Steve31

At the end of September, while staying in Rome, we would like to plan a day trip to Pompeii and Naples. We are looking for suggestions on how to get to Pompeii; train, bus or tour company. Also, we would like to visit the museum in Naples and then find a place for dinner. We heard that this is the place for pizza; any suggestions? Thanks

bardo1

Steve,

How long is your stay in Rome?

If possible, it would be much better to have a few days to see Naples. Pompeii itself could be a full day.

Which museum in Naples? The Capodimonte has one of Europe's best art collections (and the best view of Naples).
http://en.museo-capodimonte.it/il_museo

The National Archaeological Museum of Naples is also worth seeing.

Plan on one day exploring Spaccanapoli district. Some things not to miss while exploring are Santa Chiara Church, San Lorenzo Maggiore, Via San Gregorio Armeno, and the Duomo.

Where to eat great pizza in Naples is like asking where to get a great beer in Germany (i.e. it's everywhere). We loved Sorbillo at 32 Via Tribunali - it's in an area you'll probably be exploring anyway and is somewhat famous.
http://www.accademiadellapizza.it/index.php

adrienne

You can easily visit Pompeii on your own. Train to Naples Centrale and then go downstairs for the Circumvesuviana train - 30 minutes to Pompeii Scavi (be sure to take the train that goes to Pompeii Scavi rather than the train that goes to the town of Pompeii). The site is a short walk from the train station.

You can get a tour guide or audio at the entrance to the Pompeii site.

I guess you mean the Archeological Museum in Naples? It was great but you will have to leave Rome very early to get to Pompeii when it opens to have enough time to see the site and then get back to Naples before the museum closes.

Bring a hat, sunscreen, and water with you to Pompeii. Also wear sensible lace up walking shoes.

Steve31

Hi,
We'll be in Rome for four days, which will be our third visit.

We do expect the day trip to pompeii to be a long day and hope to get an early start. Are the tour guides worthwhile? Also, on our list is to see the Archeological Museum in Naples and then dinner. We are looking for restaurant suggestions in Naples.
Thanks

kwren

We're going to Rome next July and taking the same day trip by train to Pompeii and then to Naples for the museum.

adrienne - when you say leave Rome early - what time do you mean? We were thinking around 6 am. Do you think that's early enough or should we get an even earlier train?

Steve31

Kwren, We have the Rick Steve's Rome book and there is a section that has information in getting to Pompeii,suggesting to take a train from 7:00am-9:00am.

bardo1

<i>Are the tour guides worthwhile?</i>

The answer depends on so many things - there is no simple yes or no answer.

It would be great to have a driver pick you up at your hotel in Rome, drive you to Pompeii where a pre-arranged Pompeii specialists guides you through the site and explains the history and significance of everything, drive you to the Arch. Museum, drive you to dinner somewhere in the Spaccanapoli and then drive you back to your hotel in Rome. This is the most convenient option and allows the maximum time to see, do and eat. If I wasn't concerned about money, I would do this. Of course all that could run 400E!

It would also work to take a bus from your hotel in Rome, catch a train to Naples, take another train to Pompeii. Have a good self-guided book to help you explore the ruins. Then train to Naples, bus to the Museum, eat dinner nearby, bus or taxi to train station, train to Rome, bus back to Rome hotel. Thia is the least expensive option. Not the most convenient but certainly do-able.

Then there are many options along the spectrum between these two extremes. They might involve one or a combination of various options:
1) a few taxi rides
2) upgrading to a high speed train
3) hiring one of the many guides on the spot at the entrance to Pompeii

BTW, are you interested in a pizza restaurant (like the one I mentioned above) or are you more interested in a 2-hour Michelin star type dining experience?

Steve31

Thanks Bardo!

A pizza restaurant would be great! We are thinking about taking the train route to Naples and then off to Pompeii. Not sure about a tour guide? We would like to go to the Archeological museum, time permitting. We will be on a budget and tight on time, since this is at the end of our 12 day trip from Venice, to Florence and then Rome.

adrienne

kwren - the very early trains take much longer (make more stops) between Rome and Naples. I would suggest the earliest train to take would be 6:45 - 1:45 minutes to Naples (arriving at 8:30) or the 7:35, taking 1:10, arriving at 8:45. These two are non-stop trains. The earlier ones that take longer are night trains originating elsewhere and some of them arrive in Naples later than the 7:35 train.

The Pompeii site opens at 8:30.

Here's the schedule (not for booking).

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/que...fasScrollDir=1

Here's the Circumvesuviana train info. When specifying the date of travel use the European format of dd/mm/yy. You can buy your ticket by the train platform. Note: the Naples station changes names for the Circumvesuviana trains - the station downstairs is Garibaldi; the main line station at street level is Centrale but they're connected to each other.

Currently there is a train departing Naples at 8:41, arriving at 9:16.

kwren

We'll go for the 6:45...then if we are running late (it is vacation after all ), the next is still a good option.

If we get in at 8:30, is there enough time to get to the other station for the 8:41 train? Do we have to buy a ticket to Pompeii scavi in the station or can we get in on the train?

I'll wait to hear about the best pizza place in Naples near the train station or museum too! I'm glad I ran into this thread! Thanks for the help for us too!

adrienne

You will have enough time to walk downstairs and buy a ticket and get on the train if the train from Rome is on time.

BUT I would check the schedules closer to your trip as they may change in the next 10 months.

Andrew

Steve31: <i>We have the Rick Steve's Rome book and there is a section that has information in getting to Pompeii,suggesting to take a train from 7:00am-9:00am.</i>

Keep an eye on your Rick Steves book at Pompeii! I had mine swiped (along with an umbrella) at Pompeii when I put them down for just a second to take a picture. The cheap, old umbrella was probably worth $3 when new; the Rick Steves book was a year old already. Never occurred to me that anyone would find them valuable! (I acquired a replacement Rick Steves book for the rest of my time in Italy fortunately.)

I stayed two nights in Sorrento and visited Pompeii and Naples in a single day from there. So you can do it for sure from Rome, though you will incur a few extra hours more travel time than I did, so expect a very long day. I actually enjoyed Naples much more than I expected (yeah, great pizza!) and regretted not staying there for the two nights instead of in Sorrento, which I didn't care for.

Viajero2

adrienne-- there is no town of Pompeii-- Pompei is the town; Pompeii are the ruins site.