My husband and I are landing in Rome (mid March) from the U.S. at 6:35 am. We then plan on taking the train to Salerno for our stay on the Amalfi Coast. From what I have been reading, it looks like we take the train to the main station in Rome then, change to a train to Salerno. I have checked the Trenitalia website and found the schedules. Because there is so much we want to see in 4 days in the Amalfi Coast area, we were considering first stopping at Pompeii since it is on the way to Salerno so we can knock one of the things we want to do off our list right away. We will be sleeping on the direct flight over, so I think we will feel OK. I have read there is somewhere near the entrance where you can check your bags for a fee. It will be on a Friday. (I have heard you want to stay away from Pompeii on the weekends.) I am thinking we could spend 3 hours there and then travel on to Salerno. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions on this and how to do it if it can be done? If it sounds ridiculous, it might be! Don't know. If it is not an option, we will wait to see Pompeii on Monday, our last day in the area.

I asked the same question a few months back and got universal advice to not stop at Pompeii on the way to the Amalfi Coast from Rome. You may or may not get much sleep on the way to Italy but you will be tired when you get there and jet lagged for a couple of days. The Amalfi Coast doesn't take a lot of energy to enjoy - it's pretty relaxing. But you should spend 3-4 hours in Pompeii, all of it on your feet, with a good guide. You will enjoy it much more and remember it much better if you don't "knock it off your list".

There is more than one train line through the region. I believe the direct Trenitalia (Ferrovie dello Stato-FS) train between Rome and Salerno has a stop at Pompei, the modern town and that the ruins of Pompeii, the ancient town, are at the other side of the modern town from this train station. So if you go this way, you will have to walk through town with your luggage and take a taxi.

The usual directions to Pompeii you read on this forum use the Circumvesuviana train that runs between Naples and Sorrento. This train has a stop, Pompeii Scavi, quite close to ancient Pompeii and the baggage storage mentioned is located at this entrance. This entrance would be on the opposite side of the ruins from the approach from the modern town. If you went this way, you would have to continue on to Salerno by walking through the modern town to the FS station.

FYI, Pompeii info:
http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione....ezioneRif=1165

Personally, I would not consider doing this on my arrival day. I never have any luck getting quality sleep on the flight from the U.S., but that's me.

I also wouldn't recommend stopping in Pompeii unless you only have a slight interest in the place. On our first visit there, we spent most of a day and still didn't see everything we wanted to. Also, if it's raining, forget it.

I don't think it would make much difference whether you see Pompeii at the weekend or mid-week as it's mostly tourists who are visiting rather than locals. I agree with ellenem that you will be pretty wrecked by the time you get anywhere near Pompeii and that you should continue on to Salerno, check into your hotel, shower and then decide what you feel up to doing. Even if you do get some sleep on the plane you will be jetlagged.

I hope you love Pompeii. Unless one of you is an Ancient History buff make sure you get a guide.

This is a really bad idea. Logistics don;t work - and you will be exhausted and jet lagged.

We have been twice and still not seen everything - and we love it. But we are history people and this is a major focus of our travel (we have seen roman ruins all over europe). We were not just "checking it off".

If you are going to Pompeii just to "check if off" - don;t bother - just stay on the coast and relax. Do what you really enjoy - don't feel you have to look at everything listed in a guidebook.

After I sent this post, I started thinking it was probably a very bad idea. I am glad everyone confirmed it! Thanks for your help. Out of the 4 days we are staying on the Coast, the only must do is Pompeii, so I will stick with my original plan. We can spend all of Monday there if we want. The rest of the time we just want to do some trail walking, and see the spectacular coast, realxing and enjoying the scene.