Frequently asked questions about how to get from naples to pompeii
What is the easiest way to get from Naples to Pompeii?
The Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Centrale lower level, platform 1, direction Sorrento. Get off at Pompeii Scavi-Villa dei Misteri. The journey is 35-40 minutes and costs €3-4 each way. Trains run every 30 minutes. No advance booking is needed for the train. This is faster, cheaper, and more reliable than the bus. Organised tour transfers are convenient but cost €20-30 per person each way and add time due to hotel pickups.
Can you just turn up at Pompeii?
Yes, for most of the year. Walk-up tickets are available at the gate any day. From June through August on weekends, the queue for walk-up tickets can be 45-60 minutes. Pre-booking at pompeiisite.org costs the same (€18) and allows entry through a dedicated lane. Since January 2024, timed entry has been in use on peak days. If you pre-book, select a morning slot. The site is least crowded before 10 AM and after 4 PM.
Is 2 hours enough to see Pompeii?
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Once a thriving ancient city devastated by the nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., Pompeii is a bucket list day trip from Naples. This fascinating site, located near the coast of Italy, was buried under a thick layer of dirt and ash and remained mostly untouched until the late 16th century when it was discovered by a group of explorers.
Pompeii was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and while visiting this vast archaeological site you’ll come across excavated ruins of streets and houses, as well as artifacts, and even skeletons, which will provide a unique peek into daily life in this ancient Roman city.
Only 15 miles separate Pompeii from Naples, and there are buses and trains connecting both cities.
To help you enjoy a one-of-a-kind day trip to this intriguing archaeological site, we’ve put together a guide to the best ways to travel from Naples to Pompeii, covering 3 different transport options. Have a look!
Pompeii is located in the modern-day Campania region, near the coast of the Bay of Naples, in Southern Italy. The city lies just 15 miles, or about 30 minutes away from central Naples.
How To Get From Naples to Pompeii?
Naples to Pompeii by Car
Pompeii is located within a 30-minute drive from Naples, which covers a distance of around 15 miles.
To reach Pompeii from Naples by car, you just have to take the A3 Naples-Salerno motorway towards Salerno and exit at ‘Pompei Ovest’. From here, continue on the SS18, turn into ‘via Villa Dei Misteri’ and after a few meters, you’ll get to your final destination.
There will be tolls to pay along the route, so be sure you either bring Euros to pay in cash or have your debit/credit card ready.
Because you're traveling by car and you have more freedom, we highly suggest you stay in Pompeii overnight. This will allow you to spend more time exploring the ruins and keep you away from the enormous crowds that occur on day trips. Some of the best hotels near Pompeii are Piccolo Sogno Inn, Forum Hotel Pompei, Santa Caterina, Villa Magiola, and many more!
Naples to Pompeii by Bus
If you're on a budget, taking the direct bus is the best way of getting from Naples to Pompeii. They take just as long as trains (around 35 to 40 minutes) to reach Pompeii, and cost as little as and cost €2.80 per person.
Buses depart from the SITA bus station, which is located just a few steps away from the Nuova Marina port. Be sure you buy a ticket for the Napoli-Salerno line (not every service running this route stops at Pompei, so make sure to always double-check in advance).
Note that 'Pompei Scavi' is again the best place to disembark in Pompeii. From here, it's a short walk to the Pompeii ruins.
Buses leave once or twice per hour, starting from 7.30 am, and you can buy your ticket on board if the ticket office is shut.
Trains are the most convenient way to travel from Naples to Pompeii. There are two regular train services covering that journey, both of which depart from the Napoli Piazza Garibaldi Station (aka Napoli Centrale train station).
The most popular train is the Circumvesuviana line, which takes 35 minutes to cover the Napole-Pompeii route. Although they are slightly faster, these commute trains make several stops and usually get very crowded, so you might have to travel standing up. Plus, these trains have no air conditioning.
Circumvesuviana trains depart Naples for Pompei 2-3 times per hour during most of the day, and there are a few trains per day that stop at fewer points along the way. There's no need to change trains, but there are lots of stops en route.
For better chances to grab a seat on the Circumvesuviana train, you can head to the Napoli Porta Nolana Station instead. This station is right before the popular Garibaldi station, so there are fewer passengers, and the trains are likely to be less crowded.
Alternatively, you can hop on the Campania Express, which is a special train that runs along the Circumvesuviana line between Naples and Sorrento, with stops only at tourist sites like Pompeii. Available from mid-March to mid-October, this train departs from both Napoli Centrale station and Napoli Porta Nolana. The Campania Express train is designed especially for tourism, so it has guaranteed seating (you can buy tickets online and make seat reservations in advance), air conditioning, and luggage storage space.
The trip From Napoli Porta Nolana to Pompeii takes 36 min. From Napoli Centrale, the trip takes 33 min.
There’s also the Metropolitano train line, which also departs from the central Naples Train Station (Napoli Centrale). They take 38 minutes to reach Pompeii, but are slightly more comfortable, and also have to air-condition.
Both trains take you to the modern town of Pompei, which is built around the ruins of Pompeii. If you take the Circumvesuviana train, stop at Pompei Scavi/ Villa dei Misteri stop, located very close to the excavation site. The stop for the Metropolitano train is a little farther away – about a 10-minute walk to the Pompeii entrance.
Circumvesuviana Train: Platform, Times, and Ticket Details
The Circumvesuviana is the cheapest and most direct option from Naples to Pompeii. It runs every 30 minutes from Napoli Centrale (Piazza Garibaldi), lower level, platform 1. The journey takes 35-40 minutes to the correct stop: Pompeii Scavi-Villa dei Misteri. Do not get off at the Pompeii city stop, which serves the modern town. Pompeii Scavi drops you 200 metres from the main site entrance.
Ticket cost: €3-4 each way. Tickets are bought at the station from vending machines or the Circumvesuviana ticket windows on the lower level. There is no advance booking system for the Circumvesuviana. Tickets are not sold on the train.
Campania Express: An alternative tourist train running on the same Circumvesuviana line with fewer stops and air conditioning. Cost is around €12 each way. It runs 4-5 times daily April through October. For most visitors, the standard Circumvesuviana is adequate. The Campania Express makes sense in July and August when the local train runs standing-room only.
First and last trains: The first Circumvesuviana toward Sorrento (which passes Pompeii Scavi) leaves Napoli Centrale around 6:00 AM. Last departure back from Pompeii Scavi to Naples is around 10:30 PM in summer. Verify the return timetable at the station before you go in, as Pompeii stays open until 7:30 PM in peak season and you need buffer time. Trains run less frequently on Sundays.
From Naples airport: Take Bus 1 or the Alibus shuttle from Naples airport (Capodichino) to Piazza Garibaldi (Napoli Centrale), then follow the signs to the lower-level Circumvesuviana platforms. Total time from airport to Pompeii is around 60-70 minutes. Naples hotels near Piazza Garibaldi on CuddlyNest from €65/night.
Pompeii Entry: Tickets, Opening Hours, and How Long You Need
Pompeii archaeological park charges €18 for adult entry. Children under 18 enter free. The Herculaneum and Pompeii combined ticket costs €22. The site is open daily: 9 AM to 7:30 PM April through October, 9 AM to 5 PM November through March. Last entry is 90 minutes before closing.
Pre-booking matters from April through September. Entry slots sell out on summer weekends. Buy tickets at pompeiisite.org before arriving. Walk-up tickets are available at the gate but the queue can be 45-60 minutes in July and August. Pre-booked visitors enter through a separate lane.
How long to spend: Pompeii covers 66 hectares. Two hours is the minimum for seeing the main sites: the Forum, the Basilica, the House of the Faun, the Villa of the Mysteries. Four to five hours lets you cover the baths, the amphitheatre, and the garden houses. A full day is needed to see everything without rushing. Most day-trippers from Naples spend 3-4 hours on site.
What to bring: Water is sold on site at inflated prices. Bring at least 1 litre per person. In July and August, temperatures inside Pompeii reach 35-38°C with no shade in the open areas. A hat and sun protection are not optional in summer. Comfortable walking shoes are needed as the site is cobbled throughout. Hotels near Pompeii on CuddlyNest from €55/night.
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Two hours covers the main sites at a fast pace: the Forum, Basilica, House of the Faun, and main street leading to the Villa of the Mysteries. You will not see the baths, amphitheatre, or residential areas in 2 hours. For a day trip from Naples with a 9 AM arrival, 3-4 hours on site is the most common itinerary. The Villa of the Mysteries at the western edge of the site is worth the extra hour. It requires a 15-minute walk from the main entrance. <a href="https://www.cuddlynest.com/s/naples--campania--italy">Naples accommodation on CuddlyNest from €65/night.</a>
