Travelling to Herculaneum (Ercolano) on a budget

Glasgow foodie Explorers Naples Herculaneum Ercolano Italy

Getting to Herculaneum from Naples cheaply

Getting to the preserved site of Herculaneum, or Ercolano to use its modern name, by public transport is easy on a budget. With the excavations of Herculaneum (Scavi di Ercolano) a short walk downhill from the railway station. (Click here to find out everything about Herculaneum)

Glasgow foodie Explorers Naples Herculaneum Ercolano Italy

The Circumvesuviana train runs from Napoli Garibaldi to Ercolano and takes around 20 minutes. We bought a Campania Arte Card which not only covered our entry fee into the Herculaneum ruins but included the train as well. If paying separately the train fare is about €3 (buy a return to save time and hassle).

Circumvensia train map Italy Naples

The Circumvesuviana trains leave from the basement of the station. Check what time your train is leaving (direction Sorrento) as the coffee shop at the platform is small and here and the platforms get very busy.

Glasgow foodie Explorers Naples Herculaneum Ercolano Italy
Napoli Garibaldi Railway Station

The trains, of course, also get busy, and like Naples, they could do with some TLC. Keep your wits about you (as you would do anyway!) as Naples has a reputation for pickpockets but we had no issues at any point during our week-long stay so wonder if the fears are exaggerated.

Glasgow foodie Explorers Naples Herculaneum Ercolano Italy

Glasgow foodie Explorers Naples Herculaneum Ercolano Italy
Ercolano Railway Station

Once out of the Station, follow the road to the site. There are signposts, but you don’t need them, simply cross the roundabout and keep walking on the main road downhill until the junction where you can go no further and here you will find the entrance.

If you’re hungry before or afterwards or want a coffee or alcohol there are plenty of restauranteurs trying to entice you into their restaurants but for cheap eats / drinks and to avoid the tourist traps head off the main road to Civico 33, address: Corso Italia 33. It’s budget-friendly and the staff are really friendly. Here we ate pasticciotto (a filled pastry which was a bit like a Pastel De Nata, Portuguese egg custard tart and had beer and a boozy coffee.

Glasgow foodie Explorers Naples Herculaneum Ercolano Italy
Entrance to Herculaneum

 

Emma

Emma

Hello!

I am Emma and with my husband Mark write Foodie Explorers, which is a food and travel website.

I am a member of the Guild of Food Writers and British Guild of Travel Writers.

We have a wide range of judging experience covering products, hotels and have judged, for example, for Great Taste Awards and Scottish Baker of the Year.

Along the way Mark gained WSET Level 2 in Wine and I have WSET Level 2 in Spirits as well as picking up an award with The Scotsman Food and Drink Awards.    

Usually I can be found sleeping beside a cat.

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