| Main train stations | Pompei station |
| Train companies | |
| Airports | Naples Airport |
| Public transport | Local buses |
| Cheap train tickets | Cheap train tickets in Italy |
Book a train to Pompeii, one of the most-visited archaeological sites in the world, and you'll be reliving history in no time. Just 16 miles southeast of Naples in southern Italy, Pompeii is deserving of a spot on your bucket list. Discover how people lived almost 2,000 years ago – the interior of houses and shops have been preserved by a thick layer of ash and lava after the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Regular services operated by Trenitalia's regional trains connect Naples to Pompeii in 31 minutes and Salerno to Pompeii in 35 minutes. If you want to travel to Pompeii from Rome or Florence, simply hop on a high-speed train (Frecciarossa or Italo) to Naples and continue the rest of your journey on a regional train.
Popular train routes to Pompeii
It's easy to get to Pompeii from major Italian cities thanks to Trenitalia's regional rail infrastructure in the country. Have a look at our table for some of the most popular routes to Pompeii, including journey times and train operators.
| Route | Fastest journey | Train operator |
|---|---|---|
| Rome to Pompeii | 1h 57m | Frecciarossa, Italo, regional trains |
| Florence to Pompeii | 3h 47m | Frecciarossa, Italo, regional trains |
| Naples to Pompeii | 31m | Regional trains |
| Salerno to Pompeii | 35m | Regional trains |
| Venice to Pompeii | 5h 57m | Frecciarossa, Italo, regional trains |
| Milan to Pompeii | 5h 35m | Frecciarossa, Italo, regional trains |
| Bari to Pompeii | 4h 13m | Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, regional trains |
Find out more information about train travel in Italy on our Trains in Italy page, or if you want to learn more about Italy's high-speed and regional trains, check out our dedicated High-speed trains in Italy and Regional trains in Italy pages.
Pompei train station
There are two train stations in Pompeii:
- Pompei station, which is served by Trenitalia’s regional trains
- Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri, which is served by the Circumvesuviana commuter train
While the Circumvesuviana train station is right in front of the ruins, the train can be quite packed with commuters. We recommend you take the regional train operated by Trenitalia – running about every half an hour, it’s a newer service and can be pretty empty even in the peak of tourist season.
Getting off at Pompei station, you’ll find yourself in the town, not at the ruins – don’t worry, they’re just a 10-minute walk away, which is a good excuse to wander around and learn more about your destination. What’s more, if you get to the ruins from Trenitalia’s station, you’ll arrive at the Amphitheatre Gate (Piazza Anfiteatro), where you probably won’t have to queue for a long time (or not queue at all!) as it’s not the main entrance and is at the back of the ruins.
Naples to Pompeii by train
Trenitalia’s regional trains leave from Napoli Piazza Garibaldi, which is next to Napoli Centrale (Naples’ main train station) but it's on the floor below. The train runs on a ‘metropolitan’ line so it looks like the subway – you can use our app to check live times and be sure you take the right train. The average train time from Naples to Pompeii is about 41m, with 34 direct trains running daily from 05:40 to 23:56.
Rome to Pompeii by train
Planning a day trip from Rome to Pompeii? As there’s no direct train, you can take a high-speed train (Frecciarossa or Italo) from Roma Termini, stop at Napoli Centrale in Naples and then complete the last leg of your journey on a regional train.
You can also travel from Rome to Pompeii via Salerno, whose train station is much smaller, so it can be easier to find your connection if you’re new to Italy.
The average train time from Rome to Pompeii is 1h 57m, with about 26 trains covering the route every day from 07:00 to 23:24.
Train tickets to Pompeii
If you’re travelling with Trenitalia to Naples, you can buy one of the following train tickets:
Travelling on a Frecciarossa train
- Super Economy – it’s the cheapest fare. Book it in advance if you want to grab a deal, but remember, once booked you can’t change nor refund it
- Economy – still a cheap option, but you can make changes to your booking only once
- Base – it’s the most expensive option, but it allows you to make as many changes as you want
If you're travelling with Italo to Naples, you can get one of the following train tickets:
- Low Cost – this is Italo's cheapest fare, and it allows you to make changes to your booking or get a refund after paying half of your ticket price plus the difference of your new ticket
- Economy – still a cheap fare, it allows you to cancel or make changes to your booking at a lower price than the Low Cost ticket
- Flex – this is the most flexible ticket option, and it allows you to make as many changes to your booking as you want at no extra cost.
Travelling on a regional train
- Ordinaria – this ticket usually has a fixed price that depends on the route, so you don’t need to buy it too far in advance, unless you want peace of mind.
Visiting Pompeii
Pompeii, devastated by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, has been excavated and offers the opportunity to learn a little about the everyday lives of its Roman residents. Tour guides are knowledgeable but wandering alone with the excellent free map enables you to escape the crowds and take an alternative route. Unmissable stops, whether on a tour or not, include the Forum, over to the left as you enter from Porta Marina. Keep an eye out for the preserved casts of the people and dogs killed by the deadly ash and pyroclastic flows that tumbled down the steep slopes of Vesuvius – allowing them no time to escape.
There are many villas and open-air theatres to explore. Even the roads with their stepping-stone crossings and worn cart ruts are a sight in their own right. But the most memorable and popular part of the entire complex is Villa dei Misteri (‘Villa of Mysteries’), which boasts some of the most beautiful frescoes in the whole country.
Need inspiration for more things to see in Pompeii? Check out our travel guide about the 10 best things to see and do in Pompeii and plan your next visit to this beautiful ancient town with us.
If you want to travel around Italy by train, read our Italy train travel guide – we’ll show you which trains you can take, where to go and how much you can save on your next train trip.
