5 ways to get from Rome to Pompeii  

Rome and the archeological site of Pompeii are two mammoth attractions that draw large visitor numbers each year.  

The Italian capital and its top attractions and activities can easily take up a few pages on its own. 

And if you want to know how to get from Rome to Pompeii, you’re in the right place. I’ll be sharing 5 ways to visit Pompeii from Rome, plus my thoughts on which option is best. 

Use this post to help plan your trip between the two destinations and to also plan your trip to Italy. 

Pompeii: a brief history 

Pompeii was a thriving ancient Roman city located at the base of Mount Vesuvius near Naples in southern Italy.  

However, tragedy struck Pompeii in 79 CE when Vesuvius suddenly erupted. Ash and pumice rained down upon the city, burying it beneath a thick layer of volcanic debris.  

The intense heat and pyroclastic surges consumed everything in their path, instantly killing those who had not managed to escape. 

But the world wouldn’t know of Pompeii’s devastation until the 18th century. It was when excavators would finally unearth the remarkably well-preserved ruins of the city. 

Today, Pompeii stands as a haunting archaeological site frozen in time. The plaster casts of human victims, preserved in their final moments of agony, serve as a poignant reminder of the city's abrupt and tragic end. 

A popular Italy bucket list item, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii attracts visitors in its droves to see the city. 

A day trip from Rome to Pompeii 

Visiting Pompeii from Rome as a day trip is very doable. The distance between the two is around 242km (150mi). 

But, as with all kinds of popular tourist attractions, the earlier you arrive the better. I’d also recommend booking your tickets for Pompeii in advance.  

You'll not only be able to skip any lines when you arrive, but you’ll likely save some money too. Some of my top choices for booking tickets for Pompeii are: 

• Pompeii ruins – skip the line small group tour 
• Pompeii – small group tour with an archeologist  
• Pompeii archeological site entry ticket 
• Pompeii 2-hour private tour and skip-the-line tickets 

Avoid the hot weather 

Another advantage of arriving early to visit Pompeii is to avoid the hot weather in this part of the country. Naturally, this all depends on when you visit Italy. However, in an open-air site with no shade around the heat can be stifling even in low seasons. 

If there’s a chance you can’t reach Pompeii in the morning from Rome, consider visiting after 4pm. The archeological site closes at 9pm so you might prefer to visit when the sun isn’t as strong. Check the website for the most up-to-date information.  

How to get from Rome to Pompeii 

1. By car 

If you choose to visit Pompeii from Rome by renting a car, expect a journey time of around 2hr and 30mins. This doesn’t account for any traffic or service station shops so factor this into your own trip.  

As outlined in how to get from Rome to the Amalfi Coast, you can turn this journey into a road trip. There are several places of interest to see along the way, like Tivoli and the Royal Palace of Caserta. 

2. By train 

Getting from Rome to Pompeii by train is pretty straightforward.  

The journey time is around 2 hours, and these trains run frequently. My guide to taking trains in Italy outlines everything you need to know about making train journeys in the country. 

From Roma Termini, take the Frecciarossa (fast train) service to Napoli Centrale. Once you arrive at the station, make the 1-minute walk to Napoli P. Garibaldi train station. Change to a local train (direction towards Sorrento (see what to do in Sorrento in 1 day)) and this will take you to Pompeii.  

After just 2 stops and approximately 26 minutes later you’ll arrive at Pompei Scavi dei Misteri train station. Pompeii archeological site is just a 1-minute walk away.  

3. By bus 

There are several bus companies that will take you from Rome to Pompeii.  

Flixbus 

Flixbus offers a direct service of approximately 3hr and 20mins from Rome Tiburtina bus station to Pompeii. Journey times will differ depending on the time of travel.  

Prices for morning departures also tend to cost more than in the evening so bear this in mind when booking.  

To give you an idea, a one-way ticket for this Flixbus service costs €43.99 ($47/£38) for a 09:00 departure. This is compared to €29.99 ($32/£26) for an 18:30 departure. 

Marozzi VT 

Marozzi VT is a coach company that operates primarily in southern Italy.  

They provide a service from Rome Tiburtina bus station to Pompeii Porta Marina bus station. From here, it’s a short 3-minute walk to the archeological site.  

With Marozzi VT the earliest departure time is 7am with a journey duration of 3 hours. Tickets cost €19 ($20/£16) each way per person.* 

You can book directly on the website or buy tickets from the ticket office in bus stations. There’s also an option to pay directly on the coach but this comes with some conditions. For one, there may not be any available seats on board if you choose this option. 

Secondly, you’ll also be subject to pay a penalty of €3.50 ($3.75/£3).  

Map: from Rome to Pompeii

4. Tours from Rome to Pompeii 

Another way of getting from Rome to Pompeii is to join a guided tour.

Personally, this is my favorite option because it does all the hard work for you for one fixed price. That, plus you get to learn about Pompeii’s site and the history from an expert that’s passionate in their field.  

Some of my favorite tours include:

Rome to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast 

• Tick off several sights on your trip to Italy on this day trip from Rome to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. 

Pompeii and Naples from Rome 

• Sit back and relax on this day trip from Rome to Pompeii and Naples. The tour includes tickets to Pompeii, a guided visit, time to visit Naples and round-trip transportation. 

Rome to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius  

• This day trip from Rome to Pompeii includes a tour with an expert plus a drive up Mount Vesuvius. 

Day trip to Pompeii with lunch 

• Enjoy a comfortable journey on an air-conditioned bus from Rome on this day trip to Pompeii with lunch included.  

Round-trip transfer to Pompeii 

• This round-trip transfer from Rome to Pompeii includes transportation, a tour leader and skip-the-line tickets.  

5. Flights from Rome to Pompeii 

If any of the above options don’t do it for you, there’s always the choice to book a flight. Flight times from Rome to Naples are around 55 minutes to 1 hour. However, you also still need to either take a taxi or a train to reach Pompeii. 

Personally, I wouldn’t choose this option. For such a short-ish distance between the two destinations, the price of the flight isn’t worth it. 

Plus, you’ve also got to factor in traveling to Rome Fiumicino airport and doing all the security hoopla. 

The exception to taking a flight to get from Rome to Pompeii would be if you planned to stay longer. This will make sense especially if you plan to explore other destinations like Sicily. 

What are your thoughts on this guide on how to get from Rome to Pompeii? Is it a journey you plan to take? Let me know in the comments below.  

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