We are interested in going from Rome to Pompei and on to Capri and back to Rome. I know we have to spend the night somewhere. Can anyone suggest an itinerary? The more detailed the better. Everything from what trains/buses/etc. to hotel recommendations. (Only if after reading the following you still think this is a good idea.)

Truthfully, is it worth it to go to all this trouble for Capri? Or should I just kabosh the whole idea and go from Rome to Pompei and back all in the same day?

I was willing to splurge on a driver/guide for the day and have options of stopping and seeing things along the way if we wanted. But Capri would change all that.

We will be in Rome for 5 days, June 25'th departing June 30th. We have excavation under St. Peter's Basilica confirmed for June 28th, so that takes care of that day.

We still need time for the usual touristy sights, including the Borghese. (sp?) Are we trying to do too much?

What do you think?

Sincerely
Morgiesmom

Thanks.
Robin

Going to Capri plus Pompeii is definitely too much for one trip since you would need 2 days to do this. With only 5 days in Rome I would spend the whole time in Rome. A month isn't enough in Rome.

Rome to Pompeii approx 2.5 to 3 hours. Train back to Naples (1/2 hour). Overnight in Naples. See the archeological museum in the morning (this corresponds with the Pompeii visit) then catch a boat to Capri. This doesn't give much time in Capri since the last boat back is probably around 4:00 or 5:00 and then train to Rome (approx 2 hours).

If Pompeii only, you're suggesting a car and driver to see things along the way to Pompeii. That won't give you much time in Pompeii. Last time I spent 5 hours there.

I don't know that I'd spend the money on a car and driver since the train is so easy to do. The train stops at the Pompeii Scavi site. There's 1 change in Naples. I won't go into details on transporation since you haven't made the decision on Pompeii.

If you decide on Pompeii bring hats to wear and plenty of water. It will be very hot and there's not much shade and only 1 place to buy food/drinks.

I recommend that you stay in Rome. With five days, you will barely scratch the surface.

Stay in Rome and the immediate surrounding areas. There are more than enough things to do for 5 days.

Hi Mom - If you're already booked up on the 28th, the only way you can do this as a 2-day trip is to leave the day after you arrive.

Doable ... if not ideal. How desperate are you to go? Are you planning a future trip to Italy?

You can reach Pompeii by train or bus from Rome. Then continue to Sorrento by Circumvesuviana for the short hydrofoil/ferry crossing for your overnight in Capri.

Alternatively either Pompeii or Capri are viable as a day-trip. That may be your best option given your limited time ...

Steve

Stay in Rome.

Ostia Antica is a much easier trip from Rome than Pompeii. You might want to consider a day (more like a half day) trip there

That's what I thought too. We'll only do Pompei and maybe an easier day trip.

thanks so much.
R.

Hi Robin, do you mean you are arriving in Rome on June 25th? If so assuming your flight arrives in Rome in the morning by the time you get checked into your hotel in Rome it will be time for lunch. You, assuming that you are flying from the US will have some jetlag I would think. But you can enjoy walking around Rome and getting acquainted with this fabulous city.

Whether you are a bit tired the next day, June 26th, will depend on your body and system. Some people are and some are not. Unless you know for sure how you deal with a long flight personally I would not plan on going to Pompeii on the 26th. And I would think you would want to see more of Rome.

So you have either June 27th or June 29th to travel to Pompeii. Again, personally I would not want to do that on the 29th, the day before you fly home. No doubt your flight home on the 30th will depart in the morning. I would think with the long day to Pompeii the day before your flight home you will be tired the morning of your flight. Packing up, checking out of the hotel, getting to the airport, security line etc. Long fight home.

So that leaves June 27th for Pompeii.

Yes, in my opinion you are trying to do to much. Again, just my thinking but I would stay in Rome. The Borghese Gallery and Park is beautiful and serene. You would, I think, want some fun time sitting at a few outdoor cafes in the piazza's, enjoying "people watching", having at least a cold drink, and just soaking in the feeling of Rome.

Again, if you are arriving on the 25th and departing on the 30th you will really only have 4 1/2 days to enjoy Rome. And at least the first day (the 25th) getting over the long flight.

Now if you are not from the US and are instead say in the UK your flight will not be near as long of course.

Anyway, my best wishes that you have a beautiful trip and I hope whatever you plan works out well for you two. And don't forget to have some wonderful Italian gelato!

Ah...

Why don't you throw in Florence and Venice for good measure... and have a side trip to Athens?

We just did a day trip from Rome to Pompeii and down the Amalfi coast to Positano with our 10, 10 and 13 year old girls (about 13 hours RT). We hired a car and english speaking driver through DriverinItaly.com, a service we enjoyed considerably. We strongly advise you to hire a personal guide at Pompeii (who was separate from the DiI guide), who can engage children more readily than an audio guide could. The price is not inconsequential, especially in light of the prevailing exchange rate.

The coastal scenery along the Amalfi drive compares favorably with any other in the world.

Enjoy your trip.

Hi-

Our arrival in Florence is via train from Venice. Our trip starts in Paris on the 14'th.

I thought Capri would be too much.

I'm definite on Pompei. I've been looking into a private guide for the trip there and back, just having trouble making a decision on whom to go with.

Hmmmm- Thank you. They were in the groups I was looking into. That helps tons. Were you able to stop and see different things on the way? Did they have suggestions of things you might want to see? Would you use them again?

We fly home to the USA on the 30'th at noon.

Thanks to all.

On our last trip to Italy (March 2008), we wanted to visit Pompeii (but not as a day trip from Rome). Following is an excerpt from the trip report:

On Saturday 3/15 we traveled from Palestrina to Sorrento via Rome and Naples. Cost-saving tip: took the IC Plus train from Rome to Naples instead of the Eurostar or AV trains. Savings = 12 euros per person each way. The IC plus train took two hours from Rome to Naples compared to 1.5 hours for the fast train.

The Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Sorrento was, as others have described, comparable to a big-city subway/elevated train ride. The Naples train station was a bit tricky, in that men in blue jackets would come up to us and hassle us about where we were going. We have heard that these men are trying to scam travelers for money in return for assistance with luggage, etc. We tried to ignore them by not making eye contact. The Circumvesuviana trains leave from the Garibaldi station, which is downstairs from the main Napoli Centrale tracks. It was somewhat difficult to get our suitcases down the stairs to the Garibaldi station. In return for these hassles, the fare from Naples to Sorrento was a cheap 3,30 Euros.

We arrived in Sorrento in the middle of the afternoon. Our B&B (Il Roseto) was halfway between two Circumvesuviana train stations. On the way in, we got off at the main Sorrento station and walked to the B&B. After settling in, we walked around Sorrento, and then had dinner in the old part of town at the Ristorante Giardiniello. Sorrento has only one main street, so it is relatively easy to get oriented to the town.


Today was perhaps the highlight of our trip – a visit to Pompeii. We were glad to be staying in Sorrento, so that we could get to Pompeii on a half-hour Circumvesuviana ride. Even so, we could have easily spent two days at Pompeii – perhaps one day without the guidebook to just let it all sink in, and another day with a guidebook.

Our innkeeper recommended a restaurant in Sant Agnello, which is the town just east of Sorrento. We had a nice meal at Ristorante Peppino, which reminded my wife of her Italian grandmother’s home cooking.

On the way to dinner, my wife tripped on the sidewalk and strained some muscles in her back. The sidewalks on Via Corso Italia are very narrow (and in some spots non-existent). This injury caused her discomfort, but she was able to walk without difficulties.


This day was spent walking around Sorrento. Sorrento has a picturesque old section, highlighted by Via San Cesareo, a pedestrian-only shopping mecca. There is a lemon grove garden where you can get a free sample of limoncello (the local lemon liqueur). Sorrento sits on a bluff overlooking the sea – the best view is from Villa Communale. We walked down through an ancient Greek gate to Marina Grande, a fishing village. We ate again at Ristorante Peppino.

Sorrento was pretty, but it is definitely a resort town with shopping as the main activity. The tour buses were already arriving, and I shudder to think how crowded the town must be during peak tourist season. We found the people to be less friendly than in other parts of Italy we have visited. Our theory was that the locals hardly have any respite from the hoards of tourists, so they develop a callous attitude. On the other hand, it was only March, and the tourist season had barely started. When we arrived in town, we asked a couple of locals if we were headed in the right direction to reach Corso d’Italia (the main drag). The first two people refused to help us. The people working in the stores and restaurants seldom made eye contact, so it felt somewhat awkward to greet them with our usual “Buon giorno”.

Our B&B, the Il Roseto, was very nice, especially for the price of 65 euros a night. Michele and his family were polite and helpful. The rooms were clean and in good repair, although not overly large. The breakfast was close to the best that we have had anyplace in Italy.

Morgiesmom:

Our trip w/ DriverinItaly started in Rome around 7:30 a.m. We drove to Pompeii and stopped at scenic overlooks at the Gulf of Naples. Thence to Pompeii for a tour w/ an unaffiliated private guide (hired by DiI.) He was entertaining and informative without sounding pedantic, a second generation guide.

We then proceeded to Positano, stopping at overlooks..., for lunch and shopping (pottery). The DiI driver/guides (one was along for training) were genial, informative and entertaining, without being overbearing. We had the opportunity to stop and linger, as we wished, though the day was long as laid out.

We also used the service for transfers to and from train stations in Florence and Rome, and a tour of Rome on our arrival. The owner, Roberto, was very pleasant to deal with. We were very happy with the service and will use it again.