What to see
Herculaneum: planning the park visit, admission and exclusions
At Herculaneum, the ancient town lies below the modern city. Entering the park makes that change in landscape immediately apparent. Domestic life is a particular focus, revealed through buildings and materials preserved after the eruption of 79 CE. Give it a visit of its own rather than treating it as a hurried addition to another archaeological site.
- Ordinary admission
- €16 full price; check official eligibility for reductions and free admission.
- 15 October–15 March
- 08:30–17:00; last admission 15:30, leave the archaeological area by 16:40.
- Unavailable sites
- The park lists the Villa of the Papyri and ancient Theatre as closed, without a confirmed reopening date.
A town that once overlooked the sea
Ancient Herculaneum stood on a coastal plateau below Vesuvius and became a Roman municipality after its conquest in 89 BCE. Volcanic deposits changed the coastline and buried streets, houses and public buildings. Compare the level of the ancient town, its former seafront and the present city. This gives you a way to understand the setting before choosing individual buildings, rather than viewing the excavation as a collection of unrelated rooms.
What to pay attention to
Surviving organic materials provide unusual evidence of daily life. Excavations recovered wood, furnishings, tools, textiles, food and written documents. These discoveries are not all displayed along the ordinary route, and should not be promised in every building. Use them as an interpretative starting point instead: examine doorways, storeys and the relationship between rooms, considering how people lived and worked in this Roman town rather than only identifying decorative highlights.
Ordinary entry and separate visits
Ordinary admission is for the park, not for every attraction associated with Herculaneum. Do not count the MAV, Vesuvius or special visits as included. The official page lists the Villa of the Papyri and ancient Theatre as closed, so neither should be planned as a bookable stop. Consult current notices and the map on arrival for accessible buildings: conservation work and route management can change which parts are available.
A realistic pace and a suitable route
Two to three hours is an initial editorial planning estimate; allow longer for breaks and closer study. Arriving at the last admission time does not give you a full day, especially in winter, when you must leave the excavation before the gates close. Visitors with reduced mobility can use the mapped “Ercolano per tutti” route. Ask entrance staff how to follow it and which spaces it reaches on the day of your visit.
Useful questions
Does admission include a guide or audio guide?
Neither is presented as included in ordinary admission: the park describes an audio guide available separately and lists dedicated guided visits.
Can I reserve online for free-admission days?
The official page states that free-day tickets are collected on site and online reservations are unavailable.