How To Get from Naples to Herculaneum

The Train From Naples to Ercolano Scavi

The most accessible, convenient, and quickest way to travel to Herculaneum from Naples is via one of two train services, which depart daily from the same station and take less than 20 minutes – one of which is significantly cheaper and more frequent than the other.

Ercolano is both the name of the town you need to head to, as well as the Italian name for Herculaneum. It has two train stations, but the one you will travel toward and disembark at is written as ‘Ercolano’ or ‘Ecolano Scavi’ (maps) 

It’s a small, quite rundown station that’s a 10-minute walk from the ticket office + entrance to the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum (maps)

The EAV Circumvesuviana Train to Ercolano

This reliable public train connects locals with towns and suburbs along the Gulf of Naples, and brings thousands of visitors each day to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, and Sorrento.

In our experiences of riding the Circumvesuviana, it’s a relatively small, surprisingly tired, and worn down service in comparison to some of the excellent Regionale trains you’ll find across Italy. It’s more like an old, crap commuter train in London than a sparkly tourist shuttle service, but that’s no big issue.

It can become frightfully hot and crowded in summer though.

The Circumvesuviana runs two services that bring travellers from Naples to Herculaneum:

· The Napoli – Sorrento line | Frequent departures but only 3-4 stop at ‘Eroclano’, 13 minutes travel time

· The Napoli – Torre Annunziata line | Stops at ‘Ercolano Scavi’, 2-4 departures an hour, 20 minutes travel time

Both depart from the same two stations in Naples, cost €2.70 per person one-way, and reach Ercolano in under 20 minutes. The main difference is that the ‘Napoli – Sorrento line’ has fewer stops and is a few minutes quicker, but it’s usually much more crowded with tourists and suitcases as it continues on to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.

More importantly however, the ‘Napoli – Sorrento line’ has far fewer departures that call at Ercolano station than the Torre Annunziata line, so it is much more likely that you’ll take the latter to Herculaneum.

Journeys start from the Porta Nolana Station (maps), but the easiest access point for you to board will be at the next stop in Napoli Piazza Garibaldi (maps), which is a separate station within the same building as Napoli Centrale Train Station (the city’s main one).

That may sound complicated, but it’s nothing to worry about.

Simply make your way to Napoli Centrale (maps) and, once inside the station, follow the blue + white signs for the Linee Vesuviane / Campania Express / Circumvesuviana.

This will take you downstairs to the lower floor and along a covered walkway toward the staffed and clear to identify red ticket offices (bigletteria) of Napoli Piazza Garibaldi on the right hand side.

From the main entrance of Napoli Centrale to Piazza Garibaldi station, it’s about a 5-minute walk

Alternatively, some of you may arrive by metro, taking Line 1 to the Garibaldi stop. If that’s the case, simply go up the three escalators after you disembark, exit into the modern shopping centre, then follow the brown + orange signs for Circumvesuviana. It’s also straightforward, and you’ll arrive at the ticket desks in under five minutes.

There are five tickets kiosks, a dedicated information point, and a real-time digital departures board in addition to the plethora of taped-up timetables. However, as this is also the departure point for trains to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, Mount Vesuvius, and Sorrento as well as Herculaneum, it can become quite crowded and chaotic with lots of confused tourists.

Our main advice is not to panic or rush around like a headless chicken, even if everyone else is – not all departures will stop at Herculaneum and the majority of tourists rushing for the next train will likely be travelling to Pompeii or Sorrento on an EAV Circumvesuivana service which will NOT include a stop at Ercolano!