Rome, pompei, amalfi

The Amalfi Coast is really too far for a day trip. Pompeii is a long daytrip at that, easily a 10-12 hour day of travel and touring allowing 3 hours for Pompeii.

For the AC, you'd have to go to Naples on the highspeed train, then Sorrento on the Circumvesuviana train, and then get on a bus to ride to Amalfi. Or you could go to Salerno on the highspeed train, then take a bus north, but the most spectacular coast is between Amalfi (town) and Sorrento. Either trip is easily 5 hours EACH WAY and connections could make it longer. Depending on time of year. I suppose the ferry from Naples is possible, but it's still a long trip for one day.

Driving may be possible but not recommended. It can take 3 hours to get to Naples by car from Rome as the traffic is horrendous.

you can't fit both in 1 day. pompei is not small, and amalfi coast has several towns in a row on a narrow coastal road, just think about the traffic trying to navigate the sharp turns... if you have limited time in rome I'd just focus on rome since it has so much to see, but if you do decide to go south, you'll need at least 2 to 3 days to enjoy it, not rush it.

Can you add an overnight stay in Sorrento ? That makes a good base for both Pompei and the Amalfi Coast. Two nights might be better. Arrive - dinner and sleep then Amalfi Coast next day - overnight and Pompei the next day with return to Rome.
Beautiful and intrigiung area worth the time

I took a day trip from Naples to Sorrento and Positano, and regard it as a wasted day. The point of the area is settling in and enjoying its beauty, not rushing through. I'd have been REALLY upset if I had tried to do that trip from Rome instead of Naples, or had tried to push on past Positano to Amalfi itself. So I agree with the other posts - either allow a few days for the area, or skip it entirely.

You can do Pompeii in a day from Rome - details are in Rick's books.

What if we left rome spent the day in Sorrento or Amalfi (around there) stayed the night in Sorrento then on the way back to rome stopped at Pompei?

Tony,
You can take the fast train from Rome to Naples 1H20M. Change to local train to Pompei 30M. Visit Pompei and than take the train to Sorrento 30M. Stay in Sorrento for the night. Visit Amalfi the next day and back to Rome by night.

Tony, I personally would save Pompeii, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast (Capri, Ravello, Amalfi, Positano, etc.) for another trip when you can devote more than 1-2 days to the area. We spent 5 days in Sorrento in September and still barely scratched the surface. There's so much to do/see in the Amalfi Coast area and 1-2 days just won't do it justice. You didn't indicate how long you'll be in Rome but I would spend the time in Rome and then visit the Amalfi Coast area on a future trip. If you're really wanting to take a day trip out of Rome, you might consider Ostia Antica, Hadrian's Villa, Orvieto, etc, which are all closer and easier to visit in half to a full day.

If you think you won't have an opportunity to return, then I would see Pompeii en route from Rome to Sorrento, spend a night in Sorrento, as others have suggested, and then take a day trip along the coast the following day and then perhaps taking a late train back to Rome from Naples. You'll have to take the Circumvesuviana train to/from Sorrento from Naples.

Have a great trip.

Go visit Testaccio and the Appian Way and a close side trip to Ostia Antica(closed Monday) as was suggested. Then if you have a full day and night, you could do Pompei but NOT Amalfi, that is a separate trip for at least a week I think. Explore Trastevere in Rome and the Jewish section, that is what I am planning to do in 2 weeks. This is my third year in Rome and I find endless treasures just not overbooking myself.

I am going from Rome to Naples(fast train) and connecting on the regional train to home base in Sorrento for 7 days to explore Southern Italy. A day trip to Pompei, one day for Naples National Museum(where they brought all the treasures from Pompei), then maybe a boat to Capri based on the weather and the Blue Grotto is there, and then on the Sita Bus to Positano and then maybe a separate day to Amalfi and want to spend alot of time in Ravello. I have heard that is the real hidden treasure and my friend home based there in September and it was amazing.

But anything you do is going to be great and plans don't always go as planned as I know!! Enjoy.
Kathy