Rimwall

We plan to spend one full day visiting Pompei from Rome, leaving Rome early in the morning.

I notice we have to stop at Napoli and take another train from there to Pompei.

Is there any interesting place to visit while in Napoli, and then do we still have enough time for Pompei, and return to Rome in the evening?

PalQ

go to Pompei first then if have time explore a bit in Naples - unfortunately the Naples train station is in a rather seedy part of town, but escape that and just walking around the cathedral area is a treat - few towns so old-world looking than Naples.
But doubt if you'll have much time.

willit

The place you should visit, if you have time, is the national archaeological museum in Naples. This houses most of the artifacts that were excavated from Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Naples is a fascinating city in its own right, and worth much more than a daytrip IMO.

tcreath

I think that how much time you spend in Pompeii will depend on your interest level. DH and I love ancient history, and could have spent all day at Pompeii. Its huge and there is so much to see. I have seen reports where people are happy with just a few hours though. I would suggest you visit Pompeii first. If time allows, you could go into Naples on your way back to Rome. Sure, it makes for a long day, but a great one!

Tracy

monorailgold

Hello,
After arriving at the station just get on the commuter train to the Pompeii scavi stop. This takes about 30 minues. I believe it leaves from platform 4 and departs every half hour. I think I would bypass Naples all together. Naples has really gone downhill over the last few years and is rife with pickpockets and petty theives. I don't know if it is worth the risk just to see the cathedral. Instead of seeing Naples, maybe you could also see Herculaneum instead. It is the sister city of pompeii, and was destroyed by Vesuvius also. It is better preserved than Pompeii.
Pompeii itself is a full day excursion if you take your time to see it all. The train from Rome is anywhere from 2-3 hours. Then a half hour on to Pompeii, so plan your time wisely. You can easily spend 4 hours exploring the site and still not see it all. Don't forget to plan for your return trip.

Have a good trip,

SAB

If you have time I recommend visiting the national museum in Naples after visiting Pompei to see the artifacts from Pompei--just amazing!!! It's a fairly inexpensive taxi ride from the train station as I recall. I believe the ES from Rome to Naples is 1 1/2 hours.

nytraveler

Until you visit Pompeii you have no idea how big it is - or how fascinating. Very much doubt you will have time to do more on a day trip from rome - unless you get a train at 5am.

kam1

There is a direct commuter train from rome train station to Pompeii, only 1 hour, not covered by eurrail. But all the artifacts of Pompeii are in the Anthropology museum in Naples.

willit

As the brand new high speed train takes 90 minutes from Rome to Naples, I very much doubt there is a commuter train from Rome that does Pompeii in an hour

tcreath

kam1, I think you are thinking of the Circumvesuviana, which is a commuter train that goes from Naples to Pompeii. As far as I know there are no trains that go directly from Rome to Pompeii.

Tracy

lavender

Last year our family of 4 did a day trip Rome-Pompei ( Eurostar) and would have loved to have included a visit to the museum in Naples, but we really wanted to do justice to visiting Pompei.

We spent 6 hours visiting the sites in Pompei with an audio guide, taking a picnic lunch with us, and were there till 5 pm.

Pompei is very do-able in a day but I think the visit to the city of Naples as well would mean shortchanging your experience of Pompei.

frugaltraveler

We ( a party of 7 ) have booked a full day from Rome to Pompeii and back with www.projectnapoliservice.it and the Amalfi Coast. I didn't want to deal with the trains with our party and I wanted a tour guide. We won't be going until March so I can't give you any comments.

ripit

I thoroghly enjoyed Pompeii, however I enjoyed the National Archaeological Museum as much or moreso. I feel seeing both really enhances ones appreciation of what life was like in those days. Plus the walk from the station down to the Mueseum is worth a stop in and of itself. Combine that with an early lunch of the best pizza on Earth - I can think of worse ways to spend a day. The highlights of Pompeii can be seen with a good self guided tour in 3 - 4 hrs.