Pompeii Vs Herculaneum – Which one should I visit?

Excursions, Experiences, List

by Giuseppe Morvillo

Choosing between visiting Pompeii or Herculaneum during your holiday in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast? Our article will help you decide the best option, understand the differences between the two, and explore our selected tours for your 2024 trip.

by Giuseppe Morvillo
Choosing between visiting Pompeii or Herculaneum during your holiday in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast? Our article will help you decide the best option, understand the differences between the two, and explore our selected tours for your 2024 trip.

Pompeii Vs Herculaneum – Which one Should I Visit?

On holiday in Sorrento and Amalfi Coast and planning to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum but wanting to know, which is the best site to visit or what’s the difference? Although both the Pompeii Roman Ruins and Herculaneum Ruins were victims to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, they experienced it in very different ways, which is why there is such a large difference in the number of survivors and also the quality of preservation of the towns today.

A visit to both incredible Roman sites are suggested but if you only have time to visit one, this complete guide will help you choose which day trip from Sorrento is the best fit for you.

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Discover the Pompeii Ruins 

With over an impressive 2.5 million visitors a year and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s no wonder why the must see Pompeii Ruins are so loved. Ever since Pompeii was discovered in 1599 and then re-discovered in 1748, evacuations have been taking place ever since. This historic Roman city invites visitors from all over the world and to this day, new discoveries are still being made, uncovering and revealing the lifestyles of the inhabitants of Pompeii before the legendary explosion of Mount Vesuvius.

Some of the main sights you will be able to visit in the Pompeii Ruins are:

 

  • The Forum Baths
  • The Villa of the Mysteries
  • The Ampitheatre

Discover Pompeii Ruins

OUR SELECTED TOURS

Private and Shared Tours

Private Half Day Tour

If you’re wanting to enjoy a Private and more in-depth experience of visiting the Pompeii Ruins and learn the history behind the ruins at your own pace, our Private Pompeii Ruins Tour is a great choice. This option also includes a professional and English speaking private driver who will accompany you to and from your accommodation, you also have the option to add on a licensed multilingual tour guide during your visit which includes the entrance fee to Pompeii and fast track access to avoid queuing at the entrance, perfect for those who are travelling with small children or have a limited amount of time to visit.

Shared Half Day Tour

However if you’re travelling as a Couple or as a Group of less than four people, we reccomend our Shared Half Day tour of Pompeii. Opting for this tour  includes a Private Transfer to and from Piazza Tasso, Sorrento and the journey from Sorrento to Pompeii also takes approximately 45 minutes, as well as fast track access, entrance tickets to Pompeii and licensed tour guide.

Our half day tours also give you the option to combine two experiences in one which is a great choice if you’d like to make the most out of your time here in Italy. For Example:

 

Exploring Herculaneum 

Our Herculaneum Private Tour compared to our Pompeii Tour takes only around 2 – 3 hours so is perfect if you’re limited for time. It also includes a professional and English speaking private driver. For an added experience, you will also have the option to add on a licensed tour guide during your visit which includes the entrance fee to Herculaneum and fast track access to avoid queuing at the entrance, a great option for those who are limited for time or travelling with small children.

If you have chosen to add on a licensed guide, they are also very child friendly and will be able to keep your children entertained and engaged throughout the walking tour, giving them a more exciting experience of learning about the history of these ruins. Our half day tour also gives you the option to combine two experiences in one which is a great choice if you’d like to make the most out of your time here in Italy. For Example:

 

What’s the Difference?

When visiting Pompeii and Herculanuem one of the main similarities is the style of the buildings, both buildings have Roman style columns and arches, but despite this there are still many differences. The first being that in Pompeii, none of the surviving buildings have their upper levels due to the volcanic erruption.

Whereas in Herculaneum, the buildings are much more well preserved, even today the walls still display their original vibrant colours. When both of these Roman sites were uncovered a number of artefacts were found, from Pots and Jewellery to Coins to Artwork, but above all one of the most unique and amazing finds in Herculaneum was paper that managed to survive the volcanic eruption.

We Recommend:

  • If you have two days free, we would recommend you visiting both of the Roman sites, in which you would dedicate a full day to Pompeii Ruins and half a day to Herculaneum.
  • If you only have one day, we suggest you to instead dedicate the morning (2 – 4 hours) to visiting Pompeii Ruins and the afternoon (2 – 3 hours) to the visit the Ruins of Herculaneum.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is it to get into Pompeii and Herculaneum?

The entrance tickets to Pompeii and Herculaneum Ruins are 11€ (full price), 5,50€ (18-25 years) and free from those under 18 years old.

Are there any trains from Sorrento to Pompeii and Herculaneum?

Yes, getting from Sorrento to Pompeii by train is very easy, you need to take the Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento train station which runs directly from Sorrento to Naples, in less than 20 minutes you’ll arrive at Pompeii train station. Wheras getting from Sorrento to Herculaneum by train, you need to take the Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento train station which runs directly from Sorrento to Naples, in less than 40 minutes you’ll arrive at Ercolano train station.

Where is Pompeii and Herculaneum located?

The ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum are located in Italy’s Campania region, southwest of the city of Naples.

Are there any trains from Naples to Pompeii and Herculaneum?

Yes, getting from Naples to Pompeii by train takes between 35 – 38 minutes depending if you take the Circumvesuviana train or Metropolitano train, and Naples to Herculaneum by train takes 40 minutes if you take the Circumvesuviana train.

Should I buy tickets in advance?

During the summer months and peak season it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance to avoid crowds and queuing for the Pompeii and Herculaneum Ruins.

Are the Pompeii and Herculaneum Ruins suitable for children?

Yes we would definitely recommend these ruins for children, the guides are experienced and very child friendly, they will be able to keep your children engaged and entertained throughout the tour with games and prizes all while teaching them some history about this famous site.

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