Pompeii is the most famous of the buried Roman cities- a must-visit place! However, it is not the only one. The eruption of the volcano Vesuvius also buried Herculaneum, which you can visit. We will detail how to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Vesuvius, how long to plan, where to buy tickets, and how to reach the ancient sites.
- Pompeii
- Herculaneum
- Vesuvius
- Time needed to visit
- Tickets
- Going to Pompeii
- Getting to Herculaneum
- Climbing to Vesuvius
- Where to stay in Pompeii
1. Visit Pompeii
Pompeii is the largest ancient site buried by Vesuvius. In the year 79, the volcano woke up and spat out a thick ash cloud covering the southern part of Vesuvius for several tens of kilometers. Ash covered Pompeii, Herculaneum, and other ancient cities to a height ranging from 3.5m to 5m. Pompei housed about 10,000 inhabitants. Learn more about Pompeii.
Today, you can freely visit the archaeological site of Pompeii. It is a unique and fascinating place. Everyone who returns speaks of the spectacular atmosphere that reigns there.
2. Visit Herculaneum
Herculaneum is also a Roman city buried during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79. The town was smaller than Pompeii, with about 5000 inhabitants. The archaeological site is closer to the center of Naples. You can also visit it freely.
3. Going to Vesuvius
The famous Vesuvius, the one that spits ashes! You can climb Vesuvius and enjoy an exceptional view of the entire Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast.
4. How long does it take to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Vesuvius? 2 hours each.
It takes about 2 hours to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Vesuvius. Hence, combining the 3 visits on the same day is possible, since transfers between the 3 sites are well-optimized. You can also take an all-day small-group tour, with lunch included, that will take you to all 3 locations. For example, this tour with an audio guide.
5. Tickets to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius
Pompeii. You can buy tickets to the archaeological area of Pompeii on-site. Buying the skip-the-line tickets in advance is highly recommended to avoid waiting unnecessarily under the sun, as there is often a queue at the cash desk.
Herculaneum. The archaeological area of Herculaneum is smaller but better preserved than Pompeii: click here to buy skip-the-line tickets.
Mount Vesuvius. Access to the Vesuvius area is only allowed with a guide. The visit is done daily but may be closed in unfavorable weather conditions.
6. How to get to Pompeii
Pompeii is located in the urban area of Naples. It takes about 40 minutes to visit Pompeii from the center of Naples. It is possible to get there by public transport: bus or train.
Shuttle between Pompeii and Vesuvius. The EAV bus departs from Pompeii, in Piazza Anfiteatro, just outside, and goes up to Vesuvius.
Excursion to Pompeii from Naples. There are excursions from the center of Naples. The advantage is that you don’t have to understand how public transport in Naples works. Everything is organized in advance, making it easier (See an example here). Combining the visit to Pompeii with the ascent to Vesuvius is also possible. These activities include lunch because the excursion lasts all day (more information here).
Visit Pompeii from Rome. It takes 3 hours to travel there and back. Like visits from Naples, these activities take all day and include a meal: see an example. You could also plan it by buying Freccarossia tickets from Roma to Napoli on the Trenitalia website.
If you visit Rome, do not miss the best things to do in Rome.
7. How to get to Herculaneum
Herculaneum is close to Naples’s center. The archaeological area is located in the town center of Ercolano.
By train. You can get off at the Portici – Ercolano stop, then walk for about 20 minutes.
By train. Several train lines from the EAV company connect Naples and the region. Line 4, from the city center, Piazza Garibaldi, allows you to go to the Ercolano – Scavi station. There is then a 5-minute walk to the archaeological area and visit Herculaneum.
The MAV, Virtual Archaeological Museum, is located at the exit of the archaeological area, towards the station. Virtual museums are often quite average, and that is indeed the case here. If you want a more interactive tour of Herculaneum, we recommend that you take a guided tour: an example of a guided tour.
8. How to go to Vesuvius
We have seen that entry to Vesuvius is only possible with a guide. If you only want to go to Vesuvius, the easiest way is to take a tour from Naples with an English-speaking guide. Most guided tours will also take you to Pompeii, for example, this small group tour.
From Herculaneum. You can pre-book a ticket here to go to Vesuvius from Herculaneum.
9. Where to stay to enjoy Pompeii and Vesuvius
Direct view of the ruins. At the Hotel Del Sole, you can have breakfast while enjoying a stunning view of the ruins of Pompeii. It’s perfect for getting in the mood before you start visiting Pompeii. Of course, you can even see Mount Vesuvius farther.
Tree roof. This hotel’s tree-lined rooftop is a beautiful place to sip a cold drink while watching the sunset over Vesuvius. The Habita79 hotel is 200m from the entrance to the archaeological site.
In Naples. If you prefer to stay in the city, read here our best places to stay in Naples.
If you visit Pompeii and Vesuvius, check out our blog post on the best things to do in Naples: How to visit Naples.
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