Most people head south from Naples to Pompei to see the remnants of the city after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. However, travel to Herculaneum from Naples is much shorter, about 20 minutes by car or 30 minutes by train. Although it is smaller, it is well-preserved and there are examples of many types of homes, shops, mosaics, bath houses and more. The one thing that was slightly disappointing is that there were few labels on the places, so we had to keep looking at an online map. On the plus side, it was not busy and since we had limited time, the distance to walk around the city was much more manageable than Pompei.
Highlights
- Panoramic view at the start
- On a clear day, a nice view of Mount Vesuvius in the distance
- House of Neptune and Amphitrite
- Casa dei Cervi- House of the Deer
- Casa dell’Alcova
- Bath houses
- Casa del Rilievo di Telefo
- Casa del Tramezzo di Legno
- Casa del Salone Nero
- Casa dell’Atrio Corinzio
- Antiquarium di Ercolano
- Lower boathouse area
Before you go
- Herculaneum is very near to Naples and just 20 minutes drive or 30 minutes by train
- In Italian, it is called Ercolano
- Parking was free in the nearby lot, 5 minutes walk from the entrance
- Tickets can be bought in advance online or at the box office. They were not too strict about the time, because we were running late
- Be prepared to walk a lot on uneven ground, with some hilly areas
- There is limited food and water so you can bring your own
Transport
- From Naples, it is about a 20 minute drive to Herculaneum
- There is also a train, which takes about 30 minutes from Naples Central Station to Ercolano – C.so Resina Scavi
Accommodation
- We stayed at a hotel in Naples, as it was close enough to drive to Herculaneum in about 20 minutes.
- As usual I recommend checking reviews on Google Reviews or using AirBnB
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: No, it is self-guided to walk around Herculaneum. You can use an audio guide handset, or there are also maps and audio guides online
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Yes, the box office employees speak English and signs are in English
Q: Is it a walkable city?
A: Yes, it is walkable
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