mosey_on

I will be in Naples for business and plan to use one weekend day to visit Pompeii and possibly Sorrento. I'll still have a car and wondered what the drive is like and whether a train is better.

Any suggestions for short trip around Naples -- "must see" for a second afternoon/morning during my weekend off?

Jean

I can't imagine the scenario where a car would be more convenient to get to Pompeii. It's a cheap, 30-minute ride on the commuter rail line from Naples' main train station.

You don't say when your trip is, but if the weather is nice take the ferry from Naples to Sorrento.

If you want to try to see Pompeii and Sorrento in the same day, I'd go to Pompeii first because you may need/want more time there than you think. Train to Pompeii, then train to Sorrento. You'd probably have to train back to Naples, but check the ferry schedule to see if there's a late boat.

For another excursion from Naples, consider the royal palace at Caserta. With only a few hours, you'd be limited in what you could see. On a nice day, I'd choose the gardens over the interiors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Caserta

nytraveler

No need for a car.

Pompeii is easily reachable by train = and Sorrento is really a place to stay and go other places - rather than primarily a place to visit. While it has plenty of shops and restaurants it's not nearly as quaint as the smaller towns along the coast - Amalfi and Positano.

I would take a ferry to Capri for the day and another one down to coast to see the vilages (best views) and visit one or two.

Caveat: This assumes you will be there at a time o fyear when ferries are running. In winter, early spring and late fall there are none on some routes and few on others - although there are always ferries to Capri unless the sea is super rough.

A_Brit_In_Ischia

You'll find some assistance with taking the train to Pompei and/or Sorrento here...

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-or-pompei.cfm

It's very simple, and cheap... plus you'll not have to move the car - and risk losing your parking space, or an encounter with the city's newly-extended ZTL...

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop..._Campania.html

For where else to go, you could try looking through these - Naples and its immediate surroundings...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/mainlynaples

.... or other places in the Campania Regione, including our own little island home..
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele

Peter

CUFFLNX

Forget Sorrento, it is simply another Italian town, and really nothing to see., as above a safer base than Naples for the area. BUT, include Herculaneum in route or return from Pompeii; "H" is smaller but better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herculaneum

mosey_on

All,

Thanks for the advice and suggestions!

I should have mentioned I'll be in Naples in early May.
Sounds like Pompeii by train will be a sure thing.
And I like the idea of ferry to Capri perhaps for second day.

Will look at the links and see what questions come up.
Your assistance is greatly appreciated.