Hi all, will be in Naples on Friday and wanted to go to Pompeii for the day. Can someone answer a few questions : - where does the train leave from for Pompeii - how far is it, cost of the train, how often does the train run? - entrance fee for Pompeii for adults and kids - is it easy to walk around using Rick Steve's walking tour of Pompeii or is using a guide a better option, there will be 4 adults and 9 kids. - How much time should we allot for a tour if we were doing it on our own? - do trains run regularly back to Naples from Pompeii in the afternoon
- are there places to eat close by to Pompeii that you recommend, or should we just pack our own lunch? Many thanks on this..
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15798 posts
The train - Circumvesuviana - leaves from the main station in Naples It's about 1/2 hour. The cost is low, buy the tickets at the station. The train runs every 1/2 hour or every hour, depending on the time of day. Entrance fees - check the official website I used a combination of the RS audio tour and the booklet (free) at the entrance, be sure to pick up a map too. A private guide will always give you more information and keep you from getting lost too. It is difficult to walk in some parts, so little kids may have trouble. You can spend an entire day or a couple of hours. It depends on your level of interest (and the kids' patience). There is a cafeteria inside the site and kiosks and a restaurant right outside.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15798 posts
Just found this website http://www.vesuviana.it/web/en Departure station: Napoli Garibaldi
Arrival station: Pompeii Scavi (that's the ruins, otherwise you end up in the town a long way from where you want to be)
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Assuming that you take the train from Rome to Naples, you will arrive at the Napoli Centrale train station. You then go downstairs to the Piazza Garibaldi and the Circumvesuviana train station is located there. Fare one-way to the Pompei Scavi stop is about 2Euro. Really cheap.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
The train is a commuter train and runs from very early in the morning until late at night - you'll have no trouble getting a train back to Naples. Be sure to validate your tickets. Also be sure to take the correct staircase down to the track after you buy your tickets so you don't have to backtrack, info is posted on signage overhead. Check into websites that have info on Italy for kids, you may be able to find a guide for the tour who can keep the kids' interest.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34325 posts
Erika, if you have the book for the tour then al the answers to the other questions are all there too. Enjoy your stop in Naples this week. Maybe it will be warmer than here.
Posted by
CA, USA
1271 posts
Just to toss out the idea, you might want to consider Herculaneum instead of Pompeii. Having been to both, I think Herculaneum looks more like a town frozen in time than Pompeii does. It is on the same train line. I have used the RS book and didn't get as much out of the tour as I hoped. If I was doing it again I'd go on a tour; with the size of your group you may be able to strike a deal to get your own guide.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
How old are the kids? As you hit the entrance, there are LOTS of shops the kids will love. Entrance fees 11E Circumvesuvian 4 E Took 11 yr. old grandaughter last fall, 3 hrs was her max. You could spend all day. She was facinated by the plaster casts of the bodies,the mosacis and all the dogs roaming the grounds.
Forcast is in the mid 60"s chance of rain