Paestum

Paestum is about 95 km south-east of Sorrento in the Campania region of Italy, at the Parco Archeologico di Paestum e Velia on Via Magna Grecia 917 in Capaccio Paestum. The journey takes about 2.5-3 hours each way and involves several legs, which is why the day is rated hard. The usual route is the Circumvesuviana from Sorrento to Napoli Garibaldi (70-75 minutes, EUR 5), a walk through the interchange to Napoli Centrale, and then a Trenitalia regional or Intercity train to Paestum in about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, for roughly EUR 8-14. An alternative is a ferry to Amalfi, the Travelmar ferry to Salerno (from about EUR 12), and a regional train from Salerno to Paestum in about 35-45 minutes. A private driver or organised tour is possible, but a full day is needed either way. Paestum holds three of the best-preserved Greek Doric temples in the world, the Temples of Hera, Neptune and Athena, within a walled Greek and Roman city. The museum nearby displays the painted Tomb of the Diver, a rare example of Greek tomb painting. A suggested day arc is the earliest practical departure so as to reach the site by mid-morning. The temples are best seen first, in the softer light, then the museum is a good shaded break at midday. Summer opening hours to 21 September 2026 were 08:30-19:30 with last entry at 18:30, and winter hours are shorter, so they should be confirmed before travel. The current fare is listed at parchipaestumvelia.cultura.gov.it/en/ticket-info. The temples have little shade, so April-June and September-October are the best months. For food, the area around Paestum is known for buffalo mozzarella, and a dairy tasting is a common stop before or after the site. Visitors need to check the last train back to Naples and Sorrento, since the return takes as long as the outward leg.