A Herculaneum tour takes you through the Roman town that Vesuvius buried in AD 79, in modern Ercolano, on the Bay of Naples. Two options stand out on Viator. The small group with an archaeologist, with the entry ticket included, is rated 4.8 across 1,248 reviews, from about $41. The Pompeiify small group, with a licensed guide, is rated 5.0 across 170 reviews, from about $49.
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The verdict
The archaeologist tour is our pick for most travelers. For two hours, a licensed guide with an archaeological background leads a group of up to 20, with headsets. The price includes the entry ticket, so the real gap with the other option is wider than the headline prices suggest. One reviewer mentions very narrow passages, and another says the meeting place in the invite was wrong, so check the address against the listing.
The Pompeiify tour has the higher rating, with almost every review at five stars, from a smaller base of 170. You get a guide licensed by Regione Campania for two hours. The catch: the admission ticket is not included, so add it to the price when you compare.
Neither option is wheelchair accessible.
One price includes entry to the site and the other does not. Compare the two only after adding the ticket to the guide-only option. For more ideas from the city, see our guide to the best day trips from Naples.
Which one is for you?
Take the archaeologist tour if
- You want the entry ticket included.
- You want the lowest price, from about $41.
- You want a guide with an archaeological background.
- You want the most-reviewed option: 1,248 ratings.
Take the Pompeiify tour if
- You want the highest rating: 5.0 from 170 travelers.
- You already have your ticket, or will buy it yourself.
- You want a guide licensed by Regione Campania.
- You prefer a two-hour visit at a steady pace.
What each price covers
The archaeologist tour, from about $41
Included: the Herculaneum entry ticket, a licensed guide with an archaeological background, a small group of up to 20 per guide, headsets, and assistance on site.
Not included: meals and drinks, and private transportation.
The Pompeiify tour, from about $49
Included: a guided visit with a tour guide licensed by Regione Campania.
Not included: the admission ticket to the archaeological site.
Where each one starts
- Archaeologist tour: at the Herculaneum ruins ticket office, Via dei Papiri Ercolanesi 37, in Ercolano.
- Pompeiify tour: Corso Resina 187 or Via dei Papiri Ercolanesi, in Ercolano; look for the Pompeiify board. One reviewer took the train to Ercolano Scavi station and walked down the main street to the site.
Side by side
| Archaeologist tour | Pompeiify tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8 from 1,248 | 5.0 from 170 |
| Five-star reviews | 1,135 (91%) | 168 (99%) |
| Price | from about $41 | from about $49 |
| Length | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Group size | Up to 20 per guide | Not stated |
| Entry ticket | Included | Not included |
| Guide | Archaeological background | Licensed by Regione Campania |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the archaeologist tour
The guide was excellent with a lot of knowledge of Herculaneum and the surrounding area.
Kath_M, September 2026, via Viator
We loved seeing these amazing spaces and hearing the stories of the Greeks Romans and of the impact of ww2.
Andrew_M, September 2026, via Viator
On the Pompeiify tour
Our tour guide, Roberta, was informative and enthusiastic!
Susan_R, September 2026, via Viator
Having a guide is the only way to see the ruins properly.
Sheryl_T, August 2026, via Viator
Both are reviewed mostly with five stars: 91% of the archaeologist tour ratings and 99% of the Pompeiify tour ratings. Three stars or lower make up about 4% of the reviews on the first and fewer than 1% on the second.
How Herculaneum fits a trip to Naples
For the bigger site nearby, compare the Pompeii and Vesuvius day trip from Naples. Back in the city, the Naples underground tour and the Naples street food tour fill an afternoon. Further south, the Paestum tour covers the Greek temples.
For planning, read our guide to Pompeii tickets, our list of the best day trips from Naples and our guide to what to do in Naples.
Questions travelers ask
Which Herculaneum tour should I book?
For most travelers, the archaeologist tour, rated 4.8 from 1,248 reviews on Viator, from about $41 with the entry ticket included (checked September 2026). For the highest rating, the Pompeiify tour, from about $49, with the ticket extra.
Is the entry ticket included in a Herculaneum tour?
On the archaeologist tour, yes. On the Pompeiify tour, no: the admission ticket is listed as not included.
How long is a Herculaneum tour?
Both options last about two hours.
How do I get to the start of a Herculaneum tour?
Both meet in Ercolano. One reviewer took the train to Ercolano Scavi station and walked to the site.
Can I cancel a Herculaneum tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Book the archaeologist tour for value with the ticket included; book the Pompeiify tour for the top rating if you sort out the ticket yourself.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, meeting points, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 23258P122 and 308572P2), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.