advantages in staying in pompeii when going to Herculaneum the next day?

I think you're overthinking it. I don't see the point of paying for two hotels. We were in the region for 2 weeks in 2023 and the only time the train wasn't busy was on a Sunday afternoon. Even on Saturday the train was crowded at various times of day.

Oh i wouldnt be surprised if I was over thinking lol. I just want to spend as much time as possible im Pompeii. And to be honest a little "boring" for a night isnt a bad idea either. Although the entire city seems like a giant tourist trap

I just want to spend as much time as possible im Pompeii

In that case, why not just stay in Pompei town, at the Hotel Forum, just across the street from a quieter entrance to the ruins? That would give you a full day at the ruins, and with tired feet, you would only be minutes away from your hotel. Four star, cheaper than Naples, good dinner menu, just a few minutes walk to any number of restaurants. https://hotelforumpompeii.com/en/.

This hotel is close to the 'regionale' train, which we used to do a reverse commute into Naples for the day rather than the other way around. (Double check which train line drops you off closer to Herculaneum, I have a vague memory it was the Circumvesuviana, not the Regionale. But that's a minor detail.) For a lot more detail, here's our TR. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/great-trip-to-pompeii-naples-over-new-years-december-26-january-2nd-2026. Have a great trip!!!

Just stay where you are in Naples. The Circumvesuviana train connects easily enough, and time saved would be minimal. Honestly, I’m a geek for Roman history, but everyone has a limit. Pompeii is huge, and you’ll find there’s a lot of nothing (or just the same dwellings/counters) between the highlights. I tapped out by hour 4, and saw everything I could. If you get into Pompeii at open, you can maximize your time very well.

And to give you a better idea of the lay of the land, after Pompeii i took the train to Naples for some pizza, then back to Herculaneum, saw ALL of that, then trained back to Sorrento with time for dinner. That’s a full day, but you can see it’s possible to get back and forth on that train pretty easily.

Not to mention, Pompeii town has a pretty lame reputation as a place to stay. With Naples and Sorrento so close, it doesn’t offer much to visitors.

Sandancisco - last time i was there the circumvesuviana dropped you off closer to pompeii (pompeii scavi). not 100 % sure but it seems like pompeii to herculaneum has a transfer. Transit wise it would be easier to head from naples

awrzesinski - The last time (first time) i was there from 930 to 330 and missed a lot. The entire north west side (including diamedes and mysteries) the NE and a big section of the south (west of the theaters). I also somehow missed the temple of apollo! Lots of things were closed to (seasonal and the regular day to day changes) like the temple of isis, forum baths and many domus. I do have a ticket from opening though. I plan on spending as much time as possible ( i think it closes at 7? in april)

last time i was there the circumvesuviana dropped you off closer to
pompeii (pompeii scavi). not 100 % sure but it seems like pompeii to
herculaneum has a transfer.

Depends on which entrance to the Scavi as there are 3 - Porta Marina (busiest, near the Circumvesuviana train station & where we met our Askos Tour guide), Piazza Anfiteatro (quieter, near the amphitheater,) good for direct access to eastern part of scavi, much shorter lines & only a 5 minute walk to Hotel Forum. This entrance is a 5-minute walk to regionale trains into Naples.

Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be fun!

Changing hotels is a solution looking for a problem. Public transit is not the worst possible solution to every travel problem. However, note that Herculaneum is a 12 minute walk from the Circumvesuviana (closer than the Trenitalia from Porta Amfiteatro-Pompeii Scavi, however!) Porta Marina-Pompeii Scavi is 30 seconds from the Circumvesuviana.

This newsboard also tends to like Oplontis (Villa Poppaea), Stabiae (Villa Arianna/Villa San Marco), and Boscoreale. Not everyone has enough time for all of them.

Sandancisc - id be heading to pompeii scavi. Easiest to get to, enter and find afterwards. Im also familiar with it. Theres a few cheapish hotels next to the station. Its not a huge deal either way because I like trains/traveling on vacation anyways. And despite how packed the circumvesuviana is, the views are pretty neat.

Tim - If i was actually checking out and checking in for a single day id agree. However I have the week booked in Naples. And if its convenient or makes some sense ill book another hotel in a city. its nice to have somewhere to keep the bulk of my things (like when I was in germany and used frankfurt as a base). More money? Sure. Easier to deal with? Definitely. But in this case im having problems justifying it, again, which is fine.

Ercolano scavi is where I plan to head into herculaneum. And pompeii scavi is where I plan to head into Pompeii.

As for the other sites, I dont think Ill have time for them. Although, theyre much less busy than either pompeii or herculaneum. So if i have time after herculaneum there is a chance to check them out, or hang out in Naples. To be honest im not spending much time there at all besides a day at the MANN and 2 underground tours. Every other day there is out of the city!

Just to be clear, I used the terms ending in "scavi" simply to emphasize that I was talking about a single, specific tourism site that is within a large modern town with the same name. I was not showing off my fragmentary command of Italian. There have been a few posters over the years who insisted on sleeping in modern Pompeii, for instance. They said they enjoyed it, but I don't agree with the idea.

You have not given the month of travel, which affects sunrise/sunset and site hours. I agree that Pompeii can take a full day if you enjoy it, and it's not too sweltering. Herculaneum is much smaller, and has no food inside. Same-day re-entry not permitted at either place.

The same gritty, roughly half-hourly Circumvesuviana train line runs from Naples to Sorrento with named stops for Pompeii Scavi and Herculaneum Scavi. While infrastructure can be unreliable in southern Italy, you should download a Circumvesuviana timetable to illuminate this.

Sorry Tim i posted this in a few places and forgot the date. Its april of this year. TBH sun doesnt matter to me but it will be up when I get there and leave. Im definitely bringing food to both places though. Pompeii DOES have some places to get food at least.

Im saying "scavi" because those are the specific train stations im planning on using. Just makes it much easier to figure things out. And ill most likely be using the circumvesuviana for both.

Pencilstealer, if you haven't done so, check the Circumvesuviana's Pompeii to Ercolano train schedule carefully. Not all trains heading north stop at Ercolano, you either take a rush hour train or wait until 11:00.
https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule

As for weather, it can be a mixed bag in April. We were there for 2 weeks in April and early May in 2023 and needed a light jacket in the shade on most days. I had a friend who was the a week ahead of us and they got a lot of rain.

I would just stay in Naples. The time you save being in a closer hotel is more than eaten up by the time and hassle of changing hotels. And Naples is just a more interesting base with more ancillary options for dining etc.

I honestly don't know why the Circumvesuviana train gets such a bad rap on this forum. It's fine. It's how most locals along that stretch commute.

Allan - My ticket for Herculaneum at 830. Looks like theres one that gets there at 740. I dont mind being early. Makes it easier to grab a coffee and take a quick look around while on the way there. And beat any possible line. You can see quite a bit from above the site anyways.

I was there in February 2023 and was in shorts most of the time lol. Was 20c in florence and close to that in Pompeii. I had great weather. I still plan accordingly though. Always bring a rain coat and pants when i go places. If theres one good thing about rain is that there is guaranteed less people!

Chris - even if i stayed the night in pompeii i would still have a my room in Naples. Its the base for this part of the trip. Not an issue staying in Naples anyways. I just like seeing and staying in new places so was just trying to get a decent idea. Id rather ask then regret not doing something or doing something stupid.

I mean its definitely an experience taking the circumvesuviana. Its busy, lots of panhandlers. Relatively slow. But the last time I took it I didnt have issues (besides almost getting pick pocketed in the station). That was my own fault though and i havnt made that mistake since.