Herculaneum Tickets

Where to buy Herculaneum Tickets

You can buy Herculaneum tickets either online or at the ticket office.

Buying Herculaneum tickets online has several benefits you won’t get at the offline ticket counter. 

• Online tickets are usually cheaper than offline tickets.
• When you purchase your admission online, you avoid standing in long lines under the scorching heat and wasting time.
• During peak summer months, early booking helps you avoid last-minute disappointment. 

Herculaneum Ticket Prices 

The self-guided admission Herculaneum ticket costs €19 for adults aged 18 and above.

EU citizens aged between 18 and 24 pay a discounted fee of €8, whereas children under 17 pay €3.

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How does online ticket work?

On the ticket booking page, choose your preferred date and the number of tickets and purchase them right away. 

Immediately after purchase, the Herculaneum tickets get delivered to your email address.

No need to take printouts.

On the day of your visit, you can show the tickets on your smartphone and enter the ruins.

Types of Tickets for Herculaneum

There are four ways to explore Herculaneum – you can opt for the basic admission ticket, which is most popular with tourists, or you can go for the guided tour of Herculaneum. 

If you want something elaborate, buy the Herculaneum + Pompeii combo or the Vesuvius + Herculaneum + Pompeii combo.

Herculaneum Skip-the-Line Ticket

This is the most popular and cheapest ticket to explore Herculaneum.

You get priority access bypassing the lines at the site and get a glimpse of what life was like before the devastating eruption.

With a Herculaneum entry ticket, you also get an audioguide in 5 languages: Spanish, English, French, German, and Italian for your visit.

Ticket Prices:

Adult Ticket (18 + years): €28 

Child ticket (4 to 13 years): €13

EU Citizens (18 to 24 years): €17

Herculaneum Guided Tour 

If you want an in-depth exploration, we recommend taking a guided tour of Herculaneum.

With an archeologist as your guide, learn how the wealthy city of merchants and nobility ended dramatically with that eruption.

See the remains of more than 300 people lying at the waterfront who died trying to escape by sea. 

Skip the lines and Explore the Samnite house, thermal baths, Temple of Augustales, the Forum, Neptune and Amphitrite’s house, the Gymnasium, and more. 

Infants under 3 are welcome for free. 

Ticket Prices:

Adult ticket (18 + years): €49

Youth ticket (18 to 24 years): €35

Child ticket (4 to 13 years): €15

Pompeii and Herculaneum Tickets

Many people visiting the Herculaneum also visit Pompeii since they are just 11 miles away. 

Explore the sites in a small group of 15 people with a professional English-speaking archaeologist guide.

The combined ticket for the Pompeii and Herculaneum tours includes one way transportation, saving you time and ensuring efficient exploration management. 

Infants under 3 years of age can enjoy the tour for free. 

Ticket Prices:

Adult ticket (18 + years): €104

Youth ticket (18 to 24 years): €89

Child ticket (4 to 13 years): €60

Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius

Vesuvius is Europe’s only active and the world’s most dangerous volcano.

Famed for his deadly eruption in A.D 79, it is a top-rated visitor attraction today, with many visitors coupling a half day at Pompeii or Herculaneum.

With  skip-the-line access and shuttle service from Naples, take a walking path up to the crater, 

admire area views and learn more about local geology from the volcanological guides.

Ticket Prices:

Adult ticket (18 + years): €100

Child ticket (4 to 13 years): €80

EU Citizens (18 to 24 years):  €90

Infant (Up to 4 years): Free Entry

Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Vesuvius Tour 

Managing travel can be confusing, so for a stress-free experience, take a Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Vesuvius Tour. 

Travel comfortably on a deluxe air-conditioned Mercedes V Class bus and explore the Campania region in one day.

Toddlers can enjoy the tour for free.

Ticket Prices:

Adult Ticket (18 + years): €165 

Child ticket (4 to 13 years): €130

EU Citizens (18 to 24 years): €150

Best Time to Visit Herculaneum 

Visit during the early morning or late afternoon to beat the heat and enjoy a pleasant, quiet visit.

May to September is the ideal time to visit Herculaneum. 

Summers can be scorching, so remember your sunscreen and hats. 

If you’re visiting Herculaneum in winter, plan your tour before the evening since the site lacks natural lighting in its deep archaeological setting.

Herculaneum opens at 9:30 am and shuts at 7:30 pm.

What to Expect at Herculaneum

Herculaneum was the first Roman city in the Gulf of Naples to be discovered by archaeologists in the 18th century. 

While Pompeii was buried under tons of pyroclastic debris, Herculaneum was destroyed by mud and scorching gas. 

Due to this, Herculaneum excavation was much more challenging than Pompeii.

However, the mud-turned stone made it possible to preserve materials such as wood, which is practically unique for remains from the ancient world.

It contains detailed floor mosaics, beautiful wall frescoes, and even a glimpse into the last minutes of tragedy, disclosing 300 skeletons discovered at the port. 

You can explore the ancient thermal baths, with their separate areas for elite and ordinary people, admiring mosaic-clad walls portraying sea life. 

The Wooden Partitions House offers a window into Roman life with original doors and frescoes. 

The House of Amphitrite and Neptune boasts stunning mosaics and an elegant courtyard. 

Meanwhile, the Papyri Villa, home to a trove of preserved papyrus scrolls, showcases a wealth of artistry. 

The Hall of the Augustales, adorned with exquisite frescoes, was a hub for Emperor Augustus’ cult. 

Lastly, the House of the Deer, a waterfront marvel, features intricate mosaics, frescoes, and a seaside garden. 

Join an archaeologist-led tour and Walk the paths of the buried city frozen in time to learn in-depth and experience life before the catastrophic volcanic eruption.

How long does it take?

Allocate around half a day to explore the archeological site thoroughly.

You can also see the entire park in about two to three hours.

This duration allows ample time to walk in the footsteps of the ancient Romans and appreciate the unique insights into their daily lives that this archaeological site provides.

Herculaneum v/s Pompeii?

Herculaneum is much smaller and provides for a comprehensive visit within half a day, while Pompeii’s vastness could span a few days of exploration. 

Herculaneum, or ‘Ercolano,’ provides a more authentic Roman city feel, while Pompeii bears the brunt of Mount Vesuvius’ destruction, offering a glimpse into the magnitude of the disaster.

If you’re open to a quick public transport ride between Herculaneum and Pompeii, we recommend experiencing both sites.

Many tourists with the time, budget, and energy opt for combined Herculaneum and Pompeii tours since these ruins are just 16 km (10 miles) apart.

Visiting both Herculaneum and Pompeii

You can take both public or private transport to reach these destinations.

If money is not a concern, a private car with a driver would be perfect.

Board the Circumvesuviana train, which starts from Porta Nolana station in Naples for public transport going towards Sorrento. 

Get off at Ercolano Scavi station for Herculaneum ruins and Pompeii Scavi-Villa Dei Misteri for Pompiee.

From Ercolano station to the entrance to Herculaneum ruins is just 500 meters.

And the entrance to Pompeii ruins is just 25 meters outside the station.

Check the Train Schedule.

For more details, check how to get to Herculaneum.

FAQs

Featured Image: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/