Visiting Pompeii and Vesuvius from Rome

Take the train form Rome To Naples Centrale. At Naples Centrale walk downstairs to transfer to the Circumvesuviana
Here is the schedule http://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule and just look for that logo.

Or the Campania Express (the hours of service on here is limited). http://ots.eavsrl.it/web/public/ots/ticket/index

Take either one of those trains to Ercolano Scavi for Vesuvius first. Right at that stop you buy a bus ticket at an office to the left exiting the train station it will be obvious as you will see other tourists and a bus that says Vesuvius Express. The ticket you want to buy takes you to the base of the crater and includes entrance to the hike up hill to the crater for 20 euros. The bus on the way back leaves 1 hour 30 minutes later.

Once you get back to Ercolano after visiting Vesuvius hop back on the Circumvesuviana as these are the most frequent and get off at Pompeii Villa de Misteri. Again it will be obvious as most people obvious tourists will get off at that stop. The entrance to Pompeii is yards to your right exiting the station.

Once done at Pompeii, it closes at 18:00 catch Circumvesiviana back to Naples and then back to Rome

Kelly, please use the Search box to read years of comments on your plan. I personally consider Vesuvius to be a total waste of time. It is unimportant whether you see two (of the FIVE) ancient sites in this area, or if you settle for the MOST IMPORTANT, Pompeii, which is good for four to eight hours by itself. Vesuvius can be SEEN looming over every place in this area. THAT is the point. Not a hot, sandy slog to a boring crater.

Yeah Tim has a point about Vesuvius but you should see for yourself ; there was only a little steam rising out of it when we were there last month. It is quite a hike to the crater people give up. There are some great views from up there, It will be an exhausting day for sure coming all the way from Rome

And if it is foggy on the day you might want to skip it; some travelers do not think about stuff like that and end up disappointed afterwards

I had done a preliminary search on this site, typing in the word 'Pompeii' in the search box. The most recent thread which appears was started 12 months ago. After that, every thread appears to be two or more years old.

Perhaps that's not the best search term, but I totally understand wanting to check and see if there is more recent information on a subject from people who travel frequently.

Thanks for the good info Jazz+travels, and the understanding Aquamarinesteph!

Hey aquamarine, if you click on "Two years and newer" there are still pages and pages of results. It is unfortunate that you can't sort the results in Date order.

Please remember that "affect" is not visible on the internet. I was NOT reprimanding the OP for failure to search. Rather, based on years of reading and posting on this site (as well as two trips to Sorrento, and visiting three of the five ancient sites), I was alluding the the far more comprehensive information that can be obtained from multiple threads, instead of just the warm, personal replies to one's own heartfelt cellphone query. I am taking about learning about ticket sales for the Circumvesuviana, annoying musicians and beggars on that train, validation machines, weather and lines, more than one option to get to Vesuvius, crowding, villa closures, location of tickets and rest rooms in the Naples station, food options in Pompeii and along the way, the Archaeology Museum, Trenitalia Frecciarossa ticketing and ticket change policies, and many more things you want to know, even if you don't know that you want to know them!

Thanks, Tim! I’ll make sure to do a search to get even more info.