Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius day tour from Rome

On crater's edge...

After your transfer from Rome by air-conditioned coach, your tour into Rome's ancient history begins high above the city and Bay of Naples, on the crater of Mount Vesuvius.

Europe's only active volcano, Vesuvius is infamous for causing the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79AD and has erupted many times since – today Mount it's regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.

Lava flows have scarred the sides of Mount Vesuvius, and are visible on the winding road up to the summit. Hiking the active volcano is the only way to truly experience the magic of Mount Vesuvius.

Hike up the volcano

The 20-minute upward hike to the crater takes you through soft volcanic ash and pumice, and the views from the top are worth the effort!

Famous Naples pizza for lunch

Alternatively, you can stay on the ridge of the volcano and admire the views. After your adventurous morning, it's time to take a break and enjoy a leisurely lunch (included). Relax as you experience the world-famous pizza Naples is so well known for.

Pompeii

Next stop is Pompeii, sitting in the ominous shadow of Vesuvius. During your personalized tour of Pompeii's remarkably well preserved ruins, you'll discover why this UNESCO World Heritage Site continues to shock and fascinate over 2.6 million people who venture here each year.

The now ruined city of Pompeii was once a sprawling metropolis of shops and residences, restaurants, gyms and brothels. You can walk Pompeii’s main streets just as the ancient Romans did – the stones are still worn with tracks from the drawn carriages that used them nearly 2,000 years ago.

You'll also visit the forum, the centre of Pompeii’s political and social life, and view the startling plaster death casts of the victims of the catastrophic eruption that destroyed the city of Pompeii.

An alternative to the fully comprehensive coach day tour from Rome is to do the long distance between Rome and Naples by train. This gives you more flexibility and tour options in Naples too.

There are three or four trains an hour between Rome Termini Station and Naples Central Station, the fastest trains taking just 70 minutes.

There are several tour combinations from Naples Central Station where the Rome trains arrive, a typical tour bus leaves Naples Central Station at 10.30am so there is plenty of time for a train down from Rome prior to boarding.

The Pompeii only tour lasts 3 hours so you are back in Naples mid-afternoon with freedom to explore the parts of Naples that interest you before getting a late train back to Rome.

There are other longer day tour options from Naples Station with permutations that include Naples.

Rome to Naples by train then tour bus - more details