Pompeii Day Trip: How to Get to Pompeii from Naples, Italy

One of the highlights of my trip to Italy was visiting the famous Pompeii ruins. 

For those unaware of history, Pompeii is an archeological site near Naples, just a few minutes away from the city.

The ancient city was destroyed during the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD and remained under the ashes until the 16th century when the town was brought back to light.

Pompeii is one of the most well-preserved and relevant ruins that we can visit nowadays, so If you are visiting Naples, Pompeii should be on your list as a day trip, and here I will teach you how to get to Pompeii from Naples.

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Quick links to plan your Day Trip to Pompeii from Naples, Italy

Things to Know Before Visiting Pompeii from Naples

Tours to Pompeii from Naples

Of course, the easiest way of getting from Naples to Pompeii is by booking a guided tour that takes you from the city center or picks you up at your hotel and takes you directly to the ruins, and this is why this is the first option I will mention here.

If you are looking for an easy and comfortable way to visit Pompeii I can’t recommend guided tours enough, they are great shortcuts, clearing your mind of any worries and allowing time to enjoy your trip even more.

Some people like the adventure of finding the way by themselves, which is great if you are looking for an adventure, but if you just want to enjoy your vacation without worrying about schedules and locations, guided tours do give a hand on that.

Best Pompeii Tours from Naples:

• 1 – Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius Tour – Take a tour from Naples to Pompeii, stroll around its streets, visit the main highlights, and finish your trip by walking to the crater of Mt Vesuvius, where you will have a beautiful panoramic view of the Bay of Naples. Pickup & drop-off are available, the tour also includes lunch and one drink.
• 2 – From Naples to Pompeii and Herculaneum, Guided Tour with an Archaeologist – The best option if you want comfort and an immersive experience. This tour takes you from Naples to Pompeii and Herculaneum ruins in the company of an experienced Archaeologist.
• 3 – From Naples: Pompeii, Herculaneum, & Vesuvius Full-Day Tour – This tour takes you from Naples to the source of the tragedy: Mt Vesuvius, after that you will visit the ruins of Herculaneum and then Pompeii.

How to Get to Pompeii from Naples by Train

The best way to get to Pompeii from Naples and also the most popular is by taking the train.

It is easy and very convenient.

All trains heading to Pompeii depart from the Napoli Centrale station, the main station in Naples located at Piazza Garibaldi.

Circumvesuviana line

Circumvesuviana line is the most popular line among tourists, the service is not good quality, but it does the job, and if you are on a budget, this is your best option.

Anyways, once you get to the station, all you have to do is follow the signs, the Circumvesuviana line is located just downstairs, the stairs are right at the entrance and you will easily spot it as it is well signalized.

Plus you will see a bunch of tourists doing the same thing as you, so there is no way to get lost.

The Circumvesuviana line links Naples to Sorrento, this line also stops at Herculaneum, another famous ancient ruin destroyed in the same eruption as Pompeii.

With so many relevant stops, you can imagine how busy this line can be, the trains are usually packed with people!

The trains on this line depart every 20 minutes and only take around 35 minutes to get to Pompei Scavi/Villa dei Misteri.

It is also important to pay attention to your belongings during the trip, put your bags close to your body, and make sure everything is secure.

Unfortunately, pickpockets are common on this route, and as many people board this train, it is easy to get distracted.

• Duration: 35 minutes
• Train: Busy commenter train
• Ticket fee: 3 EUR one-way
• Advance ticket: Not available
• All-year-around service

Campania Express

Another option is to take the Campania Express, which is a better quality train service that attends the same route as the Circumvesuviana line, however it only runs from March to October.

All trains have ACs and it only transports passengers with seats.

Campania Express has only 8 departs a day, so you better plan ahead to make sure you get an early train to explore Pompeii with time.

The trip also takes 35 minutes from Napoli Centrale to Pompei Scavi/Villa dei Misteri and the one-way ticket costs 15 EUR or 25 EUR a round-trip.

• Duration: 35 minutes
• Train: Good quality service, seat for every passenger and AC
• Ticket fee: 15 EUR one-way / 25 EUR round-trip
• Advance ticket: Available
• March to October

Metropolitan line

The Metropolitan line also departs from the Napoli Centrale, however, different from the other lines, it does NOT stop at the Pompei Scavi/Villa dei Misteri station.

Instead, it stops at ‘Pompei’ station, the modern town.

From there, you have a 10-minute walk to get to the archeological site’s entrance.

The trains run every 30 minutes and the tickets cost 3 EUR.

It takes 38 minutes to go from Napoli Centrale to Pompei station and another 10 minutes walk from the station to the entrance.

The Metropolitan line is a good option if you are spending the night in Pompei town, but if you are visiting Pompeii as a day trip, it doesn’t make much sense to catch this train, in this case, the Circumvesuviana line will serve you better.

• Duration: 38 minutes + 10-minutes walk
• Train: Standard train
• Ticket fee: 3 EUR one-way
• Advance ticket: Available

How to Get to Pompeii from Naples by Bus

Public Transport

This option can be interesting if your accommodation is close to the dock, as the SITA bus station is located close to Naples Port.

You can buy your ticket at the station, look for the Napoli-Salerno line, it is a frequent line and the trip takes only 30 minutes.

You should disembark at the Pompei Scavi, just minutes away from the ruins’ entrance, but it is important to note that not every bus on this route stops at Pompeii, so it is better to double-check before boarding the bus.

The one-way ticket costs 3 EUR and you can buy it online, at the ticket office, or even on board, if the office is shut.

It is important to note though, that different from the Circumvesuviana train, the bus service does have a limit, so it is better to secure your ticket in advance, especially in busy months like during Summer, as this route serves locals that are to visiting Pompeii as well.

• Duration: 30 minutes
• Train: Standard bus
• Ticket fee: 3 EUR one-way
• Advance ticket: Available

Shuttle Bus

Another option is to take the Suttle bus.

The shuttle leaves the city center of Naples twice in the morning, I suggest taking the first one though, it leaves Naples at 09:20 and arrives at Pompeii at 10:00, giving you enough time to explore the city in the morning.

You can board the shuttle back to Naples at 13:45, which gives you time to enjoy the city in the afternoon.

A shuttle bus is a good option if you are looking for extra comfort, it doesn’t offer hotel pickup and dropoff.

• Duration: 40 minutes
• Train: Comfortable bus
• Ticket fee: 23 EUR one-way
• Advance ticket: Available. You can book it here.

How to Get to Pompeii from Naples by Car

Another option is to go from Naples to Pompeii by car.

All you have to do is take the A3 Naples-Salerno motorway towards Salerno and leave it at the Pompei Ovest exit, the trip takes around 20-30 minutes.

There are many parking lots near the site’s entrance, both free and paid.

Arriving at Pompeii

To get to the archeological site, make sure you leave the train at the Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri station.

There are four stations named “Pompei” but Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri is the one located close to the site’s entrance.

From the station, you just have to make your way to the ticket post, which will take less than a minute.

Pompeii is open every day of the year but on Christmas, 1st January, and 1st May.

I always recommend getting a guided tour, as this is a way to learn more about the site, however, if you prefer to visit it on your own make sure you get a map of the ruins, you can get it at the beginning of your visit for free.

More About Italy

• One Day in Naples Itinerary
• 2 Days in Naples, Italy
• Best Day Trips from Naples
• How Safe is Naples, Italy?
• 3 Days in Rome Itinerary
• How to get to Rome Termini from Fiumicino Airport
• 2 Days in Florence Itinerary
• What to do on a Layover in Milan

Italy Travel Essentials

• FLIGHT TICKET: Get the best flight deal with Skyscanner.
• ACCOMMODATION: Find the perfect accommodation on Booking.
• VISA: Apply for a Visa on iVisa.
• eSIM: Stay connected throughout your trip with Airalo eSim. It offers packages from 7 to 30 days for accessible prices.
• PRIVATE TRANSFER: Book your private airport transfer.
• RENT A CAR: Find the best rates on DiscoverCars.
• GUIDED TOUR: Find the best tours in Italy on GetYourGuide

This text was originally written and posted in February 2020 and updated in June 2024. New information has been added and links have been updated so that it could offer a better experience to the reader.