we are planning a long day trip from rome to pompeii. how does this itinerary sound to you?

- 735am train to naples (arrive 845), take circumvesuvia to pompeii (eta 930am)
- hop on busvia el vesuvio to visit mt. vesuvius, drop off at pompeii around 1230pm
-eat lunch (not where where to eat lunch yet but can grab something quick in pompeii site)
- see ruins of pompeii from around 1pm - 430pm
- take local train back to naples, eta 5-530pm
- go to restaurant (still searching for recommendations) to eat pizza in naples
- take 730pm train back to rome (eta 840pm)
- taxi back to hotel & hit the hay

It is busy and long, but you appear to understand what you're in for, so I'm not going to argue.

Suggestions:
Hire a guide at Pompeii. You can cover a lot in 3-4 hours, but it will help to have someone who knows what's what.

Pizza in Naples: Try El Presidente, which you can walk to from the train station, but you may want to take a taxi since (a) you'll probably have had your fill of walking by that time and (b) the area around the train station isn't the most pleasant area for walking. The restaurant looks like just a storefront takeout joint, but there's a cozy dining room downstairs.

Your plan leaves no slack time for the unexpected. I would not get a restricted discount train ticket for the return to Rome and would be sure to find out the last train time, just in case you miss your planned return. Also watch out with the Circumvesuviana -- not every train stops at Pompeii Scavi.

You might want to get your lunch at one of the stands just outside the entrance to Pompeii, especially if you are going to use a guide inside -- no sense paying a guide while you go to the cafeteria.

It will be interesting for you to tell us what happened after you have tried this trip.

I agree that there's no room for the unexpected here. Three hours to round-trip to Vesuvius and climb the summit is possible only if you don't have to wait for transportation in either direction and if crowds on the trail don't slow you down.

FWIW, we spent an entire day at Pompeii on our first visit.

If it were my trip, I'd rather spend a little time at the Naples archeology museum (where all of the Pompeii artifacts are housed) than make the trip to Vesuvius. I would spend whatever time is wanted/needed at Pompeii (you can eat lunch inside the site), then head to Naples to make a short visit to the archeology museum and find that pizza dinner.

Are you aware that you have to walk up a very steep, dusty/rocky path from the parking area to the summit of Vesuvius? You'll need to wear good walking shoes (not sandals). Bring your own water or be prepared to overpay for drinks there. Although it will likely be hot that day, it could be quite cool (even foggy) at the summit, so you should carry a light jacket. You can Google images of the path.

thanks! you have all provided valuable advice. jean, i like your suggestion of going to pompeii first so that i don't risk short-changing ourselves.

Three or four of the highest rated pizza places in Naples are within a few blocks of the Archeological Museum, which itself is a quick subway ride from the train station, plus a short walk.

What Jean and AJ said. I would skip Vesuvius for the National Archaeological, as the Museum will complement your trip to Pompeii in a way that climbing the volcano will not. Unless, of course, you like climbing.

You might want to consider Cafe Iris in Naples for that pizza. With the train station to your back, it's on the left hand side as you're walking away from the train station, less than a 5 minute walk. Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, 121 for the specific address. They'll have many tempting dishes besides pizza. Sit outside for the people watching experience.

As others have stated, your trip is doable, however, no time allowed for the unexpected. You do have a very long day ahead of you. I would allow more time to climb Mt Vesuvius - it's not an gentle walk uphill! Since the path is basically cinders, it can be difficult to get solid footing, especially when coming back down. Definitely wear good, comfortable shoes, but since you're walking around Pompeii that same day, they'll come in handy there too! Make sure you keep hydrated at both places.

Enjoy!

bookmark pompeii

just fyi... there are several tour companies that operate out of Rome that do Pompeii and a little peek at the Amalfi coast as a day trip. They take you to Pompeii for a couple of hours and do a lunch stop in Positano or Sorrento. Expensive, but no logistics to work out. Just door to door service to and from your hotel

I've done the Rome-Pompeii day trip and it really makes for a long day. I couldn't imagine trying to fit in Vesuvius, never mind Naples, pizza, etc!