Hello All - My husband and I will be visiting Rome the third week in May and would like some recommendations for Rome - Pompeii tours. Our musts are: A guided tour of Pompeii (extra time to wander on our own would be a great addition), a bus round trip from Rome (with AC). A 12 or 13 hour tour is fine.
I looked at Mondo shared tours but am wondering if they frequently fall apart at the last minute with people canceling.
Most of the tours I've seen seem to have added destinations (Naples tour or Vesuvius tour or Sorrento tour). Does anyone have recommendations for one over another? We probably don't want to take on a really steep walk.
One of the tours we're looking at visits Naples for lunch and Pompeii in the afternoon; it seems as though Pompeii may be too hot in the afternoon (?).
Thank you for your help and suggestions!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7240 posts
https://www.walksofitaly.com/pompeii-tours/pompeii-tours-from-rome/
Or look for a tour that starts in Naples or Pompeii- take the train to Naples yourselves.
Is there is a reason you want a BUS tour?
We were very pleased with our Mondo Guide Pompeii tour. Stayed on site afterwards.
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2459 posts
You also could do this on your own. Train to.Naples.and in Naples.train station transfer to local.train (Circumvesuviana) to.Pompeii. be sure to get off at the correct Pompeii station, I think it is Pompeii Scavi., I just at the moment can't re!ember the name. Anyway you are right at the entrance to the ruins.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you Christine and Gail,
Yes, we certainly could do the Pompeii visit on our own. My thinking was that a bus trip would be so relaxing. :)
I know there are guides right at Pompeii and we can arrange for them in advance. The trains would probably allow us the most flexibility. Thank you for your suggestions. I'm going to look again at Mondo and follow the link you've posted. :)
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23642 posts
If on a bus tour, and they are available, your time is very controlled. It is fairly easy but a long day from Rome. We picked up a guide at the entrance. Four of us and want about a three hour overview in the am. That allowed time for us to return to some site and spend additional time. Most do not realize how massive Pompeii is. You could easily spend the whole. There is a small snack/bar with restroom in the middle but no additional services. So wear a big hat and sunscreen.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16627 posts
Yes, we certainly could do the Pompeii visit on our own. My thinking
was that a bus trip would be so relaxing. Our musts are: A guided tour
of Pompeii (extra time to wander on our own would be a great
addition),
You wouldn't get that extra time on a bus tour. I'm personally not a fan of the bus tours from Rome as they spend so much time on the road versus the time you get to spend sightseeing. That's maybe a scant 2 hours at Pompeii before you have to return to the bus. IMHO, the best way to do Pompeii from Rome is by fast train to Naples, and then private driver or Circumvesuviana commuter train to Pompeii. Either book a Mondo shared tour in advance, or engage a guide at the entrance. Either of those two options allow you time to explore the scavi on your own after your tour. Return to Rome the same way you came.
5-6 hours on bus is not a good use of $$ that might be better spent not sitting on one.
(Edited)
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4630 posts
If you're not going to the Amalfi Coast, some bus tours include that spectacular drive.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7946 posts
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2810 posts
I was in Rome in November and looked for a day tour to Pompeii before we left. I did not find any that allowed extra time for wandering around Pompeii after the tour with the guide.
I booked a tour with Through Eternity Tours. They sent (online) tickets for the fast train to Naples, then we were picked up by a driver and dropped off at Pompeii where we met a guide who took us around the site for two and a half hours. Then a driver picked us up and took us back to the Naples train station where we caught the train back to Rome. The guide was very good. The train ride was a little over an hour and the ride to Pompeii was about a half hour. Our first driver was delightful and we talked all about Naples during the trip. The second driver was quiet. I picked this tour because I wanted it it be as fast and easy as possible for my husband who wasn’t that keen on going. We both loved it, although I would have loved more time in Pompeii. Of course all this quick and easy stuff came at a price — it was very expensive, but since Pompeii was a lifelong dream for me, I thought it was a good time for a splurge.
I am mentioning this tour, which isn’t exactly what you are looking for, because it has some flexibility. The company emailed me and asked what train I wanted to take back to Rome. I could have gone back at night and spent the afternoon in Naples. Also, the driver asked where in Naples we wanted to be dropped off. You might contact them and see if you could arrange for the driver to pick you up later at Pompeii to give you more time there. It never hurts to ask.
Posted by
11 posts
One option is a high speed train to Naples with shuttle to Pompeii, and a winery trip. See https://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/VIP-Day-Trip-to-Pompeii-and-Sorrento-from-Rome/d511-5831P90 This is a 9 hour tour by Viator, through When in Rome Tours.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16627 posts
That tour offered through 3rd-party Viator linked above is conducted by ItaliaTours. I guess I'd say if interested in booking that one, do it directly through ItaliaTours and not through the Viator website. Many of us discourage using 3rd-party websites for bookings; you want to be dealing directly with the tour company if a problem presents itself.
As well, it looks like it's less expensive booked through the tour company: $175.00 per adult through ItaliaTours verus $209.00 through Viator. That's likely due to Viator taking a cut of the profits. Anyway, here is that same tour on ItaliaTours' own site: