We will be staying in Positano on our trip to the Amalfi Coast and we would like to take a day trip to Pompei and Vesuvius. Can we do both in one day and if so, how many hours will it take? Should we take the train through Sorrento or is it worthwhile to consider hiring a car to take us there directly from Positano? If we only do one site - Pompei or Vesuvius, which is better?

Hi there,

You can take the SITA bus from Positano to Sorrento, where it will drop you off at the local train station (last stop), the CIRCUMVESUVIANA, which you then take to get to POMPEI SCAVI. The train station at Pompei is literally across the road so you have a few short walk from there to get to the entrance to the archeological site.

The Pompei site is really big and it can take up hours and hours, especially if you don't know where you're going - it all just becomes one big ruin after a while - so I would suggest a guided tour which takes you to the highlights and some other area's that the local Pompeii guides don't cover.

I've recommended this company before, and I'm going to suggest them again, primarily because you will really get value for your money and will come away with a sense of having 'got' what Pompei was all about, and without having to spend a day wandering aimlessly around. If you google Positano Adventure Walks you should find their site with more info.

I think there is a bus which leaves from Pompeii to go to Vesuvius, but I'd have to look into that for you (I live in Positano by the way, so I can ask around). Vesuvio is worth a visit, but if you're choosing between the two, then I'd suggest Pompeii. You can see Vesuvio looming from there in the distance!!

Just remember that most of the artifacts found in Pompei have been removed and can be viewed in the Archeological Museum in Naples. Again,if you arranged with Positano Adventure Walks, you could do the Museum, Pompei and Vesuvio in a day!! The museum is well worth a visit and you'll find a lot of artifacts, sculptures, artwork which were found in Herculaneum, which was also buried in the eruption of 79 A.D.

There is such a treasure chest of history around here - you're sure to have a splendid time!

Regards.

which is better? Well they are both such extraordinary experiences and so extraordinarily different it's hard to answer that Q

Climbing Mt Vesuvius was certainly one of my all-time travel highlights (climbed on a cinder trail which if going to Pompeii too you won't have time to do - so take the mini-buses (i believe mini-buses) that go right from Pompeii - to near the top of Vesuvius' crater.

Mount Vesuvius Travel Guides – Virtual Tour of Ascent path with ...
Crater Rim Path, Mount Vesuvius 360TG EDITOR says "Access to the 4200 foot summit of Mount Vesuvius is mostl..." [more]. TRAVELBLOG ...
http://www.360travelguide.com/result...unt%20Vesuvius

Hi MB - With an early start from Positano you can do both.

Vademecum is right - there is a Vesuvius bus from Pompeii:

The Vesuvius Bus departs from Pompeii (- Piazza Amfiteatro) at:

08.00 - 09.00* - 09.30 - 10.15 - 10.30 - 11.25 - 12.25 - 13.20 - 14.30 - 15.30*

[Departures leave Pompeii Terminus bus station 5 mins before the above].

The service is year round except -
* 09.00 and 15.30 deps (- 1 April - 30 Sept only)

Fare: € 8.60 round trip. Journey time: 70 mins

Service operator: Vesuviana Mobilita.
For details see:

http://www.comune.ercolano.na.it/erc...suvio_2006.pdf


Bus tickets can be bought at:
- Circumvesuviana railway station OR
- 'Sgambati' (- station newsagents/tobacconist kiosk)

[Entrance fee to the crater: € 6.50]

Hope this helps ...

Steve