It's easy to spend a day exploring Pompeii or Herculaneum from Capri, where you can journey into ancient Rome via their spectacular archaeological remains. While on the mainland, you can even take a jaunt up to the magnificent crater atop Mt. Vesuvius, the volcano that buried these two Roman cities in mud and ash during an eruption in 79 AD, which preserved them almost intact for posterity.
First, we suggest you choose one of these two ancient cities to visit. Both are fascinating sites with a wealth of ruins, but trying to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum in the same day can be a tiring endeavor, especially if you are setting off from Capri.
Which site should you choose to visit? Keep in mind that Pompeii is larger and more famous, but is also generally more crowded, though the vast area of the site makes it easy for the crowds to spread out. A section of the ruins in Pompeii is accessible to those with limited mobility; wheelchair users can enter through the Piazza Anfiteatro gate to take the dedicated route. If you prefer to explore a smaller and less crowded - though equally compelling - site, Herculaneum is your best bet!
How Long Does it Take to Visit Pompeii and Herculaneum?
Many tours stop for 2 hours at Pompeii, but we suggest dedicating at least 3 to 4 hours to take in the top sights inside the ruins. To visit Herculaneum, on the other hand, a couple of hours is more than enough.
As long as you are headed to the mainland to tour Pompeii or Herculaneum from Capri, consider stopping at Mt. Vesuvius to hike up to the crater's edge. This scenic hike isn't too strenuous and you can choose to take on a portion of the trail on your own or hire a volcanologist guide to hike the entire trail around the crater. Either way, you'll be treated to breathtaking views across the crater created by the same volcano that destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum 2,000 years ago and a sweeping panorama across the city of Naples to the bay and island of Capri. Packages are also available that include the visit of the ruins of Pompeii and that of Vesuvius.
Information for Visiting Mt. Vesuvius
Tips:
It takes about 3 hours to visit the crater, including the hike up and down the trail. We do not recommend this trail for those who have limited mobility. In the summer months, the trail can be very hot and there is no shade; try to avoid the midday hours and be sure to bring water, a hat, and sunblock.Opening Hours
January, February, November December: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
March and October: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
April, May, June, September: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
July and August: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The trail to the crater's edge is open daily all year round, but may occasionally close for adverse weather conditions or unsafe conditions.Tickets
Vesuvius tickets:park entrance & guided visit
Adults: EUR 10
Children and students: EUR 8
Free entrance for children below 120 centimeters and the disabled with one assistant.
If you are planning on a day trip from Capri to Pompeii or Herculaneum and Mt. Vesuvius, we suggest dedicating the morning to exploring the archaeological site you've chosen and then heading to Mt. Vesuvius in the afternoon, perhaps after a lunch break and wine tasting at one of the wineries on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius.
Visiting Mount Vesuvius: info and tips
Once you've decided to set out from Capri to visit Pompeii (or Herculaneum) and Mt. Vesuvius, it's time to figure out the logistics. Getting from Capri to Pompeii or Herculaneum and then the crater of Mt. Vesuvius can be time-consuming and you'll need to take a number of different means of transportation.
Getting to Pompeii from Capri via Private Transfer
The easiest way to arrange a day trip from Capri to Pompeii/Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius is by taking the ferry or a private boat transfer to Sorrento and then hiring a car service with a private driver. This allows you to skip the hassle and delays of public transportation and have more freedom to schedule your day at Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius from Capri at your own pace.
Book your tour or private transfer from Sorrento to Pompeii.
Group Day Trips
If you are traveling with a group of family or friends, a car service with a private driver is probably the most hassle-free and inexpensive way to reach Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mt. Vesuvius from Capri without the stress and delays of public transportation.
We also suggest booking skip-the-line tickets for Pompeii or Herculaneum so you won't be caught in a long line at the entrance and can enjoy more time inside the sites!
Skip-the-line tickets for Pompeii Skip-the-line tickets for Herculaneum
Getting to Pompeii from Capri with Public Transportation
If you don't want to hire a private driver, you can always take public transportation to get from Capri to Pompeii/Herculaneum and Mt. Vesuvius, but keep in mind that you will spend more time traveling, have to change a number of times, and have a longer and more tiring day.
The First Leg: from Capri to Sorrento
First you'll need to reach the mainland from Capri! The easiest way to do that is hop on the hydrofoil between Capri and Sorrento, which runs frequently and gets you to Sorrento in just about 20 minutes. There is another route that stops first in Naples, but it is more expensive and takes longer to reach Sorrento.
The Second Leg: from Sorrento to Pompeii or Herculaneum
Once you've disembarked in Sorrento, you'll need to reach the town's Circumvesuviana station where trains to Naples that stop near Pompeii and Herculaneum depart every 30 minutes. To get from the port in Sorrento to the train station in the town center, you can either walk (it's an uphill walk with about 100 steps halfway in) or take a bus or taxi.
- From Sorrento to Pompeii: the train takes about 30 minutes; the stop is Pompei - Villa dei Misteri and the entrance to the archaeological site is just opposite the station.
- From Sorrento to Herculaneum: the train takes about 50 minutes; the stop is Ercolano Scavi and the entrance to the archaeological site is about a 10-minute walk from the station, following the signs.
After you've visited Pompeii or Herculaneum, you'll want to head to Mt. Vesuvius to take in the volcanic crater.
There are both buses and shuttles that climb the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius to the park entrance departing from the Circumvesuviana stations in Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Getting from Herculaneum to Mt. Vesuvius
- Autobus Vesuvio Express: this shuttle departs from the Ercolano Circumvesuviana station and arrives at Piazzale del Vesuvio (1050 meters above sea level). From here, you can hike the trail to the crater's edge on your own (about 20 minutes) or take on the entire trail that encircles the crater with a guide (about 2 hours).
- Departures: every 40 minutes beginning at 9:30 a.m.
- Cost: EUR 20 (bus + entrance ticket to the Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio)
Getting from Pompeii to Mt. Vesuvius
- Busvia del Vesuvio: this shuttle departs from the Pompei Villa dei Misteri Circumvesuviana station and arrives at the entrance to the Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio, where passengers transfer to 4x4 minibusses to Piazzale del Vesuvio (1050 meters above sea level). From here, you can hike the trail 20 minutes to the crater's edge on your own or join a volcanologist guide to take on the 2-hour hike around the entire crater.
- Departures: hourly from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Cost: EUR 22 (bus + 4x4 minibus + entrance ticket to the Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio)
- You can also take the EAV public bus from Pompeii to Piazzale del Vesuvio.
We suggest scheduling your day trip to Pompeii/Herculaneum and Mt. Vesuvius at the end of your stay on Capri as a stop on your way back home or your next destination. One of the most convenient ways to visit is by booking a private transfer that stops at one of the archaeological sites and/or Mt. Vesuvius on the way to the Naples airport, train station, or hotel.
Pompei or Herculaneum?
