Herculaneum - We visited Herculaneum via a cruise ship tour in June 2025. Having been to Pompeii before, we enjoyed Herculaneum much more! While the ruins that you can explore at Herculaneum are smaller than Pompeii they are in better shape with more mosaics and paintings left behind. Only 25% of Herculaneum is escavated and the rest remains under everyone's homes surrounding it. Herculaneum is very well taken care of and having a guide certainly helps to bring the history alive.

Great historical experience - Herculaneum is a great site to visit because it is smaller than Pompeii but the buildings are in better condition and it is easier to get a feel for it as a real town. I loved that they have provided gardens here and there and one particular wooded area where you can sit in the shade to rest and read. Would also recommend stopping off at Anna and Nancy's stall in the car park for a drink and a snack. Sorry I don't know the name but see picture. They were the friendliest people we met all trip.

Much smaller than Pompeii, will see it all. - Great place, smaller than Pompeii, but more intact. We got train from Sorrento, had one change which was easy to do at small station. From Ercolano station, its a straight walk down long street to the ruins. Go through the arch, see the ruins on right and head to modern ticket office. We went early so was not busy, no queue.

Herculaneum - Simply Superb - Herculaneum is the real jewel in the crown -imo better than Pompei. This is my second visit, I came years ago and always vowed to come back and give it more time, it didn't disappoint. Booking was very easy online - make sure you use the official booking site not the ones which include tour guides etc. It's so easy to book online and download an e-ticket or just rock up. We came early afternoon and it was v quiet but for some school trips . The audio guide you can purchase is OK but I think you can also download something on your phone - there are QR codes at the location. Alternatively there are tour guides available when you arrive - maybe because I came in the afternoon and all the hoards tend to come in the morning. The site is quite compact and you approach via a lovely park - and you can look down on the site which gives a real taste of what's in store. Despite being compact there is a lot to see and take in - give yourself time. This city really gives you a feel of what it was like to live in those times and how the (rich) lived. Really worth going down to the old beach level where all the skeletons were found under the arches - this is so moving and haunting - you can feel the fear and desperation of the people trying to escape. The antiquariam AKA museum on the site is well worth the time as you leave - it contains some items found - the jewellery again moves you as so much of it came from the skeletons of the people fleeing - they took what was valuable and it is amazing. Tips - the food at the site is minimal I would maybe buy something in town and have a picnic in the park before you enter. There are vending machines there which have a multitude of stuff in but that's it.. so bring change!

Easy on the knees - If you go to Pompeii, then you have to come here as well. It is a 25 minute car ride from Pompeii. Whilst Herculaneum has a lot of similarities with Pompeii, they were engulfed in different ways. Herculaneum has wood that survived as well as upper floors and roofs which give that time machine feel as the houses are more complete. It is also on a much smaller scale than Pompeii and you can see all of it in three hours. It is also a lot more accessible if you have mobility issues.

A great sight to see, well worth a visit. - Amazing walkabout with a lovely little museum attached. We did Pompeii the day before and Herculaneum was equally as impressive but smaller which was actually a plus for us as we found Pompeii overwhelmingly big! It was also slightly easier to walk around with more even surfaces than Pompeii that's incredibly uneven. Lots to see and not too crowded either. We took the train over from Naples and it was a quick 20 minute journey with Herculaneum just at the end of the road from the train station. Well worth a visit.

Smaller ruins but worth a visit . Catch the train from Pompeii. - While much smaller than Pompeii sight this is less busy and has some standout frescos. We stayed two nights in Pompeii and caught the train back to see the Herculaneum ruins. Easy 30 minutes trip and a short walk from the station. Worth a visit for f you are in the area.

A smaller, quieter ruins area than pompeii - Well it's interesting to see, cheaper smaller and less buys than pompeii..i only chose the audio guide option but didn't use it and due to only having a guided tour of pompeii a few days earlier.r. Would have been good to hear more about some of the areas including where there is a cave/tunnel's and the bones Not sure if I would reccomend doing both pompeii and here in such a short time never mind same day Bit definitely some different and good sights to see here

Interesting place - Atmospheric, historical ruins, nice museum as well, let down by the poor 'food court', so take your own, baking hot, unique

Herculaneum self guided tour. - Fabulous snap shot in time of a tragic event, but truly amazing. The preservation of this Roman era wealthy town is a must see. Meander through the ancient streets and see homes, shops and averns along with public places. Realising that the Naples shoreline used to come to the edge of the town, you can get a scale of that deadly eruption in 79AD.