I really feel like most individuals who go to southern Italy entertain a Pompeii day journey sooner or later. Shockingly, I’ve met many who fail to truly take it (often as a result of they’re overwhelmed with the town heart of Naples).
At this time’s publish, due to this fact, will clarify all of the methods to combine Pompeii into your journey—if you happen to miss one, you possibly can strive one other. I’ll additionally focus on variations and similarities between Pompeii and Ercolano (aka Herculaneum), one other metropolis destroyed throughout the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
Whether or not you intend to go to Italy quickly or someday within the considerably distant future, I hope my recommendation will get you pumped on your journey to Pompeii.
How one can Attain Pompeii from Naples
The commonest Pompeii day journey sees you touring from Naples to Pompeii and again in a single day. Right here’s the place the confusion begins. Though you need to enter a particular space of Napoli Centrale prepare station and board a prepare generally known as the “Circumvesuviana,” the automobile you enter is neither branded nor significantly good. It’s simply an bizarre second-class Italian prepare automobile.
Which is okay: The journey from Naples to Pompeii is lower than an hour, relying on which prepare you’re taking. Right here’s one other tip, to that finish. Try to take one of many categorical companies between Naples and Sorrento, which can get you to Pompeii with out stopping at each single station. These might be denoted as such on the departure board simply outdoors the Circumvesuviana ticket gates.
Methods to Go to Pompeii
Take a day journey from Naples
The best technique to go to Pompeii is to do as I described within the part above: As a self-contained day journey from Naples. Notice that if you happen to observe this plan, it’s attainable to nest in a cease in Ercolano (whose deserves I’m going into later on this article) both in your technique to or again from Pompeii.
Be part of a gaggle tour
An much more senseless technique to take pleasure in Pompeii day journey is to not go independently in any respect. Whether or not you e book a Skip-the-Line Pompeii Tour from Walks of Italy, select a special tour firm or avail one of many supply your lodge is providing, a tempting technique to beat the tour teams that crowd Pompeii is to affix them.
Cease on the best way again from Amalfi
The unhealthy information? Except you permit the Amalfi Coast extraordinarily early within the morning, your journey (by way of Sorrento) again to Naples might be a hellish nightmare. The excellent news? When you do go away very first thing within the morning, it’s simple to cease at Pompeii (and doubtlessly Ercolano) in your approach again to the town.
Spend an evening in Pompeii
Who says it is advisable restrict your Pompeii day journey to only a day? Whereas not one of the lodges or Airbnbs within the neighborhood of Pompeii are a lot to jot down house about, there’s one thing to be stated about having fun with the overall ambiance with out having to hurry by way of it.
Go to from farther afield
As a result of Naples is related by high-speed prepare to many different locations in Italy, it’s attainable to take a day journey from different cities in Italy to Pompeii. Whereas Rome (which is round an hour from Naples by way of HSR) is the obvious selection, it’s additionally technically attainable to take a Pompeii day journey from Milan, Florence or Venice.
Pompeii vs Ercolano
Though I’ve taken greater than half a dozen journeys to Italy, my 2021 go to was truly my first time in Pompeii itself. Beforehand, I solely go to Ercolano (Herculaneum), one other close by metropolis that additionally succumbed to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. I selected Ercolano on the advisement of Francesco, an Italian buddy of mine who’s an architect and a historian.
So far as why he really helpful Ercolano, slightly than a extra customary Pompeii day journey? “The homes in Ercolano have two tales,” he defined, including that they had been in usually higher situation than their counterparts in Pompeii. “Properly, no less than most of them.” As we explored the ruins, he additionally remarked that Ercolano appeared barely much less crowded than Pompeii, though each (having now visited Pompeii) had been madhouses are far as I might inform.
Different FAQ About Visiting Pompeii from Naples
Are you able to do Pompeii in a day?
You may completely do Pompeii in a day! One of the simplest ways to efficiently execute that is to go away Naples no later than 8:30 to be able to arrive in Pompeii by the point it opens at 9. Shopping for your ticket to Pompeii on-line may also allow you to save time. After having fun with Pompeii within the morning, you possibly can eat lunch at one of many eating places close to the prepare station.
Is a day journey to Pompeii price it?
A day journey to Pompeii is totally price it, contemplating how simple it’s to succeed in Pompeii from Naples. Alternatively, if you happen to plan to go to Pompeii from elsewhere in Italy, chances are you’ll discover the time, cash and vitality you expend to be too nice for the joys of a day journey to Pompeii.
Are there day journeys from Rome to Pompeii?
Many organized excursions go away Rome for Pompeii, however you too can take the journey by yourself. To take action, journey a high-speed Italo or Frecciarossa prepare from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale, then switch to the Circumvesuviana. Return to Rome the identical day, or keep in a single day in Naples.
The Backside Line
No matter how you’re taking it, a Pompeii day journey might be a spotlight of your journey to Italy. That is very true if you happen to’re a 90s child like me, and attended college when renewed consideration appeared to be paid to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius almost two millennia in the past. No matter if you grew up, after all, it’s unattainable to stroll alongside the cobbled streets of Pompeii (or close by Ercolano) and never really feel moved. Together with the Amalfi Coast, Capri and/or Ischia islands and Naples itself, Pompeii is among the prime highlights of Italy’s deep south.
Robert Schrader is a journey author and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications reminiscent of “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” alongside the best way. His weblog, Go away Your Every day Hell, gives a mixture of journey recommendation, vacation spot guides and private essays masking the extra esoteric points of life as a traveler.
