[Closed] Anyone been to Pompeii?

blue army!

I have been but only as an day excursion from our week in Sorrento, so can't help with accommodation recommendations really. However, you're right to not squeeze in into a day from Rome - it's a big place with a lot to see. There's a railway running along the coast to Sorrento so pick somewhere to stay along there and getting to/from Pompeii is easy then.

You'll need a whole day at Pompeii. If you stay close to Garibaldi Centre in Naples there'll be lots of retaurants and city life to experience and plenty of cheap hotels. Very convenient. The train station there has a coastal train direct to Pompeii which only takes 20mins. You'll have a great time 🙂

We went for a day during our honeymoon in Sorrento many years ago. take note - it is a big site, so allow plenty of time to wander round.

You may also want to consider Herculaneum (I've quite possibly spelt that incorrectly!) as it's nearby and supposed to be much better preserved.

Take lots of water and a hat in summer!

Take lots of water and a hat in summer!

That's a fine suggestion. Seem to remember the on-site cafeteria was shockingly expensive!

Done both Pompeii and herculaneum. Pompeii is massive, herculaneum is much smaller, much quieter and much better preserved also the museum of archaeology in Naples is well worth a visit. It would take a few days to do all of this though.

You can travel from Rome on the frecciarossa (up to 200mph) and it takes just over an hour. You'll arrive at napoli centrale from where you take the train to Pompei (1E (IIRC) about 20 mins). Then about 10 mins walk to Scavi Pompeii. There's also Herculaneum (train to Ercolano, same line about 2 stops before Pompei). Pompeii is pretty much a whole day, was a city so has a lot to see and is a larger site. herculaneum was a smaller, richer town, was completely covered by the eruption and built over, so there's less to see, but what there is is in better condition (apart from the Viilla Dei Mystere just outside Pompeii, that's stunning). A bit more than half a day. That said, well pompeii's pompeii isn't it. On balance, having been to both, if time is limited, I'd go to Pompeii
If you do take the fast train, it's an expensive day out, so you might want to stay a night or so in naples. it's apretty scary looking place, but there's some cool stuff. Check out the [url= http://www.museosansevero.it/inglese/cappellasansevero/cristovelato.html ]veiled christ at the Capello San Severo[/url], walk up the Vie Dei Tribunali (pretty much the roman main street transported to today, pizza at Gina Sorbillo or Di Matteo (both via dei Tribunali), funiculaire up to the castle on the hill (can't remember the name, but the views are amazing).
If you do opt to stay, I highly recommend the [url= http://www.decumani.com/en/photos/ ]Decumani Hotel De Charme[/url] - well placed and well priced with the best breakfast room ever. If you do stay here, make sure you have a printed copy of the address, give it to the taxi driver and do not pay more than 12 euro. It's actually an easy walk to the hotel, but use a taxi first to get your bearings.
Also, crossing the road in naples can be a bit of an adventure - pick a car, make eye contact and step bravely out in front of it -show no fear, they're like dogs, master them or stand forever at the kerb.

EDIT ..how could I forget? ice cream from Gay Odin as well, mmmmmmm

Stay in Sorrento - its lovely.
You can then get the train back up to Pompei or Herculanium.
I've been twice, the second time I proposed to the current Mrs Freeagent while in Pompei!
As others have said, take lots of water and a hat if going in the summer, it gets brutally hot.
You'll need a full day in Pompei, but a half day will be ample for Herculanium.
The sorrento city hotel is nice, on the high street and close to everything.
Worth getting a boat over to Capri for the day aswell, very nice.
Have fun - its a fantastic part of the world!

Been on Honeymoon to sorrento pompei and herculaneum worth doing so is vesuvious its a good walk and when you get to the top you would wish you had your bike to come down.but stop in sorrento as said above Naples is scary. everyone in our hotel who went by train and through naples had stuff lifted. Im usualy ok with things like that as been to cairo and Beirut on day trips but those places wont make you feel as vunerable as naples.

That said spectacular place. Just me and my wife felt uneasy and had heard a lot of horror stories and even the locals said not to go there.

Yep, done Pompeii and Hercu-wotsit. Both lovely places and well worth the visit and as above you'll need a day in Pompeii ideally.

We went whilst staying in Naples so 20 or so minute train ride. Naples is a great place to visit for a day or two also if you have the time, quite a contrast to Rome but lovely in it's own way. Stay central, we were in the Jolly hotel which was nowt special but jolly adequate and reasonably priced.

IIRC you can also take the ferry round to Pompeii/Hercu-wotsit to get a great view of Vesuvius from the bay. We took the ferry from Naples to Amalfi for a few days there, I'm sure it stopped at Pompeii but maybe that was Sorrento (check!). Also took the train to Rome for a weekend, which was easy enough.

Edit to add: Yep, Naples is a little rough around the edges but so long as you keep your wits about you you'll be fine. We (missus and I) didn't feel threatened at all, but then she's a professional cage fighter.

I found Naples to be rather run-down sorry kind of place. Not surecid choose to stay there. Pompeii well worth it tho.

Stay in Naples rather than Sorrento, which will be full of honeymooners and blue rinsers. Don't stay too near Piazza Garbaldi as it is the heart of all things crime/tourist related, being just outside the station. Naples is the most densely populated and crime-ridden city in Europe - it is great! Traffic is mental, some awful areas but the rest is worth seeing - as well as the other sites. Look up Pozzuoli as well - the other side of Naples to where you are heading. Huge amphitheatre, Roman spa nearby and the Campei Flagrei (sp) go back before the Romans. Solfatara is worth seeing near there too.

Naples is the most densely populated and crime-ridden city in Europe - it is great!

Traffic is mental

Blimey… a thread I can actually have some factual input on!

We went to Sorrento for our honeymoon and visited Pompeii for a day on the train. Pompeii is largely a ruin but it is spectacular.

As already stated…
It is very big.
Take a hat.
Take water.

Herculaneum is smaller (but still a fair old size) and much better preserved. You can do that in half a day and combine it with a trip up Vesuvius.

Doing either of them on a day trip from Rome would be knackering.

Here is a picture of a mosaic knob to get you in the mood.

[IMG] [/IMG]

Thanks for the advice, think I'll give Naples a miss this time then, done going to dodgy places in the far east and although fun, don't really want the hassle for a couples break.

Love the idea of herculanuem and versuvius in one day - is versuvius something that you need to book with guides or is it something you can wander up on your own?

Here is a picture of a mosaic knob to get you in the mood.

😀 oh to live before chritianity...

is versuvius something that you need to book with guides or is it something you can wander up on your own?

We got a bus from the train station, walked up and down it in about 90 mins IIRC, then got another bus to Herculanuem. The car park isn't that far from the summit.

Mrs F and I have been to Sorrento a couple of times and visited Pompeii on both occasions as it is that big. Herculaneum as others have said is smaller but miles better preserved. Don’t miss out on either as I believe their funding is under threat.

Vesuvio is OK but don’t expect anything to spectacular at the top. Etna is always more fun.

Don’t write Naples off, it’s a great city with loads to see and isn’t that scary. At least not as scary as wandering around Palermo at night looking for a tabacchi.

Vesuvio is OK but don’t expect anything to spectacular at the top

True, it is basically a series of cinder ramps with a crappy gift shop at the bottom. Not worth going up it if the top is in the clouds.

herculaneum has much classier statues -
[img] [/img]

I have been and have to agree with what has been said. It's def worth a visit but can be VERY HOT in summer, I was there with my mum and dad in August one year, 42 degrees in the shade. They wilted in the cafe while I braved the ruins.

Napoli doesn't give a good first impression, the train station is in a rough area which doesn't help. And the American Express office had armed guards, which was enough to prompt us to get the earlier train back to Rome.

And the American Express office had armed guards, which was enough to prompt us to get the earlier train back to Rome.

Why? Do you carry as much money as an American Express office?

Just found a few snaps on my computer.

Pompeii High Street
[IMG] [/IMG]

Vesuvius
[IMG] [/IMG]

Herculaneum High Street
[IMG] [/IMG]

Herculaneum with Vesuvius
[IMG] [/IMG]

Herculaneum kebab shop with sun burnt HtS
[IMG] [/IMG]

Here is a picture of a mosaic knob to get you in the mood.

😀

BBSB - we were planning on 'jackin it.

A Pompei local
[IMG] [/IMG]

Had a load more pics ,but cannot seem to find the at the mo,will put them up if I can find them

went to sorrento on my honeymoon a few years back caught the train to pompeii very good train journey deffo hat lots of water and 100 euros for the audio guide

Oh - nearly forgot - look up Paestum which lies down the coast. Off the main tourist trail but quite stunning in a different but impressive way.

We spent half a day in Herculaneum and a day at Pompeii (I could have spent longer at both, TBH, but then I'm a history nerd). Get there early - we were first in to Pompeii and had the place to ourselves for about an hour before the hoards descended. By lunch time, the place was heaving (this was in March). We stayed in a hotel on the Piazza Garbaldi (Naples) which was fine (apart from having to fend off street traders trying to sell 'genuine iphones'). Naples itself is worth a visit, just try not to look like an affluent tourist and you'll be fine. We did probably stand out a bit, though, as we were the only ones in tee shirts (all the locals were still in their strange, shiny 'puffa' jackets in temperatures of 18C plus). As mentioned above, crossing the road in Naples is a 'challenge' - the best method I found was to find a local also crossing and keep them between you and the on-coming (and it will be!) traffic. Oh, and the food in Naples was excellent...

Got off at Fratton.

See if you can find 'Priapus' whilst your there.

[i]Naples is the most densely populated and crime-ridden city in Europe[/i]

Go to the Spanish City after dark, and the above will feel like an understatement...

At Pompei you'll see many guides touting for business - choose one who'll take payment at the end - ours was a History Prof. from Rome, very, very knowledgable and probably saved us an hour just buying the tickets.