Visit the ruins of Herculaneum from Naples: everything you need to know to plan your tour in 2023

The guided tour of Herculaneum begins with a panoramic view of the city from above. Afterwards, you will descend to the archaeological site, which you can explore by walking among the most important buildings of the ancient city. You will admire the urban structure of the city, completely identical to that of 2000 years ago. The past is so well preserved in this Romanesque site that a visit to Herculaneum is highly recommended for enthusiasts and non enthusiasts alike. You can see relics, terracotta vases, ancient buildings and other materials perfectly preserved over 2000 years.

Herculaneum is a city on the Gulf of Naples, world-famous along with Pompeii for its archaeological excavations of the ancient Roman city. According to legend, the city was founded around 600 B.C. by Hercules and later became an important trading centre due to its privileged position near the Persian Gulf. The citizens honoured Heracles as the founder of nearby Vesuvius. In 79 A.D., Vesuvius erupted and destroyed the city, leaving Herculaneum under about 50-60 feet of volcanic mud and ash. A well digger only discovered the city in the early 18th century. At first it was thought that all the inhabitants had fled the city before the disaster, but excavations uncovered about 300 skeletons. The road leading from the archaeological excavations to Torre del Greco is called the Miglio d'Oro (Golden Mile) because of the magnificent 18th-century villas built next to it.

Although Herculaneum is smaller, its advantage is that it is much richer in artefacts than nearby Pompeii (more famous for tourism). At the ruins of Herculaneum, the visit duration, being smaller and more intimate, can all be visited in comfort. One can visit luxurious flats decorated with exquisitely visible and perfectly preserved frescoes. Accompanied by an experienced guide, you will relive the history of this wonderful and unhappy city. You will visit archaic workshops, public baths and the magnificent Villa of the Papyri, home to one of the oldest libraries in the world. At the end of this wonderful day trip, which takes about three to four hours, you will return to Naples by comfortable bus.

Many tourists from all over the world come on a guided tour of Herculaneum with us at Visit Italy, sure of a unique and captivating experience. When you enter the ruins, you will see many of the beautiful Romanesque houses during the guided tour of Herculaneum, consisting of luxurious coloured mosaics, wall paintings and marble cladding. The excavations of Herculaneum are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Herculaneum Archaeological Park is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., closed on Wednesdays. There is a bookshop inside the park. You should get to Herculaneum by car, as there are many private car parks in the area, as well as the municipal car park in Viale dei Papiri Ercolanesi.

Herculaneum never sleeps, the lights of its fascinating history are also turned on at night. In fact, from May to early October it is possible to visit the Herculaneum Archaeological Park for a 'night-time' archaeological tour. Don't miss the opportunity to see Herculaneum on a night tour. In 2022 we had 'Herculaneum Fridays', night-time itineraries with guided tours of the archaeological sites. The occasion was enriched by light games, photographic projections and memorable 'Tableaux Vivants'. The 2022 edition was dedicated to wood, building materials and interior design elements, which are witnessed by rare and unique objects at Herculaneum, thanks to which everyday life at the time can be seen in an exceptionally clear way.