Best/Cheapest way to get from Rome to Pompeii?

You can take the train from Rome to the Naples train station and then take the commuter train to the ruins. If you take a regional train it won't cost you much in money but will cost you a lot of time. I suppose there are buses you can take but I would think these will also take more time than the fast trains. You don't actually have to go into Naples to get to Pompeii. You can easily do Pompeii as a day trip but if you wish to spend the night then you should. Donna

It is an easy but long day but if you leave early in AM can be back in Rome same day. The slow train is about 22 euro one way but takes longer, I think 2 and half hours and then the train from Naples is about 4 euro one way and a half hour, get off at the second Pompeii stop and the ruins are right there. I think you can get advance mini fares on the train from Rome. I think someone also said on another post you can get a bus from Rome to Pompeii but we did not do that. The fast train is about one and half hours but at full fare is about 44 euro one way. fyi bathroom in Naples train station is downstairs and cost one euro. I don't see need to stay in Pompeii for the night, I would not want to have to take my luggage with me to do that. Enjoy. Don't know cost of buying round trip as that might save you money, we were only going one way.

Husband and I took a train when we went and we enjoyed the experience--lots to look at on the way.
BEWARE the Naples station--it was filthy and there were announcements every few minutes about pickpockets. Also, if you want to see the artifacts that were found in Pompeii, you'll have to go to the museum in Naples. We ran out of time and didn't do that and have been sorry ever since.

We just got back from our Italy trip, and we did a day trip from Rome to Pompeii. I purchased mini fare tickets, and we got the fast train from Rome to Naples, then caught the commuter train to Pompei Scavi. Our tickets were 80 euro return for both of us, so about 20euro each leg per person. We also went into Naples to get some pizza, and enjyoed the city, but you could certainly skip it. We left Rome at 7:35AM, and were back at 8PM.

Thank you all for your responses. I've been warned by several, several people to avoid Naples because of how dirty and crime ridden it is, although I may have to check out the museum and to just pass through of course.

Melissa, The Marozzi bus does go from Rome to Pompeii (on it's way to the Amalfi Coast). The bus leaves Rome at 7am. I took it to Positano, I believe it is about a 2 1/2 hour ride to Pompeii. The bus returns from Positano at about 4pm, so you'd have to see what time it stops in Pompeii, maybe around 5pm. Check out their website.

The Naples train station has been completely renovated recently. Last fall it was almost completed and the station was free of all manner of panhandlers, beggars, etc. In fact, it was cleaner and safer than the stations in Rome, Venice or Florence. Pompeii is wonderful and to miss it because of apprehension about Naples station is a big mistake.

Melissa - In April I went to Pompeii for day trip from Rome. Very easy trip with only one small problem. The commuter train to Pompeii is boarded below ground in the Naples station but the commuter station has a different name than the Naples station so I missed my stop on the way back. Just check the name when you get on in Naples. Wish I had taken time to visit museum in Naples. I think you can safely access it via underground if you are traveling alone as I was.