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Day Trip from Rome to Pompeii/Vesuvius

I am spending several days in Rome after my RS Tour ends and I would like to plan a day trip to Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius. Does anyone have any recommendations? I know there is an escorted bus tour that will take me there (Mt Vesuvius, lunch, Pompeii) and I believe there is also one that takes the high-speed train.
I am a single traveler but I am pretty intrepid so would be willing to go on my own if this would be better.

Posted by
7730 posts

This is the budget traveler version:
Take the train Rome Termini to Naples Centrale. At Naples Centrale walk down stairs and catch the Circumvesuviana or the Campania Express to Ercolano (Scavi) for Vesuvius . As soon as you walk out the train station you will see the bus that goes to Vesuvius and the office where to buy the round trip ticket and the additional ticket that allows you access to the crater.

After finishing Vesuvius you can hop back on the Circumvesuviana and take it to Pompeii. When you buy the entrance, there will be an option to get a personal guide of the site.

Posted by
2461 posts

We went to both Vesuvius and Pompeii but on separate days and from sorrento not Rome . Vesuvius is not a full day activity-we did it in an afternoon-but Pompeii is. We left sorrento first thing by train and were not back until after 4.

If you go to Vesuvius first, you won’t have much time for Pompeii which is even more amazing than Vesuvius.

Posted by
4021 posts

We didn't use them for Naples/Pompeii/Vesuvius but while in Rome we booked tours with Through Eternity Cultural Association for the Colosseum and Vatican. By far the best tours we've experienced anywhere in Europe. Both tours were led by PHD's in history.
https://www.througheternity.com/ They do offer tours to Pompeii.

Posted by
7179 posts

Although this is an ambitious daytrip, calling for the earliest possible departure, it can easily be done on your own. Both locations you want to visit are even sunnier and hotter than an average Piazza in Rome. Be prepared for brutal heat, coming up from Roman stone roads and volcanic cinders. I personally think that Vesuvius is totally necessary. It can be seen from Pompeii, which is the point. There are volcanoes all over the world. I'd rather see a bit of Naples, including bits of Pompeii or the Farnese Marbles, or Herculaneum or Oplontis, if you have time left over.

The Trenitalia Frecciarossa service Rome-Naples is incredibly fast, and comfortably air conditioned. But you can't change or refund the tickets, which are surprisingly cheap three months in advance. The Circumvesuviana (manually validate your ticket before boarding) is roughly half-hourly, and unreserved commuter service. It's very crowded, and has many un-air conditioned cars. It calls for a belt-pouch under your clothes.

There is air-conditioned food inside Pompeii, but not Herculaneum.