Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius with 11 yr old!

[Realist2022]

Looking for some advice m on how best to do this. DS (11) and I are off to Sorrento in two weeks for 4 nights. He wants to do a pizza making course, see the Roman ruins and the volcano. I LOVE a ruin so super excited but don’t want it to be too dry for DS. Any thoughts or suggestions? Guided tour? Archaeologist guided tour? Audio guide? What do you think? Pls help!

I’ve been a couple of times before but not for years, and taking 9yo DS in May (4 days Naples, 4 days ischia) so placemarking!

Use a site called get your guide for Pompeii and Vesuvius. You'll get a guided tour and the bus will take you part way up Vesivius. You'll be out of season like I was last year so you'll probably see a bit more of pompeii

As for Sorrento, I cannot beg you enough to go to A'Marenna - Sorrento Bakery & Bistrot before they close for winter. (They'll still be open when you go). I promise you won't regret it. I went there 3 times.

We stayed in Sorrento in August with DCs 11 and 14, we visited Pompeii! But we joined a guided tour which started from Sorrento, train to Pompeii, the guided tour was around 2 hours which was enough for the Dc then we popped back on the train to Naples had a late lunch there and look around and then caught the ferry back to Sorrento.

We did pompeii and Herculaneum with audio guides, and a guidebook.

Personally i like tye audio guide approach because you can self pace it. Stop for longer at the bits that are interesting. Follow the cart tracks until they run out. Take a break for a snack etc.

Two of my grandchildren recently went and had a most wonderful time. They were six and a half and two and a half and managed very well. My elder son and his wife are home educating and had reached the Roman stage in my grandson’s history studies hence the trip so I imagine they were well prepared and resourced.
When we went many years ago with our children there were guides for hire waiting outside and they were well worth it. That way you can tailor your tour to what is most interesting to you.
You’re going at an excellent time of year, Pompeii can get so hot but it should be pleasant now. I’d love to return one day, have fun.

Thanks all, some great suggestions on here shall have a look at them all. So excited!

My DS was 11 when we went and it was scorching August to boot and he/we loved it. For Pompeii we were in a largish tour group with headsets but it was brilliant and the guide had plenty of time for questions from anyone. 2-3 hours covered all the key areas and then we were given maps and the guide mentioned other interesting places within the site and told us where to find them. 100% get a tour guide, they’re archaeologists who actually work the site, passionate and knowledgeable.

Train from Sorrento to Pompeii super easy as PP said. Circumvesuviana gets to V & H as well. If you can squeeze in a trip to Ravello I would recommend, the drive back has incredible views of Vesuvius. Amalfi and positano also insanely pretty. Have an amazing time!

@Realist2022, you've chosen the study book/answer key but you want the original textbook = Book 1; there are newer versions with digital access too but the plain old paper book will do the job.
this book:
www.amazon.co.uk/Cambridge-Latin-Course-Book-1/dp/0521635438/ref=zg-te-pba_d_sccl_1_1/520-2300813-7624910?pd_rd_w=Dwpou&content-id=amzn1.sym.c072daa0-3920-4b4d-83e5-1f5f31c763e0&pf_rd_p=c072daa0-3920-4b4d-83e5-1f5f31c763e0&pf_rd_r=DES27ZCSWM2GHGF8KWSY&pd_rd_wg=JJTU3&pd_rd_r=4fc40740-e38b-4a14-b245-a75b8be6e94d&pd_rd_i=0521635438&psc=1

Oh and circumvesuviano train is notorious for running on southern Italian time so lower your expectations.

We are just back from 4 days Sorrento - adult only though

We did 1 day Pompeji, there is a direct train from Sorrento, it was €12 return for both of us, it's very popular and often standing room only.

Pompeji is a full day, we had the tickets incl. the Villa of Mystery and spent 6 hours with 1/2 hour sit down for lunch. We skipped the amphitheatre.

Not all houses are open all the time, some were closed for work as well. It's a lot of walking and while the audio guide is good, it depends how good your general knowledge is, there were plenty of groups, some walking fast, basically just doing the big ones with 20 people and headsets while you had smaller/private groups who were a lot more in-depth and happy to go how the tourist wanted.

There is a cafe in the middle, decent food and drinks but obviously expensive. There is not really anywhere to sit otherwise.

Herculaneum - around 1/2 the size. I found it better going there after Pompeji and there is more to see as the houses are more intact. I think we were there for 3.5 hours. The audio guide is a nightmare though, it often breaks down and you have to start again. The layout is also a bit more confusing but after a while you get the grip.
There is a "food court" but that's vending machines only.
While you can go by public transport, we had the car and there is a car park next to it for €2/hour.

If you are unlucky and it rains, take waterproofs and umbrella.

We arrived with 25 degrees, had one afternoon of rain with 16/17 degrees and the rest a mix of clouds/sun around 20. Jumper and coat is definitely needed for the evenings.

Sorrento is nice, very touristic and crowded. Food is not cheap though.

We did Pompeii and Vesuvius this year with DC 10 and 6 (nearly 7). For us, the best plan for Pompeii was to do it alone, it meant we were free to wander at our own pace and weren’t tied to someone else’s schedule. The boys had a great time and it was a bit ‘lighter’. We spent a couple of hours there (definitely not a full day) and then found a nice place just outside for some lunch before getting the train back to Naples.

Vesuvius was a trip in order to get the transport but we did the climb alone and again that worked better for us. They had fun running up and down it 😅 and we had time at the top to stop for a drink. Nothing like a cold beer at the top of a volcano!

Thanks for all your suggestions, we have had a great time and still have a day in Naples tomorrow. For those that are interested:
Day 1 - arrived at about 6 and had booked a taxi to the Airbnb in Sorrento. Could probably have done it by train but it was a Sunday and I am used to nothing working in the UK on a Sunday so figured a taxi would be easiest

Day 2 (and the best weather) - booked a trip up Vesuvius which we both loved. Was just in awe of the crater. I spent my entire time looking on and DS spent his time looking out. We both thought it was great. Then we went to Pompeii. Had booked with Askos and again, was great. Really interesting. Have been to Rome and the forum etc so sort of thought it would be like that but honestly, loved it. Walking into the theatre took my breath away!

Day 3 - pretty steady rain all day. Went for a walk in the morning and spent all afternoon trying to dry out! We decided to brave the weather and went to the Sorrento Experience museum as we figured it would be warm. It was but dreadful. The only good bit was Vesuvius erupting! We then went and made pizza on a trip we found through Get Your Guide. Had a pizziaola called Francesco which was great and made amazing pizza.

Day 4 - Herculaneum this morning with another guide. Honestly this guide wasn’t as good and although Herculaneum is easier to get around and better preserved I preferred Pompeii. This could just have been because we went there first but I do wish we had not got a guide - a lot of the same information and I think we would have still done it but on our own which would have been better. Back to Sorrento for lunch at the bakery recommended by @ZZGirlwhich was genuinely excellent! Thank you!

Day 5 - we are up early tomorrow and into Naples. We are doing a food walking tour, will then go to the torture museum and then to the airport and home.

Have had a great time, would have been better if the rain had held off but it is late October so can’t really complain!

Thanks for all the advice!

Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you took my recommendation!! So glad you enjoyed it!

Go to Pompei early on a weekday, as in aim to get there for as soon as it opens. I did this just before lockdown and it was very quiet and atmospheric. I don’t think it’s too huge for an 11 year old, you don’t have to walk the whole thing or stay for hours if you don’t want to!

I like your use of the day out to include Pompeii plus other activities. I think two hours there would be enough for me too.

I've been to both, Pompeii with a guide would be great IMO. My DD was 12 when we went, yes, we didn't see absolutely everything, and the bit she remembers best is the mango gelato from the stall outside the gates but it was great, and the guide was fab. We did a small group tour with around 10 people