This September we will be in Sorrento for 2 or 3 days on a three week trip through Italy. We enjoy historical/cultural/architectural activites. Pompeii will probably be a very full day. With perhaps only 1 more full day, would it be well spent in Herculaneum or bus ride/boat ride along the Amalfi coast? Thanks for any suggestions.
Posted by
HI
100 posts
Hi Denny-My vote would be the Amalfi Coast for sure. I would never want to miss that, it is amazing. We went to Herclaneum and enjoyed that but did not feel I needed to see Pompeii as well. Have a great time!
Posted by
boulder, colorado
192 posts
Take a ferry ride down the Amalfi coast. The scenery is spectacular. To fully enjoy it you must be on the outside upper deck.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Are you already planning a trip into Naples? If not, you should, so you can see the archaeological museum there.
Posted by
Bel Air, MD, USA
261 posts
You can see Pompeii and take the train into Naples to see the Archeology Museum in one day. Pompeii takes about 4 hours, Herculaneum takes about 1.5 - 2 hours. You also get great views of the coast from the top of Vesuvius. Your visit to Pompeii isn't complete until you've been to the Archeology museum. Also the Farnese Marbles collection area has recently re-opened.
Posted by
Northborough, MA
636 posts
Maybe it was just a letdown after all the hype, but ... We went to the National Archaeological Museum, in Naples, 2 days after Pompeii, and, while we enjoyed it, I don't think that we would classify it as a "can't miss". The highlight was actually a scale model of Pompeii - but, you definitely want to see it after having been at Pompeii.
We spent 2.5 hours in Pompeii. We used an IJOURNEYS audio guide that we purchased and used on our iPods, which was great. We went late in the day (5-7:30 PM closing), so the crowds were smaller, and, most importantly, it wasn't too hot (and, while Pompeii doesn't offer much shade, there was plenty with the sun's position at that time of day).
As for whether to do both Pompeii and Herculaneum, that really depends on how you want to spend your time. If your primary focus is the ruins, go for it. I have not been to Herculaneum, but I have heard that it's smaller and more intimate than Pompeii and also a look at a more middle-class lifestyle (Pompeii was definitely the upper crust).
We chose not to do both, in favor of enjoying some beach time (our hotel, La Tonnarella, has a private beach), the Amalfi Drive, and Vesuvius.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
87 posts
I'm a Latin teacher and biased, and even I would say to probably just go to one or the other. Herculaneum is fantastic--smaller, usually less crowded, and slightly more accessible once you are on-site. However, it is very similar in nature to Pompeii, so unless you are hardcore into ancient archeology and/or finish at Pompeii in less than a 1/2 day I would recommend absorbing the scenery as well. The proverbial day trip to Capri out of Sorrento is almost cliche now but is one way to see some beautiful scenery close up--one of the favorite parts of groups I take over.
Posted by
Long Beach, CA, USA
54 posts
We did Pompeii and Herculaneum in one day. We covered all of Pompeii and then got back on the train and got off at the Herculaneum stop in the afternoon around 3:30 pm and saw the Herculaneum site. It was a long day but I was really glad to see Herculaneum too. There were only about 10 people there ! You can get very close to the exhibits. If you get to Pompeii early in the morning, drink enough water, and take little breaks it is easy to do Herculaneum in the same day.