BETTER THAN POMPEII - 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.

Go in the morning for a fantastic and informative experience. - 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.

Herculaneum - 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.

Great historical experience - 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.

Much smaller than Pompeii, will see it all. - 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 - Simply Superb - 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!

Easy on the knees - 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.

A smaller, quieter ruins area than pompeii - 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

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

Herculaneum self guided tour. - 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.