Day Trips from Pompeii to Vesuvian Sites
Pompeii is only one of several archaeological sites around the Bay of Naples, and the others make easy day trips by train or bus. All prices here are in euros, and the sites run their own timetables, so check each one before you set out.
Herculaneum
Herculaneum, at Ercolano Scavi, is the closest alternative. The Circumvesuviana to Ercolano Scavi takes about 20 minutes. A full ticket costs EUR 16, ages 18 to 25 pay EUR 2, and under 18s enter free. From 16 March to 14 October it opens 08:30 to 19:30 with last entry at 18:00. From 15 October to 15 March it opens 08:30 to 17:00 with last entry at 15:30. It is open every day except 25 December. Entry is free on the first Sunday of the month, 25 April, 2 June and 4 November, with free tickets collected at the office only. The Villa dei Papiri is closed and has no reopening date. See the Herculaneum ticket page .
Vesuvius Gran Cono
The Gran Cono walk on Path No. 5 is sold online only, through the authorised seller . Tickets cost EUR 10, which comes to EUR 11.68 with fees, and EUR 8 reduced. Children under 6 are free with an adult. Slots run every 10 minutes with 50 tickets each, released 30 days ahead, and you can arrive up to 120 minutes either side of the printed time. A guide from the Presidio Permanente Vulcano Vesuvio accompanies every group above 1,000 m. The route along the very top of the crater is closed to the public.
The path begins at Piazzale Quota 1000, at the end of the road from Ercolano. The walk takes up to 2 hours return on the short route or up to 3 hours on the loop to Rifugio Imbo. Access closes automatically when Campania Civil Protection issues an orange weather alert or higher. The Vesuvio Express runs from Ercolano Scavi station and takes about 30 minutes. The park page for the Gran Cono lists the hours by month.
Oplontis and Boscoreale
Oplontis, in Torre Annunziata, and Boscoreale each cost EUR 8 and are closed on Tuesdays. Oplontis is home to Villa Poppea. Boscoreale has the Villa Regina and the Antiquarium, which open 09:00 to 17:00 in winter.
Stabiae
The Stabiae villas, Villa Arianna and Villa San Marco, are free. The Stabiae museum costs EUR 8 and is closed on Tuesdays.
Naples as a base
Naples works well as a base, with the Circumvesuviana running from Napoli Garibaldi to Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri on the Sorrento line in about 30 to 40 minutes. A single fare is about EUR 3.30, so check EAV for the current price.
Vesuvius and the Campi Flegrei are monitored active volcanoes, and Italian emergency plans cover both. Check the FCDO and US State Department travel pages before you go.
To compare organised trips that combine these places, search Viator .
Read more: multi-day trips from Pompei shows how to spread these sites across two days.