Small groups · 2 hours

Herculaneum small-group tour with a licensed guide

Two hours inside the Herculaneum ruins with a guide licensed by the Campania Region and a group of no more than fifteen. Herculaneum was buried by the same eruption of AD 79 that covered Pompeii, but here pyroclastic flows buried it under twenty metres of scorching material and preserved it better: it's smaller, it was wealthier, and the original decoration can still be seen in the houses. Explanations in Italian, English or German. The entry ticket is bought separately.

4.9(169 reviews on Viator) Herculaneum ruins (Scavi di Ercolano)

Herculaneum small-group tour with a licensed guide — Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · credits

Duration

2 hours

Group

up to 15

Languages

German, English, Italian

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Days

every day

Start

Herculaneum ruins (Scavi di Ercolano)

What you’ll do

You meet at the entrance to the Herculaneum ruins. The guide sets out the difference from Pompeii straight away: same eruption, different effects. Here it was pyroclastic flows, a mass of scorching ash, that swept into the houses, sealed them and hid them twenty metres below the level of the modern town, which now towers above them. They've stayed that way for almost two thousand years.

You then walk through the streets and homes of what was a residential town for wealthy families: you go into the houses to see the original decoration, the floors and details that were lost at Pompeii. The guide chooses the stops based on the group and the areas open that day, and explains why two cities struck by the same disaster have come down to us so differently. Two hours in all, with no more than fifteen people, so you hear everything without headsets.

Who it’s for

For anyone who's already seen Pompeii or prefers a more compact site, one you can properly understand in two hours rather than half a day of walking: couples, families with older children, ancient history lovers. The small group helps if you like to ask questions. Less suited to anyone after the scale and crowds of Pompeii, or who doesn't want to pay for the ticket separately.

Local tip

Buy your entry ticket before the meeting time, because it isn't included. Hat, water and closed shoes: you're outdoors and walking over stones. Herculaneum is reached from Naples on the Circumvesuviana and is on the way to Vesuvius: ruins in the morning and crater in the afternoon, or the other way round, makes a full but doable day.

What’s included

Licensed guide (ticket not included).

Price, availability and details come straight from Viator and are kept up to date. If you book through us, we get a small commission; it costs you nothing extra.

Frequently asked questions

Is the entry ticket included?

No. The price covers the Region-licensed guide for two hours in a group of no more than fifteen; entry to the ruins is bought separately and must be done before the meeting time, so the group can go in on schedule. Explanations are in Italian, English or German.

How long does it last and how many people are there?

The visit lasts about two hours and the group is limited to fifteen. It's a format designed for understanding the site at an easy pace, going into the houses and asking questions without having to chase after a big tour group. You meet at the Herculaneum ruins.

Herculaneum or Pompeii?

They're different: Pompeii is huge and needs half a day; Herculaneum is smaller, was wealthier and is better preserved, with the house decoration still easy to read. If you're short on time or have already been to Pompeii, Herculaneum in two hours gives you more. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

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from€42Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

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