Stay in Rome or Sorrento for side trips to Pompeii and Naples in July?

I'd go to Sorrento (or Naples). Day tripping to Pompeii/Naples from Rome is too far/too much for 1 day and I wouldn't want to do that trip twice.

Note: there is no "train to Sorrento from airport".
You will train from FCO to Termini then grab train to Naples then take the local train (Circumvesuviana) to Sorrento.

Give Rome as many nights as you can. I'd choose Borghese over National Museum. Borghese requires pre-booked timed entry and you get just 2 hours so not a huge time suck, the sculptures are jaw dropping.

Your original plan is a better plan. A day trip to Pompeii from Rome would require a train change and a lot of time on the train coming and going. Keep in mind that there is no direct train from the airport to Sorrento. You will need to change in both Rome and Naples. Also it will be very hot in July and Pompeii is totally exposed. You will appreciate the quick train ride back to Sorrento after a long, hot day in Pompeii.

Thank you!

My original thought was to take the train to Sorrento from the airport

Just a note that there are no direct trains from Fiumicino to Sorrento: you'd need to take a train to Naples, with a change in Rome, and then switch to the regional Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. Some folks prefer to spring for a private car service versus that battered local commuter. Depending on time of year (it runs seasonally), there is also the more comfortable Campania Express tourist train from Naples (Garibaldi station at Napoli Centrale) > Sorrento but it has limited daily runs so may leave you twiddling thumbs a bit whilst waiting for the next train (probably the 15:39).

https://www.eavsrl.it/web/campania-express-2021-en

(Apologies for the redundancy, Frank and Christine. Was still typing while you were posting!)

I would also recommend staying in Sorrento in your situation. We based there for visits to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Positano. It would be a perfect place to unwind and de-lag and super easy to access other destinations. It is one of the few places we’ve ever been where I don’t think we even cracked a guidebook but enjoyed wandering, dining and sipping between day trips. As for Naples, after several trips to Italy over the years we opted for a day with particular emphasis on the museum. We’re long time big fans of classical antiquities; I’ve become a mosaicoholic, but we were underwhelmed by the museum and Naples itself. I’d suggest adding that day to Rome instead. But that’s my 20/20 hindsight. The Borghese is indeed a jewel box and cannot take hours and hours. We have visited many Rome museums over the years and the Borghese and Capitoline stand out. Safe travels!

With limited time, I can never figure out why people just don’t stay or fly into Naples, a very underrated city, and make any day trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum or Capri from there. I’ve stayed in Sorrento and it’s nice but eats up time on short trips. Visit the Archaeological Museum in Naples before going to Pompeii for a more enriching experience.
From FCO until you get to your hotel in Sorento will take at least 4 hours. If going to Naples, about 2 1/2.

The Borghese, definitely. We enjoyed it much more than the mob in the Vatican Museums, and you're only allowed a 2-hour time slot - yes, you can see it all in that amount of time - so it isn't exhausting. The building is almost as interesting as the collection; don't overlook the trompe l'oeil decoration!

Flying into to Naples would have made sense any other year but this one. Due to COVID and not wanting to quarantine Rome is the option.

Visiting Pompeii without seeing the National Museum in Naples where the best pieces from Pompeii are on display would be a real shame. The mosaic with the most ancient Graphic representation of Alexander The Great... Cleopatras's wedding gift... the black statue of the runner with those incredible white eyes... the tired, overweight Hercules... There isn't another collection in Italy where you can see such masterpieces.

If you don't like the idea of visiting Naples you can take a train from Sorrento (or from Rome) to Napoli Centrale station and then the line 1 of the metro. Get off at Museo station.

I agree that for a day trip to Pompeii, you'd want to stay in Naples or Sorrento, it's quite a long and expensive day trip from Rome. If the only thing you plan to do from Sorrento would be the pompeii visit and a short walk around Sorrento, then I think you are much better off staying in Naples. The effort to get to Sorrento wouldn't be worth it, at least to me. A place to consider instead of Pompeii is Ostia Antica. Like Pompeii, it's an ancient Roman seaport. It is cheaper and quicker to get to from Rome, it's smaller, in some ways prettier, and way less visited. We visited and enjoyed both, but if time is a concern, Ostia may fit the bill better.

You will see a lot of art at the Vatican Museum. That might be enough for you. Just an uneducated guess, but I'm thinking the Vatican museum may not be as busy this July as it typically would be. I highly recommend the Borghese. It's smaller and the villa itself is extraordinary. We enjoyed the Capitoline museum, but did not visit the national museum.

BooksMusicTravel-
You'll get more responses to your specific question if you start your own thread. The OP gets notification of responses to this thread, you will not.

That said- we loved Sorrento and intend to return soon. We skipped Naples on that first visit and regret it so will visit Naples AND Sorrento this next time.
Ice is available most places now, that shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks Jules for your suggestion. As much as I would love to see Sorrento I have to start making cuts.

So here is my new thought. On Day 1 we will go to Naples and do the Museum and walk. Stay the night in Naples. Day 2 would be Pompeii and Vesuvius. Should we stay another night in Naples and head to Rome the morning of Day 3 or should we stay one night in Naples and head to Rome after Vesuvius? I know it is always suggested to stay more then 1 night in places due to the travel and baggage however my initial thought would the more time for Rome the better.

Jas, I never, ever recommend doing museums on a jet-lagged arrival day. It's Ok to, say, pop briefly into a minor church or other site not requiring full attention but I sure wouldn't take on the archeological museum right off the plane + trains from the airport.

This probably won't be what you want to hear but I'd spend whatever time you have on arrival day in Naples just walking outside and trying to get onto 'Italy Time'. On Day 2 I'd do Pompeii in the morning and the archeological museum in the afternoon. Skip Vesuvius. You will see it very clearly looming menacingly over the scavi at Pompeii; a poignant reminder of the source of the city's demise.

The museum is closed on Tuesdays so hope that's not a snag!
http://www.museoarcheologiconapoli.it/en/tickets-and-info/museum-hours-and-prices/

You could check out in the AM of Day 2, have your hotel hold your bags, and take a late-day train to Rome so you can hit the streets running the next morning. Daylight will be long in July so you should be able to get checked in before dark. :O)

Thanks Kathy! Of course Tuesday is our arrival day. Ugh! As you can tell I am at the beginning stages of planning since this was kind of a last minute trip! Usually I plan for at least 6 months. Well I guess that made my decision easier. My 7th grader learned about Pompeii and Vesuvius this year and both my children are interested in walking up. I will have to think more about this.

Usually for an arrival day, I plan a lot of walking around outdoors. I adjust that way better. I recall one on trip to France, we went immediately from Paris to Chartres as an intermediate stop for Loire/Brittney. Were able to take in the cathedral, but I recall practically falling asleep in my plate at a lovely brasserie with view of the cathedral. Once I got up again and we walked around in the evening to see the lights, I was awake. We were grateful to hit our beds at about 9pm.

I actually don't mind switching hotels after one night if it makes sense for the itinerary. I pack light and use packing cubes. You might consider staying the first night in Rome, spend some time walking around Rome, stay in a spot convenient to the train station and hit Naples the next day. If you do that, you could purchase the more expensive, but faster train ride in an advance at a savings. You also would be more rested for the museum.

I think in general, this second plan is better. I wouldn't do the volcano. We didn't and actually spent the whole day taking in Pompeii. The volcano would have taken time from that. Besides, it looks all dusty and dry. That said, I have already hiked to the top of a volcano (Lassen, California) so there is no need for a repeat.

Your original thought of staying in Sorrento for 2 nights and then going to Rome after that is good. You could take the fast train from Rome to Naples Central Station, taxi to the port and then take the boat to Sorrento. The cliffside area of Sorrento is gorgeous and the sunset by Villa Communale over the Bay of Naples is magnificent. We loved Sorrento. I think seeing Pompeii before you go to the Archaeological museum in Naples is advantageous. We would not have understood or appreciated the artifacts in the museum as much if we had not seen Pompeii first. I would avoid staying overnight in Naples and take the fast train to Rome after seeing the archaeological museum. We stayed overnight in Naples, but there were many panhandlers and we did not feel safe. We felt on edge while we were in Naples and enjoyed the relaxing pace of Sorrento more.

.... but there were many panhandlers and we did not feel safe.

Worth noting that visitors might experience plenty of panhandling in other Italian cities as well. It can be managed. As I recall, the most aggressive we've encountered in Europe (so far) was in Paris, and we were able to manage it there.

It will be interesting, going forward, to see how the pandemic may have affected this particular activity.

Jules, I completely agree with your good advice, but I suspect you meant to say that you nearly fell asleep in a lovely brasserie (casual restaurant featuring beer) rather than a brassiere (ladies' undergarment). But as is often said on the forum, it's your trip! :)

Slate, Oh My, Thanks. On another comment in a different post, I just needed to change "wine" to "wind". I promise you, it's just 11 am and I'm drinking coffee (and getting a Paris fix watching the French Open)

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/pompeii-and-vesuvius-69e8366c-1e75-4a14-a0bc-0677269492d1

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/herculaneum-and-pompeii-questions

No one who has lived in a large American city would feel afraid in Naples. There are practical and historic reasons for choosing Naples, or choosing Sorrento. (Have you heard of Emma, Lady Hamilton?) One issue that hasn't been mentioned yet is that the Circumvesuviana doesn't run all night, and it can be hard to check into smaller hotels if you arrive very late. We spent a single night in Naples simply because our touristy flight from London Stanstead got in too late. But we enjoyed our day out in Naples, before a late-afternoon, jam-packed Circumvesuviana ride. We paid for a limo back to the Naples train station, after that arrival! AND, the cab from the Sorrento station to our in-town hotel was an exorbitant 15 Euros. It was easy to pay 90 Euros (years ago) for the first-class treatment after that!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/surviving-naples

Here is some food for thought. The blog was written by Sarah Murdoch has guided guided for Rick and I believe she has helped with his guidebook on Italy.

https://adventureswithsarah.net/blog/travel-tutorial-day-trip-rome-to-pompeii?rq=pompei.

FYI, my wife and I stayed in Naples for 2 nights, we would not hesitate to go back again.