should we visit pompeii from the rome leg of out holiday or from the sorrento part? Maybe someone has a good idea to get us form rome to sorrento visiting pompeii ??

Pompei is on a 30 min circumvesuviana train ride from Sorrento. See Pompei from Sorrento.

Hi TYP,

Better to go from Sorrento than Rome.

Pompei Scavi is one of the stops on the Circumvesuviana line from Naples to Sorrento.

There is a left luggage office.

that sounds perfect!!! We could go to pompeii on the day we are moving on towards Florence!!and know out luggage is safe too! Thanks

I'd go to Pompeii as early as possible in the day as in summer at least it can be broiling hot by midday, sapping your touring strength - no shade.

I always bring my mini umbrella to Pompei for rain, but mostly for SHINE! I bring my own shade.

Reading your "best way from Rome to Sorrento" post and then this, I would recommend that you take the train from Rome to Naples (they leave approximately every 30 min and take 1.5-2hrs depending on the train). Then switch to the circumvesuviana in Naples. Ride to Pompeii, store your luggage, tour, get back on the circumvesuviana and continue on to Sorrento.
You will have more time than trying to do it the day you travel to Florence (a much longer train ride- 3.5 hrs) and you won't have to worry about having to rush to make a specific train.

many folks are afraid to take the CircumVesuviana because of reports of pickpockets and theft. While i'm not in the position to pass judgment on this possibility it's what many report and take the boat Naples-Sorrento instead. I wonder what others think?

I took the train several times but not recently and besides seeing a guy shoot up in the back of the car it didn't frighten me.

Good idea to bring an umbrella- there aren't very many places to run for cover if it rains, as the ruins have no roofs. We got caught in the rain quite some distance from where the cafe and restrooms are, and had to stand under the little doorways to not get soaked.

I like the circumvesuviana and have never had any problems. I take it to Pompei often. To go Sorrento/ Naples/ Sorrento I most often take a hydrofoil, because I'm usually going to the port anyway or taking the train from the Mergellina station which I much prefer over Napoli Centrale.

We rode the CV train and weren't impressed. It was covered with graffiti, very dirty, and in the outskirts of Naples someone threw a rock through the window! I had a ton of glass in my hair and some small cuts. There are 2 CV trains, and they don't both go all the way to Sorrento so be careful. When we boarded we asked a group of Italians if we were on the right train and they said yes. They lied! We were standed late at night and only through the kindness of strangers were we able to get to Sorrento.

Pompeii is a fantastic place! Yes it get's hot so bring water to drink. And lunch if you'll be there that long. We were there all day and saw most of it.

I took the Circumvesuviana solo to Pompeii, Ercolano, Naples while based in Sorrento back in '96 and had no problems.

But a friend and I more or less saw someone be pickpocketed on there in '99. We were getting on the CV in Naples, as were an English couple. Somebody pushed the Englishwoman and she stumbled into her husband. She had one of those backpack purses on. They got her wallet in those few seconds ("Check your wallet!" her husband cried--too late). I won't comment on how stupid that was to have your wallet in an easily opened backpack purse on a crowded train in Naples. Even dumber was the fact that her husband apparently had HIS wallet stolen from his back pocket in Naples the day before!!

My friend and I had an agreement before we got on the CV to keep our talking to a minimum (so we wouldn't be heard speaking English and thus drawing attention to ourselves) and to be extra vigilant. Pickpockets take advantage when they think you're focused on something or somebody else and aren't paying attention. If they know you're watchful, they won't try funny business. A "don't pull any cr*p with me" look doesn't hurt either.

I don't consider the CV any more dicey than a NYC subway. ;-)

I am with TravMimi; there is no reason to be especially fearful of the circumvesuviani (exercise usual traveling caution with regard to bags). Naples has a new mayor that is keen on cleaing up the city's reputation for being a little TOO colourful and this has extended to better policing of the CV.