Pompeii and Herculaneum Tour: Explore Ancient Ruins with an Archaeologist
4.8
630 Ratings
Pompei
Embark on a captivating tour of Pompeii and Herculaneum, ancient cities frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Explore ruins, witness plaster casts, and discover the secrets of these archaeological wonders with an expert archaeologist.
Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Pompeii Archaeological Park - Meet the guide at the main entrance of the archaeological site called “Porta Marina Superiore”. The guide will be holding a sign with our company’s name “Askos Tours” on the top.
  • Basilica - Basilica was an open portico that gave shelter to merchants and other activities.
  • Forum - Have a look of the ancient main square of Pompeii.
  • Via dell’Abbondanza - Walk through the main street of Pompeii.
  • House of Menander (Casa del Menandro) - The house of Menander is one of the richest and most magnificent houses in ancient Pompeii in terms of architecture, decoration and contents.
  • Granai del Foro - In the granary you will see marble tables and baths for fountains that adorned the entrances of houses and some casts of victims of the eruption as well as that of a dog and a tree.
  • Stabian Baths (Terme Stabiane) - These occupy a vast area between the Brothel lane, the Holconius crossroads and the Via Stabiana. They represent the oldest thermal complex in the city.
  • Lupanar - Visit the most famous brothel in the ruined Roman city of Pompeii.
  • Casa del Fauno - The house of Faun was one of the largest and most impressive private residences in Pompeii.
  • Odeon - Teatro Piccolo - Have a look of the so called Teatro Piccolo of Pompeii.
  • Teatro Grande - Visit the most important Theater in Pompeii
  • Parco Acheologico di Ercolano - Transfer by train to Herculaneum (30 minutes trip + 10 minutes walk) and quick lunch break if required.

Meeting place is the Ticket Office of the Herculaneum ruins.

You can get there as follows:

  • By car in via Pignalver (There is a not guarded parking very close the meeting place)
  • By train in Corso Resina 1 (Circumvesuviana train station is 10 minutes walk away)
  • Casa dei Cervi - The house receives its name from marble statues of stags/deer found in the peristyle.
  • La Terrazza di M. Nonio Balbo - M. Nonius Balbus was the city’s major benefactor restoring and building many public buildings. On his death he was made patron and feted with many honours, detailed in the long inscription on his funeral altar.
  • College of the Augustales - It is thought that the building was a centre of the cult of the Emperor Augustus and the headquarters of the Collegium Augustalium (or possibly even the local curia).
  • Casa del Rilievo di Telefo - The house possibly belonged to one of the town’s leading benefactors, Marcus Nonius Balbus and is somewhat unusual in that it has its own private access to the adjoining Suburban Thermae to the south.
  • Partem Domus lignea - Casa del Tramezzo di Legno - It is very important house for the elegant wooden partition remained.
  • House of the Skeleton - The House of the Skeleton probably the aggregation of three smaller buildings, derives its name from the discovery of human remains in a second floor room in 1831.
  • Central Thermae - The Central Thermae were built around the beginning of the 1st century AD and were divided, as was then the common practice, into men’s and women’s baths, each with their own separate entrances.
  • Casa del Salone Nero - The House of the Black Hall is one of Herculaneum’s more luxurious mansions.

The house has a monumental entrance which still retains the carbonised remains of the doorposts and lintel.

  • Casa Sannitica - The house has an arrangement that was typical of the Samnites (an ancient people of the Sabine race who occupied this mountainous part of central Italy). The splendid atrium is skirted by a gallery with Ionic columns. The rooms are decorated with frescoes.
  • Casa del Bel Cortile - This is one of the most original houses in Herculaneum. It has a courtyard with a stairway and a stone balcony instead of an atrium.
  • House of the Grand Portal - Beautiful domus in the Centre of the archaeological area, with various environments, collonnati, frescos e-com everywhere at Herculaneum-charred remains of wooden parts.
What's Included
  • Circumvesuviana one-way ticket from Pompeii to Herculaneum
  • Guidance at Pompeii and Herculaneum by Archaeologist guide
  • Herculaneum skip the line ticket
  • Pompeii admission fee
What's Not Included
  • Pick up and drop off service
  • Meals and drinks
Additional Information

Engage in an immersive exploration of the infamous archeological ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, both known for being affected by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Begin your adventure at Porta Marina Superiore, the main access point to the ruins of Pompeii, under the guidance of a seasoned archaeologist. Traverse through the site, witnessing the Forum (the central square), significant residences and structures, as well as the renowned plaster reproductions. After a brief intermission, make your way to Herculaneum via the nearby Circumvesuviana metro line at hand from the Pompeii entrance. Conclude your journey at Herculaneum, a site smaller than Pompeii but exceptionally well-preserved- don’t miss out on the beach where archaeologists unearthed over 300 skeletons.

Location
Piazza Esedra, 4
Piazza Esedra
Meet your guide at the left side of Pompeii entrance named Porta Marina INFERIORE close to the ''Arte bus'' stop. #If you booked the option "tour + transport" the meeting point is outside the STARHOTELS TERMINUS, just in front of the Naples Central station , in Piazza Garibaldi, 91.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(630 Ratings)
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Bob_p
May 29, 2024
Do it- but wear good walking shoes! - Great experience, especially Herculaneum. Hands on, up close and lots of context. Pompei was bigger and a little overwhelming but again a good tour. Lots of walking, good water and bathroom breaks, lunch was done well. Our guide was great and the transportation fine.
Review provided by Viator
Jonathon_c
May 29, 2024
Great tour our guide was fantastic, we learnt a lot , - The tour of the heculeum was very good, we enjoyed all the information about the area. I would recommend this tour to everyone.
Review provided by Viator
Bea_m
May 29, 2024
What an informative tour. - This was a great tour. It would not have been the same without our guide Diego, who was so informative and chatty. Heracleum was a welcome relief from the crowds of Pompeii and a definite “must see”.
Review provided by Viator
Kim_v
May 29, 2024
Nice tour of Pompeii and Herculaneum - Diego was an excellent guide. We saw more than we hoped for. He had deep knowledge of the history and archeology.
Review provided by Viator
Catherine_k
May 28, 2024
Pompeii and Herculaneum - Diego was a fabulous guide. His passion for the ruins of both cities came through his delivery and we learned so much about the lives of the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Review provided by Viator
Margaret_r
May 28, 2024
An interesting and worthwhile tour - We found the Herculaneum component of the tour really interesting. Diego was a really good guide -his knowledge was well expressed and understandable. He speaks good English and he attended to the needs of the group very well. He answered questions well etc.
Review provided by Viator
Melissa_d
May 28, 2024
Fantastico - Our guide Gernado, was amazing he was extremely informative and willing to answer any questions raised, my wife and I have been on a 5 wk tour of Italy and found our day excursion one of the best on our trip I recommend booking without any hesitation, his knowledge made all the difference on the day to create an awe inspiring tour, do it and book
Review provided by Viator
Steven_m
May 28, 2024
A memorable experience. - The entire tour of Pompeii was awesome. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the ruins, and its history, speaking very well in English for all to understand. The transport between Naples and Pompeii is highly recommended, eliminating the stress of traffic.
Review provided by Viator
Samanthafs1212we
May 26, 2024
A must see! - It was a great experience and good to include Herculanum! Only transport to the station at end of the tour should be included (walking uphill for 15-20 m after a walking tour of 6 hours…)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Companion316540
May 27, 2024
On previous visits to Herculaneum and Pompeii, we've had better information from tour guides hired on the spot. - Our guide was not an archaeologist. His information was limited, and he seemed to think the main thing we wanted to see was "the bodies." Our tours to both Herculaneum and Pompei seemed focused on avoiding crowds. We didn't see many of the most famous houses/buildings. On previous visits to both sites, we've had better luck with tour guides hired on the spot.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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June 2024
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