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- Herculaneum and Pompeii
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Day trips to Herculaneum
Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction. This is not the venue's website.
Itinerary
TOTAL DURATION5 hours
START POINT
2 starting points available
17 km
45 minutes
1
Herculaneum
1 attractions
Tickets included
Follow an expert guide as you marvel at the ingenuity of the Central Baths, learn about an imperial cult at the Hall of the Augustals, and more!
Highlights
House of the Relief of Telephus
This three-storey mansion was once laden with marble walls and a panoramic terrace.
17 km
45 minutes
2
END POINT
Pompeii Archaeological Park
Easily travel between two sister cities that tell the tale of Vesuvian wrath and primeval urbanity!
- Learn the legacy of Pompeii and Herculaneum with your expert guide, relaxing on comfortable round-trip train transfers.
- Brush past queues and peek into the lives of Romans from two millennia ago as you survey the thermopolia and temples of Pompeii.
- Uncover ancient manuscripts at the Villa of the Papyri library, divine statues at the Temple of the Four Gods, and much more at Herculaneum.
- Upgrade for an AC coach and a visit to the volcanic source, Mount Vesuvius! Or choose to pair your Pompeii visit with Amalfi and Ravello.
Easily travel between two sister cities that tell the tale of Vesuvian wrath and primeval urbanity!
- Learn the legacy of Pompeii and Herculaneum with your expert guide, relaxing on comfortable round-trip train transfers.
- Brush past queues and peek into the lives of Romans from two millennia ago as you survey the thermopolia and temples of Pompeii.
- Uncover ancient manuscripts at the Villa of the Papyri library, divine statues at the Temple of the Four Gods, and much more at Herculaneum.
- Upgrade for an AC coach and a visit to the volcanic source, Mount Vesuvius! Or choose to pair your Pompeii visit with Amalfi and Ravello.
Inclusions
- Guided tour of Pompeii and Herculaneum with entry
- Expert English-speaking archaeologist guide
- Digital audio guide in Italian, English, Spanish, French & German
- Round-trip train transfers between Pompeii and Herculaneum
- Pompeii Express ticket
- Visit to Mount Vesuvius (optional)
- Round-trip AC coach transfers (optional)
- Tip: Don't miss the charming Samnite House, one of the oldest homes in Herculaneum, dating back to the second century BC!
- Shutterbugs, take note: Commercial photography and tripods are a no-go inside the venues.
- Strict dress code: No discourteous clothing or shirtless attire is allowed inside Pompeii Archaeological Park.
- Big dogs (above the weight 10kg and the height of 40cm) are not allowed into the venue. Guide dogs with the proper certification are welcome.
- This experience is not accessible by wheelchair and pram/strollers.
- Your guide will offer a flexible route/itinerary to accommodate any opening and closing restrictions or restoration work. Therefore, the exact locations you visit on your tour may vary.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Itinerary
MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Minibus
START POINT
Naples/Pompeii
Board your spacious AC transfers from central Naples or Pompeii. Sit back and leave aside the logistical planning. Get dropped right at the entrance to each site, with the access fees all paid and ample time to explore before moving on.
10 km
15 minutes
1
Pompeii
1 attractions
Tickets included
Show your entry tickets, jump the lines, and independently walk amidst ancient streets, villas, and theaters offering a vivid snapshot of 1st-century life.
In 79 AD, the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. In the 21st century, you can discover both their archaeological excavations and climb the active volcano all in one trip.
Highlights
House of the Faun
Wander through Pompeii's largest and most elaborate residential complex, centered by a bronze statue of a dancing satyr.
8 km
15 minutes
2
Herculaneum
1 attractions
Tickets included
Explore this neighboring well-preserved Roman town, where volcanic ash sealed wooden structures, mosaics, and everyday artifacts in remarkable detail, halting entropy for nearly a couple millennia.
Highlights
House of Neptune and Amphitrite
Stop by this small yet richly frescoed villa, featuring a large technicolor mosaic of Greek sea deities.
5 km
10 minutes
3
Mount Vesuvius
Tickets included
Hike to the crater of this iconic volcano, whose explosive eruption shaped history and left behind breathtaking views of the Bay of Naples.
10 km
15 minutes
4
END POINT
Naples/Pompeii
Journey through two buried cities and a volcano – all featuring in a saga of ash and lava.
- Everything you get: Hop aboard round-trip transfers from either Naples or Pompeii. The first stop is Pompeii, followed by Herculaneum. Explore the villas, libraries, and food stalls at these two neighboring cities that faced similar fates. Then, head to Mount Vesuvius. Climb its slopes and craters to observe lava flows.
- Why choose this: With one booking and eight hours, skip the lines at three intertwined UNESCO landmarks, taking advantage of AC coach travel for the whole day.
Journey through two buried cities and a volcano – all featuring in a saga of ash and lava.
- Everything you get: Hop aboard round-trip transfers from either Naples or Pompeii. The first stop is Pompeii, followed by Herculaneum. Explore the villas, libraries, and food stalls at these two neighboring cities that faced similar fates. Then, head to Mount Vesuvius. Climb its slopes and craters to observe lava flows.
- Why choose this: With one booking and eight hours, skip the lines at three intertwined UNESCO landmarks, taking advantage of AC coach travel for the whole day.
Inclusions
- Day trip to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Vesuvius
- Round-trip transfers from Pompeii or Naples (as per option selected)
- Entry to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Vesuvius National Park
- Audio guide and map of Pompeii
Exclusions
- Live guide
- This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.
- During the low season, from Nov to Mar, the live guide inside the ruins will be replaced with an audio guide if the group is less than 6 people.
- The following are not allowed on this tour: Large baggage and suitcases.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
- Tired of travel hassles? Hop on board this one-way express transfer between Naples Porta Nolana or Porta Garibaldi station and Herculaneum Ercolano Scavi station!
- With train connections available every 3 hours, you won't miss a beat and zoom to your destination in just 18 minutes flat!
- Sit back, relax, and soak in the sights from vibrant city neighborhoods to the majestic Mount Vesuvius in the distance in air-conditioned coaches.
- At Herculaneum Ercolano Scavi Train Station, you've got options galore: heading further afield or exploring local gems, the station got you covered.
- Tired of travel hassles? Hop on board this one-way express transfer between Naples Porta Nolana or Porta Garibaldi station and Herculaneum Ercolano Scavi station!
- With train connections available every 3 hours, you won't miss a beat and zoom to your destination in just 18 minutes flat!
- Sit back, relax, and soak in the sights from vibrant city neighborhoods to the majestic Mount Vesuvius in the distance in air-conditioned coaches.
- At Herculaneum Ercolano Scavi Train Station, you've got options galore: heading further afield or exploring local gems, the station got you covered.
Inclusions
- One-way express transfers between Naples Porta Nolana or Porta Garibaldi train station and Herculaneum Ercolano Scavi train station
- Air-conditioning onboard
- Tip: First things first, grab a map at the Herculaneum Ercolano Scavi Train Station to navigate this ancient region and plan your day ahead.
- Please pay attention to the local displays and loudspeaker announcements and look out for trains having the name "Campania Express" on them.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Itinerary
TOTAL DURATION3 hours
MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Van
START POINT
Naples city center
Board your spacious transfers from the city center. A short but sweet 20-minute ride later, meet your knowledgeable guide inside the sprawling archaeological park to begin an unforgettable journey.
12 km
20 minutes
1
Herculaneum
120 min
1 attractions
Tickets included
After a panoramic ride along the Gulf of Naples, entry to Herculaneum is easiest with your pre-booked ticket and valid ID in hand. Step into an ancient city and fishing colony famously preserved under volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius, offering a remarkably intact glimpse into daily life in the Roman Empire.
Highlights
House of the Wooden Partition
Witness fully functional sliding wooden doors that have been preserved for over two millennia since its creation, a reminder of the long history of human innovation.
12 km
20 minutes
2
END POINT
Naples city center
Enjoy hassle-free round-trip transport and skip-the-line access on a guided tour to the ancient city of Herculaneum.
- Everything you get: Board an air-conditioned van for a comfortable 20-minute transfer from Naples, then skip the long ticket lines upon arrival at Herculaneum. Explore the remarkably preserved homes, frescoes, and wooden artifacts with an expert guide who brings this ancient Roman city to life.
- Why choose this: Forget about the hassle of planning—enjoy seamless transport and expert guidance for a smooth, enriching experience at one of Italy’s most iconic archaeological sites.
Enjoy hassle-free round-trip transport and skip-the-line access on a guided tour to the ancient city of Herculaneum.
- Everything you get: Board an air-conditioned van for a comfortable 20-minute transfer from Naples, then skip the long ticket lines upon arrival at Herculaneum. Explore the remarkably preserved homes, frescoes, and wooden artifacts with an expert guide who brings this ancient Roman city to life.
- Why choose this: Forget about the hassle of planning—enjoy seamless transport and expert guidance for a smooth, enriching experience at one of Italy’s most iconic archaeological sites.
Inclusions
- Guided tour of Herculaneum with skip-the-line entry
- Round-trip transfers from Naples
- Fully-fitted GT coach
- This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.
- During the low season, from Nov to Mar, the live guide inside the ruins will be replaced with an audio guide if the group is less than 6 people.
- The following are not allowed on this tour: Large baggage and suitcases.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Herculaneum TicketsDay trips
Top things to do in Naples
Why take a day trip to Herculaneum?
- Convenient day trip destination: Located close to Naples, Herculaneum is an ideal pit stop while visiting nearby destinations like Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius or even the National Archeological Museum of Naples.
- Manageable size: Compared to Pompeii, Herculaneum is a smaller site. This makes it ideal for a day trip, allowing you to explore the ruins thoroughly without feeling overwhelmed.
- Unique fate: Unlike Pompeii's ash burial, Herculaneum faced a fiery onslaught of pyroclastic surges. This resulted in a fascinating contrast — remarkably preserved wooden objects in Herculaneum compared to Pompeii's mostly ash-preserved remains.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: In 1997, Herculaneum earned the distinction of being a UNESCO World Heritage site for its laudable conservation efforts and superior state of preservation.
Your trips to Herculaneum explained
Guided tours
Duration: 5.5-7 hours
- Enter the sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii with an archeologist who is a subject matter expert. Learn about the different fates of these neighboring cities and what remains of them today.
- This small-group guided tour of less than 20 people ensures an intimate and interactive experience with your guide.
- While your guide is English-speaking, you can tune into a digital audio guide in 5 languages: English, Italian, Spanish, German or French.
Recommended ticket
From Pompeii/Naples: Pompeii & Herculaneum Guided Tour with Archaeologist
Round-trip transfers
Duration: 3-8 hours
- Depending on your choice, get round-trip transfers from Naples or Pompeii to Pompeii and Herculaneum. Make a stop at Mount Vesuvius too for an all-round experience.
- An expert driver will take you along a carefully curated route to help you make the most of your experience. Note that the driver does not act as a guide.
- At Pompeii, benefit from a map and audio guide. At Vesuvius, a volcanic guide will take you up its slopes.
- If you're taking the Naples half day tour, you can benefit from both audio guides and an expert local guide.
Recommended tickets
- From Pompeii/Naples: Pompeii, Herculaneum & Vesuvius Day Trip
- From Naples: Herculaneum Half-Day Tour
One-way transfers
Duration: 18 minutes
- Travel either from Naples to Herculaneum or vice versa with one-way Campania Express train tickets.
- Board from the Naples Porta Nolana station or the Ercolano Scavi station at Herculaneum.
- Note that these are only transport tickets and don’t include access to the Archeological Park of Herculaneum
Recommended ticket
Campania Express One-Way Tickets: Naples Porta Nolana to/from Herculaneum
What to expect on a day trip to Herculaneum
From Naples
Distance: 11.6 km
Travel time: Approximately x 30-40 minutes
- Choose between a comfortable GT coach with AC from Naples to head to Herculaneum and back.
- For a more local experience, board the Circumvesuviana Express from beneath the Piazza Garibaldi station in Naples. Alight at the Ercolano Scavi stop at Herculaneum.
- Once you arrive at Herculaneum, tour the ruins with an archeologist who will regale you with tales (and facts) of splendor, tragedy and luxury. Admire frescoes, statues, lavish houses and more — all preserved exceptionally.
- Board the coach/train back to Naples at the end of your visit.
From Pompeii
Distance: 19 km
Travel time: Approx 19 minutes
- An expert local driver will pick you up from your hotel in Pompeii.
- Once you arrive at Herculaneum, immerse yourself in a buried civilization that was in its golden age — before the eruption snuffed out the hopes of further prosperity.
- If you’ve opted for it, travel to Mount Vesuvius and climb to the crater with a volcanic guide.
- Your driver will drop you back to your hotel in Pompeii.
Know before you go on a Herculaneum day trip
Timings
Getting there
Budget
Things to do
Restaurants
Rules and tips
March 16 to October 14: 8:30am to 7:30pm.
October 15 to March 15: 8:30am to 5pm.
Last entry: 90 minutes before closure.
Closed: January 1 and December 25.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit is during the lean season (November, February and March). Try to visit before 11 am for a more relaxed tour ambiance.
Detailed Herculaneum opening hours
From Naples
1. Book a round-trip GT coach with AC. You will be picked up from your hotel and dropped off at Herculaneum.
2. Alternatively, take the Circumvesuviana train from Piazza Garibaldi in Naples and get off at Ercolano Scavi in Herculaneum. The archaeological park is a 10-minute walk from the station.
3. If you’re looking for one-way transport, take the Campania Express from Naples Porta Nolana station to Ercolani Scavi or vice versa.
From Pompeii: An expert local driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Herculaneum. Once you’re done with your visit, you will be dropped back to your hotel.
Herculaneum location
Including transfers, expert tour guide charges and audio guides, the trip can cost you anywhere between €15 to €128. Note that food, shopping, etc. will cost you extra.
For a more budget-friendly option, consider the Campania Express One-Way Tickets, starting from €15. This option offers a quick and convenient transfer between Naples Porta Nolana and Herculaneum Ercolano Scavi Train Station. You can then book the admission ticket to Herculaneum separately.
Entrance fee
- The standard entrance fee for Herculaneum for adults is €15 per person.
- Entry to Pompeii typically costs around €16 per person for adult
- Admission to Mount Vesuvius varies based on age and season, ranging around €10-€20 per person.
Discounts
Students with a valid ID and seniors aged above 65 and above enjoy reduced admission prices. It's advisable to check the ticket details for accurate information about available discounts and eligibility criteria.
Other costs
You may want to budget around €5 to €10 per person for quick snacks or light meals from local cafes or food vendors near the archaeological sites. For a casual sit-down meal at a local restaurant or trattoria, budget around €15 to €25 per person for a main course along with a drink. Keep in mind that prices can vary based on the restaurant; it's a good idea to check menu prices beforehand.
- At Herculaneum, don’t miss visiting the Samnite House (one of the oldest houses found there), the Villa of the Papyri (from where nearly 1800 paper scrolls survived fire and ash), the Palestra and more.
- Admire the vivid frescoes inside the House of Neptune and Amphitrite, and see a wooden door that still works on its hinges at the House of the Wooden Partition.
- At Pompeii, see the human casts, erotic graffiti, gymnasium and more.
- If your trip also includes a stop at Vesuvius, climb the crater and peer into its swirling depths. Don’t miss trying the local wine grown on volcanic soil — Lacryma Christi.
All that walking is sure to make you crave a snack. Head to these eateries in Ercolano after your visit and enjoy a snack or sit-down meal.
- Bistrot Italia: Sink into plush interiors and savor delectable cuisines (try the porcini!) spanning seafood, desserts and more at Bistrot Italia.
- La Pachanga Mexican Restaurant: In Italy but craving some spice? Head to La Pachanga and gorge on taco salads, tropical cocktails and more.
- Dante Osteria: With outdoor seating available, Dante Osteria serves cold cuts, charcuterie boards and more from the finest hand-picked produce in the region.
- As these sites have been painstakingly preserved, please don’t touch the frescoes, statues or other displays. In their fragility lies their preciousness.
- If your ticket also includes a trip to Vesuvius, do wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots to navigate the terrain.
- Pack a light picnic (especially if you’re traveling with kids) as there are only few eateries to choose from and most don’t serve full meals.
- While the transfers to Herculaneum from Naples and Pompeii are fully wheelchair accessible, the hike up to Mount Vesuvius is not.
- While most people flock to Pompeii, spend at least 2-3 hours in Herculaneum to appreciate its better-preserved structures.
Frequently asked questions about day trips to Herculaneum
What are my primary transport options to avail a day trip to Herculaneum?
You can either book a GT coach with AC from Naples or take the Circumvesuviana train to the Ercolano Scavi station. From Pompeii, a local driver will escort you to Herculaneum and back.
What sights can I cover as part of the day trip?
You can definitely visit both Pompeii and Herculaneum as part of your day trip. If you’ve opted for it, you can also top up your experience with a visit to Mount Vesuvius as well.
How long will I spend at each destination during my day trip?
Typically, a trip to Pompeii lasts longer than Herculaneum or Vesuvius as there’s more to see there. So, you can expect to spend at least 2.5-3 hours in Pompeii alone. Generally, Herculaneum can be visited in under 2.5 hours, and Vesuvius takes about 1.5 hours at most. These estimates also include travel time between these destinations.
What facilities are available on board the transfers?
You will get to travel in an air-conditioned train or coach. If you are opting for a pick-up and drop-off from Pompeii, an expert local driver will ferry you to the archeological park and back. However, no snacks or drinks are available during the transfer. Guided tours will begin only once you reach the destination.
Are Herculaneum day trips wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the round-trip transfers (which include transport and access to Pompeii and Herculaneum) are wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately, the hike up to Mount Vesuvius is not.
Are day trips suitable for children?
Traveling with children above the age of 5 is generally an enjoyable experience for the family. Be sure to load up on snacks and water as there are very few fueling stations nearby and temperatures can get quite hot. To be on the safer side, we recommend not bringing along toddlers or infants as a day trip more or less spans the entire day, and they might feel uncomfortable by the end of it. Additionally, Pompeii and Herculaneum are not entirely stroller-friendly.
