Pompeii & Herculaneium Day Planning
 

Am staying in Sorrento and have a day to see Pompeii and Herculaneium. Any information would be appreciated from transit to which to see first. How far away from each other are they? Would it be too much to see both in one day?

> Would it be too much to see both in one day?

I saw them both in one day. No regrets -- that's what made most sense given other constraints on my schedule. It was a LONG day (I visited from Naples, not Sorrento; I'm not sure of the difference in travel time). I was glad to have seen both in close temporal proximity -- it helped me focus on the differences between them. But I can certainly understand why many people argue against seeing both in the same day -- one has to have a fair amount of stamina and a tolerance for spending a whole day doing and seeing "more or less" the same thing. When you go might matter -- both sites can get very hot and there is little shade. Be sure to bring sun screen, a hat, sunglasses, and lots and lots of water.

You should be able to get good info about transit options in any decent guidebook. Or search this board.

They are not far apart by the local train (17 minutes), Circumvesuviana and about 30 minutes from Sorrento. The stations you want are Pompeii Scavi (entrance to the ruins is just across the street) and Ercolano Scavi (ruins are a couple of blocks down the hill).

http://www.eavcampania.it/web/

A combo ticket for Pompeii and Herculaneum is 20€ and includes both plus a few other nearby sites. At Pompeii, there are usually guides forming tour groups if you want to pay to join one. Otherwise, you can rent an audio guide for about 7€.

If you will be on the coast several days and doing much bus traveling along the coast, you might want to consider purchasing the 3 day Campania Artecard Tutta La Regione for 32€. It includes two free entrances to sites (Pompeii, Herculaneum, etc.)discounts at others and transport along the coast on the Circumvesuviana and the Sita buses for three days(also includes in Naples metro/tram/bus).

http://www.campaniartecard.it/arteca...m#.Ue3Xcaz3dqo

The 7 day card does not include transport.

Last time I was at Herculaneum, tickets were cash only.

how much is the train to Pompeii? Just wondering if it would be worth getting the 3 day pass. The only other travel in the area I'm doing is a full day amalfi coast tour & I'll be going over to the Isle of Capri but I can walk to everything from my hotel.

Probably not worth it if you are doing a paid tour of the coast and not using the Sita buses.

If you visit both sites, your train costs will be:

Sorrento/Pompeii one way is 2.20€
Sorrento/Herculaneum one way is 2.20€
Pompeii/Herculaneum is 1.60€

Add 20€ for your entry ticket and your cost for the day is 26€.

How are you getting to and from Sorrento? If you are taking the train from Naples to Sorrento (about 4€)when you arrive, you could buy your pass at the Naples train station and use it for that train ride (if it works into the 3 days of validity). Or if you are departing Naples, it could be used on the Alibus to the airport also.

On another note, Pompeii is as hot as Hades in the summer. You haven't said when you are going but if it's soon take a hat, sun cream and water. If I was going again in the summer I'd take a small umbrella for shade relief.

thanks for the info about the Alibus being included - I will get the pass for sure.

Thanks to Cathies for the umbrella tip - I've added it to my packing list as I'm going the first week in Sept.

I would go to Pompeii and then the archeology museum in Naples (where all the artifacts from Pompeii are displayed) rather than Herculaneum. On our first visit to Pompeii, we spent the entire day exploring and didn't see everything.

The museum is closed on Tuesdays but open the other days until 7:30p.