Will be staying in Rome for a few days but would like to do a day trip to either Pompeii of Florence. Having trouble deciding. Any suggestions would be great. Also, is Pisa and Florence do-able in a day trip? Thanks in advance!

Either COULD be done in a day trip but both will be a problem, but for different reasons. Getting to Pompeii is a two step process, train to Naples then Circumvensia to Pompeii -- unless you leave VERY early and depart VERY late, you won't have adequate time to see the site. Florence is readily accessible by train, but there's so much beauty there that you won't be able to see it all in a day. <BR> <BR>The main thing you'll find in Florence is beautiful art and architecture from the Renaissance. If you like that, you'll find more of it in Florence than you could imagine -- more than you could see in a day. Unless this is of little interest to you, I STRONGLY recommend Florence over Pompeii for a day trip from Rome. I loved Pompeii, but I saw it on a day trip from Naples.

Hi Tia: <BR>I agree with Paul that either Pompeii or Florence could be done in a day trip from Rome, but my choice would be to take a full day excursion (American Express, Grey Lines, etc) to Pompeii. <BR> <BR>Florence is such a wonderful city (returned from there last week) and full of art, architecture, history, shopping, and just great places to walk and wander, that being there for only part of a day would not allow you to get any real taste of the city. You'd be limited as to which of the many famous sights to see, whereas if you had more time there you could encompass so much more. <BR> <BR>Pompeii is truly a marvel to see, and with the right guide to accompany you, you will get the flavor of what life was like there and see the results of the damage done by the eruption. However, all of this could be done within the confines of a day trip, without leaving you with the feeling of wanting more. <BR> <BR>You can't go wrong with either choice, though, so I hope you enjoy your selection.

Go to Florence!!! Naturally you can't see all of the city but even just to set foot on the Pointe Vecchio is a delight. Did I mention the lovely wine bars? the Market? Pompeii was dusty and I know that there are some interesting "adult" frescos but give me Florence anytime.

What a decision! Both Florence and Pompeii are wonderful. You can't spend just a day in Florence..the art, the shopping, the wine and food! You can easily do Pompeii in a day. But, Pompeii is just the ruins..no real shopping or terrific restaurants unless you go to Sorrento. You won't go wrong with either decision.

We were in Rome a month ago and had to make the same decision. We chose Pompeii. There were definite pros & cons. Pros= It's really amazing. Cons= The bus was crowded, had no toilet. We first stopped in Naples to let some people off who were going to Capri. On to Pompei. We were brought to a hotel for lunch, but before you ate you had to go thru a tour of their gift shop. Lunch was awful. We only had 2 hours at in the actual ruins and we felt like we could not wander off and expolre. After being herded back on to the bus we went to Sorrento to pick up the people who went to Capri and again were "encouraged" to go on a tour of a woodworking shop while the bus stopped to wait for the people to arrive. We were very disappointed by the whole tone of the tour. It was so tacky and ultra touristy. A few days later we bumped into people who had gone on that trip and the next day went on a tour (with the same company) to Florence. The said it was 50 times better than the oter trip. They had more time to se Florence and did not fell as though they were being capitalized on as we felt on the other trip. If we had to do it over we would have gone to Florence.

I would choose Pompei. I don't think you would have to go on a tour, it is about a 2 hour train ride to Naples, and then a short trip to Pompei. We got a guidebook and did our own tour. It was amazing. We spent about 5 hours there. The previous poster is right about the food being bad and expensive. There is only one restaurant on the site and it was pricey. Plus that is the only restroom too. We bought sandwiches and found a shady spot to sit and eat them. <BR>I know it seems like everyone loves Florence, I could do without though. Perhaps it was the time of year that I was there, but the streets were jam packed with either tourists or those waiting to pickpocket tourists. Maybe it also has to do with the fact that I am not that interested in museums, I would rather just walk around and get a feel for things. For me, experiencing the whole city of Pompei was so much more interesting then just looking at paintings in a museum.