Our cruise ship is stopping in Sorrento for the day -- 8AM to 6PM. I would like to visit Pompeii. What is the best way to get there? Train? Has anyone ever done this on their own? Will I have enough time to visit? Also, if train is the best way, how might I go about doing that?
Thanks for any help you can provide!
There is the local Circumvesuviana train that runs from Sorrento to Naples. You'll want the Pompei-Scavi Villa Misteri stop. It's a 20-minute ride. I don't know how close the ship dock is to the train station.
Your ship will anchor off-shore and you will get a tender to the port. At the port you will be able to get one of the small buses that go to the station.
If you are feeling particularly fit, you can walk up to the centre of Town, Piazza Tasso, take the left hand exit from the square and go along Corso Italia to the station which will be on your right. I would get the bus myself but remember to buy your ticket from the Tabbachi before you get on and cancel it in the machine by the door as you do so.
Why not have some fun and Google walk the journey?
Since your time at Pompeii will be somewhat limited, you might consider hiring a guide there. There will be several waiting around the ticket booth; talk with two or three (you want to make sure they speak
English well enough to be understood) and hire one (agree on a price for whatever amount of time you want to spend). You can do it on your own, but their expertise will make your visit much more rewarding.
And, yes, the train is the very best way to get there from Sorrento.
Thanks for everyone's feedback.
Does this sound right (Take a look at the google map link) ---
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Capri+-+Sorrento&daddr=Piazza+Tasso+to:Piazza+De+Curtis+6+-+80067+SORRENTO&geocode=FVr2awIdcFnbAA%3B%3B&hl=en&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=40.628106,14.375052&sspn=0.006302,0.013368&ie=UTF8&ll=40.627992,14.376984&spn=0.006302,0.013368&z=16
Depending on where we get off from the boat...
But I also looked up the station location from the train website -- http://www.vesuviana.it/web/en/infostazione
SF
Bang on!
=)
Has anyone walked from the port to the train station? From my research it sounds like it's quite a hike due to steepness/elevation?
How easy is it to find a bus to the Piazza?
Has anyone looked at the time table for Circumvensuviana?
I am not sure if there is something that I need to know. There is some Italian at the bottom of the PDF page to indicate what DIR and DD mean, but I am not sure.
http://servizi.vesuviana.it/OrarioStatico/ScaricaFile.asp?tipo=S&cod_stazione=62&cod_orario=1
Also what do I need to know about the Train number. Is that indicated on the train when it arrives so I know I am getting on the correct one? Or do I mostly need to know the track name (NAPOLI-BARRA-SAN GIORGIO-TORRE ANNUNZIATA-SORRENTO)
The port is very small, you can't miss the buses. They all go up to Piazza Tasso. Yes it is an uphill walk all the way, part road and part steps, that's why I would get the bus if it was me.
Sorrento station is the end of the line so all trains leaving the station go to "Pompeii Scavi". You won't miss the stop as the train seems to empty at that point. Turn right outside Pompeii Scavi station and follow the crowds the 100 or so yards to the site entrance.
We walked down - and back up. I am not particularly "fit" but with a couple of rest stops, it was fine. Sure enjoyed the lemonaide (made with lemoncello!) when we got to the top!
The hike from the port to town is pretty steep. You walk up a "crevice" It's pretty and interesting. The hike to the train station is flat, but there are step to get up to the station from the street.
Remember, Sorrento is a sea side location, you can expect hills there!
We took a bus tour from Sorrento to Pompei, the on the Vesuvio. you will have to do this on your own. but as previous posters have mentioned, get a guide to really enjoy Pompei. It's quit large, and you can miss a lot of the best sites..and you won't get the whole story of Rome and Roman times.
