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Visit to Pompeii / Herculeanum

Posted by (Portland, OR) on

After spending a few nights in Rome, my wife and I are joining a "tour" organized by some friends (via a tour agency) that includes 3 nights on the Amalfi Coast, 6 nights at a villa in Tuscany and 1 night in Florence. Between Rome and the Amalfi Coast lies a destination I've wanted to see since I read the Illustrated Classics - Last Days of Pompeii as a kid. We are traveling with another couple and will have luggage with us. My first thought was to arrive in Naples, check into a hotel (or get the bags held there) and visit the Archeological Museum that afternoon, stay overnight in Naples and then visit Pompeii and Herculaneum the next day before returning to Naples to get our luggage and move on to the Amalfi Coast (not sure yet exactly where the villa is there).

Now - after reading some rather negative posts about Naples (and having read Rick's recommendations in the Italy book), I'm thinking about cutting the Archeological Museum and hoteling for one night in Sorrento instead. Returning to Sorrento after our visits to the sites makes more sense for our pick-up to the Amalfi coast. Some older comments on this board suggest that the Archeological Museum, while very good, can also get very hot and has no A/C (we are traveling in late May).

Questions:

  1. Is the Archeological Museum an essential part of visiting Pompeii / Herculaneum or can it be skipped (obviously depends a lot on depth of interest - but just looking for a sense)?
  2. Is visiting BOTH Pompeii and Herculaneum redundant?
  3. Is luggage storage available at Pompeii?

If the museum is not necessary, Herculaneum redundant, and luggage storage available, I might even cut the night entirely and make a visit to Pompeii a day trip on our way to Amalfi. A late afternoon in Sorrento may be very pleasant, but we will have 3 nights on the Coast already.

Comments? Go!

Posted by
23847 posts

  1. My opinion -- absolutely because all the good stuff from Pompeii is on display at the museum.

  2. Not redundant because both are very different BUT I would pick Pompeii over Herculaneum.. Herculaneum is mostly underground.

  3. Yes, right at the entrance. I would plan on 3 to 4 hours to get a decent overview of Pompeii. Pompeii is huge with min shade so plan accordingly. I would take a two hour private guide tour for the highlights and another two hours for self exploring.

Posted by
1219 posts

I wholeheartedly support you seeing all three of these. Aside from the Pompeii artifacts, the museum also houses the Farnese marbles which are just incredible. Pompeii and Herculaneum are not redundant. Herculaneum was hit with pyroclastic flow, and in a lot of ways is a better preserved site. You’ll see scorched wood features and multistory buildings there. They’re both worth seeing, and I’m not sure I could choose between them. You can see them both in a day. Go to Pompeii in the early morning. Pompeii’s major sights are mostly in the area near the forum. After about 4 hours you’ll probably max out, and by that time the crowds and heat are maxing out too. Resist the temptation to see the amphitheater, it’s well away from everything with not much between. Take a solid lunch break and see Herculaneum later in the afternoon. Herculaneum is often open late in season, so this may help squeeze it in.

How you do this is the trickier bit. I’ll stick up for Naples, but if your next destination is the AC then a night in Sorrento does make a bit more sense. When and how that pickup is occurring is another detail. How much of that day do you have really? I have a thought: If you’re arriving in Naples by train, you can leave your bags at the station (assuming, but all these stations have some sort of service), visit the museum, then grab your bags and head to Sorrento. Then you’ve got however much the next day for Pompeii/Herculaneum.

Posted by
8434 posts

These are so much about personal opinion that I question the utility of asking us what we think.

An actual key issue in late May is sun and heat (and your rain date plans.) What time will you hit Pompeii, and how long can you spend there?

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/herculaneum-and-pompeii-questions
We enjoyed Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Oplontis. You said this is very important to you.

The museum, especially with the Farnese Marbles added in, is better than you think, and Sorrento is less magical than you imagine. But I do think not everyone needs the museum. If you don't care that the statues and frescoes in Pompeii Scavi are replicas, you can skip the Museum.

This newsboard has never had a bad report on the free luggage check at the Porta Marina ticket office area. We preferred to visit by train without luggage, from five nights in Sorrento.

Posted by
1455 posts

Is the Archeological Museum an essential part of visiting Pompeii /
Herculaneum or can it be skipped (obviously depends a lot on depth of
interest - but just looking for a sense)?

Personally, for me the answer is YES, the MANN museum in Naples is a must for visiting the area. Maybe watch some YouTube videos and see if you agree? Thanks to the others who've said similar things... but there are some who found the museum less fascinating than the ruins. I visited 30 years ago & still remember the stunning museum! And we're going back in December.

Is visiting BOTH Pompeii and Herculaneum redundant? NO, as others have said, they're very different. You sound fascinated by the ruins, so maybe don't short change yourself? Again, Youtube is your friend for a walk through Herculaneum, see what you think. I agree, morning Pompeii & later on when it gets crowded, see Herculaneum.

Is luggage storage available at Pompeii? YES.

Liked Tim's comment about the museum being more magical than you think, and Sorrento less. HA.

Posted by
58 posts

Thanks - I'm sensing a trend... : )

Great tip about previewing on YouTube.

Posted by
631 posts

The New Dig is 4 awesome episodes.
A must watch before going to Pompeii.

Posted by
5267 posts

I wouldn't call the MANN essential but I'm glad we visited it to help tie everything together that we saw at Pompeii and Herculaneum. Someone above also mentioned Oplontis and since you're tight for time, maybe it would work better to visit with Pompeii instead of Herculaneum. It's one train station north of Pompeii.

You may love Naples or you may hate it, but it is unique and unlike any other city I've ever visited. I loved it. We were only there on a day trip from Sorrento and have it on the list for a longer stay in the future.

Posted by
12776 posts

Is visiting BOTH Pompeii and Herculaneum redundant?

Doing both in the same day seems it could be more like 'accomplishing a task' than enjoying a visit.

My $0.02

Posted by
1120 posts

I agree that the museum, Pompeii, and Herculaneum are all very worthwhile. But I also agree with the poster who said that trying to see Pompeii and Herculaneum in one day is a lot.

We enjoyed Naples, where we spent 2 nights in 2017. I would not have minded a third night.

Posted by
8434 posts

You didn't mention pizza in Naples (as do many posters here), but note that we waited in line for an hour to enter Gino Sorbillo. Not complaining, just warning someone who is booking every moment of daylight.

Posted by
268 posts

I think your idea of staying over in Sorrento is good. If you can get to Pompeii at 10:00 a.m. when it opens that'll be the best for crowds and heat. Rick Steves has an arrangement with Mondo tours where you can book a 2-hour guided tour of Pompeii - it's very reasonable. You meet the guide outside the entrance to the ruins.
If I had to choose between going to Herculaneum or the museum for the rest of the day I think I would choose Herculaneum. but others may disagree!

Have a great trip.

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