Plan Your Visit To Herculaneum

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Plan Your Visit

Nestled in southeast Naples in Italy, Herculaneum is an archaeological site that was once buried by a volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. This is the same volcano that destroyed the Roman city - Pompeii - one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy. Herculaneum, although gets fewer eyeballs and is smaller than the latter, is a must-visit when in this neighborhood. In fact, this UNESCO world heritage site is claimed to be one of the best-preserved sites in the world. Find out everything you need to know about Herculaneum opening hours, best times, location and more before visiting the ancient city.

Herculaneum Opening Hours

Herculaneum's timings vary seasonally.

Herculaneum is open from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM everyday between 16 March and 14 October.
Between 15 October to 15 March, the ruins are open everyday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.
Last entry - The entry to the site shuts 90 before the closing time.
Closed - The park is closed on 1 January and 25 December.

Best time to visit Herculaneum

The best time to visit Herculaneum is considered to be between May to September. For the best experience, you can visit this site either during early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat. Note: summers are harsh here, so do keep all your summer care including sunscreen & hats handy. If you plan on visiting Herculaneum during winters, make sure you plan your tour before evenings as the site is parked in a deep archaeological hole, hence lacks natural lighting.

Herculaneum Location

Just an approx 20 minutes drive from Pompeii, Herculaneum is located in southern Italy and on the foot of Mount Vesuvius. Once well-equipped with urban infrastructure including bath houses, ancient theaters, country yard houses, wine jars - Herculaneum is claimed to be a wealthier neighbourhood than its sister site Pompeii.

Getting There

Train

Board the Circumvesuviana train that runs between Naples and Sorrento. The closest train station is Ercolano Scavi, a quick 15 minutes walk away.

Car

If you choose to drive to Herculaneum, park your car at the underground parking garage and take a stroll around the streets as it’s the best way to explore Herculaneum.

Day Trip to Herculaneum

From Rome

If you’re in Rome, there are many tours which you can take with a group of other tourists. If you wish to explore the site at your own pace, you can rent a car. It’s approximately a 2-hour drive. Or you can board a train from Rome to Naples (1 hour journey costing approximately 100 Euros), and then take a local train from Naples to Ercolano Scavi (20 minutes).

From Naples

The distance between Naples and Herculaneum is just 11 kms and can be covered within a 30 minutes drive. As mentioned earlier, there are a bunch of Circumvesuviana local trains running from Naples to Ercolano Scavi, the nearest station to Herculaneum. The return ticket would cost you approximately 5 euros From the station, the site is just a few minutes walk.

From Pompeii

The best way to travel from Pompeii to Herculaneum is boarding the public train. It’s an approximate 40 minutes journey from both the train stations - ie from Pompei Santuario to Ercolano Scavi. Likewise, there are a bunch of bus routes that connect the two directly.

Herculaneum Facilities & Services

Dining: There are no cafes or coffee shops inside the archaeological site, however, there are plenty of restaurants and local snack shops around the site where you can quickly grab a meal or beverage.

Locker Room: Right beside the ticket counter, there’s a luggage storage room where the visitors can leave their bags and other personal belongings free of cost.

Audio Guide: Visitors can access free maps and audio tours to navigate through the site. However, for a richer experience, it is recommended to go with a certified guide who is also a trained archaeologist.

Parking: There’s parking available at an underground parking garage located near the entrance of the site. The approximate cost of parking is 3-4 euros per hour.

Wheelchair Accessibility: Like many tourist spots and monuments in Italy, Herculaneum too offers free access to wheelchairs. One can access a wheelchair by displaying your disability tag at the ticket office.

Select Your Herculaneum Tickets

Herculaneum Skip-the-Line Tickets

Free Cancellation

Instant Confirmation

Mobile Ticket

Flexible Duration

More details

€18

Herculaneum Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide

Free Cancellation

Instant Confirmation

Mobile Ticket

Flexible Duration

Audio Guide

More details

€28

Herculaneum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with an Archaelogist

Free Cancellation

Instant Confirmation

Mobile Ticket

2 hr.

Guided Tour

More details

€44.1

From Naples: Herculaneum Half-Day Tour

Free Cancellation

Mobile Ticket

3 hr.

Audio Guide

Guided Tour

More details

€50

From Naples: Pompeii & Herculaneum Guided Tour with Archaeologist

Instant Confirmation

Mobile Ticket

7 hr.

Guided Tour

Transfers Included

More details

€134.1

From Pompeii/Naples: Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Vesuvius Day Trip

Free Cancellation

Instant Confirmation

Mobile Ticket

8 hr.

Audio Guide

More details

€107.1

Artecard Campania

Free Cancellation

Extended Validity

Instant Confirmation

Mobile Ticket

Flexible Duration

More details

€36.5

Accessibility at Herculaneum

From free access to wheelchairs to ramps, Herculaneum ensures that its accessible for all its visitors.

Disabled Toilets: Herculaneum is well-equipped with accessible and disable-friendly bathrooms around the site including at the entrance, visitor center and ticket office. However, there’s no bathroom inside the site.

Entrances With Ramps: There are two wheelchair ramps at the entrance that leads to an accessible bridge that welcomes you into the site.

Wheelchair-Friendly Areas: Most the streets and sidewalks have step-free access making most areas wheelchair-friendly and easy to access. You’ll spot plenty of metal bridges installed for wheelchair users and strollers.

Rules and Regulations

Visitors are required to wear a face mask during their visit to Herculaneum
Tourists must try and avoid forming large groups and maintain a social distance of 1.5 meters.
Bags or backpacks larger than 30x30x15 cm cannot be brought into either Herculaneum or Pompeii.

Frequently Asked Questions About Your Herculaneum Ruins Visit

Is Herculaneum open now?

Yes, Herculanum is open for the public.

Where is Herculaneum located?

Herculaneum is located in the commune of Ercolano, Campania in Italy.

What are Herculaneum opening hours?

Herculaneum is open from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM.

What is the best time to visit Herculaneum?

Early mornings and late evenings are considered to be the best time to visit the site.

How do I get to Herculaneum?

Herculaneum is easily accessible via public transport including trains and buses from Naples.

Can I take a train to Herculaneum?

Yes, the nearest station is Ercolano Scavi from where it’s a quick 10 minutes walk.

Can I take a bus to Herculaneum?

Yes, there are public buses that connect from the railway station to the site.

Can I drive to Herculaneum?

Yes you can drive to Herculaneum and there’s parking available inside the site.

What parking facilities are available at Herculaneum?

There’s an underground parking garage near the entrance of the site. Apart from this, there are a couple of other parking lots as well where you can park your vehicle.

Is Herculaneum wheelchair accessible?

Yes, one can get free access to a wheelchair by displaying the required ID proof.

Can I take a day trip from Naples to Herculaneum?

Yes, the distance between Naples and Herculaneum can be easily covered within 30 minutes.

What’s the best way to explore Herculaneum?

If you want to make the most of your visit to Herculaneum, make sure you tag along with certified guides (who are also trained archaeologists) and hence can help you get a deeper understanding of the site and its history. You can also book your tickets to organised tours online from multiple booking websites.

Are strollers and wheelchairs available inside Herculaneum?

Yes, wheelchairs are available at the ticket office of Herculaneum

Are lockers available inside Herculaneum?

Yes, there are lockers and luggage storages inside Herculaneum.