Herculaneum: tickets, opening hours and how to get there

Herculaneum (Ercolano) is the Roman town buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, at the foot of the volcano between Naples and Pompeii. The archaeological park is open every day except December 25; the full-price ticket costs €16 (€2 for ages 18–25) and entry is free on the first Sunday of the month. Allow about two hours for the visit, according to the park. This page brings together summer and winter opening hours, visiting rules, access by Circumvesuviana train, the houses closed and open in October 2026, and sunset time cross-checked with last entry.

Herculaneum fits into a stay in Naples: see our Naples travel guide, our page on Pompeii, the other great buried city, and our page on the best time to visit Italy.

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Why visit Herculaneum instead of (or as well as) Pompeii?

Herculaneum was destroyed in AD 79 like Pompeii, Stabiae and Oplontis. According to Wikipedia, the town was buried under more than fifteen metres (49 ft) of volcanic material, which preserved the upper floors of houses, carbonized woodwork and everyday objects. Excavations began in 1738, with tunnels dug into the volcanic deposit; they are among the first archaeological digs in the Western world.

The site is smaller and less crowded than Pompeii, but more concentrated: you walk through whole streets lined with multi-storey houses. The park also preserves organic remains (wood, textiles, food) and the ancient boat pavilion, displayed at the Antiquarium and the Padiglione della Barca.

What is open and closed in October 2026

The site changes with restoration work. On October 24, 2026, the park stated — checked on 24 October 2026 on ercolano.cultura.gov.it:

• Villa dei Papiri: closed for excavation, maintenance and accessibility works; no reopening date set.
• Ancient theatre: closed until a date to be determined for urgent maintenance work.
• Bottega di Priapo: reopened to the public, according to the park’s news of October 16, 2026.
• Domus project: the park announces the reopening of the Casa dell’Atrio a Mosaico and the Casa a Graticcio; the postponed press conference is scheduled for November 5, 2026. Check that they are actually open before your visit.

Herculaneum tickets: official or reseller?

Tickets are bought at the ticket desks or online on the park’s ticket office (CoopCulture), to be shown on a smartphone (QR code) or printed. For an online purchase, the FAQ specifies that a visitor who is a tax resident abroad enters “EE1” in the tax code field. On free days, no booking is possible: the free ticket is collected at the desk on the day.

Platforms also resell guided tours or excursions from Naples or Sorrento. Before paying, check that the entry ticket is included, the guide’s language, the real time spent on site and the cancellation policy. The park itself offers fixed-departure tours in Italian, group tours on booking and an augmented-reality audio guide, available to hire on site or online.

Season passes and cards

• Annual pass: €30 for one person, €58 for two adults and minors, €5 for ages 18–25; valid 365 days from first use, excluding events and evening openings.
• Campania Artecard: accepted, including the Lite version; activation compulsory at the park’s ticket office.
• Under 12s: they must be accompanied.

Opening hours, last entry and sunset

Last entry is 1 hour 30 minutes before closing, and the park asks visitors to leave the archaeological area 20 minutes before the gates close (Corso Resina and Via dei Papiri Ercolanesi). In winter, the 3:30 pm last entry falls shortly before sunset: an afternoon visit is then made in fading light.

Month	Sunrise	Sunset	Day length	Last entry
January	07:24	16:59	9 h 34	15:30
February	06:57	17:36	10 h 40	15:30
March	06:14	18:08	11 h 54	15:30
April	06:24	19:41	13 h 17	18:00
May	05:45	20:12	14 h 27	18:00
June	05:30	20:35	15 h 05	18:00
July	05:43	20:33	14 h 49	18:00
August	06:12	20:01	13 h 49	18:00
September	06:42	19:12	12 h 30	18:00
October	07:13	18:22	11 h 09	15:30
November	06:49	16:44	9 h 56	15:30
December	07:19	16:35	9 h 16	15:30

Tip from this table: from November to January, arrive at opening time, 8:30 am, to enjoy the best light and a visit without rushing. From May to August, late afternoon offers softer light than midday.

What to see at Herculaneum: suggested route

The park publishes a map and downloadable mini-guides, as well as a portal, Ercolano Digitale, to plan your route. A logical order:

• The entrance bridge and overview: from the Corso Resina entrance, you look down on the ancient town, below the modern one.
• The streets (cardines and decumani): multi-storey houses, shops and baths, the heart of the visit.
• The ancient shore and the fugitives: the park devotes a section to the “fuggiaschi”, the victims found on the old shoreline.
• The Antiquarium and the boat pavilion: organic remains and an ancient boat.

Getting there: how to reach Herculaneum

According to the park — checked on 24 October 2026 on ercolano.cultura.gov.it:

• By train: from Napoli Centrale, the Circumvesuviana Naples–Sorrento line to Ercolano Scavi, then a 6-minute walk to the entrance, Corso Resina 187.
• From Naples-Capodichino airport: taxi, or the Alibus to the central station then the EAV Circumvesuviana train (Naples–Sorrento or Naples–Poggiomarino lines).
• By car: A3 Naples–Salerno motorway, Ercolano Scavi exit. The park does not run a car park; the nearest is the municipal car park on Via dei Papiri Ercolanesi.

Rules and accessibility

• Luggage: 35 x 30 x 15 cm (14 x 12 x 6 in) maximum; free left-luggage on site.
• Food and drink: no catering point inside the site, only vending machines near the entrance bridge; eating outside the designated areas is prohibited.
• Dogs: allowed on a lead; carried in arms or in a bag at the Antiquarium, the boat pavilion and the mosaic houses.
• Drones and professional equipment: prohibited without authorization; photos and videos allowed for private use.
• Reduced mobility: the “Ercolano per tutti” route, marked in blue on the map, is designed for visitors with mobility impairments — checked on 24 October 2026 on ercolano.cultura.gov.it.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Arriving after 3:30 pm in winter: entry is refused.
• Looking for a combined ticket with Pompeii: there is none, according to the park’s FAQ.
• Coming on a first Sunday without knowing: entry is free but with no booking, and tickets are collected at the desk.
• Planning the Villa dei Papiri or the theatre: closed in October 2026.
• Arriving with a large backpack: above 35 x 30 x 15 cm, you must use the left-luggage.

What to see nearby

Herculaneum combines with Pompeii, on the same Circumvesuviana line, or with the Amalfi Coast and Capri. To compare with other cities of art, read Rome or Florence, and for the whole region, our guide to visiting Naples.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• Herculaneum Archaeological Park, Italian Ministry of Culture (ercolano.cultura.gov.it): Orari e biglietti, FAQ, Come arrivare, Accessibilità, Visite guidate pages and news of October 15, 16, 20 and 24, 2026, consulted on 24 October 2026
• Wikipedia article “Herculaneum” (AD 79 eruption, thickness of deposits, 1738 excavations, coordinates), consulted on 24 October 2026
• Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, applied by Destination de Voyage to the coordinates of Herculaneum (Wikipedia) (15th of each month, year 2027, clear horizon)
• Our methodology

Updated November 2026.