We are looking for recommendations for day trips to Pompeii. Many we see include a drive-through of the Amalfi Coast, though it is time at Pompeii that we would like to capitalize on.. Is the brief time on the Amalfi Coast a worthwhile addition? We know it is beautiful, but having spent a couple of days in the Cinque Terra on a different RS tour we wonder.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
5193 posts
In my opinion, no. Adding the Amalfi Coast means you're rushing through both and seeing nothing. We did that type of tour off of a cruise ship from Naples in 2014 and can speak from experience. We spent 2 weeks in Sorrento in 2023 which included about 12 hours over 2 days in Pompeii and that was about right for us. Pompeii will still be a long day but if you you're comfortable making your way by train from Rome you can try https://www.sharedtours.com/. You'll get a 2 hour tour and then you can spend a few hours wandering by yourself.
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden
1312 posts
Agree with Allan, don't add the AC. If you want to prioritize Pompeii, I would suggest you stick to that. It's already a long day!
Posted by
Chicago
721 posts
Like others, I would advise against this. As Allan noted, you'll be in a rush.
In 2022, I took a one-day trip from Rome to Naples to see Pompeii, taking the fast train there and back in one day. After taking a bus between Naples and Pompeii, I had about three hours to see the site. That wasn't enough! I wish I had had more time to explore Pompeii. In addition, you might find Pompeii so fascinating that a visit to the Naples Archeological Museum, which houses virtually all the artifacts from Pompeii, in the city would top off a visit.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8392 posts
Month of year? Heat, sun, and crowding are factors. You want to be at Pompeii as early as you can get there.
polzinm, you didn't make it 100% clear, but I think you want a recommendation for a packaged tour, with transportation. Your earlier mention of a car service from FCO to Pompeii suggests that you don't know it takes 3 hours by car or bus just to Naples, but just over an hour by the more expensive train type, Frecciarossa. I think there are packaged tours that include the train, but that's a more independent sort of "pagkage"! This board has a lot of independent travelers, and it is relatively easy to make this trip on your own, if you have ever taken a European train before.
But it is still a long way to go for a day out from Rome. That is the (good) reason to omit the Amalfi Coast, which isn't even "close to Pompeii." Many independent travelers prioritize pizza in Naples, at the expense of Pompeii time.
Edit: Regarding Vesuvius:
Posted by
Virginia
394 posts
My two lira worth about this area:
Pompeii: amazing and unique!
Herculaneum: also amazing, but see Pompeii first.
Amalfi Coast: pretty but logistically difficult.
Salerno: underrated city in this area.
Sorrento: fine but nothing special.
Paestum: wonderful Greek temple! Easy to get to from Salerno, not so much from anywhere else.
Naples: Great archeological museum. Chaotic but fun city. Nice to say you’ve had pizza in its origin city, but frankly, at least 1,000 other cities in the world have equally good pizza.
Capri: LOVED it on a nice warm quiet January day 40 years ago. Now at any other time? Maybe not so much.