Naples 24th December

We arrive in to Naples 8.00am on Christmas Eve and would like to visit Herculaneum or Pompeii or both

A bit concerned on doing this on our own by train/bus as we are unsure as to how transport will be on the 24th.

NCL do a ship's tour but it is £97 each for a tour of 3 and a half hours(Herculaneum ) or £102 each for a tour to Pompeii (4 hours).

any advice gratefully received.

there will be a line of taxis as you leave the ship in Naples offering to take you to either site for a fixed fare

it was 70 euros per taxi which was split between 4 of us

that was transfer to Herculaneum and agreement to meet us 2 hours later to transfer back to ship

our driver spoke good English and was trying to persuade us to add on a trip to Vesuvius but would have been too much walking for my husband

entrance fee for Herculaneum was 11 euros and option of a guide for 40 euros which we declined

much cheaper than ships tours!

You'll have no problem with public transit in the morning and it will be running in the afternoon as well, certainly as late as you would need to be back at the ship.

You can take either the bus from the port to Pompei or a bus to the Porta Nolana station and the Circumvesuviana train from there. For Herculeneum you need to take the train, there isn't an easy bus option.

If you only intend to spend a couple of hours at each site you can easily fit in both and be back to the ship in plenty of time.

Thanks Euro Cruise and Fab Forty for the information.

We will take the train with fingers crossed !!!!!!!!

Bring this up again a day or so before and we can check the Circumvesuviana web site to see if there are any advisories posted, but I think you'll be fine.

Thanks - that's helpful.

We have visited both sites many years ago so there is not a problem if we decide to spend Christmas Eve day in Naples.

You need to take into account that in Italy, like most of Europe, the Christmas celebration dinner is eaten on Christmas Eve and could mean not so many taxi drivers working in the afternoon. It may be better booking with a local tour operator.

Thanks, London Towner - good advice