Herculaneum Tickets, Opening Hours and Tips for Your Visit

Herculaneum, the archaeological park at Corso Resina 187 in Ercolano, is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. since October 15, and young people aged 18 to 25 pay €2. Last entry is 3:30 p.m. and visitors must be out by 4:40 p.m., so the winter day is short.

At a glance

• Winter hours (October 15 to March 15): 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Last entry in winter: 3:30 p.m., exit by 4:40 p.m.
• Summer hours (March 16 to October 14): 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., last entry 6:00 p.m.
• Reduced ticket: €2 for ages 18 to 25
• Free days: first Sunday of the month, April 25, June 2 and November 4
• Main access: Ercolano Scavi station on the Circumvesuviana, 6 minutes on foot

How much are tickets to Herculaneum?

Young people aged 18 to 25 pay €2. Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month and on April 25, June 2 and November 4. No reservation is needed on those days: the ticket is collected on site.

• Young people 18 to 25: €2
• Season ticket, 1 person: €30
• Season ticket, 2 adults and minors: €58
• Season ticket, young people 18 to 25: €5

Holders of the Campania Artecard PASS, including the LITE version, can enter the park. They must go to the ticket office first to activate the card. Visitors under 12 must be accompanied. Guided tours can be booked, and audio guides are available.

What are the opening hours of Herculaneum?

Last entry comes first on a winter day: 3:30 p.m. The park is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from October 15 to March 15, and visitors must leave by 4:40 p.m.

The site is open Monday to Sunday. It closes on December 25 and January 1.

When is the best time to visit Herculaneum?

In winter the gates close at 5:00 p.m. and the last ticket is sold at 3:30 p.m. Arriving at opening, 8:30 a.m., leaves the most time inside before the last entry. An afternoon arrival leaves little time.

In summer the park stays open until 7:30 p.m., with last entry at 6:00 p.m. The long evening hours let a visitor skip the middle of the day and start later.

How to get to Herculaneum

From Napoli Centrale, take the Circumvesuviana Napoli-Sorrento line to Ercolano Scavi. The park entrance at Corso Resina 187 is a 6-minute walk from the station.

Arriving at Napoli-Capodichino airport, take a private taxi or the Alibus to the central station, then the Circumvesuviana. By car, take the A3 Napoli-Salerno motorway and exit at Ercolano Scavi.

What to see at Herculaneum

Herculaneum was founded, according to legend, by Hercules. It was buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The park includes the Archaeological Area, the Theater, the Villa of the Papyri, the Antiquarium and the Boat Pavilion.

Two parts are closed right now. The Villa dei Papiri is closed for excavation and maintenance works, with no reopening date yet. The Ancient Theatre is closed until further notice for urgent extraordinary maintenance. The Archaeological Area remains the main visit, and a guided tour or an audio guide helps with the layout.

Is Herculaneum wheelchair accessible?

The site is entirely or partially accessible to people with disabilities.

What else to see near Herculaneum

Herculaneum, Pompeii and Oplontis together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Grande Pompei park includes the archaeological areas of Pompeii, Boscoreale, Oplontis and Stabia, and a shuttle service called Pompeii Artebus connects them.

The Pompeii full ticket costs €25.00 and includes the ancient city, the suburban villas (Villa of the Mysteries and Villa of Diomedes) and Villa Regina in Boscoreale. The Pompeii Plus ticket costs €30.00, is valid for 3 days and gives one entrance to each site. It covers Oplontis, Villa Arianna, Villa San Marco, the Archaeological Museum of Stabiae and Boscoreale.