KL467

Yes, go to Pompeii.

It was not a full-day trip for me. Maybe a couple of hours.

Pompeii is rich with history, has a beautiful view, and has the best pizza in the whole world!

KL467

Photo of Pompeii

http://www2.snapfish.com/viewsharedp...289CECBE787384

italy06

Is Sorrento the best closest place to stay near Pompeii? We're weighing our options of a day trip from Rome or overnighting it somewhere close by. We have 9 days in Rome.

alya

caroline_edinburgh

If my mother (a pensioner but don't tell her I told you) could do this as a day trip from Leeds/Bradford airport, I am sure you could take the time to take 'taster' trip

She left at 6am and landed back in Yeadon at 11pm - she still raves about the trip and wants to go back.

Dayle

KL, you just screwed up this interesting post with the long, unspaced link. Now we have to let this sink to the bottom.

I don't know how to do it, but others here use tinyurl.com when posting links so that this doesn't happen.

Mimar

Yes, Sorrento is very good for Pompeii. You just hop the Circumvesuviana commuter train for a few stops to Pompei Scavi. There are other small towns in the area, but for a selection of hotels and restaurants, Sorrento is best. And it's a pretty town, right on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Naples. Plus there's good transportation options for Capri and the Amalfi Coast. But you probably won't have enough time for all that.

travel2live2

I do not know how one could NOT go, given the chance. It is one of the most fascinating ruins on the planet and huge. We walked around it for 8 hours and still did not get through it all. Don't forget to apply lots of sunscreen - I managed to get second degree burns even at the beginning of May!

TRUST US - it is beyond worth it!

KL467

Dayle, thank you for pointing out the photo issue, but it was not necessary to be rude. I am new at this and have only been a member for a few days. I hope others are more respectful than you. My attempt was to show the original poster how beautiful the area around Pompeii is.

Dayle

KL,

Sorry if I was crabby! Sometimes posters who have been on Fodor's for many years get a little impatient.

Hope you stick around and continue to contribute! It's a public forum and as such you will get it all - at times you will be offended or called rude, at times you will be praised and thanked, you will make friends in cyberspace and some in person. You might make some enemies! Just check out the lounge.....

Happy travels

caroline_edinburgh

hypatia, "the bucket list" ?? Is this an "in case I kick the bucket soon list" ?

madrebt

Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful replies. We arrive at 7:30 in the morning and can't check in until late afternoon. I was thinking that the long train ride would give us a little nap time both ways. Otherwise, getting the teenagers up that early may prove difficult. Thanks again to everyone and please, keep posting any advice. We have made no plans, yet.

hypatia

Yes Caroline, "kick the bucket"

I was a Archeology minor and fascinated by Pompeii and Egypt as a child.I spent 8 hours there a couple of years ago.Yes, it was hot but as they say it was a "dry heat"... haha
You really need more than one time to visit Pompeii, because they close and open certain villas depending on what they have planned going on there...I was all geared up to see certain famous houses (from a comprehensive book I own) and wouldn't you know they were locked. But I did see some other incredible houses instead. A tour guide told us that were lucky to see this house with a mural of elephants!!Also for being out in the elements the paintings are fading.....THEY WILL BE GONE eventually....

I for one like to leave something for the next visit as well...Just seeing the quality of light,the terrain,Vesuvius in the background (the feeling of the place) impressed me.But it takes a lot of walking on rough stones and I wouldn't wait too long...you never know what limitations life my put on your physical abilities

caroline_edinburgh

Good point, hypatia. Maybe next year

petitepois

Madrebt -- I'm going to be a naysayer here and say I don't think you should go to Pompeii... on this trip. I think it's too far for a day trip from Rome and that you should save it for your next trip to Italy when you visit the southern regions.

BUT -- I DO think you should go to Ostia Antica! I just went there on a recent trip to Rome and it was fascinating. In many ways it is better organized with better signs than Pompeii. If you are looking for ancient Roman history, you will find more than a glimpse in the ruins of Ostia Antica, which was the port of ancient Rome. There are baths and intricate mosaics, there is an ancient snack bar, there is an amphitheater; it is a real city, laid out with streets and houses, and it is vast. I'm guessing that most of the posters here who are encouraging you to go to Pompeii haven't visited Ostia Antica. It is only 30-40 minutes from Rome -- an easy day trip by train, or by BOAT! You can get there via the Tevere (takes 2 1/2 hours, though). Don't get me wrong, I think Pompeii is totally worth it, but not when you have a true gem like Ostia Antica at your fingertips.

sherhatfield -- You can absolutely daytrip to Pompeii from Positano. In fact, my husband and I did it on our honeymoon and it's one of my best memories. We did exactly that route -- ferry to Sorrento, train to Naples, Circumsuvensia to Pompeii Scavi. We skipped the museum in Naples, though there would have been time.

Buon viaggio!

Mimar

Uh, well, if you follow petitepois' route from Positano, it's a bit roundabout. Better, just ferry to Sorrento, then take the Circumvesuviana commuter train a few stops to Pompeii Scavi. The museum in Naples would be better seen after you have seen Pompeii itself.

petitepois

Hm. Now that you mention it... that is what we did. Forgive me, it was 5 years ago!

tbell

In planning an Italy trip in Oct. I was thinking of staying in Sorrento and doing a day trip to Naples for the museum and another day trip to Pompeii. Is there a better order in which to do these 2 trips? Ruins first, museum second or vice versa or does it matter at all? I haven't noticed this mentioned so far until Mimar's earlier post saying museum is better seen after Pompeii. I don't know why, but I was assumming it would be best to do the museum first. Thanks.

kja

Hi, tbell -

I visited the museum after Pompeii and was glad I saw them in that order, but I think many people will tell you that it is better to visit the museum before going to Pompeii.

Hope that helps!

tbell

thanks kja. I guess it doesn't matter the order as long as one gets there. Will probably do as the weather dictates; if a fine day, we'll grab Pompeii first.

Vttraveler

We saw Pompeii first, then the museum. I think that order made sense--gave us more context for seeing the art work. But your idea of waiting for a good weather day makes the most sense.