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Archaeological area protecting the ruins of Herculaneum, an ancient city destroyed by Vesuvius.
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Reviews — 8
Easy access from Circumvesuviana. Ticket office is at the end of the access path, but you can see the old town laid out below you as you walk to it. Astonishing to think the sea was up to the edges of the town and is now 1km away, because of the Vesuvius eruption. Well preserved murals, good path to follow. No cafe just a series of vending machines. Toilets at ticket office and "cafe area".
Well worth the money to visit this amazing site.
Well worth the money to visit this amazing site.
Much smaller and easier to get around than Pompeii. Probably 2/3 hours is enough. Unfortunately there were a few areas closed including the baths which was disappointing but I suppose they've got to maintain these areas sometime.
However, gives a good insight into the past.
Didn't buy tickets in advance but a very little wait, not sure if it's like that all the time.
However, gives a good insight into the past.
Didn't buy tickets in advance but a very little wait, not sure if it's like that all the time.
As the other reviews have noted, this site is the companion to Pompeii. In my opinion, it's not better nor worse than Pompeii, but different and complementary. Because a city was built around and on top of the original city, the site is smaller, in a pit, surrounded by the current city of Herculaneum. But, the preservation of organic material, and the skeletons visible in what were the docks are striking.
Practical things to note:
1. The site is about 30 minutes outside Naples.
2. Tickets can be purchased on site.
3. Easy to navigate the site, but suggest an audio tour. Otherwise, you won't really know what you're looking at.
4. There are toilets and vending machines in the park. Bring change for the vending machines.
5. There is a little set of vendor booths outside the park with snacks and some souvenirs. These take cash and cards (though I think they prefer cash).
6. It's an archeological site: There are almost no even surfaces. Cobblestones, stepping up and down, etc.
Practical things to note:
1. The site is about 30 minutes outside Naples.
2. Tickets can be purchased on site.
3. Easy to navigate the site, but suggest an audio tour. Otherwise, you won't really know what you're looking at.
4. There are toilets and vending machines in the park. Bring change for the vending machines.
5. There is a little set of vendor booths outside the park with snacks and some souvenirs. These take cash and cards (though I think they prefer cash).
6. It's an archeological site: There are almost no even surfaces. Cobblestones, stepping up and down, etc.
This is a remarkable place. While not as large as Pompeii, much of it is better preserved. Many houses have intact mosaic floors and wall frescos. Some even with roofs. Definitely worth a view if you’re in the area.
A guide isn’t required, but they provide a lot of history. Wander afterward and make sure to see the far side with the cave temple with the snake bronze, the garden with chairs to rest under pomegranate trees, and a large villa.
A guide isn’t required, but they provide a lot of history. Wander afterward and make sure to see the far side with the cave temple with the snake bronze, the garden with chairs to rest under pomegranate trees, and a large villa.
I only found out this place existed while searching for Pompeii tickets. Herculaneum (Ercolano) was actually hit with ash before Pompeii and at a much higher temperature (500°C as opposed to 250°C in Pompeii). It is a lot less crowded than Pompeii and I would say a lot of things are better preserved. It is also much smaller so you don’t have to spend as much time exploring and it’s easy to not miss anything (unlike Pompeii). There are no restaurants or cafes inside however there are plenty choose from in the surrounding area. I highly recommend Pappamonte!
Much better site than Pompeii in that mud and lava covered the site which drove out air and water preserving combustibles and buildings. Not as large a site as Pompeii but much more damage to Pompeii from the eruption. Been twice, 2nd time with a tour. Didn't get to see a quarter of the site with the guide and you can pick up a free leaflet telling you about each building. We'll worth a visit.
Many people say it, but Herculaneum is much more visitor friendly than Pompeii, and we really enjoyed our visit here.
We spent almost a whole day at Pompeii and it was very busy, crowded, and so big it’s hard to cover the whole site in one visit. Herculaneum is the opposite of that.
It’s quite a small site, and it was much more relaxed and less busy. Many of the buildings are much better preserved than Pompeii too.
The only downside is the lack of a cafe or place to eat/drink but there are many good cafes and restaurants close by.
Herculaneum is great to visit. If you have time to visit both Pompeii and Herculaneum, then definitely visit both; if you only have time for one, my advice would be Herculaneum.
We spent almost a whole day at Pompeii and it was very busy, crowded, and so big it’s hard to cover the whole site in one visit. Herculaneum is the opposite of that.
It’s quite a small site, and it was much more relaxed and less busy. Many of the buildings are much better preserved than Pompeii too.
The only downside is the lack of a cafe or place to eat/drink but there are many good cafes and restaurants close by.
Herculaneum is great to visit. If you have time to visit both Pompeii and Herculaneum, then definitely visit both; if you only have time for one, my advice would be Herculaneum.
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