Herculaneum from Rome: visit, ticket, hours and train (2026)
Herculaneum (Ercolano) is a small Roman town buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, far better preserved than Pompeii: upper floors, charred woodwork and frescoes are still in place. The park is open daily 8:30am to 7:30pm from 16 March to 14 October (last entry 6pm), then 8:30am to 5pm; the ticket costs about €16 (to be confirmed on the official ticket office). From Rome, allow about 1h10 by fast train to Naples, then 20 minutes on the Circumvesuviana: a day trip, with 2 to 3 hours on site.
Highlights
Frescoes and houses
The rich homes keep their painted walls, like this panel on a red background, and their mosaics. The Casa del Mosaico di Nettuno e Anfitrite, the Casa dei Cervi and the timber-framed Casa a Graticcio are among the most visited.
The baths
The central baths keep their rooms and decoration, giving a precise idea of daily life in a Roman town of 4,000 to 5,000 people.
The ancient beach and boat sheds
At the foot of the town, the shoreline arches yielded about 300 skeletons of people who sought shelter there in AD 79. Access to the ancient beach can be closed for works: check before you come.
Herculaneum or Pompeii
Herculaneum is smaller and more intact, and takes 2 to 3 hours at an easy pace; Pompeii is huge and busier, a full day. For a single half-day near Naples, choose Herculaneum. See Pompeii from Rome.
Practical info
Tips
- Our pick: for a day from Rome, take the morning high-speed train, then the Circumvesuviana, and visit Herculaneum with an archaeologist guide (4.8/5 from over 4,000 reviews for the most-booked guided visit) rather than a coach excursion, whose reviews are more mixed. Book entry online to skip the queue. Wear closed shoes: the ground is uneven and shade is scarce. Entry is free under 18. Circumvesuviana services changed in 2024: check recent timetables. Prices and hours checked in October 2026. Also read: Naples from Rome, day trips from Rome.
How to get there
Herculaneum Archaeological Park, Corso Resina 187, Ercolano. From Rome Termini, a Frecciarossa or Italo train to Napoli Centrale (about 1h10), then the Circumvesuviana (Naples–Sorrento line) from Napoli Garibaldi to Ercolano Scavi station, about 10 minutes' walk from the site.
Opening hours
Nearby
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