In AD 79 Vesuvius buried Pompeii under ash and Herculaneum under mud. The ash preserved a city; the mud preserved a neighbourhood so completely that the wooden beams and the doors are still there. Seeing both on the same day, with the volcano in between, is the only way the story makes sense.
Done by train and bus it’s a long, hot day with a lot of waiting. Done privately, the driver drops you at each entrance and picks you up at the exit: which at Pompeii, where the exit is a twenty minute walk from the entrance, isn’t a small detail.
Highlights
- Pompeii: the forum, the houses, the bakeries, the plaster casts
- The Vesuvius crater on foot, with the volcanological guide included at the top
- Herculaneum: better preserved than Pompeii, and a fraction of the crowds
- A panoramic stop at Punta Scutolo on the way home, with the Gulf of Naples underneath
Itinerary
Pickup
Pompeii, about 27 km, 35 to 50 minutes
Vesuvius, about 32 km, 45 to 60 minutes
Herculaneum, about 38 km, 50 to 65 minutes
Punta Scutolo
What's included
- Private air conditioned vehicle, for your group only
- Professional licensed English speaking driver
- Volcanological guide at the Vesuvius crater
- Fuel, motorway tolls and taxes
- Panoramic stop at Punta Scutolo
What's not included
- Site entrance tickets. Approximately €22 for Pompeii, €16 for Herculaneum, €10 for the Vesuvius park, 2026 rates, per adult. Vesuvius requires a timed online booking, we can handle it for you, just ask
- Licensed archaeological guide at Pompeii and Herculaneum, recommended, quoted separately
- Meals and drinks
- Parking, ZTL permits and destination-specific access charges, stated in your quote where applicable
- Gratuities
Good to know
- Vesuvius is a walk, not a viewpoint you drive to. About 30 minutes uphill on volcanic gravel, and the same back down. Closed shoes, not sandals.
- There’s no shade, anywhere. Not at Pompeii, not at Herculaneum, not on the volcano. In July and August bring water, a hat and sunscreen, and we’ll start earlier.
- Vesuvius closes in bad weather. Wind, storms or poor visibility and the park shuts, sometimes with an hour of notice. It’s the volcano that decides, not us. If it happens we rearrange the day on the spot: usually more time at Pompeii, or Oplontis instead.
- Pompeii isn’t fully wheelchair accessible, though there’s a marked accessible route. Herculaneum has stairs and steep ramps. Tell us in advance and we’ll plan around it.
- Book Vesuvius in advance. Entry is by timed slot and it sells out in high season.
Coming from the airport as well?
Pompeii is on the road in from Capodichino. If you’re arriving or leaving on the same trip, say so in the request: we can put the site on the transfer instead of spending a second day on it.
Frequently asked questions
The volcanological guide at the Vesuvius crater is. Guides at Pompeii and Herculaneum aren’t: Italian law requires a licensed guide for that, our drivers can’t do it, and we’d rather book you a good one than pretend otherwise.
Yes, that’s the most common version. Same price, more time on each site, back earlier.
Realistically 6 to 8 kilometres over the day, on uneven ancient paving and volcanic gravel.
Tickets bought in advance avoid the ticket office queue, which is the long one. The security queue at Pompeii still exists in high season.
Most children over about six manage it fine. Below that, it’s a long carry.
Ready when you are
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are. A written quote comes back within 24 hours, with no commitment.
