Visit Pompeii From Rome In A Day
A Practical Guide For Those Planning On Visiting Pompeii Independently From Rome
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Frecciarossa Train |
Pompeii is 150 miles south of Rome, fairly close to Naples and well within a long day trip from your hotel in Rome. There are tours from Rome to Pompeii but for those who are independently minded and don't get along with organised tours visiting by train is very straight forward and a good experience.
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Pompeii itself is on the far (south) side of Naples from Rome. Pompeii has its own train station almost opposite the main gates of Pompeii itself and the trains are frequent (2 an hour) to Naples Station where the Rome trains arrive. The only aspect to note is that the train from Naples to Pompeii is a different train company to the main Italian Railways that run the Rome to Naples trains so you cannot buy a through ticket.
Rome To Naples
Frequent trains run between Termini Station in Rome and Central Station in Naples.
The duration and cost of the journey will depend on the class of train you take. There are three grades of train and on two there is a choice of first class or second class. There is a complex system of advance purchase and day return fares which basically means just use the travel planner below to see what is available for your dates.
Frecciarossa Trains - These are the high speed trains, the pride of the Italian railways. There is at least one train an hour between Rome and Naples and with a journey time of 70 minutes are at least twice as fast as alternatives, Fares are normally double that of the express intercity trains.
InterCity Trains - These are the normal inter-city trains with stops at major towns along the way. On the Naples-Rome run they broadly hourly. They will typically take around 130 minutes, a full hour longer than the Frecciarossa high speed trains. The fare will typically be half their price though.
You are allocated a reserved seat number when you book. Typically in a second class carriage you will travel in a compartment with six seats.
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Most Visited Sights In Rome |
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Main Sights Rome |
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Train Tickets & Times |
Regional/Local Trains - These trains are the opposite extreme to the Frecciarossa Trains. Trains are slow (150 minutes Rome - Naples) and relatively basic. What they have got going for them is price, typically 10%-20% of the price of a Frecciarossa Train. These trains run about every 2 hours between Rome and Naples.
Naples To Pompeii
Circumvesuviana trains are a network of several lines in the Naples region, with Naples as the hub. The line to Pompeii goes from Naples to Sorrento.
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Circumvesuviana train |
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Main Sights Rome |
Circumvesuviana trains run from the same station that the Rome trains arrive at (Central Station) in Naples but confusingly although part of the same complex the platforms the Circumvesuviana trains run from are called Garibaldi Station.
When you get off the train from Rome just turn left when you get into the terminal area and keep going.
Circumvesuviana trains are a different company to TrenItalia who run the Rome trains so you have to buy a ticket (in cash, no credit cards). Fares are cheap and carriages are crowded (don't count on getting a seat). There are two trains an hour to Pompeii.
Journey times is about 45 minutes between Naples and Pompeii with countless stations in between.
Pompeii - Planning A Visit
We have a dedicated page - A Practical Guide To Visiting Pompeii Independently
Taking A Tour To Pompeii (With Optional Visit To Mount Vesuvius From Naples Station
A kind of hybrid part independent, part tour option is to take a tour of Pompeii (and optionally Mount Vesuvius in addition) from outside Naples railway station. The tour leaves at 10:30 a.m. so there is plenty of time for a train down from Rome prior to boarding
This option is particularly attractive if you want to visit Mount Vesuvius in addition to Pompeii or the idea of a live guide showing you around Pompeii is attractive. The guided tour lasts two hours, if you visit independently you could conceivably stay a lot longer than two hours, Pompeii is a vast site. Audio guides are popular for independent visitors.
Half Day Tour Bus From Naples Central Station To Pompeii
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Pompeii Figures |
If you are coming through Naples you can skip the Circumvesuviana train and instead take the daily tour bus that leaves from outside the station at 10:30 a.m.
You'll get a very similar experience to if you did the same thing independently, though you will get a guide which few independent visitors find worthwhile financially paid on a private basis. It will also save you some time (unless you're coming from Sorrento) but there is a price premium over doing it independently.
The other nice thing about the tour is the ability to reserve everything in confidence in advance.
Full Day Tour Bus From Naples Central Station To Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius
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Mount Vesuvius |
A full day (6 hours) tour from Naples Central Station at 10:30 a.m.
First of all its a short 30 minute ride to Pompeii the largest archaeological site in Europe. Your guided tour of Pompeii (approximately two hours) takes you to the Forum, the Thermal Baths, Vetti's House and the Lupanare brothel, buried by volcanic ashes from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
After a break for an hour to enjoy a pizza lunch, you'll then board your coach to transfer to Mount Vesuvius.
You can choose to climb Mount Vesuvius (approximately 45 minutes), accompanied by your guide, and walk around the crater at 3,900 feet (1,200 meters). From the summit you'll have panoramic views of the picturesque Bay of Naples from east to west. Peering down into the depths of the crater, you may see plumes of steam issuing from the sleeping, but still active, volcano.
Visiting Pompeii - More Details
Visiting Herculaneumi - More Details
Visiting Mount Vesuvius- More Details
