickets now instead of later.
Jan 15th, 2016, 08:56 AM
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Just be aware of the weather in midsummer. In both places it will be hellishly hot and there is no shade. Be sure everyone stays hydrated - bring your own water with you and if after Pompeii they find Vesuvius too much they should not push for it.
Jan 15th, 2016, 10:53 AM
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A work colleague told me that the local train from Naples to Pompeii is swarming with pickpockets - truth?>
Well several years ago there were U S embassy warnings about that but I think if you know there is a potential problem - whether there is or not - is key - just watch your bags and belongings - have them right next to you.
Well several years ago there were U S embassy warnings about that but I think if you know there is a potential problem - whether there is or not - is key - just watch your bags and belongings - have them right next to you.
