Pompeii or Herculaneum: which to visit, and can you do both?
With a full day and a wish to see a whole Roman city, choose Pompeii. With half a day, children or fierce heat, choose Herculaneum. Both are on the same train line, less than 40 minutes from Naples.
At a glance
- Choose Pompeii
- First visit, a full day, happy to walk
- Choose Herculaneum
- Half a day, children, heat, better-preserved houses
- Getting there
- Circumvesuviana Naples-Sorrento: Herculaneum about 20 min, Pompeii about 35-40 min
- Ticket
- Pompeii about €20, Herculaneum about €16
- Both in one day
- Possible: Pompeii in the morning, Herculaneum in the afternoon
Tickets and tours
- Official ticket, Pompeii Archaeological ParkThe Park website leads to Vivaticket; tickets are named
- Official Herculaneum online ticket officeCoopCulture, the Park's ticketing partner
- Pompeii on Tiqets*Tours and packages. Entry alone is cheaper on the official site
- Pompeii audio guides on WeGoTrip*Audio guides for your phone
- Herculaneum: entry and audio guide on WeGoTrip*Park ticket with an audio guide for your phone
* Affiliate link: we earn a commission if you book.
The comparison
| Point | Pompeii | Herculaneum |
|---|---|---|
| Size | about 66 hectares | about 4-5 hectares |
| Time | 3-4 hours, a full day with the villas | 2-3 hours |
| Price | about €20 Express, about €25 Pompei+ | about €16 |
| Train | about 35-40 minutes from Naples | about 20 minutes from Naples |
| Children | long, tiring visit | a better fit |
| Heat | little shade, many hours in the sun | little shade, but fewer hours outside |
| Crowds | up to 20,000 entries a day | far fewer people |
The train is the Circumvesuviana, the local commuter line, on the Naples-Sorrento route. For Pompeii get off at Pompei Scavi - Villa dei Misteri, a short walk from Porta Marina. For Herculaneum get off at Ercolano Scavi, then walk 6-10 minutes. The train ticket costs a few euros: fares and times are on the EAV website.
Which one to choose
- First time in the region: Pompeii. The Forum, theatres, baths and streets give you a sense of a whole city.
- Only half a day: Herculaneum. 2-3 hours is enough, not counting the train.
- With children: Herculaneum. It is quick to walk round and the houses make an instant impression.
- At the height of summer: Herculaneum, or Pompeii when it opens at 9:00.
- If you love detail: Herculaneum. Wood, upper floors and colours have survived better.
- If you love walking and archaeology: Pompeii, with the ticket that includes the villas.
- If you also want Vesuvius: Herculaneum, with the minibuses that leave near the station. See our guide to Vesuvius.
Can you do both in one day?
Yes, but it is a full day. It is only worth it if you really enjoy archaeology.
- Pompeii at 9:00: about 3 hours, with the Express ticket.
- Train from Pompei Scavi to Ercolano Scavi: about 20 minutes.
- Herculaneum in the afternoon: about 2 hours.
Watch the last entry at Herculaneum: 15:30 from 15 October to 15 March, 18:00 the rest of the year. At Pompeii it is 15:30 in winter and 17:30 the rest of the year. If you want the Villa of the Mysteries, split the visits over two days.
Tip: the finest mosaics and frescoes from Pompeii are in Naples. If you can, see the Archaeological Museum first: the ruins will make far more sense.
Tickets: what to know
- Pompei Express, about €20: the ancient city only, no villas.
- Pompei+, about €25: adds the Villa of the Mysteries, Villa of Diomedes, Villa Regina at Boscoreale and the shuttle.
- Named tickets at Pompeii: bring ID. The name and date cannot be changed.
- Once inside Pompeii: one entry only, you cannot leave and come back.
- Herculaneum: online on CoopCulture or at the ticket office.
- First Sunday of the month: free at both sites, but much more crowded.
- Bags: maximum 30 x 30 x 15 cm at Pompeii, 35 x 30 x 15 cm at Herculaneum, where the left-luggage room is free.
Read before you go
- Pompeiithe full visitor guide
- Herculaneumthe guide to the ruins
- Vesuviuspairs well with Herculaneum
- National Archaeological Museum of Naplesmosaics and frescoes from the ruins
Frequently asked questions
Is Pompeii or Herculaneum better?
It depends on your time. Pompeii is much larger and shows a whole city: allow at least a long half day. Herculaneum is small, better preserved and takes 2-3 hours.
Can you see Pompeii and Herculaneum in one day?
Yes, by Circumvesuviana: about 20 minutes between the two stops. Enter Pompeii at 9:00 and go on to Herculaneum after lunch, checking the last entry time. It is a tiring day, especially in summer.
How much are tickets for Pompeii and Herculaneum?
Pompeii is about €20 with the Express ticket and about €25 with Pompei+. Herculaneum is about €16. EU citizens aged 18 to 25 pay about €2; under-18s go free.
Is Pompeii or Herculaneum better with children?
Herculaneum: it is smaller and about 2 hours is enough. If you choose Pompeii, keep the visit under 3 hours and bring water and hats. The Park warns that the visit takes real physical effort.
Which ticket do you need for the Villa of the Mysteries?
Pompei+, about €25. If you already have the Pompei Express, you can add the villas with a supplement of about €8, paid by card only at the Porta Ercolano gate.
Where to stay near Pompeii and Herculaneum
23 places to stay in the Vesuvius area on Napolibnb.it, the Naples holiday-rental portal: you contact the host directly, with no booking fees. Every listing shows its official CIN code.
