Travel options from Rome to Paestum

Hi Carol,

Could you provide a little more information, please?

First off, what does your complete Italy itinerary currently look like? How many places, in what order, and how long in each one?

Secondly, are you attempting to do Paestum as a day trip from Rome...which I would not recommend due to the transport time it would take?

Thirdly, why so little time in Rome unless you've been there before? That one really deserves 4 nights/3 FULL days just to scratch the surface. Are you currently planning on staying 3 nights so that you'd only have two fULL days?

Lastly, what sorts of things are you generally interested in seeing/doing on your trip?

All of the above would allow us to offer up the best advice for a successful, enjoyable trip that suits your preferences. It'll also provide some useful background for helping with any additional questions you may have. :O)

Editing to add: Where COVID is concerned, travel to Italy from the U.S this May may be overly optimistic. Even Rick has put his tours on hold until at least August of 2021. I personally wouldn't put any money down on anything that isn't fully refundable but that's just me.

The easiest way to get to Paestum is taking the train. Usually taxis are waiting for the train to arrive at the Paestum station. Walking to the city center along flat terrain takes about 15 minutes.
I stayed at an Agriturismo about 3 km from the archaeological site. It’s called La Chora di Paestum and I highly recommend it. Simple and inexpensive to take taxis to and from. Enjoyed dinner at Bistrot 73 on Via Tavernelle.

How long will you be staying in the Paestum area--any ideas where you want to stay? There are several pleasant towns within reach by train, but of course you could stay right there at the site (there are a smattering of hotels). I'd choose one of the small towns along the train line just to the south, unless you wished to explore the Amalfi area--we need more info to give advice, but of course if you just need basics, look at the Trenitalia website. Without luggage, it is not a significant walk from the train station.

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Rome/Paestum

This provides an outline of some options

We are at the beginning of our planning. We already have plane tickets to Rome May 10; but they are fully changable. I am optimistic; but realistic. I have been to Rome before but my husband has not. In a nutshell, we will be in Italy about 10 days from Rome to Amalfi to Siena, to maybe the Dolomites? We will continue to Praque, Berlin, Munich, Eagles Nest, Paris, and Normandy. We plan to be on Omaha beach on the anniversary of D Day. We fly home June 10. Crazy huh?
How much time did you spend looking at the relics at Paestum? We are planning to spend one night in Positano and another in Sorrento? Depending on travel time, we might also spend one night near Paestum.
Comments welcome,
Carol

Carol,
First of all I am jealous but happy for you. Having made that trip I can tell you we had incredible success with Monetti Taxi (Sorrento based but they do Rome airport pickups). You can have them pick you up from Fiumicino if you like but I'd suggest another option. Take the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini then hop a high speed train to Salerno. Then have the Monetti Taxi pick you up in Salerno and take you the rest of the way. It will be quicker for sure. I arranged my Monetti Taxi trips through email and they were great. We have made our base in Sorrento most recently (March 2018) which made it easier to see the sights south of, and including, Naples.
Good luck and happy travels!

I do think it's crazy--I am smiling, and I'm all for over ambition, so please don't take offense. We all travel differently, but it is not an area to rush through with one-night stays. All that travel time (literally: planes, trains, automobiles, and boats to boot) for just a night is not something I can even wrap my mind around. If you only have ten days for Italy, with two in Rome, then you could do two workable though brief visits to Campania and Tuscany--then fly to your next destination. I don't see any way to work in the Dolomites.
We spent several hours admiring the temples, but then we had not seen anything like them before at the time. We also found the museum impressive. We took a break and walked to a mozzarella farm and had a snack, so it was a full day.
If you can't stay longer, you might want to pick one place from which to stay a few days and see the Amalfi Coast and Paestum, such as Salerno.