I've been reading through the posts about Herculaneum and cannot get a feel for how long the train ride would be from Sorrento to Herculaneum. Can anyone advise? We were thinking of hiring a driver/guide to get there, thinking it would save time. Does anyone know? Thanks!

You look up the schedules here:

www.vesuviana.it (Circumvesuviana line)

NOTE: You must search for "ERCOLANO" rather than Herculaneum!

Thank you.

The timetable shows 45 minutes from Sorrento to Ercolano Scavi. Based on the normal heavy traffic on that road, it would almost certainly take you longer to get there by car. If you want a driver/guide to show you around the site, that of course is different.

We traveled by train from Sorrento to Pompeii in November and the trip was great. A great way to see the area while not trying to navigate the roads. We even stopped in a few villages on the way back to walk around. Regarding guides, if Herculaneum is anything like Pompeii, we were able to hook up with a guide at the gate. He rounded up seven others and we had a personal tour for 10 euro each.

it takes 30min on the Circumvesuviana to get to Pompeii from Sorrento. About 50 to Ercolano Scavi (Herculaneum), and one hour and 10 min to get to Naples.

Yeah, I was wondering if it might be faster to go by train rather than have someone drive us. We can always get a guide when we get there. Although I was told my someone that the drive there can be interesting if you hire a driver/guide who talks about the area all the way there.

This Google map of Ercolano whos the Circumvesuvins stop as a red cross and the entrance to the ruins as a blue balloon with a black dot
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms...c544b51126bdc6&msa=0

If we were staying in Sorrento, can anybody recommend a driver/guide for Herculaneum and the rest of the Almafi Coast? Thanks.

The 8 of us are using Massimo who is picking us up in Rome FCO, a week later dropping us off at Roma Termini. Also we are using him for Amalfi, Paestum, a winery and B. Mozz. farm in Salerno. He has been great about communicating and his pricing is very competitive.
For Herculaneum and Pompeii we are using [URL=Lucia Pompeii Guide ]Lucia[/URL]. She is meeting us at the train station in Sorrento and we'll do Herculaneum, lunch then Pompeii for an all day tour.
Hope this helps.

Breedoni, I have read many good things about Lucia, the Pompeii guide you are using, and have been trying to reach her myself for a tour of Pompeii on May 15th. I am having no success using the email address from her web site, however, and was wondering how you made contact with her? Thanks in advance.

Michael