Naples Travel Forum

Ok, so, driving is out of the question. Thank you so very much for the advice. I know I won't be sorry as I sit comfortably in the train watching all the traffic snarled up along the roads! So, my final question. Are you all already laughing? Would it be worth doing a couple of hours in Pompeii (I'm pretty sure that is about the amount of tolerance I can handle- ADHD!) going on train to Sorrento and then back to Naples or should I simply head back to Naples to see the sights there after Pompeii? Oh yeah, I am from Vancouver, Canada, and the drving here is pretty civilized. I have driven in places such as LA, so I figured it wouldn't be that difficult. I will heed your warnings everyone. Thanks.

If I was you, I'd play Pompeii by ear. I suspect you may find that even you want to spend longer than a couple of hours there: it's not a museum, remember, it's a huge town.

However, if you do only spend a couple of hours there I'd skip Sorrento. Pretty though it is, it's not really a must-see imo. Either go back towards Naples on the Circumvesuviana and stop off at Ercolano to see ancient Herculaneum, or back into the city itself to explore a bit.

But best, as I say, to play it by ear on the day.

Am very glad you have decided not to drive. Apart from the practicalities (it wouldn't have saved you any time really, and would certainly have cost you more money), you will realise once you are there why we suggested that you ddn't!

Driving in L.A., a city built for cars, is in no way similar to driving in any Italian city, let alone Naples! It's not a matter of traffic jams (which you will in any case experience if taking buses) so much as driving behaviour.
I see no reason not to take yourself to Pompeii (Scavi) on the Circumvesuviana intending to stay for a couple of hours, but would agree with Leics a) that you might stay longer than you think, just because the site is so big, and b) that there isn't much to see in Sorrento, although your reason for going might just be to experience the ride along the coast, or to take a bus, or get the ferry back to Naples from there. Many people use it as a starting point for the ferry to Capri, but if you are staying in Naples you can also do that from there.
Ferry timetables: http://www.metrodelmare.com/inglese/home.htm
Bus timetables: http://www.ondaverde.it/sitai.htm

I echo Leics and Gaminari. In addition, although you anticipate only spending two hours in Pompeii, I assume that is "viewing time". You will have to allow for time to enter the site, to orientate yourself, and also for the crowds - can't remember when you are going but there are bound to be groups of "immovable objects" that you will keep encountering. The ticket place will give you a leaflet guide for the site which lists 2, 4 and 6 hour tours but it will take you some time to work out where you are and where the listed items are, etc. I strongly urge you to invest in an audio guide. Just play Pompeii by ear (now that conjures up a marvellous picture!!), as it can get under your skin and draw you in. Not as much as Herculaneum. I don't think even after a 2 hour tour of Pompeii that going back to Naples "to do the sights" is realistic. Naples is not for the faint-hearted and "doing the sights" is very time-consuming in terms of location and so on. As the others have said, go to Pompeii, and then consider hopping off at Torre Annunciata for the Villa Oplontis on the way back to Naples. Or, if you have ample time, at Ercolano for an equally quick visit to Herculaneum.