Two different sites, two different cities. We'll be spending only one day in Amalfi on a cruise. We will be sending 3 days in Rome on our own. I have been to Pompeii previously on a RS's tour, but my hubbie hasn't seen it. We will probably hire a guide who can rent a car to pick us up but which is closer & easier to get to from Amalfi or which from Rome. I am confused as to what to do. With RS my daughter & I did it with a guide who took care of all transportation for us!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, United States
907 posts
They are basically in the same place, about 20 km apart. Pompeii is further south and the first one you come to if coming from Amalfi.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8027 posts
We visited each site on a different day, but were staying just outside Sorrento, and used a rental car to reach them. Is your cruise boat docking in Naples? Do you have plans to see anything else on your one day in the Amalfi region, or only those 2 sights? If you have limited Amalfi time and many things to see, that might give the nod to heading back down from Rome on one of your 3 days there. It's possible to take a train from Rome to Naples, then arrange a guide from around there, unless you hire a guide in Rome who handles the transportation, too.
We were at Herculaneum (Ercolano) on a rainy December day, and it was fascinating to watch the runoff collect and flow down the ancient gutters in the ancient streetways - the drainage system still works!
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8017 posts
miltichs, we have to assume that you mean your cruise ship is tendering you into the TOWN of Amalfi. Some people use the term as a shorthand for the much vaster Amalfi Coast. Because of massive in-season tourist numbers, it is important to give the month of the year when you ask a question like this. Does your last sentence say that you and your daughter did Pompeii with a guide and car and driver from Rome? In any case, you have been there before.
We also can assume from your OP that you are not interested in doing it on your own, and are prepared to pay for both a car and a guide to the excavation site.
Google Maps (which is not really precise) shows a driving time of an hour from Amalfi town to either Herc or Pompeii. Since the Frecciarossa train from Rome to Naples (not all the way to either site) is just over an hour, it would depend how far your hotel in Rome is from Termini Station to make a decision. I personally would do either site independently from Naples, on the gritty local commuter train, downstairs at Naples main station. But unless you are willing to pick up your guide at the excavation, that's not what you need or want.
Because I'm not disposed towards guides, I would comment that Herculaneum is so much smaller than Pompeii, I see less need for a guide. But some people don't want to walk the 15 minutes back uphill from Herculaneum to the Circumvesuviana train. And it sounds like you don't want to worry about buying Circumvesuviana tickets at a newsstand and validating them before boarding the train back to Naples.
If you care to use the Search box top center, you will see that while most of us on this newsboard consider a daytrip from Rome to Pompeii/Herc to be an imposing, rushed day, there are many travelers who say they did it and were happy with the results. Another factor is (if you're coming in the summer) whether your planning can get you to Pompeii/Herc early in the morning, to escape the worst of the punishing sun and heat. Note also that Pompeii has a big cafe inside it, and Herculaneum does not.
Do you have experience planning independent excursions from cruises? I ask because of the danger that the ship will leave without you if you are not back in time for the last tender. Presumably an experienced guide and driver will not let that happen. (In case it's not obvious, you can't take a train from Amalfi to Pompeii. A private car and driver is best for that.)
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Yes, I understand a lot still being unearthed. And only a small amount of Herculaneum has been excavated. The Romans were way ahead of everybody for centuries, always amazed at their drainage system & fresh water aquaducts! Our cruise ship is small so have no clue if tendering or not, but I've been to Amalfi & Positano before so wouldn't mind missing our one day! Our ship will not be hitting Naples but loved it on another visit. I believe in guides so you know what you are looking at & you understand more of the history & what happened. We could do the train, just haven't gotten to that part yet - seems like a lot of fussing! Going the first of October but I've been so know the crowds & how hot & shadeless Pompeii can be......
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Andrew - Irresistible! Brilliant plan!