With roughly 2.5 million visitors every year, the archeological site Pompeii is easily one of Italy’s top tourist draws. And good news travelers: It’s entirely possible to reach Pompeii on a day-trip from Rome.
Be forewarned, though: A quick trip this is not. (Thanks Yoda!) You must be willing to spend about four hours traveling by train roundtrip from Rome to Pompeii. Also, mentally prepare yourself to deal with crowds of tourists clogging Pompeii’s every nook and cranny. Acknowledging these inevitable inconveniences beforehand will make for a more satisfying experience should you decide to take the Pompeii plunge.
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Located 15 miles south of Naples, Pompeii was a wealthy city during the height of the Roman Empire. Sadly, nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted on August 24, 79 AD, killing at least 20,000 residents in both Pompeii and its neighbor Herculaneum. Since Pompeii and Herculaneum were covered for centuries under volcanic ash, they are considered Italy’s best-preserved Ancient Roman cities. In fact, archeologists continue to discover fascinating frescoes, household objects and bodies of victims that help to tell the story of this once prosperous town.
How to Get to Pompeii From Rome
First off, it’s way cheaper and more convenient to transfer in Naples rather than buying a one-way ticket from Rome to Pompeii. Prebook a Super-Economy one-way ticket from Rome to Naples on the Frecciarossa (FR) high-speed train. This trip takes about 70 minutes. Once you arrive at Naples Centrale Station, head downstairs towards the Circumvesuviana Railway station. On the Circumvesuviana line you can catch a train to Pompeii Scavi – Villa Dei Misteri. These trains depart approximately every 30 minutes. So no need to book ahead. The leg from Naples to Pompeii only takes about 35 minutes.
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To get home, buy a ticket from Naples to Rome from one of the many self-service ticket machines in Naples Centrale. By using this method, you won’t have to worry about rushing through the ruins of Pompeii; you can return to Rome at your leisure.
Pompeii Ticket Tips
Pompeii’s official opening hours are:
- November through March: 8:30AM to 5PM daily
- April through October: 8:30AM to 7:30PM daily
Tickets cost €15 for non-EU adults.
Usually you’ll find a long line of people waiting in front of the Porta Marina entrance. If this is the case when you visit, then walk three minutes to the lesser-known ticket booth close to Hotel Vittoria. Once you have your tickets in hand, return to Porta Marina. Before entering, however, be sure to grab a complimentary guidebook and map to help you better understand the layout of the city.
Or, skip any and all potential lines, and book your tickets online here.
Don’t Forget Herculaneum!
While you’re in the area, why not take an extra tour of the nearby ruins at Pompeii’s neighbor Herculaneum? After all, you’ve come all this way. Believe it or not, many archeologists believe Herculaneum’s ruins are more impressive than Pompeii’s. So, not only will you get to see incredible baths, frescoes and temples, you won’t have to contend with the hordes of tourists gawking around Pompeii. To reach Herculaneum, just get off at the Ecolano station, which is on the Circumvesuviana line about halfway between Naples and Pompeii. Herculaneum has the same opening and closing hours as Pompeii.
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