Pompeii and Herculaneum

[DelphiniumBlue]

We're hoping to visit early next year, possibly with adult DC. There may be 5 of us.
One DC has a slight disability which means that we try to limit walking between venues so as to preserve their ability to be on their feet at the actual venue.
So I'm looking for advice on where to stay, tour guides, and general tips to make the stay as brilliant as I'm hoping it will be!

We stayed in an apartment in Sorrento, easy access to both by train. Both sites are worth seeing. I'll concentrate on accessibility in my post, as it affected me when I was there.

Pompeii entrance is directly opposite the station, which is handy, the site is absolutely huge. We didn't get a guide and I wish we had instead of wandering around for hours.

Herculaneum is more of a walk from the station, down a very steep street which of course you then have to walk back up. There might be taxis, though. It's a more compact site, and very well preserved. I preferred it to Pompeii.

Both sites are full of cobbled streets and very uneven paving, which might be awkward from an accessibility point of view. I have arthritis in my knee and I found walking around there with all the changes in levels quite uncomfortable.

But both sites are amazing, unmissable really.

If one can't walk far then Pompeii is going to be tricky it's HUGE.

You can get the train easily to Herculaneum, but again, a fair walk down to the coast.

Also, bear in mind, in Pompeii ruins, if it's sunny there's ZERO shade (unless you get inside the brothel etc and barely anywhere to get water, so be prepared for that.

The circumvesuvius line is the train line we used, easy peasy.

Lots of useful advice, thank you. I’m wondering if there is some kind of buggy or or some other vehicle that takes you round ?
Im thinking to go Feb or Easter because im not good in the heat.

I don't think there are buggies, due to how rough underfoot it is.

We went in May, it was uncharacteristically freezing!

We went to Pompeii last August and it was sweltering with very little shade so I agree about going early in the year. We don't have mobility issues but looking back at photos the streets are mainly large smooth cobbles but there were smoother pavements and some of the squares had smooth stone, there is a ramp in one of my photos so I guess wheelchair access is possible but maybe not buggies. In places there are stepping stones across roads etc and some of the entrances to buildings are narrow. It was also very busy.

Hi this is the official information for Pompeii. It includes a section for buggies and mobility impaired. There is an email address if you need to clarify anything. It might be of some help in your planning.

Pompeii for all - Pompeii Sites

Thanks for the link Quizine.
Has anyone got accommodation recommendations? Hotel or self catering, but big enough for 5 adults with none on a sofa bed!

We stayed in modern Pompeii last October. Away from the street with the entrance to Pompeii it just felt like a normal city. We liked it. It has 2 train stations, so easy to get to Herculaneum too.

Highly recommend Askos tours. Their tour guides are brilliant.
It’s very uneven underfoot though, not easy for anyone less mobile.