How to get from Pompeii to Herculaneum

The route between Pompeii and Herculaneum, located at the slopes of majestic Vesuvius and about 17 km away, can be traversed by train using the Circumvesuviana line. Among the other options available, we recommend to people who are looking for intriguing tips and information on how to get from Pompeii to Herculaneum the bus, even if it runs less frequently than the railways, convenient private shuttle service or the taxi, which you can use to travel the route, moving at your own pace and with greater freedom and autonomy.

Are you wondering how to get from Pompeii to Herculaneum for a marvelous weekend or holiday exploring the treasures of Campania? They are two evocative archaeological sites that are distinct but not too distant from each other and, for this reason, shared a similar fate following the eruption, crystallizing precious evidence of a mysterious world far away in time, worth being valorized, rediscovered, and explored even within the same day thanks to their geographical proximity. These mesmerizing destinations, rich in art, history, and culture, preserve intact precious artifacts dating back to the age of the ancient and glorious Roman Empire. By visiting them, you can take an exciting journey back in time and immerse yourself in the daily life of the time. If you prefer to travel by public transport, you have a variety of solutions for a quick trip between these two fascinating locations.

The quickest and most advantageous option for reaching Herculaneum from Pompeii is to use the service offered by the Circumvesuviana, a railway line from Naples to Sorrento that makes it easy to explore the numerous localities dotting the southern and eastern hinterland of Campania. The route, which you can cover in about 30 minutes, has Pompei Villa dei Misteri station or Pompei Santuario as its starting point and Herculaneum Scavi as its destination. The rate of the ticket to travel to this picturesque location varies and amounts to about €2.40.

There is another solution for traveling from Pompeii to Herculaneum, the bus, bearing in mind that it may take you longer, from 40 to 60 minutes, as they run less frequently than rail vehicles. You can choose between the transport service offered by the EAV and any tourist buses that travel the route in high season at a similar fare to the train.

Preferring the convenient and innovative car rental service at an advantageous rate is a valid alternative for reaching the archaeological excavations of Herculaneum from Pompei.

In this way, you can quickly travel to this area of remarkable historical and cultural importance, making an exciting journey of discovery through an ancient world crystallised in time and visiting dwellings and artefacts from the fascinating Roman epoch.

For explore the archaeological wonders of Herculaneum from Pompeii, you have several options by train. If you are arriving from the airport, you will need to get to the Napoli Centrale station in Piazza Garibaldi.

Pompeii, Herculaneum, and also Stabiae (an archaeological site of great importance) are well connected with Naples by regional trains and the Circumvesuviana railway, or also by dedicated trains such as the Campania Express.

If you choose regional trains, from the Napoli Centrale station take the train in the direction of Salerno. Remember that you will only get to the Trenitalia 'Pompei' stop, which will allow you to reach the city center and the archaeological excavations in just a few minutes on foot.

It can also be a convenient solution if you come from Salerno, in the opposite direction. The cost is about €4.40

A second practical solution for reaching Herculaneum from Pompeii is to take the Circumvesuviana train, which you can conveniently catch below the Centrale/Garibaldi station itself. Take the train in the direction of Sorrento, the stops to look out for are "Ercolano Scavi" - "Pompei Scavi, Villa dei Misteri", also these, of course, can be reached from Sorrento in the opposite direction. The cost is about 2.60 for Pompeii and 1.70 for Herculaneum.

In conclusion, the more convenient solution is to take the Campania Express.

In fact, it covers the same Naples - Sorrento route as the Circumvesuviana but with far fewer stops, and takes less time than the traditional train.

The fares are higher, however, but the better the offer in terms of comfort and speed. Prices are 15 euros one way and 25 euros return. It  also allows a return on a different day from the outward journey to facilitate your stay in Pompeii, Herculaneum, Stabiae, or even Sorrento.

A third way to reach Ercolano if you want to avoid the train is by bus, which you can take from Naples Capodichino Airport, Naples Central Station, and Naples Centro Direzionale. The line for Herculaneum covers the route Pompei, V. le Mazzini, following the bridge after F.S. It arrives at Torre del Greco in Via Marconi, df Bottazzi. The cost amounts to 2-3€

There's another line for Herculaneum, on the other hand, the "NAPOLI - SCAFATI" in the direction of Scafati to Naples Monte Sant'Angelo, Piazza Municipio, Piazzetta Circumvesuviana and Centro Direzionale before arriving at Ercolano Scavi. The cost is 1.70€ for a single journey and 2.40€ for an hourly ticket. 

Would you like to participate in an engaging guided tour with an expert? Visit Italy allows you to do so with a package: it includes a reserved entry to skip the line and the outbound and return trip from Naples.

Before leaving Pompeii and heading to Herculaneum, here's an engaging treat. While visiting the ancient city, you could also treat yourself to an exciting augmented reality walking tour to appreciate the archaeological site in detail discovering what the ancient and flourishing city was like before the eruption. Wearing innovative AR glasses designed by a talented team of archaeologists and multi-disciplinary experts, you will see holograms superimposed on the existing artifacts to appreciate the archaeological finds and excavations in their original magnificence.

The fantastic Skip the Queue option reserved for you by Visit Italy allows you to admire the gems and natural wonders set in the area surrounding the Bay of Naples.

This ticket will allow you to admire up close the spectacular national park where Mount Vesuvius, one of the quintessential symbols of the city of Naples, rises and the archaeological sites of Herculaneum.

We also recommend that you take suitable clothing for the temperature range and comfortable shoes for a safe walk to the spectacular crater.

You can reach the majestic and spectacular Vesuvius National Park from Herculaneum by choosing between two options. Taking advantage of the efficient service offered by bus line 808, the journey will take about 25 minutes, and the ticket cost varies between €2 and €4. The route makes the following stops: Piazza Anfiteatro, Villa dei Misteri, Piazza Porta Marina Inferiore, Torre del Greco motorway exit, Observatory, Q.750 chairlift, Vesuvius terminus q.1000.

The bus stop for the direct bus from Ercolano is in Torre Del Greco - Via E. De Nicola, 25, and its terminus is Ercolano - Vesuvio Cl, Sant'Anastasia, from which it is necessary to walk a short distance.

The second way is to use the Vesuvio Express, a convenient transport service connecting the fascinating Herculaneum archaeological site to the Great Cone of the volcano. Shuttles run every 40 minutes and depart near the Ercolano Scavi station.

After reaching Herculaneum from Pompeii, a further option to consider is the one-day tour ticket offered by Visit Italy, which will lead you on a magnificent journey through the extraordinary views of the Vesuvius National Park.

Pompeii and Herculaneum are famous archaeological sites in every corner of the planet. In fact, the pictures in this article speak clearly: this is one of the visits to be made at least once in a lifetime.

Here are our suggestions for making the most of the experience:

- Wear comfortable shoes because the terrain can be bumpy;

- Bring hats and sunglasses in case hot, sunny days are expected.

Above all, remember to reserve your entrance tickets early, because the lines at the ticket office can be quite long, especially during peak season.

You can check the availability of "skip the line" tickets to Herculaneum by clicking below.