Pompeii and Herculaneum

on our return trip to Rome.

Returning from where? How much time can you spend being there?

I really like Herculaneum but maybe Pompeii would work better for you. The train stops right at the entrance and there is a place to store any luggage. Herculaneum is a bit of a walk from the train station.

And it is not the same train station.

We just visited Herculaneum in December and loved it! We had time for one or the other and chose Herculaneum because it is much smaller and it’s better preserved than Pompeii. Pompeii is huge and most recommend a guide and a full day to see it effectively. We were able to see the entirety of Herculaneum in a couple of hours and do it at our own pace. It was one of the highlights of our trip and a real window into life in 79 AD. And in December we had the place to ourselves.

With a short visit, I think Herculaneum will be your best option, and one you won’t regret.

Both can be done in one day with an early morning start. We did both from Naples with guided tours. Your transportation logistics may preclude that. If so, Pompeii might be the more impressive site.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/herculaneum-and-pompeii-questions

It is essential to give the month of the year when asking about towns near the Amalfi Coast. It would also be helpful to know what you mean by "on our return trip to Rome." Where will you wake up the day you are proposing to visit Herc and/or Pompeii? Are you staying in Rome that night, or going to the airport? How much luggage will you have? Any difficulties with walking on uneven surfaces or high heat and sun? How much time do you have for lunch?

If you have posted this information elsewhere, you can't rely on everyone knowing what's in another thread.

Herculaneum is a much smaller site which can be easily seen in a couple of hours. Only a small area of the ancient site has been excavated as the city of Ercolano was built over the site. It’s impressive to see how much overburden was removed to reveal the ruins. Lots to see in spite of the small size, shops, Roman “fast food” shops, impressive baths, some villas with very impressive mosaics still in place. Most of all, when I have been it has always been less crowded than Pompeii. If you go, make sure to take water as there is nowhere to buy any at the site.

We loved both. I would choose one and take my time rather than packing both into one day.

Joe32F
Sorry not to have been clearer. We would be returning to Rome from Sorrento. I had planned a day drip from Sorrento but realized we might stop at the smaller site on the return train ride, but we would be carrying luggage so ease of access is important.