Cronen

We will be in Naples at the end of June. Our friend suggested we book a tour to see both Pompeii and Vesuvius because the lines to get in can be quite long, and with a tour you go right in. Is this true? We were thinking of a six hour tour from Naples. It is offered by Viator tours. It is $115 dollars a person and this includes transportion, guide and lunch. Has anyone does this tour? Any other suggestios?

Steve_James

Cronen - Why pay $115??!

It only costs € 1.80 to get there by train.

And you can hire an audio guide - or join a guided tour - at Pompeii itself.

That's how most people do it ...

Steve

Kristinelaine

We did both Vesuvius and Pompeii without a tour, but you do have to figure out which commuter train to get on, where to get off, how to get back to the stop where busses take you up to Vesuvius. If money is no object, the tour would be a very compact and easy way of seeing both sights. Otherwise, you'll need to do your homework -- I've actually forgotten the specifics of what we did but I'm sure I found it in some guide book -- possibly Lonely Planet.

ssachida

I wasn't there in June, but I doubt that the lines to get in are all that long and if they are they'll move quickly.

Steve_James

It's really very easy - you only have to use one train:
the Naples-Sorrento one (Circumvesuviana).
The stop for Pompeii is called Pompeii SCAVI.

Between Naples and Pompeii is the ERCOLANO stop.
This is the station from where the bus up Vesuvius departs.

In summer there are normally six buses daily up Vesuvius, with departures from Ercolano station usually at:

08.30 - 10.30 - 11.50 - 12.50 - 13.50 - 15.00

Bus tickets are available at the bar/cafe outside Ercolano Station.
Return fare: approx. € 4.00

Hope his helps ...

Steve

domnipper

How could I find out if you can visit Pompeii on a Sunday. I haven't had any googling luck.

Steve_James

Yes it's open on Sundays.

http://www.pompeiisites.org/database...f?OpenDatabase

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Cicerone

I am not a fan of organized tours as IMO too much time is spent on lunch and "quick stops" for shopping, and not nearly enough at the actual site.

I haven’t found the lines to be long at Pompeii on any occasion. There is sometimes a line to buy tickets, but that tends to move quickly. There is sometimes a pile up at the first one or two stops on the audio and guided tour, but you could skip those and come back later if you happen to arrive at a crowded time or with a number of group tours. Remember that there are two entrances, so you could use the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance by the amphitheatre which is generally much less crowded. (Although I am not sure you can rent the audio guides at this entrance.)

I have done a tour guide and the tape, and found the tape to be very good.

There was a very helpful article in the New York Times about 3 years ago that gave good tips on seeing the ruins and avoiding long walks and crowds. I have it at home if you want to know the specific date. You should be able to find it in a library or if you are a subscriber, you can get it via the internet.

The ruins are open every day except for a few major holidays. The website for Pompeii is http://www.pompeiisites.org

Opening times
November - March, every day from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(last admission 3.30 p.m.)
April - October, every day from 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.
(last admission 6 p.m.)

Closed: 1st January, 1st May, 25th December

I have not climbed Vesuvius, but I am not sure I would want to do it on the same day as seeing Pompeii, as Pompeii involves a LOT of walking, and much of it over rough stone walkways. If there is any climbing involved on your Vesuvius tour (as opposed to going partially up by bus or something) you might want to reschedule Vesuvius for another day; I would think that a sunrise walk would be spectacular.

wanderlust5

I've visited Pompeii several times (everytime I am in Italy -they are constantly uncovering things!) and I've done it with a tour and without. If you are into archaeology and history (I am) then do it on your own. You can take your time at each of the locations (you'll get a map) and won't feel herded around. I think Pompeii needs to be absorbed, to feel the atmosphere, and being rushed from one house to the next rather spoils it for me. However, that being said, if it is your first time, and you have a cursory interest in what happened and just want to see it all for curiousity sake, then a tour would be fun because you get tidbits of info from the guides along the way and can ask questions. Rent a few DVD's on the history before you go and that will fill you in on a lot of information. Note: Be aware that Pompeii is replete with homeless dogs - all over the place, they roam in packs and by themselves. The legend says when the dogs leaves Pompeii will become lost again - or something to that effect, through another eruption or earthquake or natural disaster of some magnitude. I love dogs so they didn't bother me but some people in our group were nearly hysterical over the dogs roaming about them. I doubt they are rabid, but they are everywhere, so just be aware that you'll see them.

Enjoy. Mi piace molto Pompeii!

laurie_ann

Here are more details to help you find what I think is the NYT article described above. (Copying the entire article here would of course be wrong.)

June 16, 2002
DAY TRIP; Going Back in Time, Briefly
By MAUREEN B. FANT

Enjoy planning your trip!