Naples to Pompei Trains from €3.50

For all tourists in and around Naples, a visit to the ancient city of Pompeii is a must – a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved Roman towns on earth. The city is well worth the barely 35-minute ride to discover a city frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Unlike most Italian rail routes, this journey isn’t about high-speed trains or first-class service though – it’s all about getting you to one of the world’s great archaeological sites whether it be cheaply, quickly, conveniently or in style. Not only do we have all the information you need to help you find the right train, as an official, authorised ticketing reseller for Trenitalia (including Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, Intercity and regional trains) and Italo (NTV), but with TrainPal you can also book your Naples to Pompeii train tickets with confidence – enjoying secure bookings, official e-tickets and 24/7 customer support throughout your journey.

Departure station: Departing from Naples

For most visitors taking the Circumvesuviana or Campania Express to Pompeii, you’ll need to descend to the lower level and follow the signs for Circumvesuviana or EAV. The ticket office for these services is separate from the main Trenitalia hall. You’ll find it adjacent to the Circumvesuviana platforms underground and clearly marked EAV. Buy your ticket here, use the GoEav app, or use the recently introduced Tap&Go system to pay directly with a contactless card at enabled turnstiles. Bear in mind: if you’re travelling with luggage or have reduced mobility, there are no escalators to the Circumvesuviana platforms, only stairs.

You can, however, also take the Trenitalia regional train to Pompeii’s FS station, departing from the ground-level platforms of Napoli Centrale in the usual way. Or, if you’re located further east in Naples, you can also board at Napoli S. Giovanni-Barra. The Trenitalia route is often the easier option for passengers with heavy luggage in Naples, but no matter where you board, your arrival station is in the town of Pompeii, and a 15-minute walk from the Piazza Anfiteatro site entrance.

If you’re only heading to Pompeii for the day and wish to leave your bags behind, luggage storage is available at the KiPoint office near platform 2, open daily from 06:00 to 23:00. The station also has cafes and fast-food options within the main concourse, but for a proper Neapolitan espresso and sfogliatella (a sweet ricotta-filled pastry), it’s worth walking ten minutes into the city where the bars are both better and cheaper.

Arrival station: Arriving at Pompei

The station you arrive at depends on the train you boarded in Naples, and it’s worth knowing which line serves which station before you board, as it makes a significant difference to how close you’ll be to the ruins when you get off the train.

Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri (Circumvesuviana/Campania Express)

Located directly alongside the Porta Marina entrance – the main entrance to the archaeological site – Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri station is just 50-100 metres from the ticket gates. This is the main station served by the Circumvesuviana/Campania Express lines. When boarding in Naples, note that another Circumvesuviana line serves Pompei Santuario on the Poggiomarino service. Disembarking here will leave you well over a kilometre from the ruins with no direct connection. Look for Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri instead.

Pompei (Trenitalia FS)

If you travel on a Trenitalia regional train, you’ll arrive into the modern town of Pompeii, and around a 15-minute walk from the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance to the ruins. In the summer heat, if you’re carrying a lot of luggage, it can feel extraordinarily far, but taxis are available outside the station if needed. For this reason, if luggage storage is a priority, it’s better to take the EAV services to Pompei Scavi where there is free luggage storage available near the Porta Marina entrance, allowing you to explore the site hands-free.

Unlike most Italian long-distance routes, the Naples to Pompeii line is not served by Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed trains. Instead, there are three services that cover the route, each with a different balance of price, comfort and convenience. Here’s how they compare:

Trenitalia Regionale

Running on Trenitalia’s mainline network from the ground-level platforms of Napoli Centrale, the regional train is a less commonly used but perfectly viable option – especially for travellers with heavy luggage looking to avoid the stairs down to the Circumvesuviana.

• Average journey time: 35-39 minutes
• Departure station: Napoli Centrale (ground-level mainline platforms)
• Best for: Travelers with heavy luggage or those staying in Pompeii
• Onboard experience: Standard Trenitalia regional carriages with air conditioning that tend to be more comfortable than the Circumvesuviana
• Worth knowing: Tickets start from around €3.30. Note that neither the Circumvesuviana nor Trenitalia regional trains on this route earn CartaFRECCIA loyalty points – these apply to Frecce services.

Campania Express (EAV)

The Campania Express is the premium alternative on the same Circumvesuviana line, offering a considerably more comfortable experience for a moderate supplement. It’s the option most recommended for first-time visitors looking for a more relaxing journey to the ruins.

• Average journey time: 30-32 minutes
• Departure station: Napoli Piazza Garibaldi (underground level, Napoli Centrale)
• Best for: Families, travellers with luggage and anyone who wants a guaranteed seat and a more relaxed onboard experience
• Onboard experience: Air conditioning, reserved seating and dedicated luggage space
• Worth knowing: Tickets cost €15 and there are around six departures daily depending on the day, so check the timetable in advance and book early, as seats will sell out. Seasonal service only, usually from mid-March to mid-October.

Circumvesuviana (EAV)

The Circumvesuviana is the classic, local and by far the most frequent option for the train ride from Naples to Pompeii. Operating on the historic narrow-gauge railway that winds around the lower slopes of Mount Vesuvius, it’s been carrying both Neapolitans and tourists alike between Naples and Sorrento for over a century, stopping right outside the ruins along the way.

• Average journey time: 35-40 minutes
• Departure station: Napoli Piazza Garibaldi (underground level, Napoli Centrale)
• Best for: Budget-conscious travellers and anyone looking for the most frequent service, as trains run every 20-30 minutes throughout the day
• Onboard experience: Basic commuter-style carriages with no air conditioning on most services. Trains can be very crowded in summer and at peak tourist times, so board at the starting terminus Napoli Piazza Garibaldi for the best chance of a seat
• Worth knowing: Tickets cost €3.30 for a standard single. The Circumvesuviana is known to be frequented by pickpockets on the Naples-Sorrento route. It’s perfectly safe, but worth a little extra vigilance

Step off the train at Pompeii Scavi-Villa dei Misteri and you’ll find yourself standing at the threshold of one of the most remarkable sites on earth. Buried under metres of volcanic ash following the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD and only rediscovered in the 18th century, Pompeii offers an unparalleled window into ancient Roman life – with its streets, houses, temples and theatres preserved in breathtaking detail. Here are the highlights to head for first.

• The Forum and the Plaster Casts

A vast open square flanked by temples, civic buildings and the covered market, and Mount Vesuvius on the skyline, the Forum is the heart of ancient Pompeii and the natural starting point for any visit. Nearby you can see plaster casts of Pompeii's victims – created during excavations by pouring plaster into the voids left by bodies encased in hardened ash – among the most haunting and unforgettable things you will ever see.

• Via dell’Abbondanza and the Amphitheatre

Ancient Pompeii’s main high street, Via dell’Abbondanza runs east from the Forum through the heart of the city, and is lined with shops, taverns, bakeries and private residences that give the most vivid picture of what life was like in ancient Rome. Follow it to its eastern end and you’ll reach the amphitheatre – dating from 80 BC and one of the oldest surviving Roman amphitheatres anywhere on earth.

• The Villa dei Misteri

Slightly outside the ancient city walls and a 10-minute walk northwest from the Porta Marina entrance, the Villa dei Misteri is one of the best preserved Roman villas in the world. Its main room contains one of the most extraordinary works of ancient art in existence – a series of life-size frescoes depicting the initiation rites of a mysterious bacchic cult. Note that the Villa dei Misteri requires a separate ticket from the main site entry – it’s worth every penny, but make sure you purchase it before entering the site.

• Mount Vesuvius

The volcano that buried Pompeii is still very much active – and easily reachable from Pompeii Scavi station. Buses depart from outside the station to Vesuvius car park, and from there it's a 30 to 40 minute walk to the crater rim. The effort is well rewarded by the views across the Bay of Naples, which on a clear day are extraordinary.

Before you go:

• Book tickets in advance: Pompeii operates a daily visitor cap of 20,000 and in summer and on public holidays can reach capacity. Online booking guarantees entry and avoids the queue. Adult tickets cost €18.
• Wear comfortable shoes: The site covers 44 hectares of uneven Roman cobblestones, so avoid sandals and heels if you’re looking to cover a lot of ground.
• Bring water and sunscreen: There’s not much shade within the site and only limited bathrooms once you're through the gates.
• Allow enough time: A thorough visit to Pompeii takes around four to five hours, while a highlights-only visit takes at least 2.5 hours. If you’re returning to Naples late, check the Circumvesuviana departure times so you don’t miss the last train.