We are on the Best of Venice, Florence, and Rome tour in June. We fly into Rome Friday and have to be in Venice for the start of the tour Monday afternoon (will take the train). We also have 2 extra days at the end of the tour in Rome. We would like to see the Colosseum and all the surrounding attractions as well as Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mt. Vesuvius. I've read a day trip to Pompeii and surrounding attractions from Rome is long. Should we plan to stay somewhere close to Pompeii in the first days we arrive and then use the extra two days at the end of the trip to see the Colosseum, etc.? Any suggestions, welcome!
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
685 posts
You COULD arrive and go down to Naples/Campania, since you will have to be in your departure city last least the day before the flight, and no need to go anywhere far for a day at the end. Your plans to see the rest of Rome before you leave are good, I haven't looked at the itinerary, but the tour doesn't take you to the Colosseum? The Monday morning (if you want to, I have done it) train up to Venice from there will be LONG, but as long as you are set to meet the group later in the evening, that should be fine. If you are meeting them EARLY afternoon, I would suggest making that long train trip on Sunday evening with all the other weekend travelers just to give yourself enough time to get where you need to go with no stress. Two nights (or hopefully 3) in Campania could make a MUCH easier time to visit those historical sites than trying to do them from Rome (all three in a day? that would be rough). If those are your only interests (though if you're interested in them, the Naples Archeological Museum would go well with them), staying in Naples might be good. You wouldn't want to go to the museum your arrival day, but maybe a Herculaneum visit might not be too overwhelming (if you are trying to squeeze into 1 full day and 2 half days if you are leaving Sunday, if not, plenty of time on the weekend) since it is smaller.
Many people will say Sorrento might be good to stay, Naples might be a bit overwhelming on your first day in country, but there are pros and cons to each.
Posted by
Washington DC
27122 posts
I think it would be a shame to waste time in this situation by over-shooting Pompeii/Herculaneum/Vesuvius in order to sleep in Sorrento. I know some folks are nervous about Naples, but I found it fine. Yes, there are a lot of people on the sidewalks; Italy tends to be like that. If Naples absolutely must be avoided, surely there must be a more convenient option--one that doesn't require spending a lot of extra time on the Circumvesuviana. I know nothing about them, but there are lodging places in Ercolano (Herculaneum) as well as in Pompei (the modern city).
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
685 posts
agreed acraven!
But I hope that the OP will settle on Naples for the areas of interest after they are done visiting the sites, I have only been to Ercolano proper twice and Pompei once, neither town screamed "hang out here after you are done touring!" hahah
There's bound to be an area that strikes your fancy chanylle :)
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you all for your responses... I think we are going to settle on Naples, but now where to stay? Any suggestions that are better/easier for getting to and from those sites by train or public transport? And that would also be good for restaurants/food and general site seeing in Naples? We aren't afraid to walk or use trains, just would like it to be as easy to navigate as possible.