The ruins of Herculaneum
Hours for Herculaneum ruins
April through October: 9am - 7:30pm (last entry at 6pm)
November through March: 9am - 5pm (last entry at 3:30pm)
Closed: 1 January, 25 December
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices at the entrance to each site or through the https://www.tiqets.com/en/pompei-attractions-c71657/tickets-for-pompeii-skip-the-line-p974390/?partner%3Dvisitpompeiivesuvius Do not purchase tours or tickets from street vendors who may approach you at the Circumvesuviana train station!
Herculaneum ruins daily ticket: Full price EUR 13; discounted EUR 2
Mastercard and Visa are accepted
Discounted tickets
Entrance is free to all EU citizens under 18.
EU citizens under 24 have a special discount.
Luggage deposit
Next to the ticket office at the entrance, there is a free baggage check. Bags or backpacks larger than 30x30x15 cm cannot be brought into either Herculaneum
The biggest difference between Pompeii and Herculaneum is size: the ruins of Pompeii cover about 44 square hectaures, while Herculaneum covers just 4.
Pompeii was an important city and trade center, while Herculaneum was a small resort town without the large public buildings (forum, amphitheater, theaters, gym) found in Pompeii.
However, Herculaneum is in a much better state of preservation due to the deep layer of ash and dust that covered the site, filling the buildings without damaging them. Pompeii was heavily battered by falling rocks and hot air that knocked down upper floors of buildings and incinerated wood, both of which are still intact at Herculaneum.
All things considered, if you only have time to see one site, choose Pompeii. Herculaneum is a good alternative if you don't want to do too much walking or if the temperatures are particularly scorching, as it has more shade than Pompeii.
We do not recommend visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum in one day, as it is simply too tiring.
Where to Eat
There are no picnic areas or restaurants/cafés inside the Herculaneum Archaeological Park. Before entering, there is a small snack bar next to the book shop where you can purchase beverages and snacks.
To eat nearby, you can walk to a number of restaurants and cafés in the immediate area for either a sit-down meal or take-away.
Top Herculaneum Sites
1. Men's Baths (26)
2. Hall of the Augustals (24)
3. Samnite House (31)
4. House of the Wooden Partition (36)
5. House of Relief of Telephus (7)
6. Fornici (1)
Getting to Herculaneum ruins
The easiest way to reach both Pompeii and Herculaneum is the Circumvesuviana train that runs between Naples and Sorrento.
Getting to the Ruins from the Circumvesuviana Station
Herculaneum
If you are heading to the ruins at Herculaneum, exit the Ercolano Scavi station and walk along Via 4 Novembre for about 5 minutes to the entrance to the ruins.
Getting to Herculaneum by Car
Getting to Herculaneum by car is a bit more complicated, as you have to navigate the traffic through the center of the modern town. Once near the entrance to the archaeological ruins, there are a number of parking lots.
