2024: Cheap Transportation to the Herculaneum Excavations near Naples

Getting to the archaeological site of Herculaneum using public transportation (very cheap trains) or car is easy while many guided day-trip tour buses arrive from Naples, Sorrento, and even Rome.

Herculaneum Excavations - Ercolano Scavi

Getting to the excavations of Herculaneum (Scavi di Ercolano) by public transportation is easy, fast, and cheap on trains from Naples or Sorrento. The archaeological site of Herculaneum, like the nearby excavations of Pompeii, is at the foot of Mount Vesuvius just to the south of Naples in Italy. This hugely impressive sight is easily reached by train from Naples downtown, bus and train from Naples Airport, or on day trips from many parts of Italy, including as far away as Rome.

NOTE when traveling to Herculaneum in 2024: the train to the Herculaneum (Ercolano Scavi Vesuvio station) from Naples is now different from the regular train to Pompeii and Sorrento. Many guidebooks still have the old route information.

Driving to the Herculaneum Archaeological Site

The archaeological site of the Herculaneum excavations is only around 15 km (10 miles) to the south of central Naples and Naples airport but traffic from the city center could increase driving times to well above half an hour.

Driving from the airport to Herculaneum could be as quick as 20 minutes as it is mostly highway – exit highway E45 (A3) at Ercolano and follow the signs to Scavi (Excavations). Paid parking is available near the archaeological site. Book airport transfers in advance and compare prices.

Circumvesuviana Commuter Train Transportation to Herculaneum

NOTE if traveling in 2024: The railway line from Naples to Herculaneum changed — many guidebooks still have outdated information.

Two railway options are available to Ercolano-Scavi-Vesuvio — the closest train station to the Herculaneum archaeological site: the cheap and frequent Circumvesuviana commuter train and the pricier but airconditioned and less frequent Campania Express train.

(Vesuvio was only recently added to the station name so often only Ercolano-Scavi is seen. Any other Ercolano station without Scavi in the name is far from the archaeological site.)

Ercolano is the modern Italian writing for the town, station, and excavations. English usually uses the Latin Herculaneum for the historical Roman ruins.

Circumvesuviana Commuter Train to Herculaneum

Naples Herculaneum Pompeii Train Map: The Circumvesuviana commuter train is for most travelers the easiest public transportation option to reach the excavations of Herculaneum from Naples. From Napoli Porta Nolana, or often more conveniently from Garibaldi (in the basement of Napoli Centrale main train station), three train options are available -- note that the final destination is often easier to use than the train number of map line colors that are not universally used:

The Circumvesuviana commuter train is for most travelers the easiest public transportation option from Naples to the excavations of Herculaneum — traveling time is just less than 20 minutes with at least two connections available per hour. From Napoli Porta Nolana, or often more conveniently from Garibaldi (in the basement of Napoli Centrale main train station), three train options are available to Ercolano-Scavi-Vesuvio — note that the final destination is often easier to use than the train number of map line colors that are not universally applied:

Destination Poggiomarino (L4 / green, sometimes purple): a commuter train with frequent stops running once, or twice per hour. (It is an option to reach the far side of Pompeii but not Pompei-Scavi.)
Destination Torre Annunziata-Oplonti (Light Blue): following the same route as above but the final station is before reaching Pompei. (The destination is often abbreviated to Torre Ann.ta.)
Destination Sorrento (L1 Red, often DD in timetables): this used to be the default option but these trains no longer stop at Ercolano (except in the early morning and the evening outside the opening hours of the Herculaneum). It remains the best option for traveling to Pompei Scavi (for the Pompeii ruins) but is no longer a useful option for travel between Pompeii and Herculaneum.

To return to Naples from the Herculaneum, use any train at Ercolano-Scavi-Vesuvio station bound for Napoli (except the Campania Express train).

Timetables are available on the EAV website but note that the English version still had the old timetable more than six months after the schedule had changed.

Traveling from Napoli Garibaldi (Naples central station) to Ercolano takes around 20 minutes (10 minutes on the DD trains). To reach Herculaneum from Pompeii or Sorrento, more often than not, the quickest option is to travel to Naples and then backtrack. (See Pompeii to Herculaneum below for more options)

Circumvesuviana Train Tickets to Herculaneum

Tickets for the Circumvesuviana regional trains must be bought before boarding the train. Tap&Go is available but paper tickets from the ticket window or vending machines are less fickle — buy return tickets to save queuing time. Most rail passes are not valid on this regional train but the very handy Campania Arte Cards work on this line. (Buy the Campania Arte card online.)

The ticket price from Naples to Ercolana is currently around €3 one-way. If using only the train from Napoli Garibaldi, it should be only €2.60. A €3.10 ticket is valid for 120 minutes and allows transfers to other trains, buses, or trams in Naples or Ercolano.

In 2024, Tap&Go is available on public transportation in Naples — simply tap in and out with the same contactless credit card when entering AND exiting stations or a bus. One person per card. (Tip: If there are no queues, buy return paper tickets at Garibaldi station, they always work and don’t break when dropped.)

The Circumvesuviana commuter trains are without air conditioning and are very busy at times but usually not when heading to Ercolano early morning or back to Naples before late afternoon. Pickpockets are known to operate on this train, especially when close to Naples and on the Pompeii route.

Campania Express Trains from Naples to Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Sorrento

An alternative option is the Campania Express train aimed mostly at tourists. It runs only a few times per day and takes only around 10 minutes from Naples to Ercolano and 30 minutes to Pompeii. It costs more: one-way tickets are around €15 from Naples to Sorrento — journeys may be interrupted at Ercolano or Pompeii, but no discounts are offered for shorter rides when buying online.

The trains are air-conditioned with guaranteed seating (on the first leg of the trip) if booked in advance. If traveling without luggage, the frequency of the regular commuter trains is a major bonus for independent travel.

Public Transportation Stations from Naples to the Herculaneum

Using the train from Naples to Ercolano is easy but note that the Circumvesuviana Garibaldi station is separate (but connected) to the main train station Napoli Centrale. Signposting to the Circumvesuviana trains is clear and travelers never actually leave the station building while transferring between the small commuter and mainline station. (Note that the Metro also uses the station and is even deeper down than the Circumvesuviana trains.)

Garibaldi Naples Central Circumvesuviana Train Station

The Circumvesuviana Garibaldi station is in the basement of Naples central station (Stazione Centrale FS) and only used by the regional commuter trains. Once past the ticket barrier, there is only a small coffee bar in addition to the three railway platforms.

Check the train times on the screens before passing through the ticket barrier – it is more pleasant waiting in the spacious open station area with several coffee and shopping options.

At busy times, it is a good idea to go down to the platform a few minutes early before the rush of arriving passengers going up the stairs. Go to the far end of the platform to board the first coach of the train traveling from Garibaldi.

The Circumvesuviana train to Ercolano (and Pompeii) usually departs from platform 3 but not all trains departing from here stop at Ercolano-Scavi. Make sure the final destination is Poggiomarino or Torre Annunziate-Oplonti. If unsure, ask any local – they all know exactly where foreign tourists are heading.

Ercolano-Scavi-Vesuvio Circumvesuviana Train Station

The Circumvesuviana train station closest to the Herculaneum excavations is Ercolano-Scavi-Vesuvio. (Vesuvio is not always included in the name but Scavi is essential — other Ercolano stops are far from the Herculaneum.)

From Ercolano-Scavi, it is a ten-minute walk through the town center to the archaeological site. The route is well signposted and basically straight downhill once in the main road. It is hardly worth taking a taxi and definitely not worth queuing for one to simply reach the excavations.

Ercolano station is a simple affair. No luggage storage and no facilities once inside the ticket barriers – postpone going through until just before the trains arrive. Note that travel to Naples and Sorrento (including Pompeii) use different ticket gates – it is not possible to change platforms once past the barriers.

Ercolano Main Street Seen from the Herculaneum Excavations

Luggage storage is usually available at the Herculaneum ticket office but it is a long drag through town if schlepping luggage. Check online if storage is offered by shops closer to the station on the day of the visit.

To return to Naples from Ercolano, board any commuter train heading for Napoli-Porta Nolana station.

The road between the train station and Herculaneum is lined with restaurants, cafes, and bars. None are particularly appealing and with Naples only 20 minutes away, few would regret postponing a meal by half an hour.

Transportation from Pompeii to Herculaneum

The change in train schedules late in 2023 means it is no longer an easy cheap train ride from Ercolano to Pompei. The expensive Campania Express trains remain an option but it is realistically only available twice a day for sightseeing purposes.

For Pompei Scavi or Sorrento, it is sometimes possible to change at Torre Annunziata-Oplonti to a commuter train that calls at Ercolano-Scavi but often the best option is to backtrack via Naples.

A further option from Pompeii is to use the L4 Poggiomarino train (but in the direction of Napoli) from Pompei-Santuario station, which is a 5 to 10-minute walk from the Amphitheatre exit of the Pompeii archaeological site. This station is on the opposite side of the park from the Pompei-Scavi-Villa-Misteri station. Check maps in advance, as this is not the main tourist route, which is more likely to guide towards Pompei mainline train station in the center of the modern city.

Transportation from Naples Airport to Herculaneum

Getting to the excavations of Herculaneum from Naples Airport is fastest by car (taxi or airport shuttles) but cheapest by bus and train.

Traveling time from Naples Airport to Herculaneum by car can be as fast as 20 minutes, as driving is mostly on highways. Airport transfers to Ercolano are around €50 for a pre-booked taxi. Transfers from Naples airport to Sorrento or the Amalfi coast with a stopover en route at Herculaneum and/or Pompeii offer a convenient, if pricey, option when time is limited.

The cheapest way to get from Naples Airport to Herculaneum is to take the Alibus from the airport to Garibaldi Station (Stazione Napoli Centrale FS) and continue from there on the Circumvesuviana train as described above.

The Alibus to / from Naples International Airport is €5 – tickets are available from the driver, or use contactless card payments, no passes are valid. Traveling time is around 20 minutes to Napoli Centrale station.

Transportation from Rome to Ercolano (Herculaneum)

Travelers from Rome to Herculaneum could either drive, use the train, or book day-trip excursions. Most group day trips from Rome head for Pompeii only but a few also include Herculaneum. Families and small groups may find better value in private tours, which should be easy to adapt to include Herculaneum in addition to Pompeii if desired.

Traveling by train or bus from other parts of Italy generally requires a transfer at Naples Central Station to the Circumvesuviana train. The fast trains from Rome take only just over an hour to Naples. Buses are cheaper but expect journey times over two hours and bus stops not necessarily convenient for sightseeing trips.

Train tickets are usually only available online to Naples Central station — buy the Circumvesuviana commuter train tickets from Naples to Ercolano-Scavi at Garibaldi station. (Note that Portico-Ercolano station, which is often listed on online sites, is on a different railway line and at the port of Ercolano, quite a distance from the main archaeological park.)

Day Trips to Herculaneum and Pompeii

Many day-trip tours are available from Naples and Sorrento (or the Amalfi coast) to Herculaneum with the option to see both Herculaneum and Pompeii on the same day also very popular – the two sites are only 30 minutes apart.