Pompeii and surrounding areas worth the trip with kids

I think Pompeii is in the top three sights I have ever seen--I can't imagine kids not finding it fascinating. You have the beautiful Amalfi coast nearby (and Sorrentine coast is an option if you don't want to stay in Naples--but that is another place I would think kids would find wondrous, with the underground and fortresses--and pizza!). Given your timeline, and with Venice and Rome being musts, I would only include the area if you can get an open jaw flight into Venice and out of Naples.
The Cinque Terre has grown in popularity, exponentially. If your kinds cannot do the hikes, I would skip it. People often ask about ages five and under doing it and I say no way, but at eight it really depends on the kid. There are plenty of hikes on the Amalfi coast as well. I have not done the most famous path of the gods, but comparing Cinque Terre to other Amalfi coast paths, I found them much much less crowded and without as steep of dropoffs.

I agree that Pompeii is one of the top sites in Europe and will be fascinating to your children. You could stay in Sorrento and do some hiking along the Amalfi Coast as well as a day trip to Pompeii. If you are traveling from Rome to Sorrento, consider the Italo train/bus connection, which avoids a transfer in Naples to the dirty, crowded commuter train called the Circumvesuviana. I would not want to travel on it from Naples to Sorrento with luggage and two kids. (You'll have to take it from Sorrento to Pompeii on your day trip, but that section is less chaotic and you won't have any luggage.) For more information on the Italo train/bus connection, see https://www.italotreno.it/en/destinations-timetable/italobus.

Also, in addition to the crowds coming from cruise ships, many of the most popular trails in the Cinque Terre are closed. Yes, Pompeii can be crowded too, but it's a huge site and if you go early, it's not too bad. Between the two locations, I prefer Pompeii.

Your post is very timely. Our 9 year old grandson came home from school a couple of days ago, excited to relay facts about Pompeii he had just learned in his fourth grade class. He prefaced several sentences with "Did you know...."
HE would be thrilled to actually see Pompeii. I know there are some children's books about Pompeii which would be a great preparation for your kids.
I/we have been to Cinque Terre, but not Pompeii. I appreciated the quaint and picturesque hillside towns, but don't know how appealing that would be for kids. Also, the trails were closed when we were there Aug/Sep due to heavy rains that week. In fact boat trips were cancelled due to heavy winds.

Venice is not a "big city", in that it is unlike any city of the same size, anywhere. Your children are lucky to be seeing Venice before any more sea level damage or tourism restrictions are imposed. It is a remarkable place, a visit for a lifetime. It can't even be compared to Rome.

The real issue is the interest level and open-minded ness of the two children. Walking around Pompeii can be a physical challenge, especially if it rains. But it is also a remarkable place, and a landmark of influences on Western art and architecture since the moment of its rediscovery - as well as, of course, being a record of Classical civilization.

It's more complicated than asking how long they can tolerate the biggest art museum nearest their home. And I don't think how much they love hiking with you in the middle of nowhere helps answer the question for those (I mean, us readers) who don't know the kids. I like forests fine, but they're mostly similar to me. (Yes, I have been to the Pacific Northwest, and to Southeast Alaska.)

There are places nearby ("surrounding area") that are vaguely similar to CT, like Positano. And there are other unique places nearby, like Naples, Caserta Palace and Capri. But Sorrento is a let-down after CT. Many people from unattractive climates love Sorrento, but to me it's a purpose-built, reinforced concrete, postwar resort city. It's not unattractive, but it's not memorable like Rome, Pompeii, Venice, or Hawaii. Opinion.

By the way, I'm not saying that Naples is a must, like Pompeii is. But its place in 200 years of European history and art is quite significant.

If I was a kid (I mean, I was just not anymore) I would love Pompeii and Herculaneum too. Walking in and out of ancient houses? Their imagination will fry their minds! Plus, a trip up Vesuvius, a real life ACTIVE volcano? I can’t imagine anything more exciting for a kid.

You’ll have a little more figuring out the itineraries. As everyone is pointing out, those destinations are spread out. I also think the train ride, though long, would be part of the adventure. But with two weeks I think you can swing it alright. I think Sorrento would be your ideal base down there for sure. Very relaxed place that will be a good break after those exciting days.

Last two weeks of April I would go to Pompeii. We were there a couple years ago and I would think kids would find it interesting too. We hiked up Mt Vesuvius too which I think they would like also. There are beautiful views as well. I would do them on two different days. Sorrento is a pleasant enough town and they would probably enjoy the lemon groves.

We did the underground tour in Naples as well and I would think kids would find that interesting as well. We actually went because it was July and beastly hot but it turned out to be quite interesting too.

There is a lot of hiking on Capri which you can reach from Sorrento.

What is a good home base for seeing Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius? Likely would be in Venice, Rome and then time in Pompeii. Possibly 3 nights each in Rome and Venice. Which could leave us 6 more days before travel home. Should we go to Amalfi coast with Pompeii? I would love to hike the trail of the Gods.

So sorrento is a good home base for seeing Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius after Rome? Likely would be in Venice, Rome and then time in Pompeii. Possibly 3 nights each in Rome and Venice. Which could leave us 6 more days before travel home. Should we go to Amalfi coast with Pompeii? I would love to hike the trail of the Gods. Where is that exactly? Where would you spend the last few days after Pompeii?

Do you have your flight reservations yet? From the way it looks on your list, I'd guess you are flying into Venice. That could be a good thing.

The fast train from Venezia Santa Lucia to Roma Termini takes about 3 1/2 hours. It's great fun, especially if the kids can see the digital signs showing how fast they are going.

I love Venice. I think you all will love it. One thing Rick's mentioned (in a video clip I think) is visiting the place where gondolas are made and maintained. That was a lot of fun to watch.

If you go to Explore Europe: Italy right here on this RS website, you can get basic info on Venice, Rome and Pompeii & Herculaneum and more.

Many years ago, we stayed in Sorrento and used the Circumvesuviana to go to Pompeii and back. We did not go to Herculaneum.

I'd read a lot about Pompeii's history and art, but the most fascinating thing for me when we went was seeing one of Pompeii's many thermopolia. I was totally ignorant about that aspect of Roman life. And it looks like the digging continues to produce amazing finds related to those "fast" food joints.

There is so much to take in at Pompeii, I can't imagine that the kids would not be amazed, especially if they do a little research about it themselves.

We visited both Vesuvius and Pompeii on different days by train from Sorrento. We bought a tour which was just transportation in a van from the Sorrento train station to get to mt Vesuvius. The van drove us and a few other people up as far as you can drive and let us out to hike to the top. We had come from Naples and actually mt Vesuvius required back tracking a fair ways to reach. Pompeii is closer to Sorrento.

If you have done CT before, skip it and do Pompeii, Naples, Sorrento (great place to stay), Capri and the Amalfi Coast.

So sorrento is a good home base for seeing Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius after Rome?

Yes.

Possibly 3 nights each in Rome and Venice. Which could leave us 6 more
days before travel home.

I would add one more night to Rome: 2 full days isn't enough for that one, even if you aren't "big city people." Rome is, well, not the sort if big city you're probably used to!

There is a lot of hiking on Capri which you can reach from Sorrento.

Echoing Beth, hiking is the BEST thing to do on Capri! We spent a couple of days there and had a great time trekking all over the island (and weren't able to cover all the corners.) I'm not personally a fan of the Blue Grotto given crowds, reports of tip-hassling boatmen and amount of time it can take to get into the thing for the very few minutes the boats stay inside. There are enough complaints about that one not to take the risk, IMHO (we didn't and didn't feel we'd missed anything.). You could consider spitting your stays between Capri and Sorrento? The centers of the Capri villages can be very busy with day-trippers so it's nice to enjoy the earlier/later hours when they aren't around. :O)

Anyway, explore the hiking opportunities on the Capri website. No tours needed!!! Just get a map from the tourist info center and follow directions for each recommendation - Villa Jovis, Pizzolungo, Mt Solaro, etc. - on the site?

https://www.capri.com/en/traveller-search?todo%5B%5D=nature&all=1

Some of this is covered on your other thread as well, but a lot depends on your flights. I'd grab a book or go to a good website to get a better sense of the Amalfi coast area so you can determine what would work best for your family. If you want to stay in one place all six days from which to visit Pompeii, Naples, and the Amalfi coast, then Sorrento is ideal. But that requires long journeys to and from the Amalfi coast. Because I don't like long day trips, it would be my preference to split the time between Naples and the Amalfi Coast and visit Pompeii either in between or from Naples, but it's not my trip! And I would only do that if you actually have six whole days since you may end up having to return to Rome for a flight out (do check Naples, as sometimes you can get a surprisingly good fare there).

This spring we went to Paestum, not too far south of Pompeii (we stayed in Salerno to make the day-trip easy) and had a great day.
I made several videos of our visit - here's one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbJdy9oWtwk

Just north of Paestum there is a water buffalo farm that does tours

Because we didn't have a car or the time, we didn't go to a thermal spa but there are some in that area.
I recall seeing one that was rustic enough to be unique for kids.

Thank you all for the helpful replies. I think we now have it narrowed down to 3 nights Venice, 3-4 nights in Rome, then somewhere in there we would like to see Pompeii for sure, possibly another day to hike Mt. Vesuvius. We like the idea of spending some time hiking on Capri. Anywhere else we should see or recommendations on how to split the last 5-6 days after Rome? We are hoping to fly out of Naples on our way home. A couple nights in sorrento and a couple on Capri? Night in Naples? Help!

Day trip to Positano? Ravello? Is that packing too much in?

William Randolph Hearst physically began building Hearst Castle when he was in his mid-50’s (after mama passed and he got the rest of the family money).....

He began to mentally build it at age 10 when his mother took him on an extended tour of Europe. Many of the design elements were based upon those memories.

You never know what dreams (beyond that of a new PlayStation) can be brought to life by a trip like this. At 8 and 10 they can absorb more then you realize.

Have a wonderful time.

Travel safe,

One Fast Bob