Pompeii & Herculaneum Day Trip from Rome by High-Speed Train

From Rome to Naples by high-speed train

The day begins at Roma Termini, the city's main station, where you board a high-speed train with the tickets we send you. Trains run at up to 300 km/h and reach Napoli Centrale in about 70 minutes, a far faster and more comfortable way to make a Pompeii day trip from Rome than a coach on the motorway.

In Naples your guide meets the group opposite the station and a minibus takes you south along the Bay of Naples towards Vesuvius, about 30 minutes to Pompeii. If you travel with suitcases, leave them at a luggage deposit at the station, as the minibus may not have room for luggage. Watch for the green hills of Lazio and Campania from the window on the way south.

Pompeii Archaeological Site

Pompeii was a busy Roman town of perhaps 11,000 people when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD and covered it in metres of ash and pumice. Rediscovered in the 18th century, it is now the most complete picture we have of daily life in the Roman world: paved streets with stepping stones and cart ruts, the Forum and its temples, bakeries with millstones, fast-food counters, baths, theatres and painted houses.

In two hours your archaeologist guide leads you through the highlights, including newly opened houses and the haunting plaster casts made from the hollows left by victims in the ash. Expect about a mile of walking on uneven stones with little shade. Is Pompeii worth visiting? It is one of the great sights of Italy, and visiting with an expert makes the ruins come alive.

Herculaneum Archaeological Site

Herculaneum was a smaller, wealthier seaside town on the other side of Vesuvius. Buried under up to 20 metres of volcanic material, it is better preserved than Pompeii: houses still stand two storeys high, with wooden beams, stairs, furniture, mosaics and wall paintings in place. Many visitors find it the more moving of the two sites.

Your 2-hour guided visit takes in the elegant houses and baths, including the House of Neptune and Amphitrite with its glittering wall mosaic, and ends at the ancient shoreline, where the skeletons of hundreds of people who sought shelter in the boat sheds were found. The walk here is shorter, about half a mile, and the compact site is easy to follow.

Mount Vesuvius and the land around it

Throughout the day the twin-peaked shape of Vesuvius dominates the view, the only active volcano on mainland Europe. Its eruption in 79 AD sent a column of ash high into the sky and then flows of hot gas and debris that destroyed Pompeii, Herculaneum and other towns around the bay. Your guide explains how the disaster unfolded and how it preserved these cities for almost 1,700 years.

Between the two sites there is a break of about 50 minutes at a large shopping centre near Pompeii, a convenient stop for a meal, coffee and restrooms. Lunch is not included, so this is the moment to eat before the afternoon visit to Herculaneum.

Tips for a Pompeii and Herculaneum day trip

This is a long but rewarding day of about 11 hours, starting with the 07:40 train from Rome. The best time to visit Pompeii is spring or autumn, when temperatures are mild; in summer the sites can be very hot, so a hat, sunscreen and water are essential. The tour runs in rain or shine, so bring a raincoat on wet days.

Wear closed, comfortable shoes with good grip; sandals, flip-flops and high heels are not allowed. Bring your passport or ID card for the trains and the site entrances. Because of the uneven paving and the amount of walking, the tour is not recommended for people with limited mobility or wheelchair users.