In 79 AD Mount Vesuvius erupted, destroying ancient Roman villages. Most of us are familiar with Pompeii, but did you know there is another town very well preserved from the aftermath you can visit? Herculaneum.
Herculaneum is well-preserved thanks to the thick layers of mud compared to Pompeii’s volcanic ash. During your visit you can still see the remains of frescoes, ancient Roman baths, houses, and more. If you’re staying in Naples (be sure to check out my guide How to Spend 3 Days in Naples), the Amalfi Coast, or even Rome, it’s quite simple to add a Herculaneum day trip to your itinerary! Come and experience walking through the memories of Ancient Rome firsthand.
How to Get to Herculaneum
From Naples, you can easily arrive on your Herculaneum day trip via the regional train. It is located about 6 miles (10km) southeast of Naples.
- Starting Point: Start your trip from Napoli Porta Nolana.
- Train Line: Take the Circumvesuviana train heading toward Sorrento. The journey takes about 20-30 minutes.
- Stop: Get off at the “Ercolano Scavi” station.
- From the Station: Complete a 10-minute walk to the archaeological site.
The train schedule here will help you plan accordingly. I recommend paying attention to the train stops as most won’t have clear announcements on the train of when they are approaching your specific stop.
Booking a Guided Tour
I highly recommend booking a guided tour. Of course it is incredible to simply wander through Herculaneum, but you won’t get a comprehensive understanding of the history.
My guide was an archeologist at both Herculaneum and Pompeii. Therefore it was incredible to have such a knowledgable resource available firsthand to talk to and ask questions to regarding the site. Plus, even after the tour is over, you have time to wander the grounds on your own.
What to See in Herculaneum
Herculaneum is a fairly compact site compared to Pompeii, but it’s still packed with remarkable features:
The House of the Wooden Partition: Famous for its intricately preserved wooden door, this house offers a rare glimpse into Roman interior design.
The College of the Augustales: This is a temple dedicated to Emperor Augustus. Below, you can still see the original frescoes.
Former Homes: During the tour you can actually step foot into the former homes of Herculaneum residents. You get a taste of how the rich Romans lived: enormous courtyard gardens, fountains, frescoes. Not too shabby!
Fast Food Stalls: Step aside, McDonald’s. Did you know the Ancient Romans also ate fast food? Well, a version of fast food. Along the main streets you could find enormous pots (heated by an underground stove system!) filled with food. It was a grab and go concept designed to make life easy for the politicians running to meetings.
The Baths (Thermae): Explore the well-preserved public baths, complete with mosaics, changing rooms, and ancient plumbing systems. For instance, they had a fully functioning steaming system – the Romans knew how to open up their pores and unwind!
Also, check out the ceiling. The is so water wouldn’t drop down and land on someone’s face. Instead, it would flow through the divots to drip down the wall. Inventive!
Skeletons in the Boat Sheds: See the haunting remains of residents who sought refuge near the shore, offering a poignant reminder of the eruption’s devastation. They tried to rush and find safety on their boats, but disaster struck too soon. Fortunately, these are not “real” skeletons, which are at various museums in the Napoli area. However, the replicas show the eerie number of how many people tried to escape via sea.
As you walk around, you’ll continue to see so many details. It’s difficult to realize that this city was once completely covered by the thick, volcanic mud. The excavators and archeologists have made huge strides. The benefit is that the mud actually preserved Herculaneum and its belongings quite well.
Alright, here comes a shocking statistic. Experts believe that nearly 75% of Herculaneum has STILL not been excavated. Yup. Underneath the modern town, there is likely even more of the ancient Roman town buried. This obviously provides an enormous challenge as there are now residents living here!
Therefore, what remains of Herculaneum will likely stay a mystery so its current residents aren’t forced to uproot their lives.
Another unique part of the tour is when the guide takes you into some of these “mud caves.” I can’t recall the actual name.
This is about as much as you can see (unless you’re an archeologist). The point is, as mentioned above, these extend well beneath the modern day Herculaneum and give you some perspective on how much mud piled up and buried the city.
Enjoy your Herculaneum day trip and pat yourself on the back for immersing yourself in some unique history.
If you’re staying in the Naples, Italy region, you may want to also check out these guides: