Trip Focusing on Rome and Pompeii: what town(s) to stay in after Rome

Let's get the low hanging fruit out of the way--you are omitting the Amalfi coast for a reason, right? I would still consider Rome + Naples + island. Maybe Procida would scratch that itch you are seeking with the hill town? If that is not interesting, then look at Pisciotta or one of the other Cilento coast towns. Last, I would look for ideas in Lazio--Viterbo is one I have had on my list.
A lot depends on the interests of the group, but I would think 20 somethings would find a lot of appeal in Naples, since there is tons to do and something for everyone.

We didn't stay in Naples, so I can't offer any opinions based on personal knowledge.

In April 2022, we used Salerno as our base for the Amalfi Coast, a day trip to Paestum, including a water buffalo farm, and for some tours to Operation Avalanche related sights. Your money will go farther in Salerno, and even more farther in Pompei. I loved Salerno, and would love to spend more time there as opposed to using it as a base. I am posting a link to the company we used to charter a boat for a cruise to Positano and back to Salerno. The tomb of the Apostle Matthew is in the Duomo in Salerno.

We are Ancient Rome freaks, and spent two full days at various "Vesuvius" sights, so it made perfect sense to stay in Pompei. I wish we had skipped the MANN in Naples, and spent another day at Pompeii. Wonderful hotel across from the Anfiteatro entrance. A lot of folks who have never slept in Pompei seem to think it's not a good choice.

My thought about rental apartments in Italy? If I was that girlfriend, I would be a lot happier in an apartment with at least 2 bathrooms.

https://www.blumediterraneosas.com/

https://www.hotelforumpompeii.com/en/

Hi
Easter this year is April 5th. Some things to consider.
Easter week in Rome is crazy and is high season, if you can avoid that week in the city, it's probably better.
Capri and Ischia are, in my opinion, more summer destinations. Going there in April, you won't be able to go into the water as it will be very cold. When you actually see how beautiful the water is, you will understand why I suggest you don't go at that time. It is better to go to that area in the summer and go on a boat.

Naples, as a city is quite fun and is very vibrant with local life. While in Naples and over in Pompeii, you probably want a tour as it will make things easier.

As for a hilltown, I think your best bet is in Tuscany. Early April is the beginning of Spring and can actually be very nice. You have many great hilltowns such as Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza. Here in Tuscany, you can rent a car and just go visit vineyards by yourself or stay in a agriturismo and they usually have fun activities like cooking classes etc.

As for Rome, even if you won't be there on Easter week, I highly recommend tours to beat the lines. I highly recommend thetourguy. They were great.

You could do a hill town with Orvieto. Are you planning on flying in and out of Rome? If so, its a bit of extra train travel, but you could go straight to Orvieto on arrival. Get over jetlag in a quiet location and everyone could do their own thing a bit too. Then train to Naples, and finish in Rome.

Having said that though, I would personally consider Ischia ( mainly because I 've wanted to go and haven't yet!). You could start in Naples/Pompeii, then go to Ischia, then finish in Rome.

Yep, your fantasy hilltown is Orvieto. On our most recent trip that included Orvieto, we did fly into Rome and immediately take the train to Orvieto --- worked great. We were surprised how little spoiled by its popularity it was compared to our previous visit in 2001. Your only problem is that Easter will make it more visited, but I think not "crowded" except on the weekend. More like "busy in places." So much to do in Orvieto and some of the best food we've had in Italy. Try for at least 3 nights there --- like Venice, it is a good place for getting over jetlag and very, very walkable, with interesting things to see around every corner.

For Pompeii, while it's perfectly possible to see it as a day trip from Naples or other towns, we really enjoyed staying at a hotel right at the entrance for two nights. That gets you a less crowded, less hot, early morning visit --- you just walk across the street. Also a place to collapse later in the day! Hotel Forum Pompei, I think it was.

Since you will be in Naples, why not visit a hill town in Campania? (I love Ischia and that might work as well)

You could go to Castellabate, which has the benefit of encompassing a hill town and a beach town, with different names...

Take a look at Raito, above Vietri, Amalfi Coast. Although it's pretty easy to get there from the coast,, and from the highway, the atmosphere is very different than that of the AC.

Ravello is also a "hill town."

And there are quite a few further inland..https://www.italymagazine.com/eight-picturesque-villages-visit-campania

Orvieto is great, but I would only recommend spending three nights there if you really like to soak up the towns you visit. From the airport I would go to Assisi for two nights, then Orvieto for one and then on to Rome.

I do not understand why you would travel to Umbria to see one hill town if you are already in Lazio/Campania.
If there is a particular thing you want to see in Orvieto, fine, but to spend time in a picturesque hill town, why not explore one that is closer to your other destinations. And one that might not get as many tourists as Orvieto.

There are plenty of hill towns in Lazio. And in Campania, as I mentioned, above.

How about Rieti, and the Sabine Hills, easy to get to from Rome. (Orvieto is also easy to reach from Rome by train, but it's far from the only choice of "hill town.")

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/truly-a-back-door-especially-for-hikers-rieti-italy

Even closer would be the towns of the Castelli Romani, such as Frascati. And from there you could go directly to FCO. Think of the porchetta!!!

https://www.italia.it/en/lazio/castelli-romani

Sorrento is not a hill town, but very nice in the Naples area.
Orvieto is fantastic.

You have a lot of good answers. Sorrento is a purpose-built, postwar resort town, built on a cliff with great views of Vesuvius but no real beaches. But it has SUPERB transit connections for daily daytrips. Check Easter closures. Naples is a more interesting and historic, but gritty and urban. We spent five nights in Sorrento, which worked out perfectly for us. You have not mentioned Paestum, which is hard to get to from sleeping in Sorrento. Maybe less hard from Naples, but takes some time each way. Sorrento books up at least six months in advance. You need a LIST of possible hotels.

Are you aware that there are in fact five excavated and important sights between Naples and Sorrento? There is a five-site ticket, but it only allows admission to each site once. You cannot exit and re-enter on a same-day ticket, so lunch plans are important. Pompeii (only) has a hot plate, cafeteria-style cafe inside the place, but the other four do not.

Tuscany pairs poorly with the Amalfi Coast (AC). We didn't go to Tuscany (other than Florence) until our fifth or later trip to Italy. It is IMPOSSIBLE to wake up on the AC and fly out of Rome the same day. Do not get yourself in that situation. Even Sorrento (not on the AC) is quite far from the Rome airport.

AirBnb and such places are very harmful to the local housing market. I refuse to use them. Why do I need a pod coffeemaker in Italy, anyway?

You might think about Caserta. Not really a 'hilltown' but between Rome and Naples, hsitorical, largely untouristed, big sights - gardens and modern castle - for those who want them and Casertavecchia historical site close by. It's 45 minutes by train to Naples if you want to day trip there or for when you transfer there.

There is are a couple of direct 1:15 fast trains a day from Rome to Caserta but otherwise you would need to transfer and spend 1:45 - 2:15 making the trip.

As others have mentioned Salerno is not a hilltown either but gives good access to Naples as a daytrip, Pompeii, the amaziing Paestum, and the Amalfi Coast. It is a slice of 'real' Italy as a the locals like to say and is an easy walking town near the coast and has a collection of restaurants and the end of pedestrian shopping street for easy browsing. It has a tinge of the southern chaos without being a full firehouse that is Naples.

A couple of thoughts, have a great trip,
=Tod

I need to get busy booking flights....

Be sure to look at multi-city (open jaw) flights , It should make it easier to maximize your time there and minimize time wasted backtracking

We are finishing a trip in Italy. We enjoyed 4 nights in Montepulciano. There are several day trips from there that one can take. Rick has some good tips in his 2025 Tuscany book.
We drove our rental car (picked up when leaving Siena) from Montepulciano and visited Pompeii in the afternoon and dropped the car off in Salerno and stayed along the waterfront one night. Salerno offers day trip options but we took a boat to Ravello and enjoyed a couple nights there and then two nights in Naples. The Path of the Gods is a great hike if the weather is good.
It was the bare minimum and we would have liked to have stayed longer.

You might consider going to your “hill town” upon arrival. On one of my trips, I took the train to Cortona (actually to a stop near Cortona where I switched to the bus to get up the hill). My flight arrived in the morning and I arrived in Cortona in time for lunch at an outdoor cafe. It was a pleasant, low-key place to get over jet lag. I’d look for small towns with train connections. I haven’t been to Spello or Spoleto, but they could be good options. Orvieto is another option,

You could also consider flying into Bologna and home from Naples or Rome. I particularly enjoyed Ferrara. There are no major sites there, but it was a really pleasant small town.

Oh Wow!

Thank you so much for the multitude of great ideas.
My heart wants to go back to Orvieto. But my head says no.
The above suggestions will keep me busy for several hours.

Right now, I am thinking, Fly on April 2nd, 3 nights in a small town to be named later, 2 nights in Pompeii, 2 nights in Naples and then finish with 6 nights in Rome. That puts Easter Sunday in a lazy town. I am trying not to over schedule and we can spend a lot of the first week having family time in a beautiful setting with delicious food and wine and then finish with a flourish.

Thank you everyone for helping!