We will be in Naples July 22 for only 10 hours, our cruise stop, and I would like to know what would be the absolute must places, cities, to go visit. I have heard that staying in Naples is not the best option, so we are planning in going elsewher but we still don't know where Please advise. Thank you.

Since you're so close you could take the train to Pompeii. It's about half an hour by train from Naples. The train station is within easy walking distance of the port but I don't remember exactly how long it took. Another option would be to take the hydrofoil over to Capri. It's about a 40 minute trip and somewhere right around 17 euros each way. Then you'd be able to take the chair lift up to the top of Monte Solare, see the Blue Grotto, and just wander around the island.

I only spent a few hours in Naples sine I was staying in Sorrento, but I thought one of the best things to do was just wander around the city. Naples is an experience in itself. I really did enjoy it, though, and thought it was a wonderful place to visit. I'd love to go back and spend more time there. Definitely try the pizza. I had heard that Naples had the best pizza in the world and after going I would agree with that statement.

One of the things I wish I had done in Naples was the museum. You might consider going there to see artifacts from Pompeii. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your time in Naples!

I agree that Pompeii is the absolue must-see; there is nowhere like it anywhere in the world.

Take a taxi to Napoli Centrale station, then the private Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii Scavi station, which is opposite the site entrance. Circumvesuviana trains are for commuters, so don't expect luxury..but they are cheap and frequent.

Train timetables here:

http://www.vesuviana.it/Reteeorari/Ferrovia/Orario (site seems to be down at this moment).

Info on the archaeological sites here:

http://www2.pompeiisites.org/database/pompei/pompei2.nsf/pagine/i%20siti%20archeologici?OpenDocument

Definetely go to Pompeii. Take the Circumvesuviana train but make sure to take the train that goes to Sorrento and get off at the Pompeii Scavi stop. If you take the other train there is also a Pompeii stop but it is much further to the entrance of the site. The cost of the train is 10 euros both ways. Entrance to Pompeii is 11 euros. Also at the pier the cabbies will tell you that they will take you to Pompeii for 100 or so euros. They will also tell you that the train won't leave until much later in the day, don't believe this. The circumvesuviana to Pompeii runs about every half hour or so. Just ask the cabbie to take you to the Garibaldi train station which is 10 euros for the ride. Happy travels

To clarify, I think the train fare is 10 euros altogether (i.e. for the whole journey).

Garibaldi is Napoli Centrale, but the advice about taxi-drivers is very good: there are plenty of trains and getting to Pompeii is simple (and inexpensive).

Allow yourselves time to properly explore Pompeii: it's a huge site (it was a large town), and make sure you take water with you. There is a cafe, but the site is exposed and, being paved and consisting mainly of streets/houses etc, it can get very hot.

If you do have time, stop off on your return journey at Ercolano Crcumvesuviana station. A five-minute walk down the hill will bring you to the Herculaneum site: worth visiting simply because it is so very different to Pompeii (and much smaller, for much of i still lies underneath modern Ercolano). Here the town as covered by slow-moving mud-vflows, which prserved organic remains....you can see wooden staircases and doors, and iron windoe-frames. A very, very different experience.

Pompeii is essential, but Herculaneum is equally wonderful. Try to take in both if you can.

hello and thank you very much for your advise. For all what I hear Pompaii and Capri are the places to go. Do you think there is enough time to visit both places while our ship is in Naples? if not then choose one and a visit to Naples for shopping and pizza might be the way to go.

There won't be time for both, I'm afraid.

So it's up to you to decide which appeals the most: a visit to something you will see nowhere else, or a visit to an island which, whilst very pretty, is a very touristy (and expensive) place....my opinion, of course.

You can probably guess which I would choose! :-).

I'm with J on this one. Go to Pompeii then spend some time in Naples. Capri was nice, but Pompeii wins hands down.

You're only in Naples for 10 hours, so not time to do both Pompeii and Capri. Depends how dedicated you are and the density of the crowds and so on, but Pompeii can take several hours, at least. For example, the guide you are given with your tickets outlines tours that take 3, 5 or 7 hours, so that will give you some sort of guideline on the length of time you could be there. Definitely invest in the audio guide.

I absolutely love Naples but it is not for the faint-hearted. It has some stunning art but you have to know what it is you want to see before you go and see it, if you see what I mean. You definitely need to walk in Naples to see/experience it, or else go on one of the public buses on a random trip.

I think that you would probably be best to go to Pompeii and/or Herculaneum - I actually don't think you can do the two properly in the time you have, especially if you factor in that you are going to be there in July and it will be HOT and certainly Pompeii will be crowded.

Or if you don't feel like visiting an archaeological site or aren't interested, or it doesn't suit your travelling companions' requirements, then you could take the Circumvesuviana train all the way to Sorrento and spend some time there.

Pompeii is the better short for the short while that you are in port and it is also much cheaper.

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