Herculaneum Archaeological Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore ancient Roman villas
- Discover well-preserved frescoes
- Learn about volcanic eruption history
- Visit the House of the Deer
- See the Forum and public baths
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line entry to Herculaneum
- Guided tour with an archaeologist
- Small group experience
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: 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)
The house receives its name from marble statues of stags/deer found in the peristyle.
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.
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).
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.
It is very important house for the elegant wooden partition remained.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Beautiful domus in the Centre of the archaeological area, with various environments, collonnati, frescos e-com everywhere at Herculaneum-charred remains of wooden parts.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine
- Photography is allowed without flash
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- Bring a bottle of water
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Dogs are allowed at the Herculaneum Archaeological Park without breed or size restrictions, however they must be kept on a leash or muzzle and it is mandatory to have bags to collect any droppings. For reasons of logistics and conservation, within the Antiquarium premises, the Boat Pavilion, and the domus featuring mosaic floors, access is permitted only to dogs that are carried in arms or transported in an appropriate carrier.
- Herculaneum ruins' entry tickets: 16 euros (adult) 2 euros (EU citizens 18-25 y.o.)
Traveler reviews
Knowledgeable
Luciano Leonie was an excellent guide and more knowledgeable than a history book
Ercolano tour
We had a great tour with our guide Iolanda. The tour was highly informative, Iolanda was extremely knowledgeable and gave us a good understanding of the history while guiding us through the highlights of Ercolano.
Not bad, but not what was promised
We were told this tour was given by an archaeologist. Ours was NOT ! The tour guide provided good information but was not very receptive to questions and inquiries for further explantations.
Roberta was incredible...
Roberta was incredible and one of tne best tour guides. She was passionate and extremely informed. Also humerous and very kind.
Loved this site, should have booked a self guided audio tour.
Herculenium is a site not to miss. Totally different from Pompeii (which was amazing) but a self guided tour would have been better for our family. Our headsets were not the best, paired with the accent of the tour director and the amount of school children around us made it difficult to follow along. Our first stop was overlooking the entire area. It was amazing. When our guide told us not to stop to take pictures because we had a lot to see I was a bit put off. I made sure to take pictures but they felt hurried & that I was missing out what could have been a better shot if I could take just a few seconds more. While we did learn about the area the tour felt rushed as we were constantly being told to keep up and move along. We had a couple older people on the tour that had to take their time over the uneven rocky paths and we did feel bad for them. This is an amazing, educational & emotional tour. The experience was one not to miss. We recommend a self guided audio tour as to take your time, take your pictures and learn about this civilization at your own speed. While I previously recommended our private Archaeological tour at Pompeii this tour was much larger. Spend the money at Pompeii and do this one on your own.