Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 1,195 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist worth booking?
Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist is a 2-hour experience in Naples, Italy, from $10 per person. It scores 91 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “90+ Club”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 1,195 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing. It sits in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
- Outty Ranking
- 91 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (1,195)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $10 per person
Get the chance to visit the site of Herculaneum being guided by an Archaeologist. Get to know more about this ancient Roman city, inhabited by merchants and nobility, whose life ended dramatically fast in 79 AD. The gui
What you get
About this experience
Get the chance to visit the site of Herculaneum being guided by an Archaeologist. Get to know more about this ancient Roman city, inhabited by merchants and nobility, whose life ended dramatically fast in 79 AD. The guide will show you the waterfront where more than 300 remains of people trying to escape by sea were found, but also the Samnite house, the thermal baths, the Temple of the Augustales, the forum, the house of Neptune and Amphitrite, the Gymnasium, the house of the wooden partition and much more. You will get an intense experience: you can see not only stone, marble and ceramics left, but also carbonized wood and even more exquisite paintings and mosaics than in Pompei. Herculaneum was destroyed by a much more powerful force which instantly burnt all wood and buried the city under a thick layer which didn’t let the air go through and cause decay.
What's included
Included
- Licensed guide with archaeological background
- Entrance fees
- Small Group (maximum 20 people per guide)
- Headsets
- Guidance and assistance
Not included
- Meals/drinks
- Private transportation
What you'll see and do
Archeological Park of Herculaneum
Meeting place is the Ticket Office of the Herculaneum ruins. You can get there as follows: - By car in via Pignalver (There is a not guarded parking very close the meeting place) - By train in Corso Resina 1 (Circumvesuviana train station is 10 minutes walk away)
Pass by without stopping
The house receives its name from marble statues of stags/deer found in the peristyle.
10 minutes here
La Terrazza di M. Nonio Balbo
M. Nonius Balbus was the city's major benefactor restoring and building many public buildings. On his death he was made patron and feted with many honours, detailed in the long inscription on his funeral altar.
10 minutes here
College of the Augustales
It is thought that the building was a centre of the cult of the Emperor Augustus and the headquarters of the Collegium Augustalium (or possibly even the local curia).
10 minutes here
The house possibly belonged to one of the town's leading benefactors, Marcus Nonius Balbus and is somewhat unusual in that it has its own private access to the adjoining Suburban Thermae to the south.
10 minutes here
Partem Domus lignea - Casa del Tramezzo di Legno
It is very important house for the elegant wooden partition remained.
10 minutes here
House of the Skeleton
The House of the Skeleton probably the aggregation of three smaller buildings, derives its name from the discovery of human remains in a second floor room in 1831.
10 minutes here
Central Thermae
The Central Thermae were built around the beginning of the 1st century AD and were divided, as was then the common practice, into men's and women's baths, each with their own separate entrances.
10 minutes here
The House of the Black Hall is one of Herculaneum's more luxurious mansions. The house has a monumental entrance which still retains the carbonised remains of the doorposts and lintel.
10 minutes here
Casa Sannitica
The house has an arrangement that was typical of the Samnites (an ancient people of the Sabine race who occupied this mountainous part of central Italy). The splendid atrium is skirted by a gallery with Ionic columns. The rooms are decorated with frescoes.
10 minutes here
Casa del Bel Cortile
This is one of the most original houses in Herculaneum. It has a courtyard with a stairway and a stone balcony instead of an atrium.
10 minutes here
House of the Grand Portal
Beautiful domus in the Centre of the archaeological area, with various environments, collonnati, frescos e-com everywhere at Herculaneum-charred remains of wooden parts.
10 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Naples
Meeting place Ticket Office of the Herculaneum ruins. You can get there as follows: - By car in via Pignalver (There is a not guarded parking very close the meeting place) - By train in Corso Resina 1 (Circumvesuviana train station is 10 minutes walk away)
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The tour ends inside Herculaneum Ruins
Options you can book
French Tour
German Tour
Spanish Tour
Italian Tour
transportation from Naples
Minibus: Day trip from Naples by minibus with a 2h archaeologist-led Herculaneum tour. Tickets included.
with transportation from Rome
Train + Minibus : Day trip from Rome by high-speed train with a 2h archaeologist-led Herculaneum tour. Tickets included.
English Tour
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, en, it, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Askos Tours
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Dogs are allowed at the Herculaneum Archaeological Park without breed or size restrictions, however they must be kept on a leash or muzzle and it is mandatory to have bags to collect any droppings. For reasons of logistics and conservation, within the Antiquarium premises, the Boat Pavilion, and the domus featuring mosaic floors, access is permitted only to dogs that are carried in arms or transported in an appropriate carrier.
- Herculaneum ruins' entry tickets: 16 euros (adult) 2 euros (EU citizens 18-25 y.o.)
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 1,196 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
1,196 verified traveler reviews for Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
The upgrade over Pompeii
Great follow up if you’ve done Pompeii or Vesuvius. Very different experience. Many buildings are intact. Guide was knowledgeable and worked hard to make us comfortable despite the heat
via Viator
Roberta was wonderful
roberta was wonderful & thoughtful as it was hot we always stood in the shade ..very knowledgeable guide
via Viator
Far better than Pompeii!
The guide, Luciano Leone was fantastic, he's actually written books about the site. He knew everything and wanted to tell us, despite only having 2 hours to do so (he went 10 minutes over). We learnt the history of the site in such a way that it made it come alive. While he was talking you could just about visualise what it was like before Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. He had a folder of photos and diagrams and used them effectively to demonstrate his point. Despite him protesting (far too often) that he didn't have good English, he did. He made sure that we stayed close so that we heard everything, pointed out things that if you weren't on a guided tour you would look at and maybe think "oh pretty" but knowing the hidden secrets as he called them, made it fascinating and amazing and he just kept blowing my mind with information. On a hot summer's day he took us from one pocket of shade to another, stopping in the sun only to show us something that we *really* needed to see. The site itself is so much more compact than Pompeii and was a different type of town. It was a resort, Pompeii was a trading centre, and it showed in the types of houses and facilities there. There are 2000 year old mosaic tiles that you walk on, there are the frescoes, there are the skeletons of those who were captured by the ferocity of the storm while waiting to be rescued by boat. Some smaller skulls as well 🙁 But it was so much more than just ruins to walk around. An entire garden of trees grown from seeds recovered from the site, a boat that was rescued, petrified wood, clothing, even rope! The guide went to great pains to point out that this is how they know it wasn't a magma flow that buried the site, because if it was, nothing would have survived. That the heat was great enough to burn flesh off, but not the disintegrate the bones. He knew what the melting point is for gold and lead, and how we know to a great extent what happened through the writing of Pliny the Younger. My mind was blown wide open with all of the information and I would love to come back and explore it again one day.
via Viator
Good overview
Roberta was knowledgeable. There is a lot to cover and she made sure that we got the highlights of this wonderful site. So glad that we came here instead of Pompei
via Viator
Spell binding
Spell binding excursion. Askos responded fast to questions as we navigated from Sorrento. Not as large or crowded as Pompeii... and different due to the composition of the lava that engulfed it. It is better preserved. Both sites are a glimpse of Roman life. Our guide was a fountain of knowledge, but I cannot recall his name. Do step into the Musuem afterward to see the actual relics - jewelry, sculpture and even glass bowls! It is worth it - esp. to cool off on a hot August day.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $10 to $155
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 418
- Verdict
- 90+ Club
Why this scores 91
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Naples.
How much does Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist cost?
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Prices start at $10 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Naples usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Naples is not rushed.
Is Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 91 out of 100, which we label "90+ Club". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 1,195 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Naples, and how flexible the cancellation terms are. Scoring 90 or above puts it in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
Can I cancel or reschedule Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist?
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Around 418 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Naples can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Naples and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Herculaneum Small Group Tour and Ticket With an Archaeologist start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Naples within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Naples?
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On Outty we rank every Naples experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Full Day Private Amalfi Coast Tour from Sorrento/Naples/Salerno, Caserta Royal Palace & Gardens Small Group Tour with Shuttle, Naples Pizza and Tiramisu Cooking Class. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Naples?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Naples?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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