Naples Travel Forum

I shall cruise to Naples late this May and would like to visit both Pompeii and Sorrento during the port call. May I take a train from cruise port to Pompeii and then continue the train to Sorennto for a visit before taking the hydrofoil back to cruise port. Can I make it within 10 hours? Should I? Please give me suggestion and/or comment. Thanks.

Hello,

The answer is - You can. My question is- do you really want to? I would pick one or the other to see. You can spend the whole day at Pompeii and not cover the entire site. Same for Sorrento, tons to do. If you do this itinerary you will only be able to spend a few hours at each site before having to catch the train or boat. Pompeii is a huge site and involves a lot of walking. For me it would be too hectic and tiring to try to see Sorrento in the same day.

Donna

HI ,

HI ,

The Main Train Station is quite a walk from the port so you would be best served, since you are on a time limit, to probably get a taxi. The trains run very regulary to Pompeii. You will need to go on the Circumvesuviana which leaves from downstairs at the Main Train Station at very regular intervals. Duration of journey to Pompeii is approx 30 mins and the train stops at the main gate to the site. If you wish to continue on to Sorrento then you can, by the same train. I can't remember the exact time of that journey but I would guess at about 30-40mins, it wasn't all that far. If you have enough time, which I doubt as there is a lot to see at Pompeii, you could go back to Naples on a ferry from the little harbour in Sorrento. This will leave you right at the port in Naples and hopefully close to your cruise ship. It's a really beautiful journey on a clear day but once again, I can't remember exactly how long it took - probably about 60-90 mins. I'll let the VTers with better memories correct me if I'm wrong. Play it by ear and buy your tickets for each leg of the journey as you go, because a lot will hinge on how long you stay at Pompeii. Some people like to inspect every rock and pebble whilst others (like me) find two-three hours sufficient, just to get the general idea. Be careful of going on to Sorrento if you spend a long time in Pompeii, you won't want to get stranded and miss your boat. Occasionally things do go wrong with the transport systems although overall, they are really quite good. Have a great time.

Me Again..
Any way .. Sorrento is nice but if it were me I would go check out Pompeii and spend the time there . We were there about 10 yrs ago and it is very fasinating .
Moe

You could do this, but I agree that focusing on Pompeii (and maybe also Herculaneum) would be a better option. Herculaneum is well worth visiting too; much smaller but the different effect of the eruption there means organic remains were preserved, and it is a very, very different experience.

A taxi to Napoli Centrale station (for speed) makes sense.

Then get the private Circumvesuviana train. Trains are frequent and cheap. It stops at Pompeii Scavi station, directly opposite the site entrance. Journey time about 30 minutes. From Pompeii Scavi it is another 30 minutes journey to Sorrento, where the train terminates. Herculaneum is back towards Naples, also on the train line (Ercolano).

Train timetables here:

http://www.vesuviana.it/Reteeorari/Ferrovia/Orario

You need at least 3 hours to even begin to 'scratch the surface' of Pompeii. Take plenty of water with you; there is a cafe on site but Pompeii was a town and it is a huge place.

My Pompeii, Herculaneum and Sorrento pages have more info on transport/sites etc.

Hi

I'd agree with your first replier: why try to cram them both in. This is the Med. Relax. Go to Pompeii (I've been there twice from Princess cruise ships)and when you go to Naples again in the future you go can visit Sorrento.
One more thought...how about Herculanium? Now you'll need to return twice!

Have fun!

Stephen crazyman2

Hello,

Actually, you can fit Herculaneum in with Pompeii. It is about 15 minutes away by circumvesuviana line. You can see this site in about 2 hours. That still gives you plenty of time to see Pompeii. Personally, I like Herculaneum much more than Pompeii. To me it gives you a better sense of what the city was really like. Leave Sorrento for your next trip. You will be glad you did.

Donna