Rome to Pompeii

Pompeii can be done in a day trip from Rome, about two hours each way so if you go as early as possible you can be back in Rome for dinner. However, if you have limited time in Rome, do you want to spend a whole day going to Pompeii?

I'll agree with Gail that it's a long day to Pompeii, and there's so much to see in Rome to begin with that if your time is limited, I probably wouldn't do this one. If you're really very interested seeing in the ruins of an ancient town, look at going to Ostia Antica instead; only 30 minutes away by cheap train ticket versus the two hours or more it takes to get to Pompeii.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/ostia-antica-near-rome

If you really want to visit Pompeii then you should do it. It's not difficult to get to but it will take the entire day when you combine the train trips and visiting the site. I've been there many times from Rome and it's a very easy trip to make.

While Ostia Antica is a great site it is certainly no substitute for Pompeii. If you decide you don't want to spend the time traveling then Ostia Antica is a great way to get out of the city and see a city that was deserted. It's history is nothing like Pompeii but it will certainly give you a good idea of what city life was like back then.

Donna

About 10 years ago we took a day tour with a company called enjoyrome.com. It was a no frills, roundtrip tour, which took us from Roma to Pompeii and back on a pullman coach. Their service was unescorted once you arrived at the scavi. They are still in business and may offer a more complete service.

After traveling independently in Italy for 35 years, this was the only organized excursion we ever took and were happy with the results.

Buon viaggio,

This is very doable as a daytrip from Rome.

My husband and I visited Pompeii and also climbed mount Vesuvius in one day. We were back in Rome before dark.

Here's how to get there:
From the main train station in Rome (Roma Termini) catch a train to Naples Centrale station (1 hour ride). When you reach the Centrale station follow the signs down the stairs and down a corridor for "circumvesuviana". Buy a ticket there for the circumvesuviana at that location (its a separate rail line from the regular trenitalia trains and sold separately...kind of like a "toll road" here in the states). It should be less than 5 euro to go to Pompeii on this train.
The circumvesuvania trains leave about every 30 mins. There are also faster trains that leave every few hours...but just pick the next train departing the station as the difference in time isn't dramatic.

The train will have a final destination in Sorrento but you'll get off before that. You will get off the train at the Pompeii Scavi stop. (There are two stops for Pompeii so make sure you hop off at the right one).

The train ride from Naples Centrale to Pompeii will take 45 mins.

Allow 4 hours to see Pompeii, an hour for a lunch break and you'll still have plenty of time to return back to Rome or even make a stop at Herculaneum or Mt Vesuvius before you go back.

Very doable. If you leave Rome as early as you can, you might be done with Pompei early enough and enjoy a few hours in Naples as well on the way back to Rome. Also Pompeii gets really hot as there is no shade protecting you from the scorching sun, so early morning is the best time to visit the site. The last high speed train back to Rome departs from Naples at 7:30pm (there are a few slower trains later). There are some interesting sights in Naples as well, including the Nat'l Archaelogical Museum. Also a pizza after visiting Pompeii doesn't sound too bad.

I very much appreciate everyone's wisdom. Many thanks for all the insight and suggestions. We haven't decided yet if we want to shave something else off the itinerary to accommodate a day trip to Pompeii, but if we do, we now have some great tips. Many, many thanks to everyone!