Organising an excursion to Pompeii is a really good idea!
It often happens that travellers ask us for information on how to organise a day out on the Amalfi Coast.
These are mostly those who stay for several days and have the right amount of time to enrich their itinerary. It is impossible not to recommend a day trip to Campania’s iconic destinations, especially to those coming from further afield and visiting it for the first time.
Among the most popular destinations and those we recommend most often are undoubtedly the island of Capri, Paestum, Naples and Sorrento, which we have already discussed in the linked articles.
Among the options we recommend there is also that of organising an excursion to Pompeii, one of the richest cities in the world in terms of history and monuments, visited every day by thousands of tourists from all over the world to visit in particular the Pompeii ruins and the Sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary.
We know that those who decide to travel for an entire day are looking for all the information they need to best organise their itinerary and avoid unforeseen and unpleasant surprises. Moreover, choosing between the various destinations that can be reached in a maximum of two hours is not at all easy, especially when all the places proposed seem to promise an incredible experience!
In such cases, making a choice means weighing well between the interest in the type of attraction, the time available, the difficulty of the trip and, of course, personal taste.
This is why, in the following paragraphs, we will try to give you all the information you need to organise an excursion to Pompeii, starting from the Amalfi Coast. There will be no lack of advice on how to get to the city, what to see and a few hints about the city’s history.
We hope, in this way, to give you everything you need to make the best choice of destination for your day out or – why not? – to make you want to organise more than one.
Enjoy your time reading!
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How to arrive quickly and without stress: travel tips for your excursion to Pompeii
As you already know, the Amalfi Coast is not connected by a railway line.
Therefore, the first thing to do is to reach the city of Salerno. You can do this by using the SITA SUD service, or the Travelmar service.
Set sail with us! Book your ticket
From Salerno you can board a regional train to Pompeii, proceeding from there by bus to the excavations. The total journey time is on average one hour and twenty minutes, including waiting time during the change in Pompeii.
The ticket costs less than 5 Euro.
If you do not want to wait for the bus from Pompeii station, you can get a taxi, which will take you to the entrance of the excavations. The average tariff is about 10 Euro.
From Naples and Sorrento you can take the Circumvesuviana: the stop is Ercolano-Scavi.
If you are travelling by public transport, remember that the last bus to Amalfi from Salerno leaves at 9.30 pm on weekdays and 8.30 pm on holidays: use these times as reference points to organise your return to the Coast.
Alternatively, you can use your car. We would be inclined to advise against this option, as it could be stressful and tiring, both because of the State Road 163, which is difficult to navigate, and because of the possibility of encountering traffic along the road, especially if you travel at weekends or in high season.
If you really cannot do without it, you have two options, which depend on your starting town:
- If you are departing from Amalfi and neighbouring towns, such as Conca dei Marini, Atrani, Ravello, proceed via the SS 373 and continue past Ravello, to the Valico di Chiunzi, from where you proceed to the A3; finally, take the ‘Pompei Ovest’ exit.
- From Minori and Maiori, take Via Nuova Chiunzi; from here take the SP2 to the Valico di Chiunzi and proceed as described above.
- From Positano, instead, take the SS 145 and then the A3.
In this way, you will avoid the traffic, travelling along the entire coast to Vietri sul Mare.
Explore Pompeii with us! Book your guided excursion now!
Embark on two unforgettable tours to explore Pompeii:One starts from bustling Naples, with a delicious lunch and wine tasting, and the other starts from the picturesque Amalfi Coast. The latter offers convenient pickup points in Maiori, Minori, Atrani, Amalfi and Praiano, ensuring a stress-free journey.
Both tours blend the historical richness of Pompeii with a worry-free experience, promising unique and unforgettable adventures.
Some information about the city of Pompeii
Pompeii has a millennial history, so much so that the first people to inhabit this land came from the Aegean. Initially, it was not a real village but only an agglomeration of a few houses.
Obviously, its history is closely linked to Rome. First, between 525 and 474 BC, it became a colony of Cumae. It became an ally of the Romans only after its defeat during the Samnite Wars.
80 BC was the year in which the veterans of the Colonia Venerea Pompeianorum Sillana arrived in Pompeii. As everyone knows, the history of this land changed, or rather stopped forever in 79 BC.
What few know, however, is that Pompeii was for hundreds of years within the municipality of Torre Annunziata, until 1928 when it was granted its autonomy. The origin of the modern town, as we know it today, can be traced back to the early 1900s when the Sanctuary in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary was built and then consecrated.
The municipality of Pompeii was established on 29 March 1928, acquiring the part of the territory of Torre Annunziata known as Valle di Pompei, i.e. the entire territory of the archaeological excavations and the shrine. The remaining territory was ceded by the municipalities of Scafati, Boscoreale, Gragnano and Castellammare di Stabia.
What to see during your excursion to Pompeii
Tourists arriving in Pompeii are spoilt for choice on what to visit. Every year thousands of faithful arrive to admire the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Rosario. Its construction is linked to the name of Blessed Bartolo Lauro who collected offerings from the devout. Work began in 1876 while the consecration took place in 1901.
Particularly on 8 May and 7 October, on the occasion of the Supplication of Our Lady of Pompeii, thousands of tourists arrive in the Neapolitan town. This long-awaited and heartfelt moment of faith has become an unmissable appointment for many people.
The most fascinating part is the Pompeii ruins. Immersing oneself in this experience means touching a city that was not destroyed by the explosion of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., and has remained perfectly preserved under the layer of ash.
This means being able to walk through streets, shops and dwellings from 2000 years ago, literally walking through a slice of history that has remained completely intact.
Immediately after purchasing your ticket for the Pompeii excavations, you enter the Amphitheatre, now covered with a grass surface, but once the stage for gladiator fights.
Among the most visited and famous attractions of the site, it is impossible not to mention the Villa of the Mysteries, one of the best-preserved rooms to be found within the archaeological excavations, where on the walls of the triclinic you can admire the Dionysian fresco depicting the initiation of a bride into the mystery rites, one of the most beautiful frescoes in all of antiquity.
The Temple of Apollo is one of the landmarks of the excavations. Dating back to the 7th century B.C., several altars stood here and it is one of the places not to be missed by all those who come to the Neapolitan city.
Inside the archaeological site there are several houses such as that of the Faun, the Surgeon and the Guitarist, and that of Menander, which are a must-see for all those passing through these surroundings. Here you can admire unique monuments, frescoes and mosaics. For example, in the Menander House, there is a fresco depicting the Greek playwright Menander, after whom the house took its name.
Another interesting mosaic – which has become very common on the doors and gates of houses – is the ‘Cave canem’, a mosaic depicting a dog, which can be seen at the entrance to the house of the tragic poet.
Tips for your excursion to Pompeii
If you plan your trip during the summer, bring a hat with a visor, sunscreen and water bottles. Try to visit the site in the morning, during the cooler hours: the sun is beating down and it is not pleasant to walk around in very high temperatures, also because the Pompeii excavations take some time to visit (two hours is the minimum).
The best time, in our opinion, is during spring or early summer. This time of the year is to be preferred if your excursion to Pompeii includes children.
