Herculaneum day trip from Naples or Sorrento
A day trip to Herculaneum from Naples or Sorrento: the MAV Virtual Archaeological Museum, the Herculaneum Archaeological Park and Villa Campolieto. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Herculaneum in 1 day
Day 1
MAV Virtual Archaeological Museum
Multimedia museum in Ercolano that recreates Herculaneum and Pompeii before the eruption with projections and virtual reconstructions.
Herculaneum Archaeological Park
Roman town buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD, with houses preserved to the upper floors, wooden beams and boat-shed skeletons.
Villa Campolieto
18th-century Vesuvian villa by Luigi and Carlo Vanvitelli on the Miglio d'Oro, with a circular portico over gardens.
Villa Favorita park
The park of an 18th-century Bourbon villa in Ercolano, running down toward the sea; a shady walk after the excavations.
Getting there
The Circumvesuviana train on the Naples-Sorrento line stops at Ercolano Scavi, about 20 minutes from Naples and about 50 minutes from Sorrento. From the station it is a short walk downhill to the park entrance and the MAV.
Staying in Naples or Sorrento? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Herculaneum
Spring and autumn are the best time, warm and less crowded than summer. July and August are hot, so go at opening time. The site is free on the first Sunday of the month, which brings crowds.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Herculaneum on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Herculaneum on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Herculaneum on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Herculaneum
- Herculaneum is smaller than Pompeii and can be seen in a morning; it pairs well with an afternoon on Vesuvius or a stop in Naples.
- Buy tickets online ahead and arrive at opening to see the houses before the groups and the heat.
- Check the park's website for the houses open on the day, as some are shown on a rota or only on guided visits.
- Bring water and sun protection in summer; the site sits in a hollow below the modern town and gets hot.
- The Circumvesuviana is busy and pickpockets work it; keep bags closed and in front of you.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Herculaneum Archaeological Park: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Villa Campolieto: Lalupa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Villa Favorita park: Dommaria, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
