Pompeii

[PinkyFlamingo]

Hi, we are off to France and Italy in a few weeks and are staying near Pompeii so looking for advice best way to visit?

Depends what you want. We got the local train and walked the site ourselves. Or you can book a private tour guide or join a larger group.

Both can be easily gotten to by train, both within walking distance of a train station.

We stayed in Naples to do Herculaneum, Pompeii and Vesuvius, then stayed in Rome for the other touristy bits.

Highly recommend a tour for Pompeii (at least a full day) but not necessarily needed for Herculaneum (1/2 day)

At the entrance to Pompeii you’ll find guides looking for groups of same language speaking people. The more people you get on your tour, the cheaper.

Pompeii we just walked around with a map. Think we saw it all, found the amphitheatre etc. We were randomly shown round a well preserved house by an official lady.

At Herculaneum we used the hand held audio guide.

Get there early to avoid the cruise/tour groups crowding the forum. We got to see it with hardly anyone there. By lunchtime it was heaving.
Allow plenty of time, wear comfy footwear and take water.
The train is easy.

I’ve done Pompeii both with and without a tour guide and definitely got a lot more out of the tour. It’s very easy to get to by train as others have said although that depends on where you’re staying.

Thanks so much everyone for your replies. I'm very excited, especially as our 20 year old is coming with us the reason we changed our camp from Lake Garda (which was booked 3 years ago!) is because he wanted to visit!

We are staying at a Eurocamp near Naples and will have our own car to.

I agree about having a tour guide for Pompeii and wearing comfortable footwear - no heels, sandals or flipflops. And taking plenty of water.

As others have said: The local train is cheap. Go early in the morning as it gets so hot. Take your own water as the water they sell outside is expensive.