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0I have written out some tips for what you should expect when planning a trip to the beautiful ancient cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. If you have any tips of your own I’d love to hear them in the comments!
Tip 1.
If you’re planning to visit both Herculaneum and Pompeii in one day I would recommend going as early as possible. As there is so much to see you could easily spend a whole day at each location. However, if you are on a tight schedule, both locations are on the same train line, so if you wanted to cut your visits short, you can see both sites in one day.
Returning back to the train is like any busy tourist attraction – there is a risk of pickpockets. On this particular train, it is important to be extra vigilant as it is well known that muggings occur as the train doors are closing and the train is departing.
Tip 2.
When visiting Herculaneum there is an opportunity to also visit Mount Vesuvius, as it is close to the location and helps tell the story of Herculaneum better.
I would recommend visiting Mount Vesuvius early in the morning and then make your way to Herculaneum in the afternoon. If you spend your time well you should easily be able to visit both Herculaneum and Vesuvius in a single day as there isn’t as much ground to cover as in Pompeii.
If you’re visiting both in one day I would recommend aiming to spend about 3 hours at Mount Vesuvius. There is a shuttle bus which takes people most of the way up the volcano, and from there you’re able to walk the rest of the way up. For the adventurous hiker, you might enjoy walking all of the way to the summit, however I would mention that the roads seemed very dangerous, with the busses not having a good view around the narrow bends in the road.
Once at the top, the views are wonderful and it is a good opportunity to take some pictures – on a clear day you’ll have a great view of Naples. There is not much else to do while up there, although there is a small shop which you can buy souvenirs and drinks, and perhaps also take a break before the walk down!
Tip 3.
When you’re at the sites be prepared for large groups of people, especially large tour groups. You might find joining a guided tour beneficial as there is a lot of ground to cover and it could help make the most of your trip.
I chose an audio guide which was the best option for me because it allowed me to take my time at the different landmarks without worrying about being rushed along in a group. If you would like more detailed information on the sites I would recommend buying a book as the audio guide will only provide a brief overview.
Also, don’t forget to fetch a map at the information desk before you start exploring. Pompeii is huge and it’s very easy to get lost with many of the roads and building looking similar.
Tip 4.
In both locations you’ll find there isn’t much cover from the hot Italian sun. If you are going in the summer, I’d recommend bringing sun cream and a large bottle of water.
Another tip would be to wear appropriate footwear due to the floor being uneven in places – there are a few areas where you will be walking on the original stone roman paths and flooring. Also because of the size of Pompetii it’s worth being prepared for a lot of walking – especially if you’re planning to thoroughly cover the site.
Tip 5.
For large portions of the sites there is very minimal information – as mentioned above. I would recommend researching the sections you would like to see before your tip. Both sites are overwhelmingly large so it would be a good idea to have a plan of the highlights you want to see so on the day you don’t miss anything out! Highlights will be marked on your map so you might want to take a pen so you can cross them off as you visit them.
Tip 6.
When leaving both locations I would recommend planning your route back to your accommodation. Both locations are in quiet areas, and I personally found leaving in the dark quite daunting. It’s also worth noting that it’s quite a walk back to the train station. If walking at night is a problem (or if you’re just fed up of walking after a tiring day), there are plenty of taxis which can get you to the nearest train station safely.
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