Pompeii by Train from Naples
4 h 30All agesAll year
Visit · 4–5 h · From €20 · Train from Naples
From €20
See the activity
Stay3–4 nights
Best timeApril, May, June, September, October
RegionCampania
What to do
What to do in Naples
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Great Cone Trail up Vesuvius
2 h 30 · 4.0 kmFrom age 6 with good footwearAll year; closed with an orange weather alert
Walk · 2 h 30 · 4 km return · €10 · Online only
From €10
See the activity
Herculaneum, the City Covered by Mud
2 h 30All agesAll year; closed on 25 December
Roman city buried by Vesuvius, with two-storey houses and preserved wood; €16, six minutes from Ercolano Scavi station.
From €16
Book
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Naples, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Naples
April, May, June, September and October. In July and August Pompeii and Vesuvius are an oven; in winter the last entry to Pompeii is at 15:30.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Naples your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Fly to Naples and take the Alibus to the centre
Naples has its own airport, Capodichino, north of the city, with direct flights from several Spanish cities. From there you do not need a car: the Alibus bus drops you at Piazza Garibaldi, in front of the central station, from where the metro, the Circumvesuviana trains to Herculaneum and Pompeii and the high-speed trains to Rome leave. If there is no direct flight from your city, fly to Rome and take the train down: about an hour and ten minutes.
- Getting thereNaples Capodichino (NAP), with direct…
- Getting aroundOn foot through the historic…
- Where to stayHostel Mancini, 650 m from…
- ServicesAlibus between the airport and…
Getting there
- Naples Capodichino (NAP), with direct flights from Spain
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and the high-speed train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale
- Alibus from the airport to Piazza Garibaldi, with a ticket on board
Getting around
- On foot through the historic centre
- Metro from the central station towards the centre
- Circumvesuviana to Ercolano Scavi and Pompei Villa dei Misteri
- Hydrofoils from Molo Beverello to Procida
Where to stay
- Hostel Mancini, 650 m from the station and the Alibus, for the first night
- Hotel Piazza Bellini, in the historic centre, five minutes from the Archaeological Museum
Services
- Alibus between the airport and Piazza Garibaldi
- Napoli Centrale station, with trains to Rome and the Circumvesuviana next door
Without a car: on foot, by metro and on the Circumvesuviana
Naples is best done without a car. The traffic is chaotic, the historic centre is a limited traffic zone and everything important is on foot, by metro or by train: Herculaneum and Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana, Vesuvius by train and bus, and Procida by hydrofoil.
60–160 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayHotel Piazza Bellini, in the…
- Getting aroundOn foot through Spaccanapoli, Via…
- Where to eatL'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, about…
- ServicesAlibus from the airport to…
Where to stay
- Hotel Piazza Bellini, in the historic centre, with two metro stations nearby
- Hostel Mancini, 650 m from the central station and the Circumvesuviana
Getting around
- On foot through Spaccanapoli, Via dei Tribunali and the Sansevero Chapel district
- Circumvesuviana Napoli–Sorrento to Ercolano Scavi and Pompei Villa dei Misteri
- Vesuvio Link: train to Pompeii and an EAV bus to Vesuvius
- Caremar hydrofoil from Molo Beverello to Procida
Where to eat
- L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, about ten minutes from the station
- Mimì alla Ferrovia, next to the station, for a meal before the train
- Palazzo Petrucci, in Posillipo, by taxi, for the special dinner
Services
- Alibus from the airport to Piazza Garibaldi
- Napoli Centrale station
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Naples for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Naples with the Family, Between Volcanoes and Ruins
What works best with children is what they can touch with their feet: Vesuvius's ash, Pompeii's cobbled streets, a boat to an island. The historic centre, on the other hand, is noisy and full of motorbikes: better in short doses.
- What works bestThe Vesuvius trail, short and…
- Where to sleepNear a metro stop or…
- Where to eatMargherita pizza and fried pizza…
- Keep in mindPompeii's cobbles are very hard…
What works best
- The Vesuvius trail, short and with a real crater at the end
- Herculaneum, which can be seen in two or three hours
- Pompeii cut down to the forum, a few streets and the amphitheatre
- The hydrofoil to Procida, for a day at sea
Where to sleep
- Near a metro stop or a Circumvesuviana station
Where to eat
- Margherita pizza and fried pizza in the historic centre
Keep in mind
- Pompeii's cobbles are very hard going for a pushchair
- There is almost no shade on Vesuvius or at Pompeii
- In the centre, motorbikes ride along streets with no pavement
What to do as a family
Naples for Teenagers
Naples has what hooks a teenager: an active volcano, tunnels under the city and a Roman city frozen by an eruption. Give them a map in Spaccanapoli and let them choose where to eat.
- What works bestNapoli Sotterranea, with passages one…
- Where to sleepIn the historic centre, to…
- Where to eatPizza a portafoglio, folded and…
- Keep in mindIn the EU, ages 18…
What works best
- Napoli Sotterranea, with passages one person wide
- The crater of Vesuvius
- Pompeii, with the amphitheatre and the casts of the victims
- The Veiled Christ, a marble that looks like cloth
Where to sleep
- In the historic centre, to go out for walks at night
Where to eat
- Pizza a portafoglio, folded and to take away
Keep in mind
- In the EU, ages 18 to 24 pay €2 for Pompeii
- Napoli Sotterranea is not for anyone with claustrophobia
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're flyingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Grand Hotel Parker's
Why we like it: The oldest hotel in Naples, opened in 1870 on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, with 67 rooms, views of the gulf and Vesuvius and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Hotel Piazza Bellini & Apartments
Why we like it: Four-star hotel in a 16th-century palace on Piazza Bellini, five minutes from the Archaeological Museum, with family rooms, duplexes and terraces.
Hostel Mancini
Why we like it: The first independent hostel in Naples, opened in 1998 650 m from the central station, with dormitories, private rooms, breakfast and a free kitchen.
Where to eat
Where to eat in Naples
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele
What to order: the margherita or the marinara; if you cannot decide, the marita, half and half.
No booking: you queue. Open every day from 11:00 to 23:00.
Mimì alla Ferrovia
What to order: for a starter, the parmigiana di melanzane or the peperoni 'mbuttunati; then pasta mista, patate, provola e guanciale, and babà for dessert.
Tables for one to three people, in order of arrival; for four to ten, with booking on its website. The website does not publish the hours or the prices.
Palazzo Petrucci
What to order: the six-course Posillipo menu, or the five-course Lino Fai Tu if you want the chef to decide.
Tasting menus only. Dinners every day and lunches from Friday to Sunday, according to the Michelin Guide. Book.
Nearby
Near Naples
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1One day, one site
Pompeii and Herculaneum on the same day is too much. Combine Herculaneum with Vesuvius, which both leave from Ercolano.
- 2Check the weather warning
With an orange alert the Vesuvius trail closes.
- 3Go to Procida by hydrofoil
You arrive in about 40 minutes from Molo Beverello.
Buying the Vesuvius ticket from resellers
The park sells it only on its official website and warns against other channels.
How do you get there from Spain?
Fly to Naples-Capodichino airport, north of the city, with direct flights from several Spanish cities. You can also fly to Rome and take the high-speed train down to Napoli Centrale.
How do you get around?
The historic centre is covered on foot. For Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius, the Circumvesuviana leaves from the central station area: the Napoli–Sorrento line stops at Ercolano Scavi and Pompei Villa dei Misteri. For the islands, hydrofoils from Molo Beverello and ferries from Porta di Massa. Don't bring a car: the traffic is chaotic and you don't need one.
What do you need to book?
Vesuvius, whose tickets are sold only online in 10-minute slots; the Sansevero Chapel, with compulsory reservation; and Pompeii in high season, with a daily visitor cap. Everything else can be decided as you go.
Where to sleep and where to eat?
To get around on foot, sleep in the historic centre: the Hotel Piazza Bellini is five minutes from the Archaeological Museum and has rooms for five. If you're coming for Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Hostel Mancini is 650 metres from the station and the Circumvesuviana. For a night with the gulf in front of you, the Grand Hotel Parker's, on the Chiaia hill, open since 1870.
To eat, the pizza at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, four varieties at €6.50 and no reservations; the Neapolitan cooking of Mimì alla Ferrovia, next to the station since 1943; and for the special dinner, the chef's menus at Palazzo Petrucci, above the sea at Posillipo.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need?
Three or four: one for the centre, one for Pompeii, one for Herculaneum and Vesuvius, and another for an island.
How do I get to Pompeii?
On the Circumvesuviana Napoli–Sorrento to Pompei Villa dei Misteri, next to the Porta Marina entrance.
How much does it cost to climb Vesuvius?
€10 general admission, plus booking fees, only at vesuviopark.vivaticket.it.
Which is better, Pompeii or Herculaneum?
Pompeii is bigger and more complete; Herculaneum, smaller and better preserved. If you only have half a day, Herculaneum.
Which day is the Sansevero Chapel closed?
Tuesdays. On other days it opens from 9:00 to 19:00.