Originally Posted by
Forrest Bump
If you don't make your homework before going to Pompeii or are not into history and archeology you will only see a bunch of stones and ruines.
This is what most of tourists see. Hence the meh reaction.
On such short time I would visit Naples.
Plenty of things to see and do.
Last week I've been taking a guest to museum of Capodimonte and its park.
Amazing to realize from someone else's perspective that this museum alone in any country in the world besides Italy, Germany, Spain, UK, France would be considered the main national gallery, while in Naples you basically have it empty and all for yourself. (Tiziano, Raffaello, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Mantegna, Lotto among others).
Nearby the Cimitero delle Fontanelle is another "off the beaten tracks" thing to see.
Or the stunning view from the Castel Sant'Elmo (get into the funicular departing from Via Toledo, only 10 minutes walk from the wharf where cruise ships dock).
I agree it would be better to just stay in Naples, one of Italy's best cities, unless you have nerves of steel and really want to see Pompeii, and aren't concerned about potentially missing your boat, or not getting a chance to do anything else in Naples because you only have about 10 hours. Vacations to me, are not about rushing around from place to place to see as much as I can. It's about relaxing.