Visiting Naples

jdvhsully

We are visiting Naples in August, for my big birthday. There will be 6 adults and 2 children aged 6 and 10 and are going for 10 days. 
We plan to visit Pompeii, Vesuvius and Rome.
Any suggestions welcome about what to do, where to eat (we have a self catering apartment arranged) how to get the best out of our proposed visits etc.

maman

We enjoyed a trip to Positano from Sorrento on a public service bus, sitting on the top deck. Then we walked down into Sorrento and got on a boat trip back.

We stayed in Sorrento so not sure how easy this would be for you. 

daveyjp

It could far too hot in August to even consider the full day you need to appreciate Pompeii.

We visited in June a few years ago with a 14 year old, after 3 hours in 32 degrees we had had enough.  Its huge!

Vesuvius may not be as bad, but the bus only takes you to a car park about 40-60 minute walk/hike from the summit.

From Naples there is a train - Circumvesuviana - which gets you to stations serving both.  Its old, rickety, unreliable, rammed and has no aircon!  

Organised trips with transport included may therefore be a better option.  

Rome isn't worth visiting for a day.

downshifted

Please don’t miss the veiled Christ and other statues in the Capella Sansavero. You don’t need to be religious to appreciate the exquisite workmanship. Check out the photos, but they don’t do it justice.

la531983

daveyjp said:

It could far too hot in August to even consider the full day you need to appreciate Pompeii.

We visited in June a few years ago with a 14 year old, after 3 hours in 32 degrees we had had enough.  Its huge!

Vesuvius may not be as bad, but the bus only takes you to a car park about 40-60 minute walk/hike from the summit.

From Naples there is a train - Circumvesuviana - which gets you to stations serving both.  Its old, rickety, unreliable, rammed and has no aircon!  

Organised trips with transport included may therefore be a better option.  

Rome isn't worth visiting for a day.

A couple of things to pick out of the above.

- if you are taking the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii, get the train from the terminus and NOT the 2nd stop along at the main railway station.
We did this and instantly were thankful as we saw the absolute hoards waiting on the platform. 

- Rome for a day is perfectly doable. We did this. Early train there and a 6pm train back, we easily got around all the sights, even saw the Pope do his Sunday address, and was back in Naples for a lovely pizza. Granted I didnt have children in tow.

- I would agree August be bonkers to do anything at Pompeii all day.

UncleTomCobley

You may want to also consider the National Archaeological Museum in Naples (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum,_Naples). Without oversimplifying things, this is where a lot of interesting artifacts (including frescos and mosaics) from Pompeii and Herculaneum ended up.

It's in the centre of Naples (close to a metro stop) and is a little cooler than the two sites.

It contains the Gabinetto Segreto (in a separate section), which isn't suitable for all age groups.

 

SiliconChip

I'd take a boat trip to Capri or Ischia, it might be a bit cooler out in the bay than in the city or on the slopes of Vesuvius. 

maman

If you do decide to go to Capri, take the lift to Anacapri. It's much quieter than the main town and we enjoyed just wandering through the pretty streets and the views are excellent. 

Grumpelstiltskin

Are you sure your 6 year old will enjoy trailing round Pompeii in the heat of August, as others have said it is huge. a compete town.
I think Herculaneum is much better and smaller.

Please don't underestimate the heat in Naples a city with narrow streets.

jdvhsully

Thank you for your help so far. We are going in August as two of us work in schools and my birthday is in August. I did suggest Easter but was out voted. I think we plan to take our time and visit Pompeii over 2 or 3 days, and the same for the other visits. 

Grumpelstiltskin

I think Pompeii is overhyped. I think after 1 day you will have had enough.

There is very little shade, if you think about it there are a lot of walls and not many roofs and the streets can be uncomfortable to walk on.