Description

If you're planning a day trip from Rome to Naples and intend to visit both Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii (or Herculaneum) and you're not sure how to plan out your itinerary, you can use this as a guide.

TRAINS:

The best way to get to Naples is by train (Trenitalia) and you should leave as early in the morning as possible to get a good start on the day. There are several different types of trains that go to Naples (i.e. Regional, Intercity, A/V 2-for-1, Eurostar, etc) and each of them have a certain price range. We were travel on a budget so opt for the cheapest train possible (Regional, 2-1/2 hours) which cost us €10-11 each way which is not too bad. Of course, we left on an early train (approx. 6:30am) which got us into Naples around 9am. If you're planning to do a full day in Naples, try to ensure that you arrive between 8 and 10am otherwise you're wasting half a day.

PLANNING THE ITINERARY (MT. VESUVIUS + POMPEII, ETC):

A good way itinerary is to plan it like this: Train to Naples --> Circumvesuviana to Ercolano Scavi --> Visit Mt. Vesuvius --> Circumvesuviana to Pompeii Scavi --> Visit Pompeii --> Circumvesuviana to Naples --> Train to Rome

You may have to jiggle the itinerary a bit if you want to fit in Herculaneum or switch Pompeii for Herculaneum, whatever your preference it.

CIRCUMVESUVIANA TRAIN:

This train system is a private network serving Naples and the outlying cities. It is often very crowded and jam-packed with people. You MUST be aware of your belongings because there has been many cases of pickpocketing on the train cars. It is a relatively simple system and there are route maps inside the train and also signs on each station so you know which stop you're at. The fares aren't the same for every destination. Tell the ticket agent where you want to go (i.e. Naples Centrale to Ercolano Scavi) and he will give you a ticket which you must keep with you at all times. There is also ticket agents at Ercolano and Pompeii as well.

IMPORTANT - GOING TO MT. VESUVIUS:

There are two ways to get to Vesuvius: Bus and Taxi. For the bus, from Ercolano Scavi, the bus departs at 8:45am and 12:45pm and costs €7.60 round-trip. However if take the bus from Pompeii Scavi, the bus leaves every half hour from 9:30-10:30, and hourly beginning at 11:25am and costs €8.60. There is a taxi/shuttle service outside the Ercolano station that is quick and easy and costs €10 round-trip but you must also pay €6.50 ahead of time for entry to the crater. Both bus and taxi will take you to the 1,000 ft mark from which you must proceed on your own from there. The taxis leave more frequently than the bus so that way if you miss the bus, you can opt for a taxi.

POMPEII THEN NAPLES THEN ROME:

We explored Pompeii (free, Culture Week) after Vesuvius and we weren't too tired. Since it was extremely hot that day, we only spent 2-3 hours roaming the site. After that, we walked back to Pompeii Scavi and bought tickets back to Naples from which we boarded the train to Rome. We must have gotten back to Rome around 9:30pm so it was quite a long but eventful day.

TIPS:

Naples is very gritty and certain parts of it is run-down. The drivers of the taxis are often rude and gruff. Taxis are first come, first serve. If you are standing in line, don't be surprised if he accepts money from someone behind you and takes them on the taxi instead of you. Pay immediately and you are guaranteed a seat. This was a frustrating experience we had and we definitely learned that we shouldn't dilly-dally with these people.

When visiting Pompeii, keep in mind that most of it is exposed to the unforgiving sun. Keep hydrated and wear lots of sunscreen to protect yourself. Many people say that they preferred Herculaneum to Pompeii for its size and better preserved items. Since we didn't visit Herculaneum, I have no opinion really but it would have been interesting to try to fit in all three in one day.

Naples is a pickpocket's heaven. There WILL be pickpockets at the train stations, on the train, at the bus stations, wherever you go. Do not bring lots of money with you and never open your belongings in public. Keep it secure and watch for suspicious behaviour. Aside from that, Naples is actually pleasant and has a rich culture and history.