How to get from Rome to Pompeii

There is no direct train from Rome to Pompeii. Every public-transport route runs through Naples, where you change to a local train for the last 35–40 minutes. Driving is possible but slower in practice once you add Naples traffic and parking near the ruins.

The table below compares the realistic options. Prices are 2026 estimates for one adult, one way.

Fastest: high-speed train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale, then the Circumvesuviana from Napoli Garibaldi (below the main station) to Pompei. Allow about 2h30–3h door to door, plus 10–15 minutes to walk from Pompei station to the ruins entrance.

Cheapest: a regional train from Rome to Naples, then the local train. It costs less but adds an hour or more. If you book the high-speed leg weeks ahead, discounted fares can be close to the regional price, which makes the fast option the better value.

Book the Rome–Naples high-speed leg on the operator's own site or app. Fares are cheapest well in advance and rise as the train fills; a seat reservation is included in the ticket.

The Naples–Pompeii local train is bought at the station, from a ticket machine or the app. Validate paper tickets before boarding. If you are heading straight to the ruins, buy a return ticket at the same time to avoid a queue on the way back.

Pompeii is a large open site with little shade. Go early in the day in summer, carry water and wear shoes with grip; the paving is uneven.

If you are also visiting Herculaneum or Vesuvius, the same Naples–Circumvesuviana line serves them, so you can combine stops on one day.

Left luggage at Napoli Centrale lets you visit Pompeii on the way between Rome and the Amalfi Coast without hauling bags around the ruins.

The route follows the Rome–Naples high-speed line to Napoli Centrale, then the coastal line southeast past Herculaneum and Vesuvius to Pompeii. Both Pompeii stations sit within a short walk of the archaeological site.