We are depending on trains from Rome to Salerno (fast train)Sorrento to Pompeii, Sorrento to Herculaneum, Herculaneum to Naples, Naples to Rome (Fast Train). I understand that we need not purchase any tickets in advance for the local Circumvesuviana . But, should we for the Rome fast trains and how far in advance? Of course, the first train is depended on air arrival. Any advice?
Posted by
Chicago
8201 posts
Rome to Salerno and Naples to Rome you can buy in advance 90 days more or less. If you are going from Rome to Salerno the same day you arrive buy that on your phone using the Trenitalia ap once you know the flight is going to arrive on time. For example I have bought train tickets while in the air using airplane wifi.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23650 posts
The only reason to purchase some train tickets in advance is to take advantage of any discount tickets that might be available. However, all discount tickets come with lots of restriction -- mainly no change, no refund. Discount ticket provide zero flexibility. If any doubts about your schedule don't buy discount tickets. And I would not buy in advance any ticket on your arrival day since there are many variables you cannot control. Wait till on the ground and you know what is happening. For example -- immigration is dice roll. We have gone through immigration several times in less than an hour but once it was over three hours. A discount ticket does not care why you were delayed.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7982 posts
AFAIR, except in Naples, Circumvesuviana tickets are sold only in the newstand near the station. You can buy return tickets at the same time. They have to be validated in a machine on the platform before you board.
You may also be buying tickets for the train from the airport to downtown Rome, but that always has the same price.
Your OP suggests (?) that you are going to Herculaneum with your luggage. Herculaneum Scavi (the ... site) has a perfectly safe luggage storage counter, but the site is a 15-minute downhill walk from the Circumvesuviana station. Of course, that's uphill from the site. I don't remember ticket sales or lockers at the Herculaneum station, but I wasn't looking for them.
You did not give your month of travel, but the Frecciarossa trains can sell out in high season. The other replies are perfectly accurate, but I am inclined to buy the discount tickets when it is safe to do so. We had to sit on our luggage in Naples for an hour because our black-car transfer from Sorrento was so fast. I would not pay the walk-up fare they asked for to take the earlier train.