Are you planning a trip to Italy and wondering, “Should I visit Pompeii or Herculaneum?” Well, stay tuned because today we will tell you all you need to know about these two incredible sites to help you make a better decision on which one you should visit!

Hi everyone! I am Rick, and I am Andrea, and welcome back to Travel Addicts. If you’re new here, we live right here in beautiful Italy, and every week we share the best travel tips to help you make the most out of your Italian adventure. Today, we’re heading south to the Bay of Naples to explore two of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the world, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Both were buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, but the experience you’ll have visiting each one is entirely different.

So, which one should YOU visit on your trip to Italy? Let’s find out, starting with a bit of history.

History

In the year 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted violently, covering the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in a layer of ash, pumice, and mud. Pompeii, a bustling Roman town of about 12,000 people, was buried under 4 to 6 meters of volcanic ash. 

Herculaneum, a smaller coastal town of around 5,000, was hit differently; it was buried under a thick layer of volcanic mud that later hardened like concrete. This key difference in what buried each city, ash versus mud, changed everything about what survived. Pompeii gives us a wide-open look at Roman daily life, but Herculaneum preserved things that you can’t see anywhere else like wooden furniture, food, and even scrolls.

Now let’s move on to another very important part: how to get to Pompeii and Herculaneum.

How to get there

Pompeii and Herculaneum are located near the city of Naples in southern Italy, and Naples is the best basecamp if you want to go and explore these two amazing archaeological sites. To reach the sites from the city, you have several options. The first one is the Circumvesuviana train. This commuter train connects Naples to several towns around Mount Vesuvius, including Sorrento, Pompeii, and Herculaneum. From Naples to Herculaneum, the train journey takes approximately 18 minutes, while it takes about 30 minutes to get to Pompeii. The ride is easy, cheap, and convenient. If you would like to learn more about how to do it, we have created an entire video on how to travel to Pompeii and Herculaneum by train, which you can watch here.

The second option to get to Pompeii or Herculaneum is by taxi. Taxis in Naples have a fixed rate for taking you to the sites. For example, the cost from Naples to Pompeii is approximately €70 each way, and you’ll have minimal time at the site. This is a very convenient way to get there, especially if you do not like to plan; however, it is also expensive and, in our opinion, not worth it. 

Lastly you can take an organized tour. Several companies offer tours to both sites; however, using a tour is very structured and takes away the flexibility that you have by doing it on your own.

Now that we have covered the basics, let’s talk about the main differences between the two sites:

Pompeii the City vs. Herculaneum the Town

Here’s one of the most significant differences between Pompeii and Herculaneum: Pompeii is dramatic, while Herculaneum is detailed.

Pompeii gives you an overwhelming sense of scale; you walk entire streets, visit public baths, temples, and even brothels. It’s immersive and emotional, especially when you see the plaster casts.

Herculaneum, on the other hand, feels like stepping right into someone’s home. You can see colorful frescoes, wooden shelves, and everyday items almost perfectly preserved. It’s quieter, more atmospheric; some say it feels more “alive.

Pompeii feels like an entire city frozen in time. It’s huge, covering approximately 170 acres of excavated streets, plazas, and buildings. You can easily spend a whole day here, and you won’t see everything. 

Herculaneum, on the other hand, is much smaller, covering only about 20 acres, but it is much better preserved. It feels more intimate and easier to explore in a short period of time. Additionally, a significant portion of Herculaneum remains buried beneath the modern city, and it would be impossible to excavate without damaging the new town. 

First things first, Pompeii is far more famous than Herculaneum, and most tourists visit Pompeii; for this reason, Pompeii tends to be busier and more crowded than Herculaneum. However, if you like grand ruins, wide streets, and iconic sights like the amphitheater or the Forum, Pompeii is for you.  Pompeii gives you that incredible feeling of walking through an actual Roman cit,y complete with shops, bakeries, temples, and streets marked by chariot ruts.

However, it’s also worth noting that Pompeii can feel overwhelming, especially in the summer when it gets extremely hot and crowded. While Herculaneum is never as busy, it allows for a much more intimate visit. It makes it easier to imagine life as it was before the eruption.

If you prefer detailed, beautifully preserved houses where you can see frescoes and wood beams still intact, Herculaneum will leave you in awe. Now, Herculaneum might be smaller, but don’t let that fool you; it’s like stepping into a perfectly preserved Roman neighborhood.

This is because the town was buried under mud and sealed airtight; it’s astonishing how much survived: You’ll see original wooden doors, furniture, and even stairs. Additionally, because the mud preserved the city, most of the second floors of the houses remain intact. 

But probably the most emotional things to see in Herculaneum (that you won’t see in Pompeii) are down near the ancient shoreline. There you’ll find the boathouses, where hundreds of skeletons were discovered of people who sought safety by the sea.

Now that we covered the significant differences, let’s talk about some practical tips:

Practical Tips

Guided Tours and Audio Guides

Although it is possible to take a self-guided tour or use audioguides, we strongly recommend hiring a guide if you visit these incredible sites. In fact, a guide can point out details that are usually missed if you do it on your own. We used a wonderful guide, Vincenzo, a couple of times, and he was able to point out many details that we would have overlooked if we had gone on our own. We will leave his contact information in the description if you would like to hire him as well. (https://www.allorapompeii.com/it/)

Tickets and Hours

We strongly recommend you buy your tickets in advance to avoid the very long lines at the ticket office. This is especially important for Pompeii, particularly during peak season. Also, it would be even better to buy the skip the line tickets, to save time.

Pompeii opens at 9 am and closes at 7 pm in the spring and summer, while it closes at 5 pm in the fall and winter. Herculaneum opens at 8:30 am and closes at 7 pm in the spring and summer, and at 5 pm in the winter.

How Long to Spend

Pompeii deserves at least half a day, and ideally a full day, if you want to explore it thoroughly. Herculaneum can be comfortably done in 2 to 3 hours. It’s a great option if you have limited time or want something less exhausting.

What to wear

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that at both sites, you will have to walk a lot, and most of the time on very uneven surfaces, so comfortable shoes are a must. Please avoid wearing sandals or flip flops to avoid tripping. At both sites shade is very limited, so it is quite essential to bring a hat, to protect your head. 

In terms of clothes in the summer, you will need to wear light, breathable clothes because it gets hot there, especially in Pompeii. In the winter, it’s best to wear layers, as the temperature can fluctuate significantly. For instance, it gets cold in the morning or late afternoon, while it warms up around noon, especially when the sun comes out.

Facilities and Accessibility

Pompeii features multiple entrances, restrooms, and even a café within its premises. It’s well-organized but can get hot. It is always a good idea to bring water with you and stay hydrated. 

Herculaneum is more compact, with shaded areas and benches. There are restrooms at the entrance and by the small museum that is inside. There is no cafe at the Herculaneum, so be prepared.

For people with disabilities, both sites offer notable wheelchair-accessible routes. You can download the map of these routes by following the links in the description.

https://ercolano.cultura.gov.it/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ERC-Pianta-ercolano-accessibilita.pdf

Best time to visit

In our opinion, the best time to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum is early spring or fall. In those two periods, temperatures are milder and the sites are not too crowded. If possible, you should avoid visiting during the middle of the summer, when it is the hottest and busiest. If the summer is the only time you can visit, we strongly suggest avoiding the middle of the day; instead, go early in the morning, when it is cooler and most tourists are still asleep.

Now comes the big question: Can I visit both sites in one day?

How to Combine Pompeii and Herculaneum in One Day

Yes, you can visit both in one day if you plan carefully. First, you will need to purchase the skip-the-line tickets in advance; otherwise, you will spend most of your day waiting in line. Then, you will start early and catch the first train to Herculaneum, ideally around 8:00 AM, to arrive at the site when it opens at 8:30. You will then spend 2 to 3 hours exploring Herculaneum before walking back to the train station, where you may grab a quick lunch. Then hop back on the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii Scavi. You can spend the afternoon at Pompeii visiting the site in depth.

It’s a full day, but totally doable. You’ll experience the intimate side of Roman life in Herculaneum and the grand public world in Pompeii. If you want to take it slower, though, consider staying overnight near Pompeii or Sorrento. That way, you can visit each site on separate days and enjoy some local wine in between.

Time to move on to our personal recommendation

Our Personal Recommendation

So, which one do we prefer? Honestly, both have their magic. But if it’s your first time in Italy, go with Pompeii. It’s iconic, it’s breathtaking, and it’s something you’ll never forget. 

But if you’ve already seen Pompeii or you want a quieter, more intimate experience, Herculaneum is absolutely worth it. It feels like a hidden gem that most tourists skip.

But if you love archaeology, consider visiting both. Now what are our favorites? (Andrea) I totally prefer Herculaneum; it is smaller but better preserved. In Herculaneum, I love the fact that I can still see details that, unfortunately, have been destroyed in Pompeii. Also, seeing the skeletons by the old boat houses in Herculaneum is a sight that you will never forget. What is your preference, Rick? In my opinion, I also prefer Herculaneum, even though Pompeii is more famous. In Herculanum, it is much easier to walk around the site with way fewer tourists, giving you a better and more intimate visit. However, if you are traveling halfway across the Globe, probably Pompeii is the way to go because it is much more famous. If you have the time and the energy,

So, there you have it, Pompeii vs. Herculaneum. Two incredible windows into the past, each with its own story to tell. Whichever one you choose, you’ll walk through ancient streets, stand in Roman homes, and feel the power of history all around you.

We hope this video helps you plan your visit and if you’ve already been, let us know in the comments which one you preferred!

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Well, that’s it for us today, thanks so much for watch and we will see you on our next video!
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