Paestum ruins and museum

William of Vacaville, the Paestum ruins are wonderful, and the modest-sized museum is excellent too. Each would take about 90 minutes, give or take. Great light at the ruins in the late afternoon or early evening. About tickets, you should go to the Paestum web site. On days when both are open, you can visit both for €10. If you visit over two days, there are two different ways you can do that for €11. Note the closing times at the ruins, which vary depending on the month/season. Both sites count as one, as part of the Campania Art card, if you are visiting other sites in Naples. I walked from the train station last May. I walked directly on the way, and there was a very nice path which may not have been right along a road, I'm not sure. On the way back I somehow got confused when leaving the ruins area, and did walk back in or along a road, but that took somewhat longer. If you are heading back to Naples by train, one option would be to make a stop and visit Salerno and/or the nearby ceramic village of Vietri sul Mare on the way back.

Thanks for all the good advice. We are planning on getting the CA card while in Naples, and using it in Paestum will be great. Is there a list of places the card can be used? Did you ever consider taking the bus to Salerno,then to Pompei versus the train?

For some reason I almost always end up in Paestum on a Monday, The archeological zone is open, the museum (very good) is closed.

There's also a beach and mozzarella farms.

Google "Campania Artecard" for details and lists of sites. There are several versions and durations, some include just sites and some include some transportation. On the "Tutte le Regione" versions, the Paestum ruins and museum count as one site, not sure if that would be the same if you are going to the two on different days. To give you more guidance about your schedule and transit, it would be helpful to know more about your general travel plan in the area. In my case, I spent three nights in Naples, then four in Sorrento. i went to Salerno and Paestum as a day trip from Naples, by easy Trenitalia train. Then I went to Herculaneum and Pompeii on a day trip from Sorrento, by Circumvesuviana train. Not sure about bus routes, connections or schedules, and I know that the two train lines have different stations in Pompeii, quite some distance apart. The Circumvesuviana station is right by the Pompeii ruins. The Trenitalia station is in the town, a healthy walk or taxi to the ruins.

The walk from the train station to the ruins is a wonderful stroll. When we were there the train station was deserted so be sure to have pre-purchased your return ticket. You cross the highway to the small Roman stone arch and walk down the road until you come to the ruins. It's a short, pleasant walk and you may not encounter anyone along the way.