It's easier than you think to organize a Pompeii tour from Rome. If your itinerary is flexible, we suggest dedicating a few days to exploring the sights in Rome and a few days to visiting Naples and the Amalfi Coast, including a tour of Pompeii.
Otherwise, if you don't have enough time to spend an overnight or more near Pompeii to explore, you can opt to take a Pompeii trip from Rome in a single day.
You can choose between joining an organized Pompeii tour from Rome or visit the archaeological remains on your own by taking public transport. We recommend joining a tour to make the most of your time.
How to Get to Pompeii from Rome
It takes about 2.5 hours to drive to Pompeii from Rome, and the route is primarily along major highways.
Pompeii Tours from Rome
There are numerous bus tours from Rome to Pompeii to choose from. These generally include pickup from your hotel in the center of Rome or from central meeting points in the city and transport via air-conditioned coach directly to the Pompeii archaeological park entrance. From here, the group takes a guided tour of the ruins followed by free time for lunch and often a quick stop in the center of Naples before the return trip to Rome.
How to Visit Pompeii from Rome by Train
It takes a bit longer to take a Pompeii trip from Rome via public transportation:
From the Rome Termini station, take a high-speed train to the Naples centrale station.
At the Naples centrale station, transfer to the local Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii. The station is located directly opposite the Villa dei Misteri entrance to the archaeological park.
Book your train tickets from Rome to Naples
It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach Naples from Rome by train, and an additional 40 minutes by train between Naples and the ruins of Pompeii. Trains to Naples depart hourly from Rome beginning in the early morning and continuing through the day; trains from Naples to Pompeii depart roughly every 20 minutes. The Circumvesuviana trains depart and arrive from the lower level of the Naples central station, below the high-speed train platforms. If you plan on taking the train from Rome to Pompeii, allow about 3 hours of travel time to reach Pompeii from the Rome Termini station.
There are licensed guides available at the entrance to Pompeii, where you can join a group tour or book a private guide. The standard tour of Pompeii lasts about two hours, though you can opt for a longer tour if you decide to book a private guide.
Herculaneum Day Tours from Rome
Most packages offer day tours from Rome to Herculaneum and Pompeii both, though you can also opt to arrange a Herculaneum day tour from Rome on your own.
How to get to Herculaneum from Rome by train almost the same as how to get from Pompeii from Rome by train:
From the Rome Termini station, take a high-speed train to the Naples centrale station.
At the Naples centrale station, transfer to the local Circumvesuviana train to Ercolano (Herculaneum). The station is located about a 10-minute walk from the entrance to the archaeological park.
The ruins of Herculaneum are much smaller than the ruins of Pompeii and can be easily seen in just a few hours. There are licensed guides at the entrance, so you can book a guided tour if you prefer.
Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius Tours from Rome
Pompeii and Vesuvius day trips from Rome are a popular option, but we recommend joining an organized tour or booking a private driver as relying on public transportation can be time-consuming and stressful.