Want to visit Pompeii on a day trip from Rome? Whether you’re happy to take the train or prefer to join a tour, this guide has you covered!
Article updated with 2024 visitor + ticket information
Pompeii, the Roman town destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, offers the opportunity to transport oneself to a different age. A Unesco World Heritage site and Italy's second most-visited site, it is one of the most important archaeological and historical discoveries in the world.
Although the southern city of Naples is the most popular access point for a day trip to Pompeii, and a number of travellers also include a visit during their stay on the neighbouring Amalfi Coast, it's perfectly possible and practical to visit Pompeii from Rome in one day.
There are definitely a few things to consider and plan in advance though if you're making this journey independently by train though - but options improved dramatically in 2023!
If you're in the Italian capital already, or excitedly curating your Italy itinerary from home, this post will give you all the essential information and details to plan your Rome to Pompeii day trip.
We've also included personal advice on how to maximise your Pompeii experience, as well as a selection of highly-rated Pompeii tours from Rome if you'd prefer someone else to take care of transport, tickets, and timetables - as a quick tip, this one is our recommendation if you just want transport, this one if you’d prefer a guide and this one if you’d like to combine your Rome to Pompeii day trip with Vesuvius.
rome to pompeii Essentials
Trains / There is a now a direct Rome to Pompeii train - but only on Sundays!
Fast / The high-speed train is the best option
Start / Leaving Rome before 10 am is recommended as the journey time is 2+ hours
Duration / Need at least 2-4 hours to explore the ruins.
Tour / This Pompeii only tour option is highly rated
Combine / This popular full day tour includes Pompeii & Vesuvius and has excellent reviews
Buy / Purchase your Pompeii entry tickets here and buy your train tickets direct on TrenItalia
A Rome To Pompeii Day Trip | by tour or train
Rome to Pompei By Train
The 'Archaeological Park of Pompeii', home to the ruins which remained under volcanic ash and debris for nearly 1,600 years, is 150 miles / 240 kms south from Rome.
Until 2023, there were no direct trains from Rome to Pompeii but most of you will still travel indirectly via Naples.
Instead, the quickest and most convenient option - besides a tour - was to take one of the regular, relatively quick train services from Rome to Naples, and then make a connection to Pompeii from there.
Before sharing tickets costs and train types, it's worth pointing out here that the ruins of Pompeii are next to the modern town of Pompei - note the dropped 'i' to distinguish between the two. When we're talking about stations or the modern town, we'll be using the single 'i' Pompeii; when it's the ruins, it'll be 'Pompeii'.
Rome to Naples Trains
The Direct Train
From August 2023, there’s a new direct train from Rome to Pompei on certain Sunday mornings.
Currently slated to go on the third Sunday of every month (with the potential to expand), departure are from Roma Termini and arrive in Pompei before 11am.
This is a high-speed Frecciarossa service run by Trenitalia, so you’ll be travelling in style too. However, beyond the current single Sunday per month schedule, you should be aware that Pompeii offers free entry one Sunday per month (as we explain in our guide), so crowds may be quite large.
To return to the Eternal City after your time exploring the ruins, there’s also a direct train back on Sunday evenings.
Check latest schedules, prices, and availability on the official Trenitalia website.
The Indirect Trains
Your first step is to travel from Roma Termini (Google Maps) to Napoli Centrale (Google Maps), which are the main train stations of each city. This journey takes 1-3 hours, depending upon the train service you take, and we recommend you leave Rome by 10am at the very latest.
The Quick Way
The frecciarossa train service takes just over an hour to travel from Rome to Naples. This is part of Italy's high-speed train network, so offers the most comfortable and fanciest travel experience too.
However, it is also the most expensive option at around €30 - €40 per person one-way.
With the frecciarossa service, it's required to book your ticket and seat in advance, and passengers can choose from the more spacious, luxurious first-class carriages, or save money and go for a seat in the perfectly lovely standard class carriages.
You may also find the frecciargento and frecciabianca trains on the Naples-Rome route, which are part of the same Alta Velocità network.
Travel time on these high-speed trains from Rome to Naples ranges for 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, with around a dozen departures per day, usually starting from 8 am. There is a less frequent service on weekends (when Pompeii is at its busiest).
We strongly recommend using this fast train service for your day trip from Rome to Pompeii as it will save you about three hours travel overall, opening up more opportunities to savour the ruins and have a less rushed, memorable experience.
You can find schedules and buy tickets in advance on Trenitalia, and tickets for this service are cheaper the further in advance they're booked.
In addition to the high-speed Trenitalia trains, you can also travel by train from Rome to Naples on the private Italo network.
The Slow Way
A quick look on Trenitalia will show that there are two other types of train services running this route; the ‘Intercity’ or ‘Regionale’.*
Slower, less fancy - and quite a bit cheaper - these are the trains that we generally use to travel around Italy. With earlier and more frequent departures than the high-speed network, they may even prove more amenable to your travel style and itinerary.
If we’re being honest however, for a Rome to Pompeii day trip we would only really recommend getting one of the Intercity trains. These are a higher standard than the Regionale train with fewer stops; most importantly though, they'll take you from Rome to Naples in 2 hours instead of 3+.
Please do note that even with the faster Intercity train, that extra 2 hours of travel time will limit your options and travel times at Pompeii.
The most important thing when booking your Rome to Naples train tickets in advance though is looking at 'service' type and 'travel time / duration' to make sure you're not mistakenly booking a 3+ hour service with a change in the middle!
*You can learn more about the differences between the various types of Italian train in our post: A Beginner’s Guide to Train Travel in Italy.
Naples to Pompei Connection
After arrival in Napoli Centrale station, you need to connect to a local train which will take you to 'Pompei Scavi', the station just outside the main entrance to the ruins. Travel time is 35 minutes, and costs €3 per person.
We've shared all the details in this post - How To Get from Naples to Pompeii - but the salient points for you on this leg of the journey from Rome are:
// From the platform, make your way to Napoli Piazza Garibaldi station (Google Maps). It's a separate station within the same building as Napoli Centrale, but it's relatively easy to find. Simply follow the blue signs for the Circumvesuviana, which will eventually take you downstairs to the lower floor and along a covered walkway toward the staffed ticket office of Napoli Piazza Garibaldi, which consists of three or four kiosks opposite the barriers on the left hand side.
// The above walk should only take 5-10 minutes, so there's no need to panic or rush. If unsure, simply ask someone who works there.
// You want to take the blue 'Sorrento' line on the Circumvesuviana service; when purchasing your ticket, ask for ‘Pompei Scavi’'. Tickets cost €3 per person, but cannot be purchased online or in advance. The only option at present is to buy in person at the kiosks in the station.
// The current Circumvesuviana timetable has a first departure 05:15, and then 2-3 departures every hour. We recommend planning ahead though, and you can see the latest 2023 schedule here - click 'Orario Treni' then select 'L1 Napoli-Sorrento'. Note that 'DD' on the schedule denotes an express service.
Try to line up your Rome train's arrival with this schedule, but don't stress out if you have an inevitable wait of 20-30 minutes once you arrive in Naples.
// Journey time from Naples to Pompeii Scavi is 35 minutes.
// The Circumvesuviana to Pompeii is a relatively small, surprisingly tired, and worn down service in comparison to other trains you'll find across Italy. It's more like an old, crap commuter train in London than a sparkly tourist shuttle service, but that's no big issue. It can become frightfully hot and a bit crowded though.
// More importantly, this train route is notorious for pickpockets, so keep your daypack on your person and don't leave your phone or wallet temptingly positioned in a back pocket.
// There is an alternative train service from Naples which drops you off in the town of Pompei. For Rome daytrippers, we don't recommend this as it just takes up extra time from your day, but we have included all the details in How To Get to Pompeii from Naples.
Arrival at Pompeii
From the Circumvesuviana station of 'Pompei Scavi' (Google Maps) you're just a two minute walk to the Porta Marina entrance to Pompeii! It’s clearly signposted. Depending on your departure time and connection, you should have arrived at Pompeii from Rome in about 2 - 3 hours.
We've shared lots of ideas, insights, and tips in this dedicated Pompeii guide, but the most important things to know for your day trip from Rome to Pompeii are:
// The site is vast and involves a lot of walking, so you need at least three hours to meaningfully explore it. If you're going to take the high-speed train in the morning, this does give you more time to play with and you should consider joining this popular two-hour tour with an archaeologist. It meets you at the site, includes your Pompeii ticket, and you are free to explore the ruins independently once it's concluded.
// Buy your Pompeii entry ticket online in advance to avoid wasting time at the queues. You can theoretically buy these last minute, but if visiting during the warmer months we’d highly recommend purchasing at least 24 hours before you travel to the site.
Tickets currently cost €20 per person and can be bought from the official site here.
// You should grab breakfast in Rome or Naples, but you can also find a few cafes and snack bars outside the entrances to Pompeii. On your day trip from Rome, it's probably best to have an over-priced lunch at the single restaurant within the Pompeii ruins so as not to cut down on your visit time too much, as you cannot exit the site once you've entered. However, if you've tactically brought some snacks or can hold on until afterward, you'll find the best selection of restaurants on Via Roma, outside the Piazza Antifeatro exit (Google Maps).
// Bring suncream, a hat, and a refillable water bottle for Pompeii, and wear good, comfortable shoes (not flip flips). If visiting in summer, then it's advisable to leave as early as possible from Rome to make sure you're not walking the open-air site in the peak afternoon sunshine (it gets really hot and there’s little shade).
// You are not allowed to enter with bags larger than 30x30x15 cms. There is however a free baggage storage at the Porta Marina entrance if your main daypack is too large. If you think that'll be the case, then we'd recommend bringing a small canvas bag in your daypack so you can take that out to carry water, books, suncream, snacks etc in and around the Pompeii ruins. You can also find luggage storage for suitcases in the Pompeii Scavi train station for €8 per bag.
For more information and inspiration, take a look at '17 Things to Know Before Visiting Pompeii on a Day Trip'.
Travelling Back To Rome from Pompeii
Once you're done, simply hop on the next Circumvesuviana train back to Naples.
If you are taking the high-speed train back to Rome, then it's advisable to book this in advance to guarantee a seat and make the ticket more affordable. However, with that certainty and saving, it does mean you have to plan a little further ahead and keep an eye on the time to ensure you don't miss it by staying in Pompeii for too long.
If going for this option, it's a good idea to book an 'A/r In Giornata' ticket. This offer is available for round-trips made on the same day, which works out at much better value overall than buying two singles. However, it does come with certain restrictions (i.e. no refunds and limited changes to departures).
Find more information, schedules and book tickets in advance in English here.
Alternatively, you can be a little more fast and loose on the way home, and simply book a ticket on your mobile or at the station in Naples for the next Intercity or Regionale train back to Rome.
Rome to Pompeii Tours
Doing this day trip independently is absolutely possible but requires a little more planning in advance around buying train and entrance tickets, checking timetables, making connections, and arranging a tour guide in advance for a particular time. Nothing too major or challenging, but it will take a bit of organisation.
The total cost to do Rome to Pompeii in one day, based on taking the recommended high-speed trains and joining a two-hour guided tour, works out at around about €120 per person (excluding food and drinks).
Cheap it ain't.
This is why choosing to add a few days in Naples or the Amalfi Coast to your Italian itinerary is something to consider if you're currently in the planning phase for Italy.
However, if you know you're going to be in Rome (or you're there right now), it's worth considering a Pompeii tour from Rome as an alternative to doing it independently. This will remove a lot of the logistics, transport, and advance booking stress from you, as well as opening up the opportunity to visit the crater of Mount Vesuvius*. The cost per person is about the same too, but they also require an early start.
We've shared a couple of highly-rated Rome to Pompeii tour options below:
From Rome: Pompeii Day Trip | This highly-rated tour includes travel from/to Rome in a private air-conditioned coach with a knowledgeable tour coordinator. Skip-the-line entries for Pompeii as well as a passionate tour with a local, licensed guide are also included. Find our more or book it here.
Rome to Pompeii Round-Trip Shuttle Bus | This is a better option if you just want to have private air-conditioned transport from/to Rome, and then explore the ruins independently for a few hours. Find out more or book here
Pompeii Ruins Day Tour from Rome | This full-day tour includes transport to and from Rome to Pompeii, a licensed guide, skip the line access to the site and lunch. Find further details here.
Rome to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius | Trying to squeeze in Mount Vesuvius is really not advisable if visiting independently*, so if you’d like to visit both from Rome we highly recommend this super popular full day tour.
There are a surpassingly large number of highly-rated tours which squeeze in Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, and whilst we genuinely wouldn’t recommend trying to visit all three popular destinations in one day, they prove to be very popular with those that are perhaps only in Italy for a short while and want to see as much as possible.
If you’re really determined, check out our guide to Pompeii and Vesuvius in one day.
