Rome to Pompeii

wruckn, the "best" of anything is always subjective depending on personal preference/concerns. In this case, it can depend on time, on money, on comfort level doing it yourself, or style. Are you usually 'tour' people or do you prefer to do your own research and sightsee at your own pace? You'll likely get different answers here because we all have different preferences! :O)

I'll go with taking trains to Pompeii versus a bus tour as you can get there much faster. The buses generally take 3- 3.5 hours one way whereas you can shave quite a bit of that time off by trains. Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale is a little over an hour by "fast" train, and a commuter train from Naples Garibaldi (attached to Centrale) to the station right outside the scavi's main entrance takes about 30 minutes. Reverse the process for going back to Rome.

We're not big tour people so we did the scavi on our own with some pre-research and a book purchased at the entrance. Guides may also be hired at the entrance. How long you'll want to spend there (it's a HUGE site) is up to you. Some people have had enough after a couple of hours and others can spend all day. We spent 5-6 hours and weren't able to poke into all the corners.

So, it's up to you what trips your trigger? Personally, I think Pompeii is a really long day from Rome and best saved for a trip which includes time in the Naples, Sorrentine and/or Amalfi Coast area. Depending on how many days you've set aside for Rome, I wouldn't take an entire day away if it means skimping on/rushing your time in the Eternal City.

Train is faster and cheaper.
Take a Frecciarossa to Napoli Centrale, then the Circumvesuviana commuter train to Pompeii. Less than 2 hours door to door.
If you like to hire a guide to explain what you are seeing, you can do so onsite. There are plenty at the site.

Thank you both for the help!

RS has a good audio guide for Pompeii. A free alternative to hiring a guide.

We used it and had no regrets.

As others have already noted its a really LONG day trip from Rome. I would plan the following day to be 'low key'.

I will check into the RS audio guide. Thank you!