Going to Italy for the first time in April - 3 days in Florence, 3 in Rome. I added an extra day to take a day trip to Pompeii. I want to go with an organized tour group and was hoping someone could tell me the best way to get there and around once I'm there. Or is a tour really the best way to go?

Just take a train to Naples and then catch a local train to Pompeii - which is practically adjacent to the train station. You might want to consider Herculaneum too.

Its pretty easy but be certain to get an express from Rome to Naples or you are going to make a lot of stops.<BR><BR>US

Dear Kimbers:<BR><BR>Wow!!! You are so lucky! You were just in Ireland, now Italy!! I was just there in October with my mother and sister. We had a great time. We were based in Sorrento and did a day trip to Pompeii. <BR><BR>Yes, you can make it a day trip from Rome by train. You can hire a tour guide at the gate to Pompeii. But do a search on this site for possible bus tours from Rome. It may save you some stress.<BR><BR>Does your 3 days in Rome include the Pompeii day trip?? If so, that would only leave you 2 days in Rome--not enough. I would give Florence 2 and Rome 4. Just my preference. Good luck on your Italy trip.<BR><BR>MichelleY

Kimbers - All the main tour companies offer Pompei as a day-trip from Rome.<BR>Here are their websites:<BR><BR>VASTOURS<BR>www.romeguide.it/vastours/<BR>APPIAN<BR>www.appianline.it/panorama.htm<BR>CARRANI<BR>www.romeguide.it/CARRANI/default.html<BR>GREENLINE<BR>www.romeguide.it/greenline/greenline_eng.htm<BR>AMERICAN EXPRESS<BR>(Piazza di Spagna)<BR><BR>These tours usually include a visit to a coral &amp; cameo factory, a short stop in Sorrento, and lunch.<BR>[A common critiscism is that they don't allow enough time at Pompei].<BR><BR>Personally I'd recommend going by train and hiring an audio guide or joining a guided tour there.<BR><BR>There is also a daily Rome-Pompei bus service.<BR><BR>Hope this helps ...<BR><BR>Steve

Hi<BR>If you do a search here on Pompeii I hope you will come up with a posting from &quot;Walter&quot; from a few years back in which he described an independent daytrip from Rome to Pompeii in such detail that he even said which stairways to use in the train stations.<BR><BR>If you can't find it, email me, I incorporated the info (with due credit) into my Rome file.<BR>[email protected]

oops, so sorry, I missed the bit about your wanting an organized tour.

thanks for all the help everyone. <BR>No problem Elaine, I actually wanted to know about organized trips and self guided trips (I didn't write the message how I wanted to).<BR>Actually the girl I'm traveling with has already been to Rome, and although she's excited to go back, our time there is a little shorter, so she gets to see more of Italy.<BR>Would only two days be long enough for Florence?

imo depends on how much of an art lover you are.<BR>Florence, I swear, has more Renaissance art per square inch than anywhere else I can think of.<BR>In two days you could see a couple of museums and a couple of churches and still do some strolling about.<BR>You won't have seen the majority of Florence's assets, and you certainly won't have time to do a daytrip into Tuscany, which would be regrettable.<BR>On the other hand, your time is not that long in Rome either. I'd give myself a break, and just stick to the 3 and 3 plan. You simply can't see everything, but you should have a great trip.

My synapses are not all firing today.<BR>I meant to add, if you don't do 3 and 3, do 2 days Florence and 4 in Rome, but just stay in Rome. There's PLENTY to see without rushing out to Pompeii.<BR>If you want ancient ruins, Rome has plenty, plus there is Nero's Domus Aurea in town for underground ruins, and Ostia Antica just a short ride away.

Dear Kimbers:<BR><BR>Hi again! I suggested the 2/4 plan. That's just my preference. How long has it been since your friend was in Rome?? There may be some things she missed last time. Plus, she should consider that you've never been there and not short sheet you. In October with my mom and sister, alot of things were a repeat for me, but it was still worth it to see it again.<BR><BR>Good luck and have fun.<BR><BR>MichelleY

Just an opinion...but having been to Pompeii and Ostia Antica....I'd save myself the trip and stay near Rome and pass on Pompeii.<BR><BR>US

When you get to Pompeii there is a specific stop to get off at (I'm sorry I don't remember which one off the top of my head). Also be aware that if you want to see most of the artifacts from Pompeii they are actually in the museum in Naples.

I think the thread that Elaine is talking about may be this one from 2001 --- Walter also references the site ‘Traveling with Ed and Julie’ ~ http://twenj.com/romesightsexcurse.htm#pompeii<BR><BR>“Train trip from Rome to Pompeii question”<BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&amp;tid=1327886<BR><BR>

<BR>Yes, here’s the very precise and detailed description written by Walter on<BR>“Daytripping to Pompeii and Herculaneum” at http://twenj.com/itpompeii.htm<BR><BR>

After Ed's death, the twenj url changed to <BR>www.twenj.net<BR>still an excellent resource

I have just a quick question and would like comments. Was any one else surprised/disappointed in all the cigarette butts at Pompeii. We were surprised at all the butts everywhere through out the site. Plus the dogs running around. <BR><BR>Just wondering.........