Ercolano · UNESCO World Heritage
Herculaneum: the archaeological park of Ercolano
A smaller, well-preserved Roman town at the foot of Vesuvius, with its ancient beach and boathouses. Verified hours and practical tips.
Today
Opening hours for every month are on the Opening hours page.
Checked against the official website on October 22, 2026 · Official source
In short
- Main entrance: Corso Resina 187, Ercolano. The Circumvesuviana station Ercolano Scavi is about a 6-minute walk away, according to the official page.
- Open every day, with two seasons: 16 March to 14 October, 8:30 to 19:30 (last entry 18:00); 15 October to 15 March, 8:30 to 17:00 (last entry 15:30). Closed on 25 December.
- Official ticket: 16 € full price, 2 € for ages 18 to 25, free for under 18. Free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, 25 April, 2 June and 4 November.
- Villa dei Papiri and the ancient theatre are closed for works, with no reopening date.
- The Suburban Baths are not on the normal route: they can only be seen on guided visits to the restoration site on selected Saturdays. Check the official site for dates.
A town frozen in AD 79
Herculaneum was buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. According to the park, the ancient town covers about 20 hectares, of which more than 4 are visible today; the rest still lies under the modern town and Corso Resina.
Among the highlights on the official page are the central baths, the palaestra with its cross-shaped pool, the Collegio degli Augustali and the Decumanus Maximus, which marks the edge between the excavated area and the part still buried.
The ancient beach and the boathouses
The ancient beach has been open to walk on since June 2024. Along it are the arched boathouses (fornici): about 300 skeletons were found in nine of the twelve in 1980, together with jewellery, coins, keys, amulets and a surgical kit.
Houses are opened in rotation, so which ones you can enter varies. The official site does not publish a list, so check at the entrance on the day.
Visitor guide
Herculaneum Tickets: Prices, Free Days and Which to Buy
Herculaneum ticket prices (16 euro full, 2 euro ages 18-25), free days, Ercolano Card, and what is closed now. Official prices plus guided tour options.
Herculaneum or Pompeii? How to Choose (or Do Both)
Herculaneum or Pompeii: size, visit time, what is different and how to do both from Naples on the same Circumvesuviana line, with ticket notes.
What to See at Herculaneum: Highlights and What Is Closed
What to see at Herculaneum: boathouses, ancient beach, Suburban Baths, Augustales, Casa dei Cervi, central baths and what is closed now.
How to Get to Herculaneum from Naples and Sorrento
How to reach Herculaneum: Circumvesuviana to Ercolano Scavi from Napoli Garibaldi or Sorrento, 6 minutes on foot, car directions, Pompeii on the same line.
The History of Herculaneum: From the Eruption to Today
A short history of Herculaneum: buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, the boathouse skeletons found in 1980 and the papyrus scrolls of the Villa dei Papiri.
Herculaneum Visit Tips: Timing, Shade, Accessibility
Practical tips for visiting Herculaneum: how long it takes, winter last entry, shade and snacks, accessibility, and what the official site does not say.
Herculaneum and Vesuvius in One Day: How to Plan It
How to combine Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius in one day from Ercolano: what Tiqets offers, the Vesuvio Express, timing and what to check.
Herculaneum Boathouses and the Ancient Beach Explained
The fornici of Herculaneum: the ancient beach open to walk on since 2024, the 300 skeletons found in 1980, the charred boat and the Martusciello gallery.