Guided Tours

Herculaneum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with Archaeologist

People exploring the archeological site of Herculaneum, Sorrento

Remains of interiors of houses in Herculaneum with remained fragments of frescoes and mosaics

Skulls at the ruins of Herculaneum excavation, Naples

View of the Herculaneum excavation, Naples, Italy

Venture through one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world, Herculaneum, with an expert archaeologist!

Highlights

Discover the ancient town of Herculaneum, overlooking the Gulf of Naples with the skip-the-line ticket will benefit you by letting you inside without waiting.
Walk alongside an expert archaeologist, who will share intriguing intel about the town.
Much like Pompeii, this city too suffered the tragic effects of Mount Vesuvius' eruption.
Pass along the monumental basilica, the grand spa complex, the gymnasium, and more.
This guided tour can be booked in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Inclusions

2-hour guided tour of Herculaneum
Expert English, Spanish, French, German, or Italian-speaking archaeologist guide (as per option selected)
Group of 20 or 25 people (as per option selected)
Skip-the-line entry to Herculaneum
Headsets

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

4.6

532 ratings

5/5

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Juan

5/5

Dec, 2024

Great Serena the guide, fantastic explanation and the excavations and the wonderful environment. Really worth it, I would repeat. Thank you very much Serena.

View original review in Spanish

Ana

4/5

Nov, 2024

Although we had many problems to arrive at the agreed time due to strikes and train breakdowns. They were attentive to wait for us and to attend us with kindness and patience. Roberta was a very good professional, enthusiastic and cordial at all times.

View original review in Spanish

Abigail

5/5

Nov, 2024

It was great, the guide was amusing and full of information that you would never be able to get from an audioguide or book. We saw all the highlights and he explained everything about how the town was buried, how it was excavated and what happened to everyone. I would highly recommend doing this guided tour and the guide was amazing.

Holger

5/5

Nov, 2024

Lively, personal, background knowledge. Perhaps not all the highlights were shown. We looked at a few things afterwards. But everything was very good for the time available for the tour.

View original review in German

Erin

5/5

Nov, 2024

Luciano Leone was a brilliant tour guide, incredibly knowledgeable. My family and I were super impressed and really really enjoyed our visit to herculaneum because of this tour. I would definitely recommend the tour as you learn so much about the place, things that you would completely miss without the guided tour- lots of hidden gems! Luciano talked a brilliant amount and his personality and humour shone through, which made the experience.

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Your experience

Visit the ancient town of Herculaneum that overlooks the Gulf of Naples on this guided venture alongside an expert archaeologist. Renowned for its splendid archaeological Roman excavations, you're in for a real treat. Legend has it that Herculaneum was founded by the mythological hero, Hercules! Born of the archaic age, this city has evident Samnite, Greek, Etruscan influences, with an overriding Roman presence. Alas, this city (along with Pompeii) was destroyed by the same eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD.

These excavations were included in the UNESCO World Heritage site list in 1997. Your tour lets you explore this unique site, the unique distribution of houses, the monumental basilica, the grand spa complex, the gymnasium, and more. A walk through the ancient city lets you see bronze parts and the elevations of the houses, conservation of woods, and the various styles of Vesuvian paintings. All the while, your expert archaeologist will engage you with captivating anecdotes, secrets, and stories about this world-famous attraction.

Know before you go

What to bring

Please carry a valid ID or passport for verification purposes.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring along your sunscreen and water bottle.
The tour operates in all weather conditions. Bring a raincoat if rain is expected.

Accessibility

This experience is not wheelchair accessible.

Additional information

Facilities: restroom, cloak room.
Dogs are allowed into the venue, without restriction of breed or size. However, they must be kept with a leash and/or muzzle (the latter is obligatory for all breeds and opportunities provided by current regulations). Pet parents must have bags to collect any droppings.
In the Antiquarium, inside the Padiglione della Barca and in the domus with mosaic floors, access is allowed only to dogs carried in their arms or in the appropriate carrier.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Please display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID to your guide.
Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the start time of your tour to avoid delays.
If you have purchased reduced-price tickets, please carry your valid photo ID proof for verification.

Meeting Point

Meet your guide at the Ticket Office of Herculaneum Ruins.
Address: Corso Resina, 187, 80056 Ercolano NA, Italy.
Your guide will be holding a sign with Askos tours written on it.

Get Directions to the Meeting Point.

Getting There

The closest bus stop is Umberto, a 10-min walk to the ticketing office.
Bus 5, 176, 177, and more will bring you here.
The closest train station is Circumvesuviana, a 10-min walk to the ticketing office.