Herculaneum: Entry Ticket

Herculaneum is an ancient Roman town in Naples, buried alongside Pompeii when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Where Pompeii draws the larger crowds, Herculaneum is generally considered the better-preserved of the two sites, its compactness allowing carbonised wooden furniture, textiles, mosaics, and frescoes to survive in a condition rarely seen at sites of comparable age. The entrance is approached from Corso Resina, beneath the modern suburb of Ercolano.

Visitors move through excavated streets and enter houses, baths, and shops that retain their original layout. Painted frescoes remain on interior walls, mosaic floors are largely intact, and carbonised wooden objects, including doors and roof timbers, survive in a state that is unusual for a site of this age. Entry includes a downloadable audio guide covering the key structures and their historical context. The site is wheelchair accessible throughout. Those combining the visit with a wider trip will find that Naples attractions include the National Archaeological Museum, which holds a significant collection of finds excavated from Herculaneum.