Free walking tours in Herculaneum and what to see

Must-sees

Herculaneum, Ercolano in Italian, lies on the Bay of Naples at the foot of Vesuvius. The eruption of AD 79 buried the Roman town under a thick layer of volcanic material, which is why it preserves houses of several storeys, wooden beams and furniture. Together with Pompeii and Torre Annunziata, the ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a smaller site than Pompeii, easy to get around, and you look down on it from above, because the modern town stands on the edge of the excavation.

Don't miss the House of Neptune and Amphitrite, with its glass-paste mosaic, the House of the Mosaic Atrium, the baths with their rooms for men and women, and the seat of the Augustales. At the end is the ancient beach and its arches, where some three hundred skeletons of people who tried to flee were found. Outside the ruins, the Miglio d'Oro road is lined with 18th-century villas, and from the town you can go up Vesuvius.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free tours in Herculaneum. The usual options are guided group visits of the ruins, private tours with a guide and entry with an audio guide to go at your own pace. Excursions to Capri, transfers to Pompeii and Vesuvius and independent trips up to the crater also leave from the area.

How long to spend

The ruins can be seen well in two or three hours, and it is best to go early to avoid the heat and the groups, as there is little shade. If you add the climb up Vesuvius, allow a full day. With two days you can add Pompeii, a short train ride away, and a stroll past the villas of the Miglio d'Oro.

Where to stay

Staying in Herculaneum lets you enter the ruins first thing and puts you in a good position for Vesuvius. There are guesthouses and small hotels near the station and the site. If you prefer more atmosphere, Naples is about twenty minutes away by train, and Sorrento and Pompeii also have plenty of choice.