Pompeii and Herculaneum in One Day from Naples Port

[aaaaa]

Would this be feasible? Ship docks at Naples at 7:00 a.m. and leaves at 5:00 p.m. Would you recommend a tour or taxis? Thanks for your advice.

[cruisemom42]

Before rushing around and trying to accomplish this (and yes, you could probably visit both in a day), is there a particular reason you are set on seeing both?

 

I'd think it would be more productive to spend the entire day at the Pompeii site where you will be able to see some of ALL the various types of structures -- from houses and an outstanding villa to the forum, well-preserved baths, theatre, amphitheatre, gymnasium, shops, even a temple or two and a street of tombs.

 

Herculaneum is only partially uncovered and was a much smaller town than Pompeii to start with. While it does have some outstanding examples of houses, restorations and reopenings in Pompeii in the last couple of years have made some great houses available that previously were closed for years and rival those at Herculaneum.

[marazul]

Pompeii is a huge site. You will gain a lot by having a private tour guide. Make sure your tour includes some of the more distant places, such as the Villa of the Mysteries, in addition to the usual tour circuit.

http://www.pompeiisites.org/index.jsp?idProgetto=2

 

An here is a list of the places referred to by cruisemom:

http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione.jsp?titolo=Visiting+the+site&idSezione=2669

[Hlitner]

Yes, it is possible to visit both sites although some might argue that you will be "ruin"ed. They actually sell a slightly discounted entry ticket (at either site) that includes entree to both sites. It can be done on your own by simply using the Circumvesuviana Trains (the same line stops at both Ercolano and Pompeii Scavi). Eurocruiser also talks about using a SITA bus line that runs from near the port to Pompeii (we have never used the bus) and then you could later take the train up to Ercolano...visit those ruins and then make your way back to Naples.

 

Would we recommend doing both in a port day? Only if you are really crazy about ruins. Otherwise, it might be a more enjoyable to day to vary the itinerary and get some more variety.

 

Hank

[cruisemom42]

Otherwise, it might be a more enjoyable to day to vary the itinerary and get some more variety.

 

Hank

 

Variety? :confused: Oh, you mean like the Archaeological Museum to see the Roman remains from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Or maybe the Roman villa at Oplontis. :')

[Hlitner]

Variety? :confused: Oh, you mean like the Archaeological Museum to see the Roman remains from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Or maybe the Roman villa at Oplontis. :')

 

Oh my! Now you have given me an idea for our next visit. We have never been to Oplontis :) Thank you for that tip.

 

Hank

P.S. You should warn folks about the porno collection in the Archaeological Museum. A true highlight if that collection is open.

[bennybear]

Oh I have wanted to visit Oplontis too!

[ollienbertsmum]

We visited Herculaneum on our cruise. We went in November and the weather was lovely for walking about. I think that I enjoyed it as much as I had enjoyed Pompeii a few years ago. I used the audio guide which I got confused with a couple of times (difficulty following the directions so I was not sure what I was looking at).

 

For us the cruises are very much vacations, so we try to spend our days doing activities that allow us to get up later, not earlier, than we have to at home! Thus we only had time to get to Herculaneum and back to the ship. If we had left earlier I am sure we would also have been able to have gone to the ruins and done up trip up Vesuvius. The buses that take you up the mountain were right beside the the Ercolano Circumvesuviana station.

Another option for your day in Naples is to visit just one of the ruins and then go into Naples, the birthplace of pizza, to eat a slice.

[marazul]

Variety? :confused: Oh, you mean like the Archaeological Museum to see the Roman remains from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Or maybe the Roman villa at Oplontis. :')

 

Love it! But why would you skip Stabia?

[cruisemom42]

Love it! But why would you skip Stabia?

 

....or for that matter, the amphitheater at Pozzuoli and the ruins at Baia. ;)

 

I think we'd have much to share if our paths ever crossed. When I went to Stabia a few year ago, it was one of those quintessential Italian experiences. No formal entry, just ask the farmer/caretaker to let you in and then wander around and discover things on your own. My friend and I were the only two people there.

[marazul]

....or for that matter, the amphitheater at Pozzuoli and the ruins at Baia. ;)

 

I think we'd have much to share if our paths ever crossed.

 

Would love that. And now you have added two more spots to my list!

[bennybear]

Love finding the unexpected, undervisited ruins. Policoro in Basilicata, a villa in Estoi on the Algarve, another one near Perl, Germany, and a whole town in Britain.

[aaaaa]

Thanks for your helpful replies. We'll probably plan to visit only one site.

[cruisemom42]

Thanks for your helpful replies. We'll probably plan to visit only one site.

 

It's quite easy to do either site by using the Circumvesuviana rail line from Naples, it stops near both Pompeii (Pompei Scavi) and Herculaneum (Ercolano). Just do a search on this forum using "Circumvesuviana" and you should find a lot of info.

 

Alternatively, taxis have flat fares to take you to the site for a fixed amount of time, but if you're planning on spending more than a couple of hours I'm not sure that this mode would be optimal.

 

And for Pompeii there is also the bus mentioned above, but it has limited departures.

[carrolandy]

Would this be feasible? Ship docks at Naples at 7:00 a.m. and leaves at 5:00 p.m. Would you recommend a tour or taxis? Thanks for your advice.

In my opinion surely better a taxi avoiding hurry and stress...

[Hlitner]

In my opinion surely better a taxi avoiding hurry and stress...

 

A taxi (or private car/driver) is almost always a better option, if one does not have a budget! But money is an issue for many folks which is why a few of us are always giving public transportation suggestions :). Sometimes the price differential can be small, but often taxis can cost hundreds of Euros more than a train or bus.

 

Hank

[carrolandy]

A taxi (or private car/driver) is almost always a better option, if one does not have a budget! But money is an issue for many folks which is why a few of us are always giving public transportation suggestions :). Sometimes the price differential can be small, but often taxis can cost hundreds of Euros more than a train or bus.

 

Hank

Right! 😊😉

[Troban]

We are doing Herculeum then need to decide between Oplontis or Stabiae

Which do you recommend?

[cruisemom42]

We are doing Herculeum then need to decide between Oplontis or Stabiae

Which do you recommend?

 

Hands down I'd recommend Oplontis. It is a fantastic site with gorgeous frescoes; well preserved enough to give you a real feeling for the place (Olympic sized swimming pool and all). Google images of the place and you'll see what I mean.

 

The surrounding area is not the most fetching, but it is easy enough to get to from the train station if that's how you're planning to go. Be sure to ask for the little information guide when you purchase your tickets, or better yet take some information with you as they are sometimes out of the English version. (The rooms do not have much by way of explanation.) This is a good place to start: https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/oplontis/villa-of-poppaea

 

Stabiae is also very pleasant to visit, but it doesn't have the impact of Oplontis.