Pick Pompeii for the scale of a whole Roman city: the Forum, the theatres, the plaster casts and the Villa of the Mysteries. Pick Herculaneum if you have about two hours, would rather avoid crowds, or want houses that still have their upper floors, wooden beams and bright mosaics. With a full day you can see both: they are about 20 minutes apart on the same train line.
| Pompeii | Herculaneum | |
|---|---|---|
| Time you need | Half a day or more | About 2 hours |
| Size | About 66 hectares, and a third of the city is still buried | Compact; about three-quarters still lies under modern Ercolano |
| Crowds | One of Italy’s most visited sites | Far fewer visitors |
| What only it has | A whole city: streets, Forum, theatres, the plaster casts | Wood, upper floors and the boat houses where over 300 people sheltered |
| Walking | 3 to 6 km on uneven stones; the Pompeii for All route has fewer steps | Short distances, in a basin about 20 m below the modern town |
Check opening hours and last entry on the official sites before you go:
Neither is better; they are different. Herculaneum is better preserved and easy to see in about two hours. Pompeii is far larger and shows a whole city. With half a day and a first visit to the Bay of Naples, Pompeii gives you the bigger picture; with two hours, or if you dislike crowds, choose Herculaneum.
Plan half a day or more for Pompeii, where you will walk 3 to 6 km, and about two hours for Herculaneum.
Yes. Both are on the Circumvesuviana line between Naples and Sorrento, about 20 minutes apart. See Pompeii in the morning and Herculaneum in the afternoon.
Yes. Both guides are free to listen to on the web, with no account, and each comes with a map of the site.
Facts from Mappu’s guides to Pompeii and Herculaneum and from the official sites of both archaeological parks. Checked on .
