We plan to spend a week in the Amalfi area and Capri in late September. We plan to base in Sorrento for 4-5 nights and on Capri for 2 nights. We will be spending a couple of days in Rome after that and fly out of Rome. We definitely want to see Pompeii. We have pretty much decided to use local transportation and not rent a car. Should we visit Pompeii as a day trip while in Sorrento? Or should we stop in Pompeii on our way from Capri to Rome? Or should we plan to cut one night from Sorrento and spend it in a hotel in Pompeii.

We would appreciate any advice you can provide. We are experienced, frequent and active travelers in our 60s and have been to Italy 7 times but never to the Amalfi Coast. I have been on this board for some years and have always gotten great help from all of you. Thanks in advance.

Hi Ma,

I would visit Pompeii from Sorrento: allow at least 1/2 day.

I'd also add a 1/2 day for the Archaeological Museum in Naples.

Take the Circumvesuviana to <i>Pompei Scavi</i>. Your hotel can give you schedules and directions. Licensed guides are available at the site. From there, continue to Naples and take the Metro one stop to the museum. Well marked trail.

Enjoy your day.

day trip from Sorrento - it is an easy half hour train ride from Sorrento straight to the Pompeii gate. I would not recommend trying to do Pompeii as a side trip during a transfer day -- you will either be too tired to appreciate it or you will feel too rushed if you want to spend more time there. A lot of the organized tours spend less than 2 hours in Pompeii, and if you really want to see the place that just isn't enough time. (I'm not advocating the 6 hours that we spent there, you understand, but something in the 2 to 4 hour range would probably be appropriate for most people.)

Do Pompeii as a day trip from Sorrento. It's an easy ride on the Circumvesuviana commuter train to Pompei Scavi.

You can go directly to Naples after Capri and take the train to Rome.

Thank you all so much! I knew this was the place to get the answer.