Rome to Pompeii Day Trip: Everything You Need To Know!

If you have more than 3 days in Rome, you can easily visit Pompeii on a day trip. Once a major Roman city, Pompeii was buried in ash after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. However, it was excavated during the 18th century, and today, you can explore this incredible archaeological site.

When it comes to planning a Rome to Pompeii day trip, you’ve got the option of getting there yourself or taking a tour. This guide will cover everything you need to know about your visit. That includes how to get there, the best tour options, and roughly how much you’ll want to pay!

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How to Get to Pompeii from Rome

Rome to Pompeii by train

The fastest way to reach Pompeii from Rome is by train. However, there’s no direct route between the two from Italy’s capital, so you’ll first need to catch the train to Naples.

There’s a high-speed service (the majority are Frecciarossas trains) that runs from Roma Termini Station to Naples Centrale Station, and this is the one we’d recommend.

The journey takes around 70 minutes, although prices do tend to be more expensive, with tickets sometimes costing upwards of £30. The longer commuter trains will be cheaper (as little as £10-£15) but they take around 2.5 hours.

Once in Naples, take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii. This service departs from Napoli Porta Garibaldi Station, which is located underneath Naples main station. The journey to Pompeii Scavi – Villa Dei Misteri takes around 35 minutes and fares cost around £2.75 each way.

If you’re organising the trip yourself, this method of transport will offer you the most time in Pompeii.

Rome to Pompeii by bus

When planning a Rome to Pompeii trip, there’s also the option of catching a coach. This is what we did, and we didn’t have any issues!

The coach from Rome to Pompeii typically takes between 3-3.5 hours, and the driver will stop at a service station along the way. You can book tickets on BusBud for around £15 one-way, and the best option is Flixbus.

Services typically depart from Rome Tiburtina Bus Station, and we recommend going for the earliest departure (8 am or 9 am). This will get you into Pompeii around midday, or even earlier. Just be aware that some buses travel onward to Sorrento, so keep an eye out for your stop.

Although this journey takes much longer, the coach will drop you off in Pompeii. You won’t have to visit Naples first, so you can head straight off to explore. We headed back to Rome at about 6 pm and booked our return ticket in advance.

Rome to Pompeii by car

If you’re confident on the road, then driving to Pompeii offers the ultimate convenience. The journey takes under 2.5 hours, and you’ll cover a distance of around 241 km (150 miles). Just be aware that there are tolls, and you’ll be driving on the right-hand side of the road.

The great thing about Rome is that there are so many fantastic car rental companies! If you fly into Rome, there are several great options including Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, and Sixt.

We’d suggest checking out a platform like Discover Cars in advance, which compares all these different providers. You can get a rental for as little as £16 per day.

If you don’t want to hire a car, then why not check out a carpool service such as BlaBlaCar? You’ll get to Pompeii much quicker than by coach or even train in some cases, and you won’t have to drive yourself.

By guided tour

If you’d prefer not to sort out the logistics, why not head on a guided tour? This way, you don’t have to worry about getting to Pompeii yourself, and you can simply enjoy the experience.

There are a variety of full-day trips that depart from Rome. These tend to include your transport, entrance ticket, and guided tour through Pompeii, with some having additional inclusions such as your lunch.

Many of these day tours last for around 13 hours. You can also find tours that visit an additional location, such as Mount Vesuvius, Naples, or the Amalfi Coast.

The Best Rome to Pompeii Tours

If you’d prefer to visit by guided tour and have everything sorted for you, there are plenty of fantastic options out there. When booking tours, we always use Get Your Guide or Viator.

Both platforms offer a huge variety of tours, and you can read the reviews before you book. Not to mention, both companies offer free cancellation for most activities, if you can cancel up to 24 hours before. This is perfect for those who aren’t 100% sure of their plans yet.

Below, we’ve listed some of the most popular Rome to Pompeii tours. This way, you don’t have to do all the research yourself!

Should You Visit Self-Guided or on a Tour?

How you go about your Rome to Pompeii day trip depends on what you’re after. For those who are on a budget and want to take their time exploring the site, we’d recommend organising the day yourself. This is what we did, and it worked out much cheaper than the tours.

However, a guided tour is a fantastic option if you’re not bothered about the cost. Everything will be sorted for you, and you’ll often be taken around Pompeii by an expert archaeological guide (depending on which tour you choose).

Below, we’ll go through some of the pros and cons of each option. This way, you can decide what’s best for you.

Visiting Self-Guided

Visiting on a Tour

Visiting Mount Vesuvius from Pompeii

If you’re not planning to go on a tour, then you’ll need to visit Mount Vesuvius yourself. Now, there are two main options; the tourist way and the savvy way (definitely go for the latter).

As you walk along the streets outside of Pompeii, you’ll find endless tour operators offering trips to Vesuvius. However, these typically cost a lot of money (we saw options upward of €20). These companies will even tell you they’re the only way to reach the volcano, but don’t listen to them!

Instead, catch the public bus up to Mount Vesuvius which is what we did. Look out for signs that say ‘Fermata EAV bus’. The journey takes around 55 minutes and costs €3.10 each way, and you can purchase tickets onboard.

We’d recommend checking the bus timetables in advance, so you can plan your trip. Bus times from Vesuvius back to Pompeii tend to be less frequent so just keep that in mind.

How Much Does a Day Trip to Pompeii Cost?

There are so many options when it comes to day trips from Rome to Pompeii. However, the cost is surely one of the most important factors when making your decision so let’s dive into it.

If you’re not heading out on a tour, then you’ll need to account for your Pompeii entrance ticket. Ticket prices start from £15 so are very affordable, and you can also purchase an audioguide or guided tour.

Now, here’s a general idea of what you’re looking to pay:

• Self-guided (bus + Pompeii entrance ticket) – From £45 per person

• Self-guided (train + Pompeii entrance ticket) – From £40 per person (£75+ for a high-speed service)

• Organised tour from Rome – From £120 per person

If you’re planning a day trip from Rome to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius (self-guided), then you’ll need to allow for additional costs. These include:

• Round-trip bus fare to Mount Vesuvius – €6.20 per person (around £5.50)

• Vesuvius National Park ticket – €10 per person (around £8.50)

Places to Visit in Pompeii

• Pompeii Museum – Often referred to as the Antiquarium, the Pompeii Museum is a must-visit. Here, you’ll see a variety of impressive artefacts, including household objects and sculptures.

• The Great Theatre of Pompeii – This Roman theatre is one of the best preserved in the world. It used to host theatre productions and gladiator performances and was a popular spot with the locals.

• The Amphitheatre of Pompeii – It’s one of the oldest known amphitheares from the Roman era, dating back to 70 BC. It was used for gladiatorial events and could hold up to 20,000 people.

• The Forum – This building was the centre of cultural, political and religious life in Pompeii. From this area, you’ll get striking views of Mount Vesuvius if it’s a clear day.

• Villa of The Mysteries – Located on the outskirts of Pompeii, this villa is known for its impressive ancient paintings. It’s unknown what these paintings depict which is all part of the ‘mystery’.

Top Tips for Your Rome to Pompeii Day Trip

• Try to visit on a clear day – Although Pompeii is breathtaking at any time of year, if you visit on a clear day, you’ll get to see Mount Vesuvius towering over the ancient city ruins.

• Opt for a flexible return train ticket – Purchasing a flexible ticket means you aren’t too restricted. However, high-speed trains do sell out quickly, so that’s not always the best option!

• Mount Vesuvius – Although we visited Mount Vesuvius on the same day, some people may feel rushed. We love to action-pack our trips but others may prefer to just explore Pompeii.

• Free Pompeii entrance ticket – On the first Sunday of every month, you can enter Pompeii for free. Opening hours remain as normal, but just be aware, that the site gets extremely busy on these days.

• Wear comfortable shoes – You’ll be on your feet all day, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes. In fact, we’d recommend packing some blister plasters just in case!

Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting Pompeii

Is Pompeii worth visiting?

Yes, we highly recommend visiting Pompeii if you’re in Italy. This fabulous Unesco World Heritage Site offers you a glance into the Roman Kingdom and is one of the most unique places you’ll ever visit.

As you wander around, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Not only will you see the remains of this once mighty city, but you’ll see the towering Mount Vesuvius in the background.

Is a day trip to Pompeii from Rome worth it?

In our opinion, yes! Although this archaeological site is located 241 km (150 miles) from Italy’s capital, planning a trip to Pompeii from Rome is very easy (whether self-guided or by tour).

If you only have a couple of days in Rome, then we’d advise spending it exploring the city as there’s a lot to see. However, if you have additional time, this isn’t a place that you want to miss!

What is the best way to get from Rome to Pompeii?

If you’re planning a Pompeii day trip from Rome, then taking a guided tour may be the easiest option. This way, all the logistics are sorted for you, and you won’t have to worry about transport.

If you want to organise the trip yourself, then the high-speed train to Naples is a popular option. You can also catch a coach from Rome which will drop you right outside Pompeii (this is what we did).

How many hours do you need at Pompeii?

In our experience, you need at least 2-3 hours at Pompeii (preferably more). Although only two-thirds of the ancient city has been excavated so far, there’s still a lot to see!

If you want to visit Mount Vesuvius as well, then you’ll need to allow an additional 2 hours or so. For the best experience get to Pompeii as early as you can so you’ve got the whole day to explore.

Final Thoughts on Taking a Rome to Pompeii Day Trip

As you can see, there’s a lot to think about when planning a day trip to Pompeii from Rome. How you choose to visit will depend on your budget, timeframe, and whether you want to organise it yourself.

If you can, we’d highly recommend visiting self-guided. This is what we did, and it was super easy to organise. Not to mention, you can explore Pompeii for as long as you’d like. Although guided tours are fantastic, they do restrict your time.

If you have further questions about a Rome to Pompeii day trip, don’t hesitate to contact us via Instagram, Facebook, or in the comments below!

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