Sorrento Travel Forum

Hi, we are doing a cruise in November and have only 1 day at Sorrento. Should we hire a guide and car and head off to Pompeii and/or Amalfi coast or wonder around Sorrento - dock at 7am and depart at 5pm??
Karen, New Zealand

You must, of course, see Pompeii. It is absolutely unique and entirely unmissable. Sorrento is pretty enough, but hardly warrants a whole day wandering around if that's the only time you have. You will see the Amalfi coast (at least a little) from the ship.

However, you do not need to hire a car and guide to do this. It will be expensive, and is not necessary.

From Sorrento one simply takes the Circumvesuviana train (frequent services, cheap fares) to Pompeii Scavi (about 30 minutes). The station is almost directly opposite the site entrance.

In November, if you arrive at opening time, you may well have the site (which is huge) almost entirely to yourself for a couple of hours: a unique experience which you simply must not pass by!

You could also visit Herculaneum, 10 minutes further towards Naples on the same line (station 'Ercolano'). Entirely different to Pompeii and equally unmissable.

My Pompeii/Herculaneum/Sorrento pages will give you some more info/photos etc.

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

for Circumvesuviana train times (click 'Linea Napoli Sorrento').

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

for everything you need to know about Pompeii/Herculaneum etc (click on the greyed-out site name).

Echo Leics' response. If you dock at 7.00 and are off the ship pretty smartish, then you could well be at Pompeii before the site opens! That would give you a worthwhile amount of time at the site.

I totally agree with the other posters. If you start early, you should have a good amount of time in Pompeii and time for a gelato in Sorrento before you leave!

You certainly don't need to hire a guide, and a car would be madness, but DO buy a guidebook to Pompeii. The site is enormous and warrants a bit of expert interpretation. You can buy a useful guidebook at the various kiosks at the site entrance, and it makes a nice souvenir.

We did Pompeii and it was great. We had a guide which i think it necessary. There are a heaps of ruins and without someone exlpaining certain buliding etc to you then I think it would all start to look the same.Its was REALLY hot and no water inside...so take lots of cold water in with you.
I also really liked Sorrento. It was lovely to wander around the little streets, walk down to the top of the walls and admire the view. Make sure you try the Limoncello....its delicious and comes from that area.
kel

Pompeii is good choice especially if you like ancient Roman Stuff. An alternative is taking a ferry to the Isle of Capri, it only takes 30 minutes, see the Blue Grotto, have lunch, shop (mostly very expensive) etc. November probably isn't the best time of year for Capri, though, more vegetation in bloom, warmer, etc. in the Spring.

As others have said, I would NOT miss Pompeii - it was an extraordinary experience!! We went on the tour from the ship rather than hiring a guide/car ourselves - transportation and interpretation all in one. It was an excellent choice as there would have been so much we would have missed without it.

And DO try the limoncello! If I remember correctly, there was a little stand just outside of Pompeii??

Have a wonderful trip!!

Rather than hiring a (human) guide, I think you would do better - and it is certainly cheaper - to rent an audio guide at the site. You will also be given (and if not, ask for one) a map of the site, which also lists various self-conducted tours one can take, depending on the amount of time e.g. one hour, three hours. Even if you don't decide to rent an audio guide, do obtain a copy of the map - it's free and is well worth having. There are loos just before the entry turnstyles and the only loos within the site are at the cafe - I supply this just for your information!! Don't forget to take water with you, even in November. Try and take a packed lunch from the ship or find somewhere to buy a sandwich or the like before entering the site. There is only the one cafe which, for the most part only offers meals; although you can buy snacky things at another counter, which you can eat outside. If you take your own food, then you can choose the spot where you are going to eat it! Mind you, it might be a bit chilly in November.......

You will get a free map and guideboook if you ask at the booth which rents the audio guides.

You really do not need a human guide.

There is a cafe on site so you can buy water if you want, but it will be cheaper to bring some with you.