Rome to Pompeii as a daytrip in March
 

Hello,
I will be in Rome in mid March. I've seen Pompeii listed as a daytrip from Rome, however, I am just wondering how feasible that is. I am staying next to the train station in Rome, so it is within close reach. Has anyone done Pompeii as a daytrip from Rome? Also, is daylight an issue in Italy in March? I believe I saw that Pompeii closes at 5 PM off season.

Thanks for your thoughts.

I have done the Rome to Pompeii tour twice. I did it on a tour bus rather than the train and it's very do-able in a day. The tour I was on was only a one day tour and, as I recall, started around 8 a.m. and we got back to Rome around 8 or 9 that night. There was also a side trip to Sorrento, which is a beautiful city and beautiful scenery going there. It's certainly worth doing. I would think taking a tour offered through the hotel would be the easier way to go. Hope you enjoy Rome and Pompeii if you decide to go.

It depends on your interests. If you would like to see Sorrento (I find it boring and overtouristed), take a tour.

If you would prefer to see the art works that were found in Pompeii and are now in the National Archeological Museum in Naples, then take an early train (the high-speed train, which is just being introduced, is expected to do Rome-Naples in 1.5 hours or a little less), transfer to the Circumvesuviana (in the same station, one floor up or down), go to Pompeii and spend several hours there. (Go in at Pompeii Scavi and come out at Pompeii Villa dei Misteri - not to be missed, a bit of a walk from the main site.)

Take the Circumvesuviana back to Naples, take the Metro (still the same station, more floors down) to Piazza Cavour and visit the Archeological Museum (make sure it's open the day you go!), and take the train back to Rome.

I agree, the trip is not bad at all. We left Rome at about 7:45 AM, spent four hours in Pompeii and were still back in Rome by 6 PM.

I would not visit Pompeii on a rainy day, and I would not go to Sorrento on the same daytrip. Although I personally like Sorrento (never been in high season!), Pompeii is more worthy of your time in March. If you do this on your own (v. a tour), I'd also try go to the archeological museum in Naples and see some of the Pompeii treasures. Start your day as early as practicable considering Pompeii's opening time.

Hello,
Do any of you have info./links for the tours that you took from Rome/Pompeii?
I'd be curious to investigate these, if so.

Thanks for the feedback!

We will be in Rome in mid-March. On the day we are planning a daytrip to Pompeii, the Pompei Scavi (excavations) are open from 8:30 to 5:00, and sunset (at least in Rome) is at 6:21 p.m.

Woody

I did Pompeii/Naples as a day trip with Context rome in 2004. This was a small group with an archeologist on a mini bus, no compulsory visit to the Cameo factory. It was a huge day and if I had a choice I would stay south over night, I think context rome now has an office in Naples

woodsie

Are we related?

Woody

We did this day trip in March '01. We drove. We had driven into Rome the night before and held onto the car for the next morning. If we didn't already have the car, we probably would have taken the train.

We arrive around lunch time, grabbed a quick bite outside the site, then toured for a few hours. We looked for a private guide, but none were around so we ended up on a (very entertaining) group tour. Daylight was not a problem, and it was hot (80s that day)!

Does anyone have any links/prices for a tour provider for Rome-Naples-Pompeii as a daytrip?

Thanks

Here's one link:

http://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/239...es-and-Pompeii

There are probably many tour operators in Rome that offer Naples/Pompeii. The Rome tourism office should have information about them. There is one at Arrivals in Terminal B at Fiumicino and one at via Parigi 5.

Here's a weird thing - almost every single decription of Rome to Naples to Pompeii bus tours is exactly the same, word for word! Several companies give them and the average rate seems to be about 105 euro for the day, not including admission prices.

I think it's Context Rome that gives a very in-depth tour and it sounded like the best of all, but the 235 euro price made me think I should do it via the train and circumvesuviana again.

I have done this two ways. There is a shuttle bus operated by Enjoy Rome which costs much less than the fully escorted tours. 55 euros per person over 26, and 45 euros per person under 26. It is just transportation from Rome to and from Pompeii. No mandatory souvenir stops or detours to drop people off in Naples, as I believe the tour buses do. When I took this shuttle it was mid March, so although the web site says April through October it might be worth a phone call to see if they are operating when you are there. I found this a very relaxing and enjoyable way to make the trip. We spent about three hours at the site in Pompeii. We were back in Rome in time to go out for dinner. Information available at:

www.enjoyrome.com

The second time I took the train from Rome to Naples and the Circumvesuviana to the Pompeii Scavi stop, which is right at the gate to the ruins. This is a very inexpensive way to go and pretty easy. At least it would have been inexpensive if my husband hadn't had his wallet stolen getting on the Circumvesuviana in Naples. But even counting the cash the pickpockets walked away with, it was less expensive than it would have been for the three of us to take an escorted tour from Rome.

Any suggestions for any particular 'tour'...group or otherwise, for the same trip to Pompeii BUT from Positano?
Thanks

Allow me to disagree with you all, as a writer of Fodors guides: when in Rome take a day trip to Ostia Antica instead of spending precious hours traveling to Pompeii. Ostia Antica was ancient Rome's port and boasts ruins, ampitheatre, mosaics and is a train trip less than l hour from Rome center. If the weather's good you can have a picnic among the ruins , visit Pope Julius II's castle and Renaissance hamlet as well as dip your toes in the Mediterranean at Lido di Ostia. There are often boat cruises down the Tiber to Ostia too. www.elegantetruria.com

vetralla, I think the lure of Pompeii is because it is so well known and famed. Sort of like seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa instead of another tower that leans.

I stumbled across Ostia Antica years ago when I was staying at an hotel nearby so I could be "close to the airport". I went for a stroll and could not believe I was seeing all these ruins. I, at the time, at no idea they even existed.

It is a good idea to suggest visiting them.

I'm sure Ostia Antica is a very interesting place, and each time I have been to Rome I considered it. Maybe next time I will get there. But the draw of Pompeii, in the shadow of Vesuvio, was so tantalizing that I could not resist.

When I first realized that Pompeii was close enough to Rome to even consider it as a day trip, I became incredibly excited. I remember the actual children's book I read (All About Volcanos) that first aroused my interest and curiosity about Pompeii over forty years ago. The idea of an entire city destroyed and simultaneously preserved just as it was for one moment in time two thousand years ago captured my imagination and has not let go.

When I finally got there, the reality did not disappoint. The precious hours it took to get there were very well spent. I can't speak for anybody else, but for me it was an absolute highlight of my two trips to Rome.

It would be the highlight of any of my visits too, something about the lure of southern Italy, Napoli...

It is a long trip, but very doable. Doing it on your own is less expensive and you spend more time in Pompeii. As stated above, there are many closer sights than Pompeii. Depending on how long you are in Rome will determine what day trips to take.

Eloise suggestion is good. It is a two stage ticket purchase. In Rome, purchase a EuroStar ticket TO NAPLES ONLY. Then in the Circumvesuviana station, purchase the ticket from Naples to Pompeii. For the return, you can purchase both at the same time.