SeeDee

Staying in Sorrento, I would appreciate opinions on a proposed itinerary to attempt visiting all three sites in one day.
Start by making it to Ercolano on the Circumvesuviano train at catch the first Vesuvio Express bus at 9.30. Walk to the Herculaneum site on return; arrive 12.15, leave 14.00.
Lunch at Viva Lo Re 14.15 - 15.30. Train to Pompeii, arrive at site 16.30. Depart18.30 to return to Sorrento.
One question has to be whether allocating approx. two hours each to the sites is sufficient; we would not rate ourselves especially taken by this particular period of history but rushing around with one eye on the watch would make the whole expedition pointless. Self-guided would be our preferred way to view.
On paper, things look doable but in mid July, at the height of the season, perhaps those with experience could advise......

adrienne

I would visit Pompeii in the morning when it's cooler. In the heat of July you'll fry in the afternoon.

I don't know where the bus stops but it's so easy to take the train as it stops right outside the Pompeii site.

Arrive when the site opens. I spent 5 hours at Pompeii the second time I went; 3 hours the first time. You can visit Herculaneum in about 2 hours.

AJPeabody

Sorrento to Pompeii by Circumvesuviana in the morning. There will be a lot of walking and it will get hot. Eat lunch in the cafeteria or better yet at one of the stands just outside the entrance. A quick lunch is better than a long restaurant meal, because you need to take the train to Herculaneum, walk a kilometer to the entrance, and then see the place. By this time you will likely realize that trying to see Vesuvius the same day isn't worth the ride plus another hike. Instead, go back to Sorrento and have a very nice dinner.

By the way, the 3 day ArteCard will cover the train and the two admissions. You will still have 2 more days of transit and a 50% discount on further admisssions. I recommend a trip to Naples to see the Archeological Museum, with all the good stuff from the previous day is displayed. And the pizza in Naples is the archetype for all other pizzas.

isabel

If you really think you want to do the Vesuvius part then I would suggest you do Pompeii first. Get there as it opens and spend about three hours. Train to Herculaneum and get a quick bite to eat on the way to the site. That will be another hour, at least. Then tour Herculaneum, which you can see most of in two hours. Then if you still want to see Vesuvius there will be taxis outside the entrance willing to take you up to Vesuvius. I haven't done that part so I don't know how long you need but I'd say 3 hr Pompeii, 2 hr Herculaneum and 1-2 hours between them/lunch would be reasonable.

If you think you'd be happy to skip the Vesuvius part then I'd do Herculaneum first - spend as long as you want, it probably won't be more than 2 hours. Then do Pompeii and spend as long as you like (not 'watching the clock'). We spent about 5 hours there but that was all we did that day. We did Herculaneum on a separate trip and now having done both I think Herculaneum is very worth while and I would have happily given up a couple of the hours I spent at Pompeii in order to do Herculaneum if I only had one day.

Jean

We spent a full day at Pompeii on our first visit and still didn't see everything. Nothing I've heard about the excursion and hike to Vesuvius would make me want to take time away from Pompeii, esp. on a hot day in July.

FWIW, Pompeii is open 8:30a to 7:30p in July. (Last entry at 6:00p.)

Sassafrass

I have been to that area in Spring, Fall and Summer and actually love it in Summer, even in the heat. However, I did the hike up Vesuvius in April and somebody would have to pay me a LOT of money to get me to even think of doing it in July. So, I would skip that.

From Sorrento, I would take the earliest train possible to Pompeii, (take water and hats or sunscreen) spend about three hours, take the train to Ercolano, get a bite to eat on the walk from the train to Herculaneum, tour about two hours, train back to Sorrento.

There are several little cafes/restaurants right on the way from the train to the Herculaneum archeological site. I would actually sit down for a salad or quick pizza for a break before afternoon tour. Being realistic, allow a couple of hours between: first getting back to catch the train at Pompeii, the ride itself, eating, walking on to the Site.

Agree with Isabel about Herculaneum. It is well worth time to cut Pompeii a bit short, IMHO, for time in Herculaneum.

nytraveler

Two hours at Pompeii is really limiting - we spend 4 and there was still a lot we didn;t city. Remember this is a whole town that was buried - not just a few buildings - but a bustling resort town full of luxury residences and everything supporting them (shops, amphitheater, etc)

Fra_Diavolo

" . . . we would not rate ourselves especially taken by this particular period of history . . . "

Both Pompeii and Herculaneum have been known to change that. I think you should choose one or the other, and since the heat will be truly intolerable, I would suggest Herculaneum, which can be toured in much less time. I'd skip Vesuvius entirely, and substitute instead the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, which is at least out of the sun, and displays the originals recovered from the sites.

basingstoke2

I would skip Vesuvius unless you enjoy long uphill hikes. You walk all of the way up, then if you want to see the crater, there is a fee. When we did it the crater was in a cloud so there was nothing to see anyway. If you are ok with the heat, think Pompeii and Herculaneum make a good contrast. Herculaneum is compact with a good deal of interest. One gets the feeling of a ghost town there.

kja

"rushing around with one eye on the watch would make the whole expedition pointless."

In that case, your plan is, IMO, pointless.

bvlenci

If you're not much interested in ancient Rome, I would choose either Pompeii or Herculaneum, but not try to see both. Being on vacation should be relaxing, not like something you're going to have a final exam on.

Pompeii can be very hot in mid-summer, so if you go there, I would go very early if possible. Herculaneum is a smaller site, and many people feel that it gives a better idea of Roman life. I can believe that climbing Vesuvius in July might be a bit tiring. I've never tried it; the view from afar is fine for me.

If the weather is typical of July, you certainly won't want to rush around, and probably you should take a nice long break in the hottest part of the day.

Rubicund

Doing all three in one hit isn't a great idea, especially when it's hot. I agree with the early entrance to Pompeii, but you just can't do the place in two hours. As others have said, it's an enormous site and will take at least 4 hours, but preferably more. To take less time is just to skim over the place and you won't get the full appreciation and feel of what it must have been like to live there.

Herculaneum is again, much smaller and is easily done in a couple of hours or maybe less, but is just as atmospheric as Pompeii and better preserved.

If you include the walk up to the crater at Vesuvius, you really need a day and a half for all three sites, unless you just want to tick the "I went there" box.

SeeDee

Many thanks for all the helpful observations. With the consensus completely against the all-three option, my decision now rests with which two to opt for.

My logic in taking on Vesuvius first thing in the morning was based on consideration of heat. There were no avid enthusiasts for Vesuvius (Vesuviasts?)in the responses so I'm beginning to wonder what is the main reason for its popularity; the view? bubbling lava at close quarters? Without some encouragement from somebody, I may scratch that from the plan and stick to the two Ancient sites, given the ease with which the Circumvesuviana train gets you there

Sassafrass

I do not know how popular going up Vesuvius is. Perhaps it is just something unusual to do, not an everyday experience or activity. When I went, it was because I had some teens with me and a couple of hours to kill before meeting up with a tour guide already booked for Pompeii. The walk path is gray and cindery. At the rim, it just looks like a big hole with, at that time, a tiny, tiny bit of wispy smoke visible, no bubbly stuff. That is it, visually less interesting up close than from a distance, IMHO. It is mostly a dusty hike. What makes it interesting is knowing that you are seeing the source of all the devastation in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Some people get a kick out of that.

Your problem is you simply do not have enough time for all three, and Pompeii and Herculaneum are both amazing archeological sites.

The first time I went to Pompeii (in July) I spent at least six hours doing a self guided tour. I have returned twice, each for two-three hours with a guide. I enjoyed doing the self guided much more, but friends I was with wanted to have a guide because we were on a tight schedule and they had done no preliminary reading.

Herculaneum, I did self guided and spent about three hours. The excavated area is very small compared with Pompeii, but has many intact walls, even a door, etc.

Rubicund

Sassafrass describes the walk up Vesuvius very well, a dusty hike. No bubbling unless it's you in the heat! When I did it last, you tramp all the way to just below the crater and then come up against the pay station to allow you to continue up to the crater. It's really well placed, as you're not going to walk all the way back down without looking into it, are you?

I'd guess if they told you to pay at the bottom, they may get fewer takers. I seem to remember that there is a small kiosk selling drinks etc up there.

basingstoke2

The main reason to hike up Vesuvius is to say that you did it. There are some nice views from the path but nothing spectacular. Should you decide to do it, there is usually someone at the base renting out walking sticks. Rent one, you will be happy that you did.

I went up with my son because he had it on his list of things he wanted to do. He was 18 at the time and just 3 months past finishing chemo for NHL. I was hesitant because just 8 months earlier he was so weak that he needed a wheelchair, but it was his trip to celebrate his remission so we went to the volcano. I could not keep up with him on the path. Eighteen year olds have wonderful recuperative powers. I had tears in my eyes watching him up ahead. So for me it was a great experience, but without a special reason, I would skip it. It is one of those
"the juice is not worth the squeeze" sites.

SeeDee

So, not for the first time, Mount Vesuvius goes up in smoke - for this time at least on our planning schedule.
Revised plan is for an early start by train to Pompeii and making Ercolano for a reviving lunch. The visit to Herculaneum sounds less demanding and should fit well into the late afternoon.
We will keep our hiking efforts to the Sorrentine peninsula and the Amalfi coast.
Many thanks to all whose advice is truly appreciated; we will toast you on the balcony as we view Vesuvius from a safe distance.......