Roman ruins near Naples: which site to pick, and when
Nine places, official tickets from 5 EUR to 30 EUR, and a table of what is closed in November 2026.
Of the nine places people lump together as Roman ruins near Naples, only four were buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD. Two are Greek in origin, one is a cave system, one is a museum and one is a Bourbon palace. Official full-price tickets run from 5 EUR for a single site at Cumae to 30 EUR for the three-day Pompeii ticket. The 200 tours in our catalogue start at 8 EUR and have a median of 120 EUR, and each destination page reads its own. Where an operator publishes no visit time or price, the table says "None" and does not borrow a blog's figure.
Of the 200 tours, 164 are sold through Viator, 22 through Tiqets and 14 through Civitatis. Four destination pages take the rest from here: Pompeii with its eight formats, Herculaneum, Naples archaeology and More of Campania. Everything on this page about tickets, hours and closures was read on the operators' own sites on 4 November 2026. Each fact below carries its date. Where we give our own estimate, such as a travel time or a reading of the season, the text says so, and the figures from the park, the museum or the operator come first.
Two choices come before any booking: which site, and which month. A Tuesday closes five of the places below. The mosaic section of the MANN is shut until 30 November 2026 on one museum page and until further notice on another, and the Heraion at Paestum has no end date, so the order of your days matters more here than the order of the sites. Pompeii and Herculaneum close only on 1 January and 25 December, which makes a Tuesday theirs. On free-admission days, such as the first Sunday of the month, the MANN also shuts its Egyptian collection and its Magna Graecia rooms. Winter shortens the day too: from 15 October to 15 March the last entry at Pompeii and Herculaneum is 15:30, and in November the Caserta park takes its last visitor at 14:30.
Choose a destination in Italy
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Pompeii
How Pompeii works in November 2026: the named ticket and daily cap, what is open, two routes of three and five to six hours, and the eight ways to book, from…
151 experiences in 8 destinations -
Naples archaeology
Five Naples visits side by side: Napoli Sotterranea, the catacombs, the Galleria Borbonica and the MANN, with prices, closing days, what is shut and what 20…
21 experiences -
Herculaneum
Herculaneum rules read on the park's site: 16 EUR ticket, winter hours, what is closed, and the 20 tours, from group visits with the ticket at 35 EUR to…
20 experiences -
More of Campania
Paestum's Greek temples, Cuma and Baia in the Campi Flegrei, and the Reggia di Caserta: who each day suits, the order, the closing days and 20 tours priced…
29 experiences
Pompeii Museum Experiences in Italy
Amalfi, Limoncello Tasting and Pompeii Guided Group Day Tour from Naples
A limoncello shop tasting and an optional boat ride in Amalfi precede a 2-hour guided tour of Pompeii, with the entrance fee included and lunch optional.
Baia Double Dive for Certified Divers among Sunken Roman Mosaics and Villas
Two dives from the Subaia hub at the Port of Baia, five minutes by boat from the site, among the mosaics, columns and statues of the underwater Roman park.
Baia Snorkeling Tour with Expert Guide, Two Sites among Submerged Roman Remains
Snorkelers follow an expert guide over Roman domus and architecture about 5 meters down in the Baia archaeological park, with two stops at different spots.
Baia Submerged Park Guided Dive for Certified Divers from Bacoli by RIB Boat
A dive of about an hour at the sunken Roman city of Baia, under five minutes by boat from a dive center in Bacoli, with equipment and park ticket included.
Baia Submerged Park Snorkeling Trip by Boat with Personal Guide and Safety Lesson
Snorkeling over Roman villas four meters underwater at Baia, with a safety lesson, a boat ride to the park and a personal guide, then showers at the center.
Campania Artecard Cultural Pass for Museums, Monuments and Archaeological Sites
One pass for museums, monuments, galleries, theaters and archaeological sites in Campania, with 1, 2 or 5 admissions by card and discounts at other venues.
Campi Flegrei Full-Day Guided Bike Tour from Naples: Lakes, Baia and Solfatara
Full-day ride with a guide, bike, helmet, water and snacks included, past Lake Avernus, Baia and Solfatara. Riders need solid experience on open roads.
Caserta Royal Palace and English Gardens Small Group Tour with Shuttle Bus
Skip-the-line entry to the Reggia of Caserta, a shuttle to the English Gardens and a three-hour guided visit led by a local expert guide for a small group.
Caserta Royal Palace Guided Tour in English with Admission Included
English-speaking guide and palace admission are included in this 2 to 2.5 hour visit to the Baroque Royal Palace of Caserta, including its theatre and library.
Caserta Royal Palace Private 2-Hour Walking Tour with Skip-the-Line Tickets
A private two-hour walk through Vanvitelli's palace at Caserta with skip-the-line tickets. The palace is closed on Tuesdays, 25 December and 1 January.
Caserta Royal Palace Tour from Naples with Round-Trip Transfer and Entry Ticket
Round-trip transfer from Naples, a guide and palace entry are bundled in this tour, which departs three times a week at 08:00 and spends about two hours inside.
Catacombs of San Gaudioso Guided Tour Beneath Naples' Sanità District
A 50-minute guided visit to the crypt of Saint Gaudiosus below the Sanità district, where tombs were extended over centuries for nobles and Christian figures.
Catacombs of San Gennaro Naples: 50-Minute Guided Visit with the Basilica
One guided walk covers both the catacombs and the Basilica of San Gennaro, resting place of the patron saint of Naples, in about 50 minutes under the city.
Cruise Passenger Day Tour: Positano, Sorrento and Pompeii from Naples or Salerno Port
Timed around cruise arrivals, this day tour gives one hour each in Positano and Sorrento, then a two-hour guided visit at Pompeii before the return to the ship.
Cuma Archaeological Park Private Guided Tour with Acropolis and Sibyl's Cave
A private guided visit to Cuma, the oldest Greek colony in Campania, with the Acropolis, its temples and the Sibyl's Cave. Entrance tickets are not included.
Discover Scuba Diving in Baia Submerged Park for Beginners aged 10 and over
A 45-minute first dive with a dedicated instructor in the Baia Submerged Park, open to non-divers from age 10, with a certificate valid for a PADI course.
Early Morning Pompeii Tour from Sorrento: Skip-the-Line Entry, Official Guide
A coach leaves Sorrento early to beat the traffic and crowds, then an official guide leads a 2 hour 30 minute walk through Pompeii with priority entrance.
First Scuba Dive in the Baia Submerged Park with Photo and Video Service
A beginner dive at 3 to 6 meters in the Baia Submerged Archaeological Park with one instructor per diver, eight photos and two videos taken by an operator.
Full-Day Pompeii, Sorrento and Positano Trip from Naples with Limoncello Tasting
Pickup from the Naples cruise terminal or city points, a limoncello tasting and bottled water on board, with Pompeii at your own pace or with a certified guide.
Galleria Borbonica Guided Tour in Naples: Underground History and Vintage Cars
A one-hour guided visit to the Galleria Borbonica, where ancient history sits beside vintage automobiles. Suitable for all ages and for history lovers.
Herculaneum 2-Hour Small Group Tour with a Licensed Guide, Ticket Not Included
A small group spends two hours at Herculaneum with a guide licensed by Regione Campania, ending at the ancient beach. The admission ticket is separate.
Herculaneum Archaeological Park Entry Ticket with Downloadable Audio Guide
Ticket-only entry to the Roman town buried by Vesuvius, with an audio guide that downloads to your phone. Clothing, mosaics and frescoes are still in place.
Herculaneum Guided Tour with Entry Ticket and English-Speaking Guide, 2 Hours
Two hours in Herculaneum with an English-speaking guide and entry included, passing the Augustales seat, the Forum, a bakery and the Neptune mosaic.
Herculaneum Morning Guided Tour by Bus from Sorrento or Naples, Ticket Included
A 30-seater bus collects guests in Sorrento or Naples for a guided morning at Herculaneum, with entry to the park and headsets included. Lunch is not included.
Ratings collected by Viator, Tripadvisor, Tiqets and Civitatis
Why so many Roman sites share one bay
The Greeks came first. Euboean settlers founded Cumae in the 8th century BC, the first Greek colony on the Italian mainland, and colonists from Sybaris founded Poseidonia around 600 BC, the town Rome took in 273 BC and renamed Paestum. Rome then built towns and villas around the bay, and in 79 AD Vesuvius buried four of them at once: Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis and Stabiae. Because they were sealed together, their streets and houses survive, and that is why the coast became a destination.
Herculaneum, buried the same year and kept differently
Herculaneum stood on the shore, and its arched boathouses show it; beams, beds and doors survived there as charcoal. The ticket is 16 EUR, the site opens every day but 1 January and 25 December, and the Ercolano Scavi stop on the Circumvesuviana is a 6 minute walk from the gate. Two parts are shut, listed below. The Herculaneum page takes it from there.
Five dates that explain the coast
From each site's Wikipedia entry, except the last.
The origins
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8th c. BC
Cumae is founded
The first Greek colony on the mainland.
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c. 600 BC
Poseidonia
The city later called Paestum is founded.
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79 AD
Vesuvius
Four towns are buried in one eruption.
The growth
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1752
Caserta begins
Luigi Vanvitelli starts the royal palace, which is Bourbon, not Roman.
Today
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1997
UNESCO
Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata are inscribed together.
Nine places side by side
The table gives what each place is, how old, what the official full-price ticket costs and what the operator says about visit time. Only the Reggia di Caserta says anything, and it recommends 2 h for the palace and 4 h for the park. The three to four hours that circulate for the Roman sites are blog estimates, so this page does not repeat them.
| Site | What it is | Official ticket | Time stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pompeii | Roman city buried in 79 AD | Express 20 EUR, Pompeii+ 25 EUR, 3 days 30 EUR | None; 1.5 h themed visit |
| Herculaneum | Small Roman seaside town, dug from 1738 | 16 EUR | None |
| Oplontis | The Villa of Poppaea, a country villa | 8 EUR; closed Tuesday | None |
| Stabiae | Two villas, Arianna and San Marco | Villas free; museum 8 EUR; closed Tuesday | None |
| Paestum | Greek city with three Doric temples, founded about 600 BC | 15 EUR March to November, 10 EUR December to February | None |
| Cumae and the Campi Flegrei | Cumae, Pozzuoli's Flavian amphitheater, Baia | 5 EUR a site; 10 EUR for four, booked ahead; Cuma closed Tuesday | None found |
| Naples Underground | Guided visits under the old center | Not published on the official site | None found |
| MANN | Museum of the finds of Pompeii and Herculaneum, since 1777 | 20 EUR; closed Tuesday | None |
| Reggia di Caserta | Bourbon palace and park, begun in 1752 | 18 EUR, plus 1 EUR to book online; closed Tuesday | 2 h palace, 4 h park |
The ticket column hides one trick. Buying Pompeii+ (25 EUR), Oplontis (8) and the Stabiae museum (8) one by one costs 41 EUR; Boscoreale is already inside Pompeii+ and the Stabiae villas are free. The three-day Pompeii ticket costs 30 EUR and covers all of them, one entry per site, plus the park's shuttle.
The two Stabiae villas cost nothing, while the Stabiae museum beside them asks 8 EUR.
Which site for whom
| If you are | Choose | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| On a first visit with one full day | Pompeii | Named ticket and daily cap; book a morning slot |
| Short on time or stamina | Herculaneum | Villa of the Papyri and theater closed |
| Wanting the objects, not the streets | The MANN | Mosaic section closed, end date unclear |
| Done with the two big ones | Oplontis and Stabiae | Closed Tuesday; the 3-day ticket includes them |
| Interested in Greek Italy | Paestum | Heraion closed; 1 h 10 to 1 h 20 from Naples |
| Facing rain or a hot afternoon | Naples Underground or the MANN | Underground visits are guided only |
If you only get one, choose by how much walking you can do. Pompeii takes a full day. Herculaneum is half a morning, and it is the better choice for anyone who dislikes walking in the sun. The Pompeii page explains how that site works.
What is closed across Campania on 4 November 2026
| Place | What is closed | Since and until | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pompeii | Antiquarium | Partly 4 to 22 November, fully 23 November to 7 December | Park notice, 3 November |
| Herculaneum | Villa of the Papyri, ancient theater | No reopening date | Ticket page, 3 November |
| MANN | Mosaic section and the Secret Cabinet; the Alexander Mosaic is off display for restoration | Open-rooms page: 21 September to 30 November 2026. Home page: until further notice. The end date is unclear | MANN open-rooms page and home page, 4 November |
| Paestum | The Heraion at the Sele | Suspended from 6 October, no end date | Park notice |
| Campania Express | The tourist train | Suspended from 1 October | EAV, via Napolike, 12 August |
| Solfatara | The crater | Closed since 2017, no reopening date | Local press, September 2026 |
| Rione Terra, Pozzuoli | Underground visits | After the quake of 31 July 2026 | Local press only |
Official pages sometimes disagree. Paestum's ticket page still lists Heraion visits at weekends, while the notice of 6 October says they are suspended, and the newer notice wins. The MANN's own pages disagree on the mosaics: the open-rooms page gives 21 September to 30 November 2026, the home page says until further notice, so the end date is unclear and worth checking before you build a day around them. The Campania Express, Solfatara and Rione Terra lines come from the press, not from the parks' or EAV's own pages.
Paestum is Greek, not Roman
Hera II, the temple called Neptune's by habit, was built around 460 to 450 BC. Rome arrived in 273 BC, but visitors come for the Greek layer. The ticket is 15 EUR from March to November and 10 EUR from December to February, valid three days. The More of Campania page builds a second day around it.
Moving between the hubs
Naples sits in the middle of the map, Sorrento and Salerno on either side, Paestum alone at the south and Caserta inland to the north. Almost every route starts in Naples, and the numbers below are timetable figures.
| To | How | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples from Rome Termini | High-speed train | 55 minutes (Italo) to 1 h 10 (Frecciarossa) | Italo and Trenitalia timetables |
| Pompeii from Naples | Circumvesuviana, stop Pompei Scavi | 30 to 40 minutes | Blogs; the park confirms the stops |
| Herculaneum from Naples | Circumvesuviana toward Sorrento, stop Ercolano Scavi | 6 minutes on foot to the gate | Official site; one blog says some Sorrento trains skip the stop |
| Paestum from Naples | Regional train | 1 h 10 to 1 h 20 | Aggregators |
| Caserta from Naples | Regional train | 40 to 50 minutes | Aggregators |
| Cumae from Naples | Cumana, then the Circumflegrea and a walk | About 40 minutes on the first leg | A local blog |
The Circumvesuviana does not run to Salerno, which is a Trenitalia line, and the Campania Express is reported suspended since 1 October. Rome to Pompeii in a day is possible but long, so the from Rome format deserves a look before you commit: the trains are set out there.
Two and three days around the closing days
Tuesday decides the plan. The MANN, Caserta, Cuma, Oplontis and Stabiae are closed, while Pompeii and Herculaneum are open every day except 1 January and 25 December. Paestum's page also says open daily, but it publishes hours only to 21 September 2026 and nothing after. Put a Tuesday on Pompeii or Herculaneum.
In November the Caserta park takes its last visitor at 14:30, an hour before the last entry to Pompeii.
| Plan | Day | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two days | 1 | Pompeii, first slot of the day | In winter, leave early: last entry is 15:30 |
| Two days | 2 | Herculaneum from 8:30 | The MANN, any day but Tuesday |
| Three days | 1 and 2 | As above, with a day to spare for the museum | Pompeii+ if you want the Villa of the Mysteries |
| Three days | 3 | Paestum by regional train | Back in Naples by evening; or Caserta, whose park closes at 15:30 in November (last entry 14:30) |
When to go
The Parco Archeologico di Pompei counted 4,118,926 visits across Pompeii and its three satellite sites in 2025. April to June took 36.7% of the year, September and October 22.0%, and July and August only 19.9%. The dip is the heat: Naples averages highs near 31 C in midsummer, and the Parco has issued advice for temperatures near 40 C, though we found no rule that closes the site. April and May are the best weather and the biggest crowds. Last entry to Pompeii and Herculaneum is 15:30 from 15 October to 15 March. The two indoor sites barely notice the season, which is our reading rather than a measurement.
Month by month, site by site
Best means comfortable weather and a workable crowd. It does not measure how full the site is.
| Month | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pompeii Little relief from the sun | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Herculaneum Smaller; last entry 15:30 in winter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Oplontis and Stabiae Closed Tuesday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Paestum Ticket drops to 10 EUR in winter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Cumae and the Campi Flegrei By the sea | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Reggia di Caserta Park hours change monthly | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Editorial reading of Naples weather and Pompeii attendance in 2025, not an official rating. No site closes for heat. Indoor sites are left out.
What the tours cost by destination
Naples archaeology has a median of 19 EUR, and the cheapest tour in the whole catalogue, 8 EUR, is a 30 minute visit there. Pompeii sits at 128.3 EUR across 140 tours, with the widest bar, because one name covers a 1 hour guide and a 14 hour day. Herculaneum is at 105 EUR and More of Campania at 122.5 EUR.
Low numbers need a second look. The 23.8 EUR Pompeii listing is a guide without the entrance ticket, which is 20 EUR on top, so a low price on this site is often half a product. More of Campania has the best rating, 4.86, on only 1,748 reviews.
Choose a destination
Open a destination to see its tours priced against that site's own ticket.
Questions about Roman ruins near Naples
Should I visit Pompeii or Herculaneum?
Pompeii if you have a full day and can handle sun and walking, because it is far bigger. Herculaneum if you have half a day, small children or little energy. It costs 16 EUR against 20 EUR for the Pompeii Express ticket.
Can I see Pompeii and Herculaneum in one day?
Yes. Both are on the Circumvesuviana line to Sorrento and you need two tickets, because Herculaneum is a separate park. One travel blog says some Sorrento trains no longer stop at Ercolano Scavi during opening hours; we could not confirm it, so check EAV's timetable the day before. It is tight in winter, when last entry to both is 15:30. The Pompeii and Herculaneum page shows how the hours split.
Which sites can I visit on a Tuesday?
Pompeii and Herculaneum, which close only on 1 January and 25 December. The MANN, the Reggia di Caserta apartments, the Cuma park, Oplontis and the Stabiae villas are closed. Paestum's page says it is open daily but publishes hours only to 21 September 2026, so check them before you go.
Is the Reggia di Caserta a Roman site?
No. It is a Bourbon palace begun in 1752 by Luigi Vanvitelli. It costs 18 EUR with the park, is closed on Tuesdays, and the Reggia recommends 2 hours for the palace and 4 for the park.
Is the Naples Archaeological Museum worth it in November 2026?
Yes, with a caveat. The mosaic section and the Secret Cabinet are closed for refurbishment: the museum's open-rooms page lists 21 September to 30 November 2026, while its home page says until further notice, so the end date is unclear. The Alexander Mosaic is off display for restoration. The Farnese galleries, the Campania Roman section and the Villa of the Papyri section of the museum (not the closed villa at Herculaneum) are open every day; the Egyptian collection and the Magna Graecia rooms close on free-admission days. The ticket is 20 EUR.
Before you book
Independent guides that answer the questions people ask before choosing a tour.
Data verified on . Tickets, hours and closures read on each operator's own site on 4 November 2026. Tour figures from 200 listings read the same day. Climate from climatestotravel.com.