Pompeii Travel Forum

Hi

You have all providea a lot of information. Someone here in the US told me that the trip to Pompeii takes four hours, but I read on this forum that the train that leaves at 7:30 will be in Pompeii ag 9:45; is this true? Also at what time does the train leave to return to Rome? What do you recommend we do for lunch? do we come out of the ruins, is there anything to eat there, or do we bring our own food. Are we allowed to eat inside the ruins? Thanks

Well, let me say this...

First, if you take the trenitalia (FS) only solution, this can be in as little as 2.25 hours (at very select times of the day) - but you end up at the trenitalia train station in Pompeii, which is on the other side of the modern town from the Scavi (excavations). True, crossing the town to the Scavi will take only 15-30 minutes on foot, but it can be quite a surprise if you weren't expecting it.

Most people switch at Napoli Centrale to the Circumvesuviana, a private train that has a stop very close to the Scavi. However, with the change in Naples and the relatively slow speed of the Circumvesuviana, the trip may take longer.

Note that the reason that the solution you read about (dep Rome 07:25, arr Naples 08:52, dep Naples 09:16, arr Pompeii FS 09:39) is faster than what you have heard is that the Rome to Naples segment is a relatively new train called an Alta Velocita' (High Speed), that cuts the travel time to Naples by 30 minutes over the previously fast Eurostars.

As for when the train returns to Rome, there are many trains that go in both directions. If you want to walk back to the FS station on the other side of Pompeii, then you can use www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html to plan solutions in both directions. If you want to take the Circumvesuviana, I think it runs at least twice an hour (maybe more) up to Naples, then you take trenitalia from there.

It never occured to me to eat in the ruins. The official website is at http://www2.pompeiisites.org/ - notice the nice effect of the earth shaking when the page opens ;-) In any case, even if there is nothing to eat in the Scavi (look at the website), there are certainly restaurants in the modern town, which, as I noted, is not far away.

Bill

Thanks, Bill. I would then take the high speed train from Rome to Naples, and from there take another (downstairs?) to Pompeii-Scavi. Then hire a guide.

I will be travelling alone, so at what time should I return to Rome? which is the latest train? I am a bit afraid to arrive to the train station in Rome and then having to either take a taxi or bus to my hotel, which may be near the Spanish steps. Lots of pickpockets I hear. What do you suggest? Thanks.

Look at http://www.vesuviana.it/$Nebula2DiskC/Documents/orari/ferrovia/est2006/EE49.pdf for the timetable of the Circumvesuviana from Pompei Scavi (Villa dei Misteri) back to Naples (on the left). You will see that it leaves 2 or 3 times most hours, up until 11:25 p.m. (which must be long after the park closes).

Yes, then when you arrive in Napoli Garibaldi (at Piazza Garibaldi), you'll go upstairs to the FS (trenitalia) station and take a fast train home. You can check on such trains by going to www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html and looking for solutions from Napoli Centrale to Rome Termini. You'll notice that the last direct train (from Centrale) leaves at 20:42...this is because the fast trains tend to leave during the day when business people travel. So, you'll leave Pompeii before 20:00 for sure.

In terms of Roma Termini, there will be plenty of people around (although less at 23:11 when the last direct train arrives)...the problem is not the pickpockets, but your reaction to them...if you put on your New York face ("bother me and I'll murder you"), you will be largely left alone even if you are alone. Then just go out to the taxi queue in the piazza and take a taxi to the hotel, or go downstairs if you feel comfortable and take the Metro to Piazza di Spagna...I think this section will be running until 11:30 at least (I'd have to go check).

Bill