Herculaneum

Herculaneum (Ercolano) is about 40 km north-east of Sorrento in the Campania region of Italy, reached by the Circumvesuviana (EAV) Naples-bound train to Ercolano Scavi in about 55-60 minutes, for roughly EUR 3-4 one way. From the station, a 10-minute downhill walk along Via IV Novembre and Corso Resina leads to the entrance of the Parco Archeologico di Ercolano at Corso Resina 187. A taxi is available from the station if the heat makes the walk unattractive. Herculaneum was a small seaside Roman town buried by volcanic material from Vesuvius in 79 AD, and the deposits preserved far more than at Pompeii: carbonised wooden beams, upper storeys, doors, furniture and mosaics remain in place. Visitors can see houses such as the House of the Mosaic Atrium and the thermal baths, as well as the boat sheds on the former shoreline where skeletons were found. The site is compact, and about two hours is enough, so the trip is easy and suits those who do not want a long walk. A suggested day arc is a morning train from Sorrento, arriving when the site opens (summer hours 08:30-19:30, last entry 18:00), followed by lunch in Ercolano town. The afternoon can then be used for a second stop on the same line, either a late-morning or early-afternoon Pompeii visit or the Vesuvius shuttle from the Ercolano Scavi forecourt. Entry was reported at about EUR 16-18 in earlier listings, but the exact 2026 daytime fare could not be confirmed, so ercolano.cultura.gov.it should be checked. Under-18s enter free, and a combined Ercolano, Oplontis and Stabiae ticket was reported at EUR 22. The best months are March-June and September-November, and mornings are quieter. Food stops are limited near the entrance, so a pizzeria or bar in Ercolano town or a stop at the station is the usual choice, and water should be carried in summer.