Stay in Naples or Pompeii to visit Pompeii & Capri?

[WhatWouldTheDoctorDo]

We have a couple of days free at the end of a break before flying out of Naples airport.

Arriving in the evening in Naples, we then have 3 nights/ 2 full days before a morning flight home.

We definitely want to visit Pompeii and are thinking of a day trip to Capri but can't decide whether to stay in Naples for the three nights and do two day trips or stay in Pompeii, do a day trip to Capri via Sorrento.

If we stay in Pompeii would need to set off early in the morning on day of flight.

Any suggestions? Travelling with DC.

Ravello IMO is by the the nicest place to stay on the Amalfi coast. Get a bus to Pompeii and down into Amalfi to get the scary hydrofoil thing across to Capri.

Naples is rough.

And the driving is insane, stressful and hard work. So many cars in Naples have bumps on them from accidents. The roads are hard to navigate and other drivers are mentalists!

The driving is generally nuts in southern Italy, but Naples is horrendous.

I really liked sorrento. We had amazing food, dunno I'm educated enough to tell whether it was "real Italian". It's very English as people have said but retired middle class English which is why you don't have a load of fried breakfast places. From what I recall Pompeii is v small, not many hotels etc. Sorrento is on the same train line just further down so I can't see a benefit of staying in Pompeii over sorrento. Sorrento is where the boats to Capri go. If you decide to do that, book in advance so you can have a full day there and swallow the crazy taxi charges, otherwise you'll spend most of your time there waiting for buses. Or book an island excursion.
As others have said it will be insanely hot when you're going - Pompeii is all open so loads of water and sun hats

@Crumbs1 I stayed at the Romeo for one night on honeymoon- lovely hotel. Naples was a bit before moving on to Capri for five days. Pompeii was very nice to visit and easy by train.

Naples is grim (and filthy), stay in Sorrento.

Thanks everyone. Yes, we know it's going to be crazy hot and no plans to stay in Naples during the day if we end up staying there. It would really just be a base to crash and a friend had recommended somewhere to stay that she's stayed with DC before.

Have a Pompeii tour booked first thing in the morning - definitely won't be staying there all day long!

We went to Rome and Sorrento for our honeymoon and had day trips to Capri, Pompeii and Siracuse.

Wear comfy shoes for Pompeii and prepared for heart stopping bus transport up to Capri.

We were in Naples in September and absolutely loved it. It's very safe around the centre and there's loads to do! You should definitely go for a coffee/ breakfast at the Miranapoli in the Possilipo area - the view is stunning. Pompeii is really interesting (especially the brothel which has been very well preserved ) but Herculaneum is smaller and gives you a better sense of perspective. I second Ravello, it's a breathtaking place but be prepared for narrow winding roads which are not ideal for those suffering from car sickness!

There's loads to see in Naples, we'll worth spending at least a day there.
Great food and architecture, some good museums too.

I love Naples too. To wake up to that bay, that view... see Naples and die! Just don't get lost in a hire car like we did! Pompeii was amazing, truly stunning. I was (metaphorically!) in a toga. It will be different with littlies; lots of walking and they won't "get" it. Avoid eating around Pompeii at all costs, disgusting food at inflated prices. If I went again I'd take my own picnic.

The theatre is well worth a visit as well.

I think people used to say 'See Naples and die' partly because you did literally die.

If it wasn't malaria, it was typhoid. Or syphilis.

Or Mafioso. Take your pick.

I loved Naples. Had a really lovely 2 days there. Getting a train to Pompeii was easy and quick, so I wouldn't bother spending a night in Pompeii, just stay in Naples

All the originals from Pompeii are in the museum in Naples, the tourist buses go to Pompeii in the morning have lunch then museum l suggest the other way round you will have Pompeii almost to yourselves by 3_4 pm check closing time need 3 hours minimum

for the naples lovers amongst you ..... any suggestions for hotels. we arrive late in on a Friday night ( too late to travel on the villa we've hired on the amalfi) so need somewhere just for the one night in/ near naples.

OP, from what Ive read naples is very marmite, but I failed to find anywhere lovely to stay near Pompeii too. We went for the amalfi coast in the end BUT it takes ages to get to from naples despite not being too far so probably not suitable for 3 nights :(

No hotel suggestions, it was a long time ago when I went and can't remember where I stayed, sorry.

We stayed here www.unahotels.it/en/una_hotel_napoli/hotel_napoli_landing.htm it is right opposite the train station. We got a good deal with connecting rooms and they were really nice. It is quite a businessy hotel but it worked well for us.

Personally I wouldn't bother with Capri, we didn't think much of it. But did Pompeii, the Herculaneum, Mt Vesuvius and Monte Faito. All of which we'd go back for again.

We stayed in Hotel Correra 241 which is very convenient for the National Archeological Museum where all the artefacts from Pompeii etc are. It is modern, clean and cheap with a decent breakfast but not a luxury choice - it is behind a door on one of the typical narrow Naples sidestreets so has no view for example. Suited us fine for a few nights, a taxi from the airport was around 15 Euros and loads of places to eat and visit within walking distance.