We will be based in Rome on our trip and planning to visit Pompeii but can we visit either Sorrento or Positano and back to Rome on the same day? If so, which town would make a nicer visit Sorrento or Positano?
Posted by
shen, ca, usa
111 posts
Pompeii by itself is a long daytrip from Rome. With Sorrento or Positano definitely 2 day minimum.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
From the Rome Termini train station, you have a ride on two different train systems (changing in Naples) of approx. 2.0hrs to Pompei assuming that you take the high-speed ES-AV to Naples. It could be an hour longer if you take slower trains that make more stops. That's 4.0hrs round trip from Rome. If you can invest another 1.5hrs, you can include Sorrento. Beyond Sorrento, you can reach Positano by SITA bus (most popular), ferry or rental car. This could add another 2.0hrs to your overall round trip.
Posted by
richmond
77 posts
you will need to flexible with visit times to Pompeii, when we were there there was a strike on the day we visited and shut down pompeii in the AM, switched plans, went to Positano for lunch and back to pompeii in the PM
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Sorrento is much more accessible than Positano. Any chance you could spend two nights in Sorrento and see Pompeii and Positano during that time? It's a bit of a haul from Rome.
Posted by
Brentwood, ca, USA
115 posts
We want to do overnighter from Rome. What would be good itenery to go south and should we rent car or public transportation? There are 4 of us. In August>
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Joseline,
Taking a day trip to Pompeii from Rome will mean a LONG day. I doubt that you'll have much time to see much else, but a short look around Sorrento should be possible (depending on how much time you spend at Pompeii).
Travel to Positano will involve a Bus trip from Sorrento, which will add to the time. Therefore, I'd suggest that you focus on Sorrento.
If you leave at about 07:00, you probably won't get back to Rome until about 21:00. It will be a VERY long and probably tiring day!
Happy travels!
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2026 posts
For my 2 cents, Pompeiii is a full day but if you wanted another destination Sorrento is much easier to get to and is lovely. Transport to Positano and back will add at least a few hours. Positano is pretty,and we planned to spend the greater part of the day there, but after 2 hours of ladies' boutiques and shoe stores and jewelry shops, we grabbed the first boat out and spent the remainder of the day at Herculaneum. But that could be your cup of tea. And, in Positano the only 2 directions are up and down. If mobility is a concern, I think walking all around Positano could be quite strenuous for some. Good luck.
Posted by
Bloomington, USA
41 posts
We were just there. We left Sorrento in the morning, took the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii, stored our suitcases & walked around the site for a few hours, a very worthwhile trip. We got back on the train, stopped in Naples for a quick trip to the Archeological Museum where they have a lot of Pompeii artifacts, got back on the train & went to Rome. That is a FULL day!
As for Sorrento/Positano, depends on what you want. Sorrento has more shopping, Positano is smaller & more scenic.
Posted by
Kelowna, BC, Canada
4 posts
We have 5 weeks in Italy in Sept/Oct 2009 so not really pushed to squeeze in too many places in day. Best to go to Pompeii for day, head to Sorento for supper and overnight. Then next day take a trip to Positano on way back to Rome. If that is not possible, a trip to Sorento is beter than Positano. Would not try to do Rome to Pompeii to Sorento and then back to Rome in 1 day....unless you are 1. type A personality 2. have supply of uppers 3. are trying to complete a "bucket list" 4. are just plain nuts.
Gord