There is nowhere else on earth like the sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Understandably, millions of visitors visit the larger site of Pompeii each year, many of them taking a day trip down from Rome.
The trip isn’t short, but it is easily doable in a day, either by train or car.
How to get to Pompeii by car
It takes around two and a half hours to get to Pompeii from Rome by car. Of course, it is a more expensive option, but considering that there are no direct bus or trains from Rome, it is the most comfortable choice, and also it will allow you to be more flexible with your schedule. If you are brave enough to drive in Italy and navigate a road trip you can rent a car. When you get to Pompeii, car parking close to the ruins will cost you €5-10 for the day.
If you’re not feeling that adventurous, and you just want to relax on your way, you can hire a private driver. It will cost you around €50 per person per hour. You can also add Vesuvius, Naples, or a town on the Amalfi coast to your itinerary.
How to get to Pompeii by Train
This is the cheaper way to get to Pompeii from Rome and is fairly easy, though you will need to change trains in Naples.
Italy has several different types of trains, but to make the most of your day, you need to take a high-speed train which will have you in Naples in just over an hour. There are 2 companies that run regular high-speed trains to Naples: the state-owned Trenitalia and Italo, a private company. Trenitalia also runs slower services to Naples which are cheaper, but much slower, so look for trains called ‘frecciarossa’, not ‘regionale’.
Once you get to Naples, follow the signs downstairs to the Circumvesuviana. There’s a ticket office by the turnstiles, or you can get tickets at any newsagents.
Be prepared for a much less modern train than the first one, but you’ll get beautiful views of the sea and Vesuvius while you are traveling. Take the train to Sorrento and get off at Pompeii Scavi and walk right to reach the entrance. If you’d like to visit Herculaneum as well, get off at the Ercolano stop and walk straight down the main street to reach the site. As the train tickets can only be used once, remember to buy tickets for each stage of your journey.
