No, not a dependable year-round public one. Most public-transport routes from Amalfi involve at least one change, usually through Salerno or Sorrento. That means the real DIY decision is not direct bus versus train, but which interchange gives you the least friction for the season you’re traveling in.

Usually ferry to Salerno, then train. In season, that route often lands at ~1 hr 30 min–2 hrs total and avoids the worst Amalfi Coast road traffic. Driving can be faster on an empty road, but in peak season, it can just as easily become the slowest option once congestion and parking are factored in.

About 7–11 hours door to door, depending on the route and how long you stay inside Pompeii. Most travelers leave Amalfi around 7:30–8:30am, reach the ruins by late morning, spend 3–4 hours on-site, and get back to the coast by early evening. It’s manageable, but it rewards an early start.

Yes, especially from April to October. The transport from Amalfi already uses up part of your day, so buying entry at the gate is the wrong place to gamble. Full names are mandatory on Pompeii bookings, so double-check them before checkout and bring a valid ID.

Yes, you can absolutely do it on your own. The smarter split is often DIY transport from Amalfi, plus pre-booked site access such as Pompeii entry tickets, Pompeii entry tickets with audio guide, or a Pompeii skip-the-line guided tour once you arrive. That way, you keep route flexibility without entering Pompeii cold.

Use the bus-and-train fallback. Amalfi ferries are seasonal and weather-dependent, so rough seas or low-season schedules can remove the best route entirely. If that happens, SITA Sud bus connections via Salerno or Sorrento still make the day possible — just slower, and with more buffer needed for the return.

Not really — it’s the prettiest base, not the easiest one. Amalfi works if you’re staying put on the coast and don’t want to relocate, but Sorrento and Naples both beat it on simplicity, speed, and return flexibility. If Pompeii is a highlight day in your trip, those origins are easier to live with.

Yes, but only if you start early and accept a long day. Pompeii alone deserves 3 hours, and Vesuvius adds more transport plus an uphill walk. If you want the cleanest bookable version, the Pompeii-and-Vesuvius combinations are more naturally from Naples than from Amalfi.

Manageable, but not ideal. Multiple transfers are the problem from Amalfi, not just Pompeii itself. If you have luggage, use Pompeii’s storage facilities rather than hauling bags through the ruins. If mobility is the main concern, Naples is the easier origin, and within Pompeii, the south-side entrances are more accessible than the main gate.

At least 2–3 hours, and 4 hours is better. Pompeii is not a single building you can ‘tick off’ quickly — it’s a city-sized archaeological park. If you’re coming from Amalfi, the smartest approach is to decide in advance whether you want a highlights visit or a slower, deeper one, then build the transfer around that.