A Day Trip To Pompeii : Travelling From Naples With Children

During our week in Italy we spent a couple of days in Naples. As one of the best cities in Italy to visit, there are plenty things to do in Naples and Pompeii was at the top of our list. We found there was a train from Napoli Centrale station that stopped right outside Pompeii. The kids had studied Pompeii at school, so along with Mount Vesuvius we hoped it would be a trip that they would enjoy.

Getting To Pompeii From Naples

As I mentioned there is a train from Napoli Centrale to Pompeii but we were advised to walk to Piazza Nolana station instead. It was only a ten minute walk and it was the first stop on the line so we were more likely to get a seat. In theory anyway… (More of that later!)

It’s a really small station so it’s not overwhelming if, like us, you don’t know what you’re doing! We bought our tickets from the ticket booth and headed to the lower platform in search for the train heading towards Sorrento. The train stations in Naples don’t have the best reputation and we were advised to be aware of pickpockets so we kept our belongings close.

The train arrived and we were caught up in what can only be described as a stampede! We, including the children, were pushed and jostled onto the train and the limited seats were soon taken by those much more forceful than us! There was no priority for young children or even the elderly. An older gentleman who seemed unsteady on his feet was forced to stand and nobody batted an eyelid. Our train journey from hell had commenced! The next stop, Napoli Centrale, meant more people pushing their way onto the train to the point we were all squashed up together. This continued for 19 unbearable stops! There was no air-conditioning so it was sweaty and claustrophobic and honestly just awful! I could not have been more relieved when the train finally pulled into Pompeii Scavi station. The journey took 35 minutes but it felt about three days!

Pompeii Tickets

We fell off the train and walked towards the ruins. We’d been warned against buying tickets from anywhere other than the official sellers at the site entrance. We arrived around 10am and joined the queue for tickets which took us around 20 minutes to reach the front. The children were free and it was €15 each for my husband and I which we thought was really reasonable. We decided against a guided tour and chose instead to explore Pompeii at our own pace.

Our Experience Of Pompeii

Pompeii was just as impressive as we had hoped. It’s obviously huge so there’s so much to see and explore. We’d watched a few documentaries before our visit so we were able to point out various things to the kids that they may not have noticed (and tried to avert their eyes from some rather “bold” paintings!)

Warning – explicit picture below!

The boys were fascinated and were so excited to spot Mt. Vesuvius in the distance. Meanwhile our four year old daughter enjoyed exploring the ruins despite not understanding the significance of what she was seeing. She enjoyed hopping on the stepping stones and climbing on the steps.

The amphitheatre was particularly impressive and we were rewarded with some fantastic views from the top. As we sat down and took in our surroundings, it was hard not to think of the people who had sat there before us.

The Antiquarium is also worth a visit, not only because it offers some welcome shade from the 30+ degree heat, but also because it gives a real insight to what life would have been like before the eruption. The body casts are particularly humbling, especially when you see how the inhabitants, including children, were just frozen in time.

There is an onsite cafe offering everything from hot food to ice-creams. As you’d expect it’s not the cheapest but we found it was worth it to have a rest and something to eat and drink.

On the way out we walked through the gardens which were both beautiful and poignant. It was lovely to see plants and flowers breathing life back into Pompeii but it was also a humbling reminder of what Pompeii could have looked like before the eruption.

Our Tips For Visiting Pompeii With Children

1. Take a water bottle. When the bottle is empty there are several water fountains situated in and around the ruins so you can top it back up again. The water is fine to drink and actually tastes much nicer than the tap water we’re used to at home!
2. We visited during the summer and it was extremely hot. A lot of the ruins are exposed to the sun so sun-hats and suncream are an absolute must.
3. There’s so much to see and explore so make sure you and the kids are wearing comfortable shoes.
4. If the heat is getting a bit much, you can find shade. Head down the small alleyways and take a break/sit down on one of the walls. The indoor areas such as the Antiquarium and cafe can also offer some shade.

Summary

So is Pompeii suitable for children? Absolutely. We could easily have spent all day there but chose to spend a few hours and quit while we were ahead before the kids started moaning they were tired! They found it interesting and my eldest (10) said it was his highlight of our whole trip to Italy, including our visits to The Colosseum and Vatican City. We all had a great time and it was even worth the train journey from hell to get there!