Herculaneum Ruins

A fantastic and very special place to visit. We actually preferred it to Pompeii, as it was much less crowded and the buildings were far better preserved. Don’t go into the town itself as it is quite run-down. I’d recommend taking snacks with you, as there are vending machines on-site but the choice is limited. Car park right at the entrance. Take photos when you enter on the bridge as you can see it all. One downside is the lack of seating around the ruins, which made the visit difficult for one member of our group who has mobility issues. Overall, a fascinating place to explore and well worth a visit, but be prepared.

We have been to quite a few archaeological sites over time and this was up there with the best. It is not the largest site and there is still a lot underground. It is much smaller than Pompeii and we felt it offered more than there. To me, one of the first things we saw on entering what was the original beach was the wall of soil - see picture - which demonstrated the depth of volcanic debris which covered the small city when Vesuvius erupted. We had a guided tour through the site which we enjoyed especially having the layout of the houses explained and being able to see various murals decorating the walls. We also the museum where there are many items that have been uncovered including a staggering amount of jewellery. For me though, and this might sound weird, but it was the carbonised cabinets etc that amazed me. Well worth a visit and it is less crowded than Pompeii.

pick up at the main train station, easy ride, small group, GREAT guide, all in all a trip well worth taking even after seeing Pompeii.

The park can be reached by the local train system via the DD or Campania Express system. The DD system is essentially a subway type system. Cheap, but crowded and uncomfortable. The Campania Express is a ticketed train (assigned seats), with AC, but is very expensive. Check schedules for specific departure times and station service. Not all trains stop at Ercolano. It's a bit of a walk from the station downhill, but it is uphill at the end of your day!. But tickets online ahead of time especially towards the end of May and throughout the summer. Entry is by time slot. You can download an audio guide and map as well as a pdf guidebook for free. We had trouble with the audio guide not functioning well as a Google play download. Test ahead of time. You can hire a guide. Best to clump some people together into a group to split the cost. The layout is fairly straightforward. There is a museum, but it's best to get into the ruins as fast as possible. There are many school trips and organized bus tours in May. It can be very hot and there is little shade. Bring water and snacks. Otherwise, the site is amazing. The history behind the city and the various buildings is very interesting. Things are very well preserved. It felt like stepping back into the life of the people at the time. Be prepared to be on your feet for a long time. There are few resting places. The walk back to the station is long at the end of the day. We recommend a stop at one of the cafes along the main street for a lunch break.

Visited here having been to Pompeii the day before. Very interesting and on a much smaller scale than Pompeii, especially if you cannot walk too long. There are ongoing excavations and those that have been uncovered are well preserved. Very thought provoking and humbling to see the final resting place of so many souls, after such a catastrophic event. Snacks and drinks are available from vending machines with seating outside.

This is a fascinating experience. The Antiquarium is an essential stop. The experience compliments a trip to Pompeii.

We came here after Pompeii, and I am glad that we did. It is smaller than its more famous ruined city, but better for it. Here in Herculeum one of the most fascinating things is the walk over a bridge. You can see the base of the city about 25 metres below you. The arched openings of the buildings contain skeletons, lying as they died in AD79. But that's not it either, just imagine that you were there with you back to the arches. Your feet would have been on a beach and you would have been looking at the board on the sea. Yes the sea, and not as today the 25 metre high wall of volcanic materials, ejected by Mount Vesuvius. Its is no wonder that the city completely disappeared for over a 1000 years.

Recently visited Herculaneum as a ship excursion and so glad we did! Seeing the well-preserved structures and mosaic paintings gave us a vision of what it was actually like. Our guide was very knowledgeable and it elevated our experience to hear its history and what we were walking through and looking at along the way. Truly one of the highlights of our trip!

HERCULANEUM As with Pompeii the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 buried Herculaneum under approximately 20 m (66 ft) of ash. It lay hidden and largely intact until discoveries from wells and tunnels. Excavations continued sporadically up to the present and today many streets and buildings are visible, although over 75% of the town remains buried. Today, the Italian towns of Ercolano and Portico lie above Herculaneum. Ercolano was called Resina until 1969 when the modern name was adopted in honour of the old city. This visit can easily be reached from Naples by train from Napoli Porta Nolana Train Station. Just ask for a return ticket at the station. Costs about €3.20 one way. Be mindful that most people on this train will be going to Pompei Scarvi & not Ercolano Scarvi where Herculaneum is! Make sure you position yourself by the door so you can easily get off. Buy tickets easily at Herculaneum. It’s that easy! A Ticket costs €18. Take your own lunch and enjoy it sitting under the pomegranate trees.

Herculanium is a wonderful experience and although smaller than Pompeii, offers a far better experience. Remember to take headphones or pods because as soon as you enter the site, you are given the opportunity to sign in to Wifi ans download apps that work with Mobile devices. With multiple well hidden bluetooth hotspots, as soon as you near one, you are able to connect, hear a vert informative explanation and even able to activate a 3D interactive reconstruction showing how things should have been. Allow approx 3 hours to fully see the site, but take drinks. There is a basic drink service via automats at the entry. We noted that after about 14:00 there was an increase in tours as people on the combined Pompeii/ Herculaneum day trips arrived, so if you dislike crowds, early is best.

We visited Herculaneum via a cruise ship tour in June 2025. Having been to Pompeii before, we enjoyed Herculaneum much more! While the ruins that you can explore at Herculaneum are smaller than Pompeii they are in better shape with more mosaics and paintings left behind. Only 25% of Herculaneum is escavated and the rest remains under everyone's homes surrounding it. Herculaneum is very well taken care of and having a guide certainly helps to bring the history alive.

Well it's interesting to see, cheaper smaller and less buys than pompeii..i only chose the audio guide option but didn't use it and due to only having a guided tour of pompeii a few days earlier.r. Would have been good to hear more about some of the areas including where there is a cave/tunnel's and the bones Not sure if I would reccomend doing both pompeii and here in such a short time never mind same day Bit definitely some different and good sights to see here

Herculaneum is a great site to visit because it is smaller than Pompeii but the buildings are in better condition and it is easier to get a feel for it as a real town. I loved that they have provided gardens here and there and one particular wooded area where you can sit in the shade to rest and read. Would also recommend stopping off at Anna and Nancy's stall in the car park for a drink and a snack. Sorry I don't know the name but see picture. They were the friendliest people we met all trip.

Atmospheric, historical ruins, nice museum as well, let down by the poor 'food court', so take your own, baking hot, unique

Fabulous snap shot in time of a tragic event, but truly amazing. The preservation of this Roman era wealthy town is a must see. Meander through the ancient streets and see homes, shops and averns along with public places. Realising that the Naples shoreline used to come to the edge of the town, you can get a scale of that deadly eruption in 79AD.

Great place, smaller than Pompeii, but more intact. We got train from Sorrento, had one change which was easy to do at small station. From Ercolano station, its a straight walk down long street to the ruins. Go through the arch, see the ruins on right and head to modern ticket office. We went early so was not busy, no queue.

Herculaneum is the real jewel in the crown -imo better than Pompei. This is my second visit, I came years ago and always vowed to come back and give it more time, it didn't disappoint. Booking was very easy online - make sure you use the official booking site not the ones which include tour guides etc. It's so easy to book online and download an e-ticket or just rock up. We came early afternoon and it was v quiet but for some school trips . The audio guide you can purchase is OK but I think you can also download something on your phone - there are QR codes at the location. Alternatively there are tour guides available when you arrive - maybe because I came in the afternoon and all the hoards tend to come in the morning. The site is quite compact and you approach via a lovely park - and you can look down on the site which gives a real taste of what's in store. Despite being compact there is a lot to see and take in - give yourself time. This city really gives you a feel of what it was like to live in those times and how the (rich) lived. Really worth going down to the old beach level where all the skeletons were found under the arches - this is so moving and haunting - you can feel the fear and desperation of the people trying to escape. The antiquariam AKA museum on the site is well worth the time as you leave - it contains some items found - the jewellery again moves you as so much of it came from the skeletons of the people fleeing - they took what was valuable and it is amazing. Tips - the food at the site is minimal I would maybe buy something in town and have a picnic in the park before you enter. There are vending machines there which have a multitude of stuff in but that's it.. so bring change!

If you go to Pompeii, then you have to come here as well. It is a 25 minute car ride from Pompeii. Whilst Herculaneum has a lot of similarities with Pompeii, they were engulfed in different ways. Herculaneum has wood that survived as well as upper floors and roofs which give that time machine feel as the houses are more complete. It is also on a much smaller scale than Pompeii and you can see all of it in three hours. It is also a lot more accessible if you have mobility issues.

Amazing walkabout with a lovely little museum attached. We did Pompeii the day before and Herculaneum was equally as impressive but smaller which was actually a plus for us as we found Pompeii overwhelmingly big! It was also slightly easier to walk around with more even surfaces than Pompeii that's incredibly uneven. Lots to see and not too crowded either. We took the train over from Naples and it was a quick 20 minute journey with Herculaneum just at the end of the road from the train station. Well worth a visit.

While much smaller than Pompeii sight this is less busy and has some standout frescos. We stayed two nights in Pompeii and caught the train back to see the Herculaneum ruins. Easy 30 minutes trip and a short walk from the station. Worth a visit for f you are in the area.

The Herculaneum ruins are doable as a day trip from Naples. (Don't attempt Herculaneum and Pompeii in the same day. Pompeii is much larger and deserves a full day of its own). The Ercolano Station has the closest access to the Herculaneum ruins. It's an easy 20 minute walk, but, it's down hill. Lastly, avoid the eateries on the main drag (Via IV Novembre). They're touristy and overpriced. Restaurants on the little side streets will have better food options.

The most amazing site. The preservation of these ruins is so fabulous. It takes a lot of time to go around the site properly, perhaps better in two visits. The rooms, the streets, certain decorations and paintings are just wonderful.

A treasure not to be missed. The moment you step into this area you feel the history surrounding you. To walk around and into some of the dwellings takes you to a simple time, even though the people of 79 AD had advanced knowledge of techniques to live healthy and prosperous lives. My favorite areas are the home garden attached to the small shops where the people would sell their goods.

We did not know about this sister city of Pompeii before our visit to Pompeii but I’m so glad we found out! The skeletons in the boat shed are extremely moving and the whole town is incredibly well preserved. Absolutely worth a visit!

We decided to take a return train journey to the site of Herculaneum. We booked tickets in advance. We asked where to pick the tickets up and it was explained how to use them etc. We were taken to our train by a member of staff. They checked our tickets at the front of the train. You have to get on the front and walk down. We found our seats then took the hour journey. It was roughly an 8 minute walk down to the Herculaneum site. We were told to look for Fabio (our guide). Not obvious where he would be but we found him. Note if you have a back pack you have to place in a locker, no charge. Fabio gave us headsets and we embarked upon our journey though history. Fabio was very knowledgeable and an excellent guide. He made it clear that this place was more of an ancient times holiday resort for the upper echelons of society. There are a number of things as you walk through the tour that give the impression of wealth which Fabio explained. The decoration on the floors and walls (mosaics) and location of the houses. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting this site as it just gave another perspective of what happened back in AD79 and how the discovery gave historians and archaeologists even more insight into how people lived in these times. What is quite harrowing on site is 4 areas (square ruins) with actual skeletons of people who died due to the explosion in AD79. It is upsetting looking at the expressions still etched on the skulls struggling for breath and all huddled together. I do feel there should be a plaque or flowers around the area as a mark of respect to those people. The skeletons are only inches from you behind a perspex wall. If you come to Sorrento to visit Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii please also visit Herculaneum. You learn more and more about civilisation in this period of history. One last thing, only vending machines available on site. We would recommend a little cafe as you come out, right hand side on the corner. If we remember rightly we think it was called: Herculaneum cafe. People were lovely and the panini’s were great. We fully recommend the Herculaneum experience!

Herculaneum is a city that remains from a volcano explosion that buried this Roman city in 79AD. It's like a Roman time capsule, filled with mosaics and buildings. You can explore by yourself, or with a group of explorers. Herculaneum is on the southeast coast of Italy, near Naples. You can see Mt Vesuvius, the volcano which erupted to bury the city. The city of Pompei is near, it' can also be seen in the distance. Herculaneum is an on-going archaeological project, which gives visitors a view of this ancient city.

Amazing ruins. Much smaller than pompeii but fascinating detail and well preserved. Well worth the trip. A bit harder to reach my public transport from Sorrento as you change at Torre Annunziata to get an all stops. There is an express direct train, but you must book tickets in advance before you get to the train station and there aren’t many services as it is a single line track. Don’t worry about buying a ticket in advance as aren’t big queues like Pompeii.

Smaller than Pompeii and a great trip. This is an easy train journey with one change. Takes about an hour. It’s well laid out and can be done in 2 to 3 hours.

Honestly think I preferred this to Pompeii. It’s much quieter and we visited on the first Sunday of August so had free admission which was a bonus. It took us around two hours to explore it and with far less tourists present, it made it a little more enjoyable. Make sure not to miss it when visiting Napoli, I fear it loses out to Pompeii.

Well-worth the visit! Not as crowded as Pompei and equally, if not even better, preserved. It will be hot down there and the terrain is uneven, so equip accordingly. Lovely museums, too.

This has always been on my bucket list, and I got on a cruise tour from the port. It was about a 1/2 hour drive and it appeared there was plenty of parking for buses and cars. Then a couple of minutes walk from the car park to the entrance - there are some trinket store and places to get drinks and overpriced pizza. The ruins were simply amazing, different than Pompei, but just as good in a different way. There were not the crowds at all, so you could enjoy the sites. We had a fair guide with audio, so it was nice to get an explanation of the sites. The frescos and mosaics were amazing, it's hard to believe it is that old. It is hot in July, but the buildings do provide decent shade. It is not for those with mobility problems - all cobblestones and many steps. We only had about 1.5 hours and could have used 3 or 4. Definitely worth a visit. Some of the literature I read said no backpacks, but many people had them and no one seemed to care.

Much of the ruins left by the 79 AD Vesuvius volcanic eruption may never be uncovered, in part, because other structures have been built on top of the ruins. The portion that archaeologists have uncovered gives us a good understanding of what an ancient Roman town looked like, the size and style of the homes and other structures, the ovens they used for cooking their foods, and more. We learned much from our tour guide.

We thought Pompeii couldn’t be matched but in it’s way Herculaneum is just as impressive. We booked this trip through Tui. Part of the trip included a guide. Dana, our guide made Herculaneum come alive. Dana’s knowledge was expert and she delivered her story with a great sense of humour. We’d recommend you ‘use’ a guide to help your own experience come alive too. What is available at Herculaneum is smaller than Pompeii but more approachable and accessible. A lot of the buildings are ‘complete’ and your able to go inside. With a little imagination you can get a sense of the past Herculaneum. The arches at the bottom of the site tell their own, story. The arches are full of copies of skeletons just how they were found. The story of how these people waited for boats to take them to safety and how the boats never arrived is heartbreaking. They died where they waited. Stories like this, the size and completeness of Herculaneum made it to us more intimate. Like Pompeii you’ll be walking on the original roads and pavements. They weren’t built with tourists in mind. There are a few more steeper spots on this site. Again like Pompeii it’s perhaps not for the less able? But the effort it takes to see the sights is more than worth it. We really did enjoy ourselves.

We have to say this was a let down. We stopped by here on the way back from a wonderful trip to the Amalfi coast. We were tired and it was hot. Perhaps a guided tour would have been better. There just wasn't much of interest to see. At the ticket office, we were told the site was wheelchair accessible but it clearly wasn't and one member of our party could not go. Oh well.

Herculaneum is well worth seeing. The remains, buried under ash since Vesuvius erupting 79ad, has been carefully excavated over the past century or so. It could be described as a mini-Pompeii, but is worth a visit and its compact site means it is not as challenging to get around. The train station, Ercolano Scavi, can be tricky to get to from Naples and Sorrento since not all trains stop there. You’ll need to change at Santa Maria Anunciata returning to Sorrento. Platform signage and information in Naples is particularly poor. You need to ask station staff to be sure you board the right train.

Leaving the car park to make your way down to Herculaneum you have to stop to admire the buildings standing beneath you. The guide said that the sea used to come up to the doors where the skeleton could be seen Walking the streets where people have walked for thousands of of years was well preserved and the mosaics and wall paintings are very impressive. As are the gladiator pens and houses On leaving the city tour ensure to end the visit with the boat exhibit

Very interesting, it's just big enough to see everything. Be sure to bring cat food and water for the small (but very thin) kittens. They walk around the terrace/food corner. Unfortunately, the food corner does not offer food for cats. But they really need this! My thanks are great!

Extraordinary. Amazing. Fantastic guide. Just go. Friends had suggested that Herculaneum was a better option than Pompei. Easier to get around. No regrets. Or do both.

The woman at the desk on 14/04/24 was rude and unhelpful. Kept interrupting us when we were trying to explain the problem with the ticket. We had a booking reference but didn’t have a barcode so she dismissed us from the line. Our email said to collect the ticket from the desk. I walked around asking for help. I tried to access the Wi-Fi. I felt very frustrated and close to tears. In the end we went back to the desk- she said “Oh your ticket is with the audio guide around the corner. You should’ve said from the start”!!!! 🤬🤬🤬 It was written on the booking reference!! We wasted time unable to get in because the woman at the desk wouldn’t listen.

From the station is a nice 10min walk to the ruins. The views from the entry point are very good. It is a much easier walk than Pompeii but without so many wow moments. We arrived for 9.30am and it was empty but the nice thing was plenty of staff walking around and answered a few questions I had (found the staff to be multi-lingual in Italian and English at the least). Absolutely worth going and good value for money and a must if you dont have time for Pompeii

The place is very interesting, no question. And now in February very empty which makes visiting so much nicer. There is WiFi so you can download a guide to your phone which is available in many languages. Problem is, that is only to easy to overlook the small stand at the entrance. The information about the WiFi and password is written in tiny letters. There is only space for one person at a time to do so. As the WiFi is slow, it takes some time. What stops them to make that more accessible? Already with small crowds it is not functional anymore. Why they are not able to provide clean and decent toilets is beyond me. That's why only three stars.

Small But felt more personal and not as many People as Pompeii, So up close and all the old houses and shops were open for you to walk in and take Photos... Absolutely loved loved 😁

If you have limited days do Historic Pompeii. With parking costs, entry and actually having to pay for the guide map same price as Pompeii which is in another league. It is interesting as this was covered in lava mud and Pompeii was ash. You can see the height from which it was dug out. It was a seaside retreat for the wealthy from Pompei. Worth a visit but pricey compared with massively superior Historic Pompeii

Amazing that I can’t even write a review without going through a dozen TripAdvisor ads for tours here. Yes, I know it’s how they make money. So, first off this place is amazing. Everything Pompeii has but fewer crowds, better preserved ruins, and less expensive. And regarding my initial rants you certainly don’t need to pay a lot of money for a guided tour. Getting there from Naples is cheap (about $6/person round trip), fast (about 30 minutes) and easy. Allow a half day and go early before it gets hot.

Beware, we bought a train ticket in Naples for the Circumvesuviana train for Herculaneum, it does not always stop there and we found ourselves in Pompeii. We did use it for Sorrento. Please note from Garibaldi Station in Naples this train is very busy. To get to Herculaneum we caught the train at Napoli Porta Nolana which is less than 5 minutes walk from Garibaldi. The trains run on time and are very reasonable priced.

Man, I'm so glad I went here instead of Pompeii. This place was nearly empty and yet, it has SO much to offer. Much smaller in size and therefore, easier to visit all. Beautiful ruins everywhere and a trip here is worth a million history lessons.

If your time is short, go to Herculaneum rather than Pompeii. This is smaller but has far more to show, so much better than Pompeii. Because it covers s smaller area, its easier to see more of the ruins and the ruins appear to be in far better condition than those in Pompeii. It wasnt as commerical as Pompeii which was a relief and you felt you could relate to those that lived and died there.

Amazing place, better than Pompeii despite being smaller. Not ideal for those with mobility issues due to cobbled areas, high kerbs etc but there is still some stuff (small museum) inside the gates that could be accessed. We self drove and parked in a nearby carpark at €3 per hour. Spent about 3hrs round the grounds.

Great history to be seen here. You do have to spend the time to walk through most doorways, etc, as you never know where you might come across an old wall painting, etc. Uneven ground and hilly so be prepared for lots of walking. The day we visited was a public holiday so there were long iines of people. Not sure what it is like on a normal day.