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Is Pompeii worth a day trip from Rome ?
We will be in Rome for 5 days in beginning of October. Is Pompeii worth a day trip ? If not, do you have any suggestions for other day trips ( already going to Florence, Pisa, CT and Venice ) ?
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Pompeii is definitely worth the trip. It'll make for a long day, but you can do it in one. With only five days in Rome, I'd opt for the one-day trip. Save the Amalfi coast for another trip. It's certainly worth more than a day.
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We planned two nights in CT between Venice and Pisa/Florence, would you choose Pompeii/ Amalfi Coast instead ? We've been trying to decide between CT and Capri. I've heard most of the Pompeii artifacts have been relocated. Is that true ?
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You might perhaps look on Pompeii as being an almost entire but roofless city?
And, aside from what was looted over history or - more recently - stolen for private collectors (much of which is slowly being recovered), many of the loose artefacts and detachable artworks are conserved as part of the vast collection of the Naples archaeological museum, which is most definitely worth a visit... especially now nearly all the work to restore the C16th building in which it's housed is itself complete! http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/nap_archaeol Back at Pompei, in some cases reproductions have taken the place of the originals - for instance, the 4 million tessara copy of the famous mosaic of Alexander the Great (sorry, this next page seems only available in Italian).... http://www.pompeiviva.it/pv/it/scuol...ga_mosaico.htm With others the restoration takes place in situ - in English this time... http://www.pompeiviva.it/pv/en/restauri.htm You'll get most from your trip to the ruins if you also see the Museum, but do watch out - unusually, it's closed on Tuesdays... Peter |
Pompeii is one of the great sites of the world and it's irrelevant that artefacts have been taken to the Naples Museum. You will be walking on the streets of nearly 2000 year old history and you cannot dismiss it with a "Is it worth it" question.
It's not a theme park, it actually happened there. |
And, let's not forget, here...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/herc here... http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/popea here... http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/boscoreale and, just a little later, here... http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/somma_ves Peter |
I agree with Lifeman. Pompeii had been on the top of my list of things I really wanted to see since I was a schoolboy and learnt about the Vesuvius eruption of AD79.
It did not dissapoint me a bit. I have been back several times, and still wonder at the place (and Herculaneum) If you do not have a particular interest in this sort of history , then it is a long day trip, and the time might be better spent in Rome. You could always daytrip to Ostia Antica. |
I agree with the last post. In elementary school I wanted to be an archeologist, so Pompeii has always been a "must see sometime" for me. However it is a long day trip from Rome and 5 days in Rome is only enough to begin to scratch the surface of that amazing city. When we went to Pompeii we really enjoyed being able to go to the museum in Naples to see the collection there, too (different day)
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Thanks for the information. I guess I should have worded it differently. We have a great interest in Pompeii, trying to realize if it is a feasible day trip from Rome, given time restraints. It sounds like the best option would be to go to the museum also, but if we can't do both, at least go to Pompeii. Now, we just need to work on the logistics. We don't mind long days, just trying to figure out how to get it done.
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I wouldn't particularly recommend them, but there are excursions which take care of everything for you - such as the one shown here, singled out completely neutrally... because I knew where to find it easily:
http://www.appianline.it/index_en.html Lots of people take such trips, and many enjoy the way they allow them to do things they otherwise wouldn't - although some will own that the allocation of time isn't necessarily as they'd have chosen. That particular one operates daily, and is said to cost €115 - although that may be the 2010 price? It leaves Rome at 07:15 and offers a walk round Naples, lunch, entry to Pompei with presumably 3-3 1/2 hours at the site, before leaving at 17:30 - to get back to Rome, I guess, by about eight or eight thirty.. Not sure however if the whole coach would share the Tour Guide at Pompei, or if actually you're left to wander on your own? ............................. Otherwise, you could leave from Roma Termini on the 07:39 IC train, and be in Naples by 09:44. http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132196214 Then, at worst, 10-15 minutes to find the right tracks, 30 to wait for the next train, 35 to get to Pompei Scavi station, and 5 on foot to the site entrance.... getting you there by about 11:00. You could stay until the same 17:30 with 6-6 1/2 hours there, including lunch at the on-site Autogrill. On the way back, there's another IC at 18:42, which gets in to Termini at 20:41 (or, at 18:50, for double the price, a faster ESAV train that's back at 20:00). The costs... €22 each way on the IC train, and €3 to Pompei, €11 to enter the site, and say €20 for lunch... some 80 Euro? Take your pick! Peter PS - Either way you'll perhaps also want the audioguide... €6.50 for one, €5 each for 2 or more - take a C/card or ID document to leave as security. http://www.pompeiviva.it/pv/en/audioguide_pompei.htm PPS - For the museum.... maybe 20-30 mins from, and again back to, Naples train station (5 by taxi), and 90 minutes to 2 hours inside.... but do remember it's NOT OPEN on Tuesdays! |
Great info from Peter. When you get to the entrance where the paybox is, you'll find guides who try to pull a group together by collecting individuals visiting independently. Some of these guys and gals are very good and some aren't, but they are a worthwhile option to consider.
Maybe there are those on here who can give the names of the better guides? In any case, ask how long their tour is and dispense with anyone who says less than a couple of hours. |
Wow Peter ! You are a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day ! Thank you so much for your wealth of information. Due to much searching, we are revamping our trip. We'll arrive in Venice - train to Rome - train to Almafi Coast area. We decided to come back later for a Tuscany visit. Pompeii will be much more feasible and we should also be able to go to the museum. We're considering a base in Sorrento although I seem to be reading that Almafi or Positano are more desirable ?
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Yes, Amalfi and Positano are definitely more desirable.
You've made a wise decision to focus more on fewer areas. Once you go to Italy, you'll definitely want to return there! |
Hi! Two different ways of doing things occur to me, and I'm not sure which works best...
With that new plan, there's the opportunity to do something like... arrive and stay in Venice, then leapfrog to Campania (either flying down to Naples or by train) - and only afterwards visit Rome, for a solid block of time prior to flying out? Downsides... two shortish train journeys (3.5 hrs and 1 hr) that might be absorbed into different days are turned into a long one (5 1/2 hours), with a flight probably not saving much time overall. Upside... perhaps saves a hotel check-in and check-out and packing and unpacking - although an obliging place might well store one of your bags whilst you're down here for a few days? ------------------------------------- Deciding where to stay in this part of the world is often a trade-off between beauty and convenience: Sorrento is far from horrid (and actually more attractive than I'd usually credit), however its tourism is nearly all foreigners, and it does lack the small place charm of towns and villages along the Amalfi Coast, many of which (they seem to say) more closely resemble the CT? But - wearing the same hat you use when ferrying those kids around - take a few minutes to study this, and you'll perhaps begin to see the drawbacks of a base on the AC if going out and about much... http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132567370 ------------------------------------- If making that first stop in Rome, and then coming down here, how about... Rome to Naples by train, something like: - ESAV 09:00, arrives 10:10 for €44 - or IC train at 07:39, in at 09:44 - earlier but only half the cost, €22 http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132196214 Then Naples-Pompei on the local Circumvesuviana railway. Dump bags (bag, even?) in free LLO, tour site. Afterwards, continue by CV train or taxi to Sorrento, to stay there for a night (or two?). Next day, hydrofoil to spend the day on Capri Late afternoon, back from Capri, pick up bags at hotel, take SITA bus to Amalfi (or somewhere smaller) 2 or 3 nights there, to get in some relaxing, swimming, hiking etc. Then, for the train up to Rome, either return via Sorrento to Naples - or on by bus to Salerno? ------------------------------------- You may find it helpful to have a look at the 'Travel Directory' the Sorrento Peninsula and Amalfi Coast, available from the official tourism website, here... http://www.costiera.it/weben/index.htm High time that was updated, so do crosscheck the times, prices etc! And if it seems to be getting a bit tedious, just remember what's for: September in this part of the world.. http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/pics_sept Places to see in Campania... http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele .. and in and around Rome... http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/lazio Peter |
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