[Past Post]
A Rome to Pompeii daytrip takes ~3hrs using the fast trains (ES-EuroStar
or IC-InterCity) *to Naples*.
=A0=A0NOTE: A local commuter train (Circumvesuviana or CV) takes you
*from
Naples* to Pompeii, Herculaneum or Sorrento, it's website & timetable
directions is listed below. It is a completely seperate company, so
railpasses are not valid on it nor can you buy tickets in Rome for it.
=A0=A0You can find the timetables & fares for the Rome-Naples leg at
www.trenitalia.com It has an English link and is fairly easy to use when
it's working. When you have brought-up your timetable and choose your
train, you can get the Fare by clicking-on the
"Red-square/White-triangle" icon.
=A0=A0Buying your Rome-Naples tickets is easy. You can do it the
old-fashioned way by waiting in a long line at Termini (Rome's main
train station), tickets sellers speak English usually. Or you can buy
them thru a Travel Agency in Rome or in Termini for a small fee. Also
thru the American Express Office near the Spanish Steps. =A0=A0But the
easiest way is from the 'Ticket Vending Machines' located thru-out
Termini. They accept CC or cash and have an English option and are *very
easy* to use, they walk you right thru the process. =A0=A0Like anywhere
else on public transport weekend travel can be a busy time, if possible
plan this daytrip on Mon-Thur. =A0=A0=A0=A0You can go to either the
Naples Centrale Train Station or the Piazza Garibaldi Train Station
(which is just an underground metro stop rather than a full-fledged
train station) and just follow the signs to the Circumvesuviana (CV)
train.
=A0=A0The Garibaldi & Centrale Train Station are really the same
station, with Garibaldi located 2 levels underground and in front of the
Centrale station.
=A0=A0If you arrive at CENTRALE: In front of Track 13 near the front
doors is a wide staircase/escalator which goes down one level. At the
bottom of the stairs bear left, you'll enter a hallway with the CV
ticket windows on the left (Metro ticket windows on the right). =A0=A0If
you arrive at GARIBALDI: You will go up 1 level and just before you get
to the the bottom of that staircase/escalator mentioned above you'll
turn right instead.
=A0=A0After you purchase your CV tickets continue down that (short)
hallway and then on the left is a wide hallway with moving walkways to
the CV ticket turnstiles.
=A0=A0There on the wall in front of you are 2 boards that will post the
*next* 2 arriving trains, you'll want the *Sorrento* train (don't worry
if it's not listed yet). There are 4 tracks, you'll *probably* want
Track (Binario) 3 (I've stayed in Naples 3x and it has always left from
BIN 3).
=A0=A0Half-way down *each* platform is another Departure Board and it
will list the next arriving train's destination & time. The train's
destination for you will be "Sorrento", this train runs ~every
half-hour.
=A0=A0The train stops at Ercolano (Herculaneum) in 17min and Pompeii in
36min and Sorrento in 66min. The stop you want is "Pompeii Scavi-Villa
dei Misteri" or "Ercolano" for Herculaneum. Be aware that there are a
few "Direttissimo" (fast CV trains) which skip alot of the smaller stops
and will hit Ercolano, Pompeii and Sorrento in less time.
=A0=A0=A0=A0Exit the Pompeii Scavi Station turn right and walk 50m (I
would buy water & snacks from the stalls along there if need be, there's
also a restaurant) to the entrance which is set back alittle on the
left.
=A0 [This is based on info that I have read from other posters, I've
never used these guides.=A0There are licensed guides with ID's outside
the entrance that charge 35-40euro hour per tour, *not* per person, same
price as for 1 person or for a small group.] =A0=A0The entrance is a
small outdoor complex of bldgs containing the ticket windows, ATM, gift
& *guidebook* shop and an info booth. You might want to check at the
info booth and see if they have any special sites open, there will be
limited entry requiring a free ticket for a certain time (in '02 there
were 3 limited access sites opened). =A0=A0In the middle of this outdoor
complex is an octagon bldg that rents the audioguide tours. A CC or any
type of photo ID is required for security. =A0=A0It was my 4th visit to
Pompeii and I'm a bit of a history buff, I thought the audioguide was
very good. But you might want to have a guidebook with decent map
though. I've read a few posts where people couldn't find some of the
audioguide sites and I believe I might have had to check my other map
also for 1 or 2 sites. Also at the ticket turnstiles (not the ticket
sales window) there is a secured "Luggage Storage" room on the right.
After you enter the site you come across the Forum, look to the left at
the far end, that is the Temple of Jupiter and behind that temple a
little ways back is a building with a restaurant, snack bar, giftshop,
and w.c. =A0 =A0=A0If you wish [I highly recommend it] to visit the
Villa dei Misteri in the NW corner of Pompeii, do so at the end of your
visit (you *cannot* re-enter the site afterwards). You must exit here
and walk back (600m) to the same CV station (at this exit there is also
a restaurant with a pay w.c.). =A0=A0
=A0=A0HERCULANEUM: To visit Herculaneum (Ercolano CV station is halfway
between Naples and Pompeii on the *same* CV train line-The stop will say
"Ercolano" *only* (NOT 'Ercolano Miglio d'oro') or if they have changed
the signs recently it will read 'Ercolano-Scavi'), exit the station
(only one-way out) into the *small* parking lot and the *only* street
there (45deg to your right), takes you *right* to the Herculaneum
entrance after a 6 min downhill walk towards the Bay of Naples.
Impossible to get lost or miss [audioguides available and sometimes
tourguides]. Also right outside the CV station are taxi minivans that
will take you to atop Mt. Vesuvius (not sure of the cost, but they'll be
"pitching" to you as you walk by also "Let's Go Italy" mentions that
there is a bus nearby the station to Mt. Vesuvius. =A0=A0ALSO WHILE
AWAITING your train back to Rome from the Naples Centrale Station, in
front of ~track 18 there is a glassed-in sitting room (quiet & secure)
for ticketed passengers *only*. =A0=A0.....TO VISIT THE NAPLES MUSEO
ARCHEOLOGICO NAZIONALE www.cib.na.cnr.it/mann/museum/mann.html closed
Tuesdays Across from the CV ticket windows (mentioned above in the
Naples train station) buy a metro day pass or 2 tickets, to the left of
the booth is the turnstile and directly in front of that is Track 4, go
down to track 4 hop on the train and get off at the 1st stop (Piazza
Cavour). When you exit the metro turn right on the *busy* street in
front and walk (uphill) ~150m, you'll see a large 3 story building with
pinkish bricks on the same side of the street, thats the museum.
=A0=A0Also outside this metro stop (P. Cavour) is the bus stop for the
110 bus to Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX To
find the Circumvesuviana Timetable go to www.circumvesuviana.com
Click-on "Orari" (There is an English version link but it doesn't work
properly at this time but give it a try anyway. =A0=A0Now click-on
"Orario Ferrovia (Interattivo)". Under "Citta di Partenza" pull-down
"NAPOLI Collegamento FS". Under "Citta di Arrivo" pull-down "Pompeii
Scavi Villa Dei Mi" or "Ercolano Scavi" for Herculaneum. =A0=A0Set the
time (Dalle) and click-on "Prosegui" (Find, Procede, Search). But
remember these trains run basically every 30min, so you either make it
or wait a half-hour.



...And Paradise Was Lost...like teardrops in the rain...