Pompeii and Herculaneum Small Group Tour with an Archaeologist
Description
This experience combines the two archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, famous for the eruption of Mount Vesuvius happened in 79 AD. Join the guide at the entrance of Pompeii ruins called Porta Marina Inferiore, where the tour starts. Discover the site and its best highlights with the assistance of an expert Archaeologist. You will see the Forum – the main square – the most important houses and buildings and the famous plaster casts. After the tour take a quick break, then reach the site of Herculaneum by the local metro line called Circumvesuviana at a few steps from Pompeii entrance. End your tour with the site of Herculaneum, smaller than Pompeii but better preserved: visit the beach where more than 300 skeletons were found.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Basilica was an open portico that gave shelter to merchants and other activities.
Have a look of the ancient main square of Pompeii.
Walk through the main street of Pompeii.
The house of Menander is one of the richest and most magnificent houses in ancient Pompeii in terms of architecture, decoration and contents.
In the granary you will see marble tables and baths for fountains that adorned the entrances of houses and some casts of victims of the eruption as well as that of a dog and a tree.
These occupy a vast area between the Brothel lane, the Holconius crossroads and the Via Stabiana. They represent the oldest thermal complex in the city.
Visit the most famous brothel in the ruined Roman city of Pompeii.
The house of Faun was one of the largest and most impressive private residences in Pompeii.
Have a look of the so called Teatro Piccolo of Pompeii.
Visit the most important Theater in Pompeii
After the visit of Pompeii, continue to Herculaneum together with your archaeologist guide, following the transportation method included in your selected option: From Naples, Sorrento, or Rome: travel with the guide by modern minibus directly to the Herculaneum archaeological site. From Pompeii: reach Herculaneum with your guide using the included Circumvesuviana train ticket (about 30 minutes + 10-minute walk). A quick lunch break is available before the transfer (own expense). Arrival in Herculaneum: Upon arrival, the guide leads the group directly to the Ticket Office of the Herculaneum ruins. You may access it as follows: By minibus (Naples, Sorrento, Rome options): direct drop-off near the entrance. By train (Pompeii option): a short 10-minute walk from Ercolano Scavi station.
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Herculaneum ruins' entry tickets: 16 euros (adult) 2 euros (EU citizens 18-25 y.o.); Pompeii ruins' entry tickets: 20 euros (adult)
- Not recommended for visitors in wheelchairs
- Not recommended for visually impaired guests unless accompanied by a dedicated personal assistant
Reviews(1,612)
Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and the visit to both sites was very informative and just about the right amount of time.
There is A LOT of walking, with little breaks, in extreme heat! There are also a lot of steps to go up and down, plus hills. Not for someone who has issues walking.
Like many travelers, we were a little skeptical when booking a tour. We spent a lot of time researching different Pompeii and Herculaneum combination tours, reading countless reviews to find the best fit for us—and I can honestly say that all of the positive reviews for this tour were absolutely right! Our guide, Vincenzo, was fantastic. The meeting point was a bit hectic at first, but only because there were so many tours gathering in the same area. While there were several Askos Tours signs, it would be helpful if they were more visible and clearly indicated which specific tour they represented. Once we made our way to the air-conditioned bus around the corner, everything was exceptionally well organized. We visited Herculaneum first, which worked perfectly. Vincenzo brought both ancient cities to life with his incredible knowledge and storytelling. He provided fascinating insight into what the people of Herculaneum and Pompeii experienced during the eruption of Vesuvius, while also explaining why Herculaneum is so much better preserved than Pompeii. His passion for the subject was evident throughout the day and he always made sure we had enough time to take photos and explore the highlights. A few practical tips: bring water and snacks if you'd like, as the tour runs from roughly 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (You can leave things on the bus!) There is a lunch break at a local mall, which was a welcome opportunity to relax, cool off in the air conditioning and recharge before heading to Pompeii. While the dining options weren't our favorite, the break itself was appreciated. Also, wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting dirty! The terrain is uneven and much more challenging than typical Italian cobblestone streets. There are deep ruts and trenches throughout the ancient roads, so anyone with mobility concerns should contact the tour company in advance to discuss accessibility. Thank you, Vincenzo and Askos Tours, for providing such an informative, engaging and moving experience. It was both fascinating and humbling to learn about the lives of the people who lived in these ancient cities. The day flew by and we honestly could have spent another hour exploring Pompeii! We HIGHLY recommend this particular tour! Don't choose 1 over the other, see both cities!
Wonderful visit to two spectacular archaeological sites. Rosaria was amazing; she is an archaeologist and a very accomplished one, who made Pompei and Herculaneum come alive and allow us to imagine how was life there at that time. Highly recommended trip. Askos tours does not disappoint.
Great experience. Very comfortable bus with air con. Tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. You have an hour for lunch in Pompeii. They are lots of options to eat before you enter the site. Restaurants and cafes. In Herculeaneum, the only options to buy food or drinks are from the machines.
Easy connections, great transportation from Naples to both sites and back. An hour is allowed in a nice street with a few options. We left at 9:20 and returned about 4:30
Our tour guide, Mario, was great at explaining the similarities and differences between the two cities devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. He covered everything from how the people lived in the first century to how the ruins were discovered, excavated and studied. It is a fascinating tour and well worth taking. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat and your curiosity.
Small group tour still means being in a full minibus of ~15 people Does go at a good pace and able to see a lot of selected sights well Nice not to have to wait in line very long to get into places The lunch options were disappointing as you're just taken to a shopping mall We got back to central station at 5pm so it wasn't a super long day Expensive but probably one of the better tour options
It was amazing, absolutely a must! Lots of walking, make sure to wear good shoes, and take a water bottle. There are places to refill at both sights.
This was a great experience! Vincenzo was a wonderful guide. He was very clear in his explanations (both historical and logistical). There were some hills and uneven ground (big cobblestones), but we never needed to rush.
