Afternoon Tour From Naples to Pompeii

Why not fly Paris to Naples?
How many train changes do you have?

I suspect you will have not slept much due to changing trains and doing Pompeii with sleep deprivation will be more a penance than an enjoyable tourist activity.

The easiest way from Naples train station to Pompeii is the Circumvesuviana ( sorry, its on rails)

I think it’s almost impossible for anyone to provide useful guidance without knowing more about your general plans. What time of year? which of course determines the number of daylight hours, also how hot the afternoon would be at Pompeii, which has almost no shade. How many nights have you planned for Naples? The Circumvesuviana train between Naples and Sorrento takes just over an hour, and is very inexpensive, with the Pompeii ruins stop just about in the middle. At least in theory you could leave Naples by that train in the morning or mid-day, get off at Pompeii and hire a knowledgeable local guide for a 2-hour tour and stay an additional hour or two after the tour, continue by train for dinner and a stroll in Sorrento, then return to Naples by train. That would not include actually going to the Amalfi Coast itself. With a private car and driver/guide, you could do more at much greater cost.

From looking at some of your other posts, it looks like you're travelling with your husband and daughter in June. I would also question why you opted for a 16 hr train ride over a direct flight of a little over 2 hours. Fly in the evening before, and you'd have all of the next day for Pompeii and Sorrento (by train).

Sorry. Should have specified the season. We will be there in June, so lots of daylight (and it will probably be pretty hot!). We're from California, though, so used to dealing with the need for sunscreen and floppy hats.

You can take the local commuter train from the Naples train station to Pompeii Scavi. From the station it's a couple minutes' walk to the entrance to Pompeii. There are licensed guides around the entrance who will give you a private tour. To save time, leave your luggage in storage in the Naples station.

From Pompeii you could continue on the commuter train to Sorrento, then walk down from the station at the top of the town to the seashore and take a ferry to the Amalfi Coast, stop for dinner if there's time, then ferry to Salerno and 5-10 minute level walk to the train station for a fast train back to Naples. The ferry ride should be scenic in the late afternoon and at sunset (around 8.30). Probably not much to see after dark.

Really, really long day.

An all night train followed by a rushed tour of Pompeii sounds absolutely horrible. Why don’t you fly from Paris to Naples? That’s what normal people would do. A European would think you’re bonkers. Very poor planning, in my opinion.

Ugh. I'd fly to Naples too; no question.

But backing up? It would be really nice to see a FULL itinerary on this trip. Looking back at your previous posts, I see that this is your first trip to Italy; possibly the first to Europe? Pulling bits of info from various posts, I'm seeing:

Arrival in Paris from California on Saturday afternoon in late June: I'm guessing this is the 23rd. You want to sightsee the city and Versailles (3 nights).

Leaving Paris on Tuesday (26th) for Naples on overnight train. Do Pompeii. You'd like also to do " a side trip to see the Amalfi Coast" that evening. No idea where you planned to stay that night? Naples?

Rome is in there somewhere as you're leaving there "very early" on a Saturday (30th, I'm guessing as you have tickets for the Accademia that day) and "only have 2 days to do Florence and the rest of Tuscany". You wanted to do this by car - you are staying in Barberino di Mugello, north of Florence - and leave Tuscany for ? on Monday.

A flight to Athens in July from ? arriving at midnight. This must be after Italy.

I night on Santorini.

In all, there appears to be a pattern of short stays, lots of transport time, and an awful lot crammed into few days. I am concerned that you've put together an itinerary so tight that one snag could throw it into complete disarray?

And here's the snag: night trains are notorious for arriving late. I have seen delays of more than six hours, twice delays of 20+ hours, both trains originating in France.

The local guides for hire at Pompei Scavi are very good, licensed by the state.

Please, please, please look at Easyjet for flights from Paris Orly airport to Naples Capodicino airport. Time 2 hrs 10min. Cost starting at €47 ($56). Several flights a day.

Orly is much easier to reach than CDG, 15-20 minutes from central Paris via taxi. Cost $25-35.

This is an intereuropean flight. Be at your gate 1 hr before departure time.

Using a flight gains you a day of vacation time.

The nite train, contrary to expectations, is not a pleasant ride.
Many stops and or changes and virtually little scenery.

If Kathy's summation of OP's various posts is even sorta close to what OP is planning, it looks like the trip is more of an audition for "The Amazing Race", than a family vacation.

Please reconsider and create a manageable, enjoyable trip.